Game of 3 halves: All Blacks v Canterbury v Otago
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From the commentary on stuff:
Meanwhile, wing Nehe Milner-Skudder is down and receiving medical attention. Milner-Skudder is off, and the medical team are checking him over. Hard to tell if it's neck or shoulder. They're looking at his head. Jordie Barrett is on for him.A few minutes later:
Good signs for Milner-Skudder. He's off his seat and has gone for a jog around AMI Stadium.Good news. Milner Skudder is back on. Jordie Barrett makes his way back to the pine. -
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@tim said in Game of 3 halves: All Blacks v Canterbury v Otago:
According to the Herald's commentary, Ioane was "awesome" at centre, and scored three tries. Matt Faddes is a real plodder though.
Just awesome? Or O for awesome?
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@act-crusader said in Game of 3 halves: All Blacks v Canterbury v Otago:
You know the real reason why it’s not being televised....
Save Canterbury the embarrassment of two defeats in one day?
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@act-crusader said in Game of 3 halves: All Blacks v Canterbury v Otago:
You know the real reason why it’s not being televised....
It's all the new stuff they're implementing and don't want other teams watching and analysing.
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Hansen was pleased with BBBR by all accounts.
Still don't get what they see in NMS - he must be the luckiest farker ever (closely followed by handful of minutes Frizzle) -
Still don't get what they see in NMS - he must be the luckiest farker ever.
Ah, but he knows their systems, which are so intricate that newbies can't learn them.
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NMS is all about the edict that if they were happy with you pre injury you get another shot after recovery.
I think his selection is also grounded in having a point of difference to his play.
Now he needs to take the chance he has been given or they will cut him. I think that is understood by all. -
@antipodean said in Game of 3 halves: All Blacks v Canterbury v Otago:
@act-crusader said in Game of 3 halves: All Blacks v Canterbury v Otago:
You know the real reason why it’s not being televised....
It's all the new stuff they're implementing and don't want other teams watching and analysing.
They don't want other teams getting more tape of Frizzle to analyse.
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Re NMS.
I agree with @Crucial. It's about form prior to injury that they re-pick you on.
Further, I think they think if they can get his pace back well ... good. He's been injured most of the year. Given a decent run without injury and specialist treatment and coaching he may be able to get back up to speed. Probably best if he does that in the AB environment, where he can concentrate on rehab/rebuilding, rather than than to play half arsed.
Just my thunk. May be wildly wrong.
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@booboo said in Game of 3 halves: All Blacks v Canterbury v Otago:
Re NMS.
I agree with @Crucial. It's about form prior to injury that they re-pick you on.
Further, I think they think if they can get his pace back well ... good. He's been injured most of the year. Given a decent run without injury and specialist treatment and coaching he may be able to get back up to speed. Probably best if he does that in the AB environment, where he can concentrate on rehab/rebuilding, rather than than to play half arsed.
Just my thunk. May be wildly wrong.
There were people similarly hopeful about Savea getting his speed back.
It never happens at his age. They are wasting their time unless they want him to move to midfield. Which I doubt.
Does anyone know the oldest winger to ever start a test in the professional era for the All Blacks?
Edit: by my quick reckoning a few of the greats just stayed on until the age NMS will be.
Only players like him to start at his age would be Eric Rush and Israel Dagg.
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@chester-draws Smith, Jane?
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@bones said in Game of 3 halves: All Blacks v Canterbury v Otago:
@chester-draws Smith, Jane?
Thanks.
Jane almost 32 years, so yes. Not sure how I missed him.
Smith 32, and still going. I confess I put him in the "winger, but really second fullback" rather than pure winger category.
It's impressive how many great AB wingers don't make it to play in their 30's though. The legs give out it seems. A few of the power players can still barge over aged 28 or 29, but then are gone. The speed merchants drop off a bit younger.
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@chester-draws Billy Slater on the other hand is 35 and is as fast as he has ever been. So it is possible to maintain your speed well into your thirties if he's anything to go by.
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@akan004 said in Game of 3 halves: All Blacks v Canterbury v Otago:
@chester-draws Billy Slater on the other hand is 35 and is as fast as he has ever been. So it is possible to maintain your speed well into your thirties if he's anything to go by.
off the mark still quick , no where near as quick going the full distance
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I wasn't aware Billy Slater was a winger. Or a union player (quite a few league wingers are really slow by Union standards, it's quite a different position -- NMS won't be taking many hit-ups). Also, Billy's a freak.
I found my own rugby union winger counter-example in Eric Rush, so I know guys in their 30s can still be pace merchants.
But it's very rare for a guy. And it's particularly rare after serious injury for a guy to get his full pace back. Not so bad if he has power (e.g. Sivivatu), a boot (Dagg) or might be required elsewhere (Ben Smith), but Nehe is only a stepper.
The upside of having NMS in the squad is low -- he might get his mojo back and be a capable replacement if the top wingers are injured. The downside is someone with a lot of promise, the next Reiko perhaps, is missing out to a guy who shouldn't be there.
I understand the AB selectors are loyal, but Nehe's not really been part of the team for years now. Time for them to move on.
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Doug Howlett was 29 when he last played for the ABs. IMO he was certainly quick enough and good enough to keep being an All Black when he took the big OS offer post RWC.
