TRC squad
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I really don't get why Akira isn't given a chance. I really can't.
Frizzell has done sweet fuck all year all but is picked on potential. He has ton of work-ons. Whitelock is busy with fuck-all impact and virtually no upside from where he is at now.
However, Akira actually played bloody well in a shit side for the Super rugby tournament and still has huge upside.
Is it really beyond the coaches to coach him a little when in camp?????
What this guy said. Try coaching you bastards. Stop relying on super rugby coaches to do it for you.
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I really don't get why Akira isn't given a chance. I really can't.
Frizzell has done sweet fuck all year all but is picked on potential. He has ton of work-ons. Whitelock is busy with fuck-all impact and virtually no upside from where he is at now.
However, Akira actually played bloody well in a shit side for the Super rugby tournament and still has huge upside.
Is it really beyond the coaches to coach him a little when in camp?????
I think I can understand the reasoning...
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They see Akira as an 8 only.
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If Reid plays, there is no point in carrying Akira around in the squad when he won't make the 23
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LW is in the squad as backup because, despite being limited, he has proven that he can play test rugby at an adequate level. Akira is a massive unknown to deputise, especially when there has been need in the 6 and 7 jerseys to cover.
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They know that LW won't improve much from where he is but Akira has huge potential.
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They can develop Akira better through allowing him to play rather than just train
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By not selecting Akira without him reaching certain playing targets they can see how he responds to those demands.
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I would guess that if Akira played a position that was not blocked by the captain he would have had game time by now.
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@crucial I don't see how Akira develops playing Mitre10 rather than in the All Blacks environment. Luke Whitelock is adequate at best, so why wouldn't you see if Akira can have the same or better impact? Particularly given his standout efforts against Super Rugby opposition and the Lions?
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@antipodean said in TRC squad:
@crucial I don't see how Akira develops playing Mitre10 rather than in the All Blacks environment. Luke Whitelock is adequate at best, so why wouldn't you see if Akira can have the same or better impact? Particularly given his standout efforts against Super Rugby opposition and the Lions?
I'm not taking their side, just trying to understand their possible logic.
As far as developing goes, he isn't the only player with instructions to test 'work ons' at NPC level. My guess is that he has been told to go and make dominant tackles.
I just think they have a plan for Akira and are following it. He has been with them in camp a lot and they seem very happy to have him there.
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@mariner4life said in TRC squad:
I really don't get why Akira isn't given a chance. I really can't.
Frizzell has done sweet fuck all year all but is picked on potential. He has ton of work-ons. Whitelock is busy with fuck-all impact and virtually no upside from where he is at now.
However, Akira actually played bloody well in a shit side for the Super rugby tournament and still has huge upside.
Is it really beyond the coaches to coach him a little when in camp?????
What this guy said. Try coaching you bastards. Stop relying on super rugby coaches to do it for you.
Oh hell yes. Unless it's a guy who's not popular, then he shouldn't even be in the squad. Mr Milner-Skudder and Mr Frizzell, off you go.
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@crucial Yeah I get that, not having a go at you but just responding to the points you raise. I guess the issue is the gross inconsistency. Why give players caps based on "promise" when the standout performer is clearly miles better as a player?
Without shitting on Luke, he's just a solid Super Rugby player. Akira does what he does and then some. My only complaint about Akira is he often hangs off mauls when his strength could be well used. But that may be a Blues coaching issue - he's playing that way because he's told to.
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Being thinking it over, I guess I am not too annoyed by Frizell being picked ahead of Akira.
It's not like Frizell is stuck behind the All Black incumbent at 6 in the exact same Super rugby side. So he'll get plenty of Super rugby games next year to put into practice all that special coaching he's gets in the AB camp. I mean, he's already so experienced, but playing the full season as the starter for the Highlanders will really round him out!
And the World Cup is plenty of years away yet, so no hurry there.
Akira has hardly played any games for the Blues this year. Totally under used and definitely not flogged. What he needs is more games at a higher level - the NPC!!!
Moreover, he's had the benefit of superb guidance by one of Super Rugby's most astute and successful dread-locked coaches.
He's also had the benefit of playing in a highly motivated and cohesive pack that never slacked off and were highly consistent week in week out. Look at all the role models he's had! He definitely didn't stand out in that pack. In fact, he was one of their worst performers.
Of course, one must also remember, Akira is behind such greats as Luke Whitelock and Ardie Savea. These guys have really, really performed each time they've been in black. No second chances for these guys. And look at Ardie, Frizell and Fifita, they were certainly the finished products when picked. Definitely not picked on potential.
He simply doesn't deserve even one cap right now. It won't motivate him one bit. I mean, what would he possibly have to gain or learn playing alongside lazy bastards like Retallick, Cane and Whitelock in a low prestige team such as the All Blacks ????
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Hope NMS can recapture some of that stepping brilliance of a few years ago.
Without pace being able to step is close to useless. Get round your man, only to be hauled in easily by the cover?
Light wingers who aren't fast shouldn't be in any international team. In the ABs is just peculiar.
At least Dagg has a belter of a kick on him.
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Isn't Moli a tighthead? Thought he looked pretty promising last year. Looks a brutal hitter in attack and defence.
I too think that he is the next long term AB THP if he can stay fit.
He caught the selectors' eye playing at TH, but when selected to train with ABs I seem to recall they said they thought his future laid as a ball carrying LH.
As per earlier post, to me TH is area where development is the highest priority, and the obvious place for him.
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@chester-draws said in TRC squad:
Hope NMS can recapture some of that stepping brilliance of a few years ago.
Without pace being able to step is close to useless. Get round your man, only to be hauled in easily by the cover?
Light wingers who aren't fast shouldn't be in any international team. In the ABs is just peculiar.
At least Dagg has a belter of a kick on him.
I think you're being a bit harsh, but agree that without a good turn of speed an international wing will struggle. To me NMS has lost three yards of pace?
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Surely Todd would have asked Hansen if he was in their plans before he signed in Japan. I was under the impression that Hansen said something to that effect when it was first announced. Could be wrong.
Spoke to friend of mine last week that knows Matt Todd pretty well.
He received an offer from japan that was too big not to consider. He had 2 weeks to make up his mind.
So he contacted Hansen and told him the situation. Essentially wanted to know if he was in the plans for AB selection, if so he’d turn down the offer, was very specific that he only had 2 weeks.
2 weeks passes and Hansen hasn’t made contact so he signs the contract.
2 weeks after that Hansen calls and says we want you in NZ. By this time the contract is signed and it’s too late.
Before I get accused of Canterbury bias or some bulshit. I’m not apportioning blame either way, just reporting what I was told
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So he contacted Hansen and told him the situation. Essentially wanted to know if he was in the plans for AB selection, if so he’d turn down the offer, was very specific that he only had 2 weeks.
2 weeks passes and Hansen hasn’t made contact so he signs the contract.
2 weeks after that Hansen calls and says we want you in NZ. By this time the contract is signed and it’s too late.
Reminds me of the Luatua/Hansen situation. When Luatua left, Hansen complained about a lack of communication from Luatua's side. Luatua said that wasn't true.
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@duluth so where is it breaking down?
Player to manager to Hansen or his PA?
Or do these players have a direct line to Hansen, you'd hope they had a direct line to him, but if thats the case, it is poor time management on his part to not respond for weeks (I get frustrated with people I deal with who take a week to respond to an email/phone message/text)
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I think Luatua went through the formal channels at the NZRFU. Sounds like Todd went direct.
Either way its shitty when players do the correct thing, hear nothing back, and then sign contracts the might not have
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DMac was fantastic in the June series. He is easily the bench spot.
Nah he was driving a Rolls Royce pack against a broken down Renault.
Aren't all our first fives behind a Rolls Royce then?
Pretty much, I was being sarcastic. It's a bloody stupid reason to downgrade someone's performance but seems to be getting used a lot lately.
