2018 Rugby Championship
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@nzzp said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@machpants said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
A ridiculous number of loose forwards, and still more to come!
I've been wondering if Hansen is actually any good at picking loose forwards.
Since he had the easy picks of McCaw, Read, Kaino, the additional ones have been pretty average and not really fired up.
Perhaps his one achilles heel?
I'm beginning to think we just aren't producing good loose forwards.
Which is almost blasphemy for a NZer with any appreciation of All Black history.
Producing a good 6 should be the easiest position to fill in rugby. He's the guy who gets subbed off if there is yellow.
We've currently got:
1 definite test class 8 (but crocked)
2 definite test class 7s
0 definite test class 6sCan't even blame an exodus of talent. Only Vito I would class as a definite test class 8/6. Even that was only on his form the last year in NZ after flattering to deceive for much of hist test career.
Lots of almost there's or potentially test class. But there's a big gaping hole at the moment.
NZ should ooze potential test 6s. Who after a few years can graduate to test 8s.
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@rapido said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
Can't even blame an exodus of talent. Only Vito I would class as a definite test class 8/6. Even that was only on his form the last year in NZ after flattering to deceive for much of hist test career.
Luatua ?
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They've been playing excerpts of what sounded like a Hansen interview conference on this training squad on Radiosport.
Hansen announcing Nepo's news - he has to have a bone graft and might be back for the EOYT if all goes well.
Coles will probably be picked in the squad, but will come back via the M10 Cup and might be available for the last couple of games of TRC.
SBW won't make the first two games of TRC, but is expected to be available after that.
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@cgrant said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
Is the presence of TTT means Bryn Hall won't be selected ?
Not necessarily, but it would be much more of a pointer if TTT wasn't there.
You'd have to say that Hall would be a bit of a bolter and would surely only be picked if TTT had been found significantly wanting in camp.
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@cgrant said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
So no Alaimalo, no Ben Lam but with Akira Ioane.
Is the presence of TTT means Bryn Hall won't be selected ?TTT was in the squad for the France series, there’s no way he’d miss a training squad unless he was injured.
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@majorrage said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@cgrant said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
So no Alaimalo, no Ben Lam but with Akira Ioane.
Is the presence of TTT means Bryn Hall won't be selected ?Why would Bryn Hall BE selected?
Because he is the standout scrumhalf in NZ for the last ten rounds.
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@cgrant said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@majorrage said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@cgrant said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
So no Alaimalo, no Ben Lam but with Akira Ioane.
Is the presence of TTT means Bryn Hall won't be selected ?Why would Bryn Hall BE selected?
Because he is the standout scrumhalf in NZ for the last ten rounds.
This is at least in part, surely, to being behind the best pack?
I confess I haven't seen a lot of him in the Mitre 10 cup recently, but when I have seen him he doesn't look half so "standout". Whereas he should appear better in a lower grade competition.
If we follow your sort of picking we will once again have the Cantablacks.
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@cgrant said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@majorrage said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@cgrant said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
So no Alaimalo, no Ben Lam but with Akira Ioane.
Is the presence of TTT means Bryn Hall won't be selected ?Why would Bryn Hall BE selected?
Because he is the standout scrumhalf in NZ for the last ten rounds.
As @Chester-Draws says, the selectors are fully aware of judging 9s and 10s based on skills, attitude and decision making rather that just 'how they performed' when the game for these positions behind a dominant pack can make you 'stand out' more.
Probably also a factor with Weber as well. Looks great and has the quickest delivery when the Chiefs pack is playing their speedy recycle game. Suits it to a tee and gets the start over TTT. He 'stands out'.
The selectors obviously see that TTT can fit a test game better though.
Personally, I see TTT as similar to TKB and the more the AB coaches have him in camp the more valuable he will be.
We probably do need to somehow keep a number 4 halfback keen though. 3 go to a RWC and an injury to any one of those will require replacement. -
@chester-draws said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@cgrant said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@majorrage said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@cgrant said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
So no Alaimalo, no Ben Lam but with Akira Ioane.
Is the presence of TTT means Bryn Hall won't be selected ?Why would Bryn Hall BE selected?
Because he is the standout scrumhalf in NZ for the last ten rounds.
This is at least in part, surely, to being behind the best pack?
I confess I haven't seen a lot of him in the Mitre 10 cup recently, but when I have seen him he doesn't look half so "standout". Whereas he should appear better in a lower grade competition.
If we follow your sort of picking we will once again have the Cantablacks.
The same applies to Richie Mo'unga, then.
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@cgrant said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@chester-draws said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@cgrant said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@majorrage said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@cgrant said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
So no Alaimalo, no Ben Lam but with Akira Ioane.
Is the presence of TTT means Bryn Hall won't be selected ?Why would Bryn Hall BE selected?
Because he is the standout scrumhalf in NZ for the last ten rounds.
This is at least in part, surely, to being behind the best pack?
I confess I haven't seen a lot of him in the Mitre 10 cup recently, but when I have seen him he doesn't look half so "standout". Whereas he should appear better in a lower grade competition.
If we follow your sort of picking we will once again have the Cantablacks.
The same applies to Richie Mo'unga, then.
It does. Hansen has commented that he has been having an armchair ride, although he proved himself in the final after that comment.
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@crucial is the armchair behind the Crusaders that much better than behind the ABs which can be largely the same pack, granted the opposition will be better at test level but our pack hasn't exactly struggled in recent times.
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@taniwharugby said in 2018 Rugby Championship:
@crucial is the armchair behind the Crusaders that much better than behind the ABs which can be largely the same pack, granted the opposition will be better at test level but our pack hasn't exactly struggled in recent times.
I took it as referring to the Crusaders pack being a dominant one in the comp most of the time.
As you point out the opposition is tougher at test level.
The Lions stood up well in a high intensity game and he performed. That would have answered some questions.
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