All Blacks v France Test 3
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@pukunui Naholo is now older than Joe Rok, Savea, Howlett et al when thier careers went to decline....
I think BFA still has alot to offer, lost half a yard but still pretty slippery.
One risk we run (again) I guess is protecting some of our older players to time thier run right to peak next year.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
Naholo is now older than Joe Rok, Savea, Howlett et al when thier careers went to decline
And those 3 were genuinely great wingers before they declined, while Naholo...
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@mariner4life Well, if Hansen had to pick his 31 man squad tomorrow and everyone was fit, I reckon he'd pick something pretty close to:
Moody, Hames, Franks, Laulala, Tu'ungafasi
Coles, Taylor, Coltman
Retallick, Whitelock, Barrett
Read, Cane, Squire, Whitelock, Todd, FifitaSmith, Perenara, TTT
Barrett, McKenzie, Mo'unga
SBW, Crotty, ALB, Laumape
Smith, Barrett, Ioane, NaholoThird hooker could be any one of Coltman, Harris or Aumua - or even someone like Funnell. None of them seem like great options at present.
Hansen could easily choose Ardie over Todd - or even Fifita
Goodhue might push his way into the midfield, but right now I think he's number 5. -
@chris-b said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@bovidae Assuming it's going to 31 man squads for RWC2019, I can't see them carrying five midfielders.
In 2015 they took halfbacks (x3), 1st 5s (x3), midfielders (x5) and outside backs (x4).
Halfbacks - Smith, TJP, TTT
1st 5s - BB, DMac, Mo'unga
Midfield - SBW, Crotty, ALB, Laumape, Goodhue
Outside backs - BFA, Ioane, JB + one winger (Naholo/NMS/whoever).With JB as the fourth outside back you've also got additional midfield cover for the inevitable injuries to Crotty or SBW. BB and DMac can play fullback, BFA can move to the wing, as can DMac or ALB/Goodhue.
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@chris-b said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@mariner4life Well, if Hansen had to pick his 31 man squad tomorrow and everyone was fit, I reckon he'd pick something pretty close to:
Moody, Hames, Franks, Laulala, Tu'ungafasi
Coles, Taylor, Coltman
Retallick, Whitelock, Barrett
Read, Cane, Squire, Whitelock, Todd, FifitaSmith, Perenara, TTT
Barrett, McKenzie, Mo'unga
SBW, Crotty, ALB, Laumape
Smith, Barrett, Ioane, NaholoThird hooker could be any one of Coltman, Harris or Aumua - or even someone like Funnell. None of them seem like great options at present.
Hansen could easily choose Ardie over Todd - or even Fifita
Goodhue might push his way into the midfield, but right now I think he's number 5.pretty much ban on i think. but Ardie would get in over Todd given recent history
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@bovidae said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
I would also hope we're not using Fifita full stop
FTFY
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@pukunui Naholo is now older than Joe Rok, Savea, Howlett et al when thier careers went to decline....
I think BFA still has alot to offer, lost half a yard but still pretty slippery.
One risk we run (again) I guess is protecting some of our older players to time thier run right to peak next year.
I think selecting on age is a stupid policy. It may indicate that someone might be coming to a time when they are on the decline but every player is different. Naholo has been his normal self at super level yet people are calling for him to be cut after one poor AB game. I don't think Smith's game has ever been based on out and out pace so don't see why he can't continue as usual. Especially after some time off last year.
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@bovidae Yeah - I think we've got most options covered in the backs.
DMac is hugely valuable, because he can play the role Beauden played last time (and Slade could have played if required). I wonder if we'll see Mo'unga given some time at fullback to help develop that as an additional utility option.
There's a few players I'm not that happy with in my squad, but if you look back at previous AB RWC squads, we've always had a few duffers.
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Hemopo might move ahead of Fifita as the lock/6. The EOYT squad will give a good indication of the AB coach's thinking but I believe they are taking 33 so 2 players to be culled.
Questions about Franks going another 18 months too. He looks even slower than normal.
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@pukunui not saying select on age, just pointing out at his age, we had other wingers, who had done alot more than him, on the very rapid decline.
I dont think Naholo has really ever done much at International level, looks the business at super, but only ever seen glimpses of this in Black, and sadly all too fleeting too.
The selection of JB has possibly hinted that his position is under threat anyway.
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@pukunui said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
So Ben Smith and Naholo are now past it? Haha yep just like Mccaw was past it every year for about 10 years.
Im not concerned anout our back 3 depth in the slightest.6, 8 and 2 are the areas of concern for me.
Who is going to be 6?
Will Read come back and perform at his best?So having bagged people for suggesting players that haven't had good form might be on the wane, you suggest another that might be on the wane? And you base this on his age?
Because I don't see how Read's situation is any different from Ben Smith's.
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If Ben Smith wasn't at his best, at least he wasn't completely unsighted on the field!
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DMac really does solve a lot of problems, it was awesome to ses him go well. Here's hoping he can put some good performances together for the Chiefs to build on that.
I see Jordie is playing 13 for the Canes too. If he can cover midfield that also helps a lot.
Great to see both of them go well in black, even if their Super form hasn't been great this year.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@chris-b said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@bovidae Assuming it's going to 31 man squads for RWC2019, I can't see them carrying five midfielders.
They'll already need to shed two players from the 33 man squad they're using this year - plus almost certainly add a third hooker to what they used in June. So, one less loose forward, one less midfielder and they've still got to find somewhere else to prune - possibly in the outside backs.
Heaps of room. Cut Naholo and NMS from the outsides. Cut A Savea from the loosies. Turn Goodhue in to a competent winger. Then you can fit both sicknotes in the midfield. Because if you are taking both, you are going to need a heap of cover.
Goodhue does not look to have the necessary speed to play on the wing. Kahui was much faster, that is why he could have slotted there.
BFA still looks the better option on the right wing, the others being Naholo, NMS and Dagg. Aso and Mataele do not look ready yet. -
@bovidae said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
And yet Hansen has said more than once that ALB has never had a bad game for the ABs.
Hansen may be right but I just don't think he has developed as well as expected. No criticism of ALB, but I wonder if an (relatively) unsettled midfield has stymied his development a bit
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@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@bovidae said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
And yet Hansen has said more than once that ALB has never had a bad game for the ABs.
Hansen may be right but I just don't think he has developed as well as expected. No criticism of ALB, but I wonder if an (relatively) unsettled midfield has stymied his development a bit
ALB had a bit of the season 2 blues last year but was in good knick this year. I think you're overstating it a bit.
