Waratahs v Highlanders - QF
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@nepia said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@chris-b They need to get Alaimalo in there ASAP - I have no sympathy for Ta$man, you keep poaching players about to become ABs.
I'm one of the "never really understood why Hansen hearts Naholo so much".
Pretty sure that all of Squire, Havili, Taufua, Perry and Frizell played their first NPC matches for Ta$man. Hames and Alaimalo were poaches. We've had a fair few snatched off us, though - especially the season when Tew tried to get rid of us - notably by Waikato, BoP, Hawkes Bay and Southland.
So fuck all of those guys!
Naholo - usually pretty good at Super level - good size, blistering pace, wins turnovers. Hasn't been as effective at test level - not sure he's ever had a "signature" test. But, he's got 12 tries in 19 tests, which isn't too bad when you compare his strike rate to Ioane's 14 tries in 16 tests.
It's a bit strange that we're struggling a bit on one wing. Symptomatic of the Blues' woes? They're usually a good source of AB wings.
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@Chris-B Dagg was a mainstay on that right wing before getting injured and not really recovering form wise.
It’s wide open but I think we will keep playing Bender there with either Jordie or (gulp) DMac playing fullback.
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@act-crusader I think that's highly likely.
But, in addition to BSmith, Jordie and Rieko, they'll need to pick at least one more outside back - and possibly two.
My guess is that Naholo is on the inside track.
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@frank said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
Left field idea (very left field perhaps)
Can Laumape play wing?
And of course covers 2nd five.
If so he’d really put the power into power wing!
I’m sure he’d be more than capable but imagine he wouldn’t have the top end speed to be a genuine starting option? -
@gunner said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@frank said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
Left field idea (very left field perhaps)
Can Laumape play wing?
And of course covers 2nd five.
If so he’d really put the power into power wing!
I’m sure he’d be more than capable but imagine he wouldn’t have the top end speed to be a genuine starting option?Aerial skills under the high ball might be an issue. We need specialist winger/fullbacks that have experience reading the kicks.
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@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@no-quarter said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@sammyc said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
Alainono > bridge > lam in my opinion.
Alaimono has been great this year, on attack and defense. Also gets himself involved in close of play doesn’t run his way.
Agree.
Lam seems a poor mans Hosea Gear to me. All the physical attributes and can look a world beater every now and then, but goes missing for the most part and is waiting for the action rather than being a creator.
Lam is a great finisher but he doesn't have the all-round game of someone like Alaimalo, and I agree he does tend to go missing at times. He's more competing with Rieko for the power winger spot IMO.
Ioane is not a winger. He is a midfielder. Ask Tana
Or ask most Blues 'fans' before he was used there and shown up. It was like the endless cries for JB to be shifted to the midfield despite evidence to the contrary at this level.
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@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@gunner said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@frank said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
Left field idea (very left field perhaps)
Can Laumape play wing?
And of course covers 2nd five.
If so he’d really put the power into power wing!
I’m sure he’d be more than capable but imagine he wouldn’t have the top end speed to be a genuine starting option?Aerial skills under the high ball might be an issue. We need specialist winger/fullbacks that have experience reading the kicks.
Definitely lacks top end pace as well, he is always easily run down after making a break. He'd be an absolute last resort covering wing.
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@crucial said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@no-quarter said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@sammyc said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
Alainono > bridge > lam in my opinion.
Alaimono has been great this year, on attack and defense. Also gets himself involved in close of play doesn’t run his way.
Agree.
Lam seems a poor mans Hosea Gear to me. All the physical attributes and can look a world beater every now and then, but goes missing for the most part and is waiting for the action rather than being a creator.
Lam is a great finisher but he doesn't have the all-round game of someone like Alaimalo, and I agree he does tend to go missing at times. He's more competing with Rieko for the power winger spot IMO.
Ioane is not a winger. He is a midfielder. Ask Tana
Or ask most Blues 'fans' before he was used there and shown up. It was like the endless cries for JB to be shifted to the midfield despite evidence to the contrary at this level.
Is JB Jordie Barrett? I don't think a single person has wanted him at 13. Any "cries" have been for 12, where he has yet to play this level.
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@crucial said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@no-quarter said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@sammyc said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
Alainono > bridge > lam in my opinion.
Alaimono has been great this year, on attack and defense. Also gets himself involved in close of play doesn’t run his way.
Agree.
Lam seems a poor mans Hosea Gear to me. All the physical attributes and can look a world beater every now and then, but goes missing for the most part and is waiting for the action rather than being a creator.
Lam is a great finisher but he doesn't have the all-round game of someone like Alaimalo, and I agree he does tend to go missing at times. He's more competing with Rieko for the power winger spot IMO.
Ioane is not a winger. He is a midfielder. Ask Tana
Or ask most Blues 'fans' before he was used there and shown up. It was like the endless cries for JB to be shifted to the midfield despite evidence to the contrary at this level.
And the knight in shining armour award goes to....
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@rancid-schnitzel said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@crucial said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@no-quarter said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@sammyc said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
Alainono > bridge > lam in my opinion.
Alaimono has been great this year, on attack and defense. Also gets himself involved in close of play doesn’t run his way.
Agree.
Lam seems a poor mans Hosea Gear to me. All the physical attributes and can look a world beater every now and then, but goes missing for the most part and is waiting for the action rather than being a creator.
Lam is a great finisher but he doesn't have the all-round game of someone like Alaimalo, and I agree he does tend to go missing at times. He's more competing with Rieko for the power winger spot IMO.
Ioane is not a winger. He is a midfielder. Ask Tana
Or ask most Blues 'fans' before he was used there and shown up. It was like the endless cries for JB to be shifted to the midfield despite evidence to the contrary at this level.
Is JB Jordie Barrett? I don't think a single person has wanted him at 13. Any "cries" have been for 12, where he has yet to play this level.
Reiko to 12
JB to 13That'd work
Haven't had a 15 at 13 since we last lost an RWC.
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12 actually plays to Jordies strengths - good kicking and passing game with vision. 12 just limits Riekos strengths - blistering pace on the outside and the ability to beat defenders in space.
In summary: JB at 12 could work. Rieko at 12 is just fucking baffling.
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@no-quarter don't think it is baffling, you can see why Tana did it, Just not why he persisted.
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@taniwharugby said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@no-quarter don't think it is baffling, you can see why Tana did it, Just not why he persisted.
I think it's genuinely baffling. 13 makes some sense as he can still utilize his leathal running game, but 12 just means teams can easily mark up. Boyd said as much when the Blues played the Canes.
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@no-quarter i just don't see JB at 12. He's too tall which is a liability in close. I don't see explosive acceleration either, nor a power game.
He has good vision and a decent pass, strengths that make him a good fullback who can slot in at first receiver
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@no-quarter I think if the Blues had any other weapons wider, it may have helped, but pretty much thier only big weapon was at 12, where it was easier to shut him down, and as such, reduce chances of any of the others wider doing much
As I said, I can see what he had hoped to achieve, just not why he kept trying it after it wasnt a success, over and over.
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@mariner4life said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@no-quarter i just don't see JB at 12. He's too tall which is a liability in close. I don't see explosive acceleration either, nor a power game.
He has good vision and a decent pass, strengths that make him a good fullback who can slot in at first receiver
Jamie Roberts was good at 12 before he got too slow ( or people realised he had only one trick ) and he's a tall fella.
I think people hear the surname Barrett and assume they can do absolutely everything instead of merely most things...
