World rugby 15
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@antipodean said in World rugby 15:
@chester-draws said in World rugby 15:
I'd play Beauden Barrett at 15, allowing him to come up to first receiver a lot. The best of both worlds. Murray can take the exit plays, moves etc, but Beauden comes in if he sees a hole.
What's the point if the ball is too slow coming to him?
Oops, not Murray, Sexton. Beauden at fullback, but with the option to come forward on attack.
Genia or Smith at halfback.
Every team needs a kicker.
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Good to see everyone is coming round to my way of thinking....
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Universal selection of Moody.
Am I missing something?
Best in NZ but best in the world?
Come December we'll have a clearer idea I guess.
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@mikethesnow said in World rugby 15:
Universal selection of Moody.
Am I missing something?
Best in NZ but best in the world?
Come December we'll have a clearer idea I guess.
I have to admit that I was surprised that everyone was rating him that high, although I'm unsure of the alternative standouts.
It comes down to style again though. Does best loosehead mean best scrummager? For some teams that's the criteria. For the ABs he needs to be able to run, draw and pass, make attack decisions etc -
Who else ?
Healy and McGrath share the position for Ireland. Both are solid but not world beaters.
Vunipola ? Very good in the loose but rather meh at scrum time and penalty magnet.
Mtawarira ? Goes missing after his first (very good) 30 minutes.
Evans ?
Very good in the loose but weak at scrum time.
Poirot ? Good at everything but nothing flashy.
Sio ? More than a journeyman but not much more.
Kitshoff ? Is rated behind Mtawarira by the SA selectors. -
@cgrant said in World rugby 15:
Who else ?
Healy and McGrath share the position for Ireland. Both are solid but not world beaters.
Vunipola ? Very good in the loose but rather meh at scrum time and penalty magnet.
Mtawarira ? Goes missing after his first (very good) 30 minutes.
Evans ?
Very good in the loose but weak at scrum time.
Poirot ? Good at everything but nothing flashy.
Sio ? More than a journeyman but not much more.
Kitshoff ? Is rated behind Mtawarira by the SA selectors.Good summary.
The Irish holding court in the NH.
Autumn Internationals will reveal more, as suggested.
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@mikethesnow said in World rugby 15:
Universal selection of Moody.
Am I missing something?
Best in NZ but best in the world?
Come December we'll have a clearer idea I guess.
I think you are.
Moody has been excelllent almost since day 1. 4 years now.
Parachuted in 2015 RWC 1/4 final. Played the house down. Been pretty much starting LHP prop since then for the best scrum in test rugby. Very good in the loose as well.But, there are dangers to judge an individual scrummager, when it's a pack effort.
I find the universal selection of Furlong to be strange. All Lions THPs struggled last year on NZ tour. Even including v the SR starting LHPs (except v Chris Eves for Maori and Canes). Ireland scrum also unimpressive v Australia in June. I posted something similar back in one the Aus v Ire thread. I can let it pass though, and not burst my outragometer, as Furlong is beast in the loose and in the ruck and maul, and no other stand out contenders.
(I rated the Lions LHPS as much stronger than their THPs, with Marler a real surprise for me)
I do rate Furlong in a group of extremely exciting props to watch over the next few years; Furlong, T Tupou, Tuinukiafe. Also liked the Irish U20 prop, Porter, in an U20 JWC a few years ago. I understand he is being converted to the other side now at senior level (although, I can't remember which direction he is converting)
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I'm also finding the Genia selections weird.
Too standout rivals in Smith and Murray, who play contrasting styles.
Genia's major strength was his running game and in particular his pace. He looks slow now, and unfit, his cover defence v Beauden ......
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As for pcking a XV.
I can't do it without revealing my ridiculaous NZ bias .....
There are some great players out there in positions NZ are very strong in, but play a quite different style: Murray & Sexton, Vermuelen. But I'm going to select on an NZ style.
There are good locks, but NZ's are great: AWJ & Itoje (allegedly), Ryan.
There are some good players out there who, however, I have doubts about their core roles; Marx and Furlong. Beale on defence.Smith
Folau
Davies
Beale
Ioane
Barrett
Smith
Read
O'Brien
Matera
Whitelock
Retallick
Franks
Marx (despite myself, I have a hunch his throwing has improved, but not yet proven)
MoodyDon't particularly care about naming the bench, except I would have T Tupou as a specialist THP replacement.
I'm really interested in seeing how Jean-Luc du Preez develops.
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@rapido said in World rugby 15:
Smith
Folau
Davies
Beale
Ioane
Barrett
Smith
Read
O'Brien
MateraPOM
Whitelock
Retallick
Franks
Marx
MoodyNot many really world class sixes at this point in time. As you say Jldp might be a stand out for SAF for years to come.
