ITM Cup Stocks up and down
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@tim said in ITM Cup Stocks up and down:
@crucial said in ITM Cup Stocks up and down:
Orbyn Leger for the stocks down column. He is NOT looking like a Super level player at all.
He isn't looking flash, but it can't be easy playing in that extremely scrappy Counties team.
That doesn't excuse his skill lapses. Missed tackles and dropped balls are personal responsibility.
Maybe he is giving himself a wakeup call and will come right. I certainly hope so, but at the moment he is part of the 'scrappyness' himself. -
@gt12 said in ITM Cup Stocks up and down:
I like your positivity in selecting them so long out.
The last player I thought would be a long term AB on first watch was Messam, when I saw him play high school footy. Around that time (or a bit after) I also saw Conrad Smith for the NZ University team (I think it was) and thought he was the best natural center I'd seen play, but would never make it as he was skinny as fuck.
On ITM cup form so far, Papalii looks an AB for sure. Also, the young HB half back just jumps out as super talented (ahem, Chiefs?), and Thompson has been awesome. He's a good example of a player who I think would walk into most other overseas teams, but is stuck here. I wonder how far away he is...
Apart from that, Lomax looks worth further investment too. Might take time - look at Ta'avao.
Fakatava has looked impressive - we were discussing in the match thread how the Canes haven't locked him up yet so Cooper should get on then phone now.
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Can't think of anyone for BOP. Which is weird given how well they are tracking. Therefore I nominate the coach
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@baron-silas-greenback also sign of a good team
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@baron-silas-greenback said in ITM Cup Stocks up and down:
Can't think of anyone for BOP. Which is weird given how well they are tracking. Therefore I nominate the coach
What happened to that big BoPper they had in the second row vs Taranaki?
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@canes4life said in ITM Cup Stocks up and down:
@gt12 Haha I know he has a long way to go to be anywhere near Cullen. I was meaning more his gliding running style, reminds me of alot like Cully.
Jordan looks like a classy operator already though and I am not making any apologies in saying that he will be a long time All Black if he stays injury free.
Yeah - although it might keep the scorners at bay to speculate as to who the ABs might take away as an apprentice on the EOYT - if they take one.
Jordan would have as good a chance as any - though given Hansen has expressed concern about propping stocks, I reckon Lomax would also be a reasonable bet. Lomax has definitely improved from where he was this time last year, playing for Ta$man.
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@chris-b said in ITM Cup Stocks up and down:
Yeah - although it might keep the scorners at bay to speculate as to who the ABs might take away as an apprentice on the EOYT - if they take one.
Jordan would have as good a chance as any
With DMac and JB still very young I doubt they'll be taking another fullback.
I did read that Hansen is keen to take a squad of the same size as for a RWC, so that means only 31 players. More likely players miss out than extras are included.
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@bovidae unless the news is talking crap, looks like they may have changed their wise minds
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I think they'll mainly watch the guys who were omitted from the squad and/or were sent to play M10 Cup with 'work-ons' or needed game time after injury, such as Fifita, Akira, NMS, Weber, Asafo Aumua.
But if they're looking at genuine newbies, they may look at players in positions in which they need more depth. Maybe Makalio; Lomax; Gibson, Evans; Bridge, Alaimalo, Lam (only one of those 3 to be picked). I seriously doubt they're already looking at Jordan, who'll be well behind particularly Bridge and Alaimalo, but if they do, I'll throw in Flanders and Fakatava.
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I'd say they will be looking closely at the likes of Gibson, Papali'i (although does he play 7?) or maybe Hunt? Cupboard bare after them...
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@stargazer said in ITM Cup Stocks up and down:
I think they'll mainly watch the guys who were omitted from the squad and/or were sent to play M10 Cup with 'work-ons' or needed game time after injury, such as Fifita, Akira, NMS, Weber, Asafo Aumua.
But if they're looking at genuine newbies, they may look at players in positions in which they need more depth. Maybe Makalio; Lomax; Gibson, Evans; Bridge, Alaimalo, Lam (only one of those 3 to be picked). I seriously doubt they're already looking at Jordan, who'll be well behind particularly Bridge and Alaimalo, but if they do, I'll throw in Flanders and Fakatava.
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Papali'i has played one or two games on the openside for the NZ U20 during last year's WC. I would say that his size (1.90 m, 105 kg - Aucklandrugby website) is limiting his future to the 7 jersey. He does not seem big enough for an international blindside loose forward IMO.
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@taniwharugby Papalii's played a fair bit of 7 in the past, including a couple of games with the Blues this year. I thought he outplayed Todd and Hooper when he was at 7 this year.
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I'd be surprised if they are interested in players who haven't yet made an impression in SR. It's a big step up from M10. Aumua is probably a one-off based more on his performance at U20 level.
No.8 isn't exactly a position of depth so I'd like Akira to be looked at (again). Papali'i, as mentioned, as a 6/7. @cgrant Papali'i was the starting 7 in the playoff games for the NZ U20s.
