Chiefs 2019
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McNicol was in a really bad way after the Suva concussion. I doubt he'll be risked in the 2019 super rugby comp.
Need to sign Stevenson ASAP and likely Sullivan and Nanai-Seturo as outside back cover.
@cgrant Kautai is signed for next year. Graham is off contract and given he isn't going to be playing for Taranaki he should be the prop to miss out. Moli will be used more as a LH, as per the AB coaches wishes.
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I don't know whether there is surplus at loosehead. Hames is not sure to recover from his concussion while Tim Perry, though sound, is not a worldclass prop. That leaves Karl T and Joe Moody there, compared to the tight head where the queue looks longer (Franks, Ofa T, Laulala, JTA and maybe Fidow for the long term).
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@bones Hansen has made comments going back to the 2017 EOYT. I don't think Moli will be playing exclusively at LH but they seem to be indicating that want him to play there as well as at TH.
Let's see what happens with the Waikato team as Toby Smith should be the first-choice LH.
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@cgrant said in Chiefs 2019:
I don't know whether there is surplus at loosehead. Hames is not sure to recover from his concussion while Tim Perry, though sound, is not a worldclass prop. That leaves Karl T and Joe Moody there, compared to the tight head where the queue looks longer (Franks, Ofa T, Laulala, JTA and maybe Fidow for the long term).
Lindenmuth?
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@booboo said in Chiefs 2019:
@cgrant said in Chiefs 2019:
I don't know whether there is surplus at loosehead. Hames is not sure to recover from his concussion while Tim Perry, though sound, is not a worldclass prop. That leaves Karl T and Joe Moody there, compared to the tight head where the queue looks longer (Franks, Ofa T, Laulala, JTA and maybe Fidow for the long term).
Lindenmuth?
Agree with logic, but having two world class scrummagers is about all one can expect on each side. We have two/three at LH and one/two at TH. Laulala has NMS syndrome and Ofa and JTA are holding operations at scrum time.
BTW Franks has been a weapon since getting back to full fitness. Messed the Beast up properly against the Sharks. He will be badly missed.
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@cgrant said in Chiefs 2019:
Lomax is another THP who must be watched with attention next year. He has improved a lot lately after being rather "meh" in the early rounds.
Has he improved a lot lately? Genuine question.
I haven't taken notice of him since the Maori ABs tour last November where he and the Maori scrum were getting minced.
He was almost single handedly keeping alive the French scrummaging myth .....
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@bones said in Chiefs 2019:
@cgrant Franks will be off soon, JTA is not world class either and where the hell is Laulala...to be honest I'd forgotten about him.
Franks seems like he's been around forever, but he's only 30. Depending on whether he wants an overseas adventure, it's just possible he could do another RWC cycle.
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@chris-b yeah so he'd be 35 come the next one. As good as he is, he's seemingly on a decline, especially athletically. A 35yo TH who's not exactly known for his around the park enthusiasm? Maybe a good bloke to have as back up or on the next flight should injuries occur, but I can't see him being top flight in 5 years.
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@bones You wouldn't really bet on it, but having a crack might be dependent on whether the ABs win again next year. Four RWC winners medals would be almost impossible to top - and that's all I have to say about that.
Supposedly, the operations he had in the off season are going to give him a new lease of life, so will be interesting to see how he's travelling at the end of this year.
He's an interesting one is Owen. You don't often hear AB supporters championing him as the world's best tighthead, but he's been unchallenged for the ABs for nearly a decade.
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@chris-b said in Chiefs 2019:
@bones You wouldn't really bet on it, but having a crack might be dependent on whether the ABs win again next year. Four RWC winners medals would be almost impossible to top - and that's all I have to say about that.
Supposedly, the operations he had in the off season are going to give him a new lease of life, so will be interesting to see how he's travelling at the end of this year.
He's an interesting one is Owen. You don't often hear AB supporters championing him as the world's best tighthead, but he's been unchallenged for the ABs for nearly a decade.
Didn't he used to be a bit more dynamic in defence ? I don't watch as much Rugby as some of the rest of you but I definitely remember some big hits....I don't recall a single tackle bust though.
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@rapido said in Chiefs 2019:
@cgrant said in Chiefs 2019:
Lomax is another THP who must be watched with attention next year. He has improved a lot lately after being rather "meh" in the early rounds.
Has he improved a lot lately? Genuine question.
I haven't taken notice of him since the Maori ABs tour last November where he and the Maori scrum were getting minced.
He was almost single handedly keeping alive the French scrummaging myth .....
"Lately" means the second half of the 2018 SR. Before that, I agree with you, he was really soft. But the Landers scrum fared very well with him on the TH. They had the Tahs scrum back pedaling in the quarter final but this game will be remembered for the Naholo's YC. -
