AB EOYT 2018
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@billy-tell said in AB EOYT 2018:
@nepia said in AB EOYT 2018:
At the risk of offending @Billy-Tell I'm going to continue the "WTF where's Akira?" theme.
His non selection in either of these squads is put in perspective by the selection of Gareth Evans. I’m a huge fan of Evans, he’s a Hawkes Bay boy born and bred and is a class attacking player. Emphasis on the attacking player part. He’s not a stand one off from the ruck and make tackle after tackle kind of guy like Whitelock, he’s not a toil away in the rucks ‘all game’ type of guy like – you know what, who is an example of this type of player? He’s a runner out wide, he’ll do some hit ups and he’ll make some tackles. Evans is a white version of Akira and if you compare them head to head in the Super comp (where Evans was considered to be on fire) and at the stuff you select an Evans for (attack) then Akira comes out on top every time.
I don't know how any of the selectors stand up in a press conference and defend the Evans selection over Akira - although I know they'll probably trot out he can play 7.
In saying all that I hope Evans a. gets a run in Japan and b. carves up ... because if they're not going to select Akira then they may as well select more Magpies in the team.
Not offending. Just boring. Which is a worse sin...
‘‘Tis ok. When I can’t get to sleep at night, I just read the Akira posts and I’m out in no time at all
See, why are you complaining then? you should be thanking us.
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@kiwimurph said in AB EOYT 2018:
@broughie Michael Jones? (note - not comparing Akira with the Iceman).
And Zinny that year as well.
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@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:
@broughie said in AB EOYT 2018:
@bones very unlikely that they would use him in the World Cup. This is not there MO.
Probably wouldn't use a fresh as winger from another code either?
Or a wet behind the ears winger against the Lions
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@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:
@taniwharugby I think Todd was more ringing Hansen informally to seek advice and not pull a Steven Luatua. But, who knows - the story could be bullshit for all I know.
Does seem a bit odd the newbies only finding out when everyone else does. Usually, they know a day or so ahead of time and "only told mum and dad!".
Mind you - if I thought I had any chance of being picked I'd be glued to the live stream.
I think it's deliberate - you find out at the same time as everyone else. I reckon it's pretty cool -- getting yoru name read out as a surprise must be awesome
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I reckon Jordie will cover 10 from bench v Japan, but the starting 10 will play full 80. Inshallah.
Havili also in bench, or starting, to cover for Jordie if he does actually have to move into 10 during the game.
I think starting 10 will be Mo-ouga, with the 2 10/15s going to England the week early with the 23.
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@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:
@broughie said in AB EOYT 2018:
@bones skips my memory. Do you have someone in mind to make your point?S
Is there a player that has been in more camps (or just behind the scenes involvement) than ever?
So I am missing your point. He has been i nvolved in a lot of camps and overlooked for game time. So he gets a participation trophy and a place in the Maoris team for a exotic adventure to the US, Chile and Brazil. Excellent opportunity to work on his work ons whatever they are.
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@rapido I'd forgotten that there's a school of thought that Jordie can play 10 at a pinch - and that maybe Hansen subscribes to it.
In which case, what might happen is that only one of DMac or Mo'unga stays in Japan and plans to play the whole match. Cameron covers 10 from the bench and Jordie is the emergency cover and still starts at fullback.
I don't really like that plan though - we don't want to get rolled by the Blossoms - so I'd be inclined to keep two of the main first fives in Japan. Just not the guy who will start vs England.
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@nzzp said in AB EOYT 2018:
@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:
@taniwharugby I think Todd was more ringing Hansen informally to seek advice and not pull a Steven Luatua. But, who knows - the story could be bullshit for all I know.
Does seem a bit odd the newbies only finding out when everyone else does. Usually, they know a day or so ahead of time and "only told mum and dad!".
Mind you - if I thought I had any chance of being picked I'd be glued to the live stream.
I think it's deliberate - you find out at the same time as everyone else. I reckon it's pretty cool -- getting yoru name read out as a surprise must be awesome
CF snr says that was the way back in the day. You found out you had made or been dropped in real time
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@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:
@broughie said in AB EOYT 2018:
@bones skips my memory. Do you have someone in mind to make your point?
Is there a player that has been in more camps (or just behind the scenes involvement) than Ioane, ever?
Not entirely the same, but even more frustrating for the player. JTA got his test debut in 2013 and had to wait four years (spending time with the ABs in camp on several occasions IIRC) until he finally got to play in black again in two non-test games in November 2017.
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@taniwharugby Yep - I already picked my team!
Though Hansen hinted that BBBR mightn't be fit for Oz, but should be for Japan - so, I reckon he takes Scott Barrett's place and probably pushes a starting lock (Romano) to the bench.
@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:
Looking at the balance of this side, I reckon the team to play japan will be pretty close to.
Tu'inukuafe, Coles, Ta'avao, Romano, Tuipolotu, Hemopo, Papali'i, Whitelock, TTT, Mo'unga, Bridge, Laumape, Lienert-Brown, NMS, JBarrett
Res. Perry, Coltman, Lomax, SBarrett, Evans, Hall, McKenzie, Proctor
Back ups in case of last minute injury: Aumua, O'Neill, Hunt, Drummond, Cameron, Havili
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@canefan said in AB EOYT 2018:
CF snr says that was the way back in the day. You found out you had made or been dropped in real time
Making the squad - yes, but when you drop someone, you front up and talk to them. Don't be all John Mitchell on Cully 'he's got my number'. That shit riles players, and internet commentators called NZZP who talk about themselves in the third person.
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@nzzp said in AB EOYT 2018:
internet commentators called NZZP who talk about themselves in the third person
mariner4life fucking hates those guys
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@broughie said in AB EOYT 2018:
@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:
@broughie said in AB EOYT 2018:
@bones skips my memory. Do you have someone in mind to make your point?S
Is there a player that has been in more camps (or just behind the scenes involvement) than ever?
So I am missing your point. He has been i nvolved in a lot of camps and overlooked for game time. So he gets a participation trophy and a place in the Maoris team for a exotic adventure to the US, Chile and Brazil. Excellent opportunity to work on his work ons whatever they are.
It seems so. Look, has Ioane come out and had a whinge? Does anyone actually know what's going on behind the scenes? How do we know the zoo aren't keeping him close, communicating with him, scheming and planning on surprising the rugby world at the RWC?
He is a unique player and offers some very different qualities to a lot of what is in the ABs and international rugby right now. If they're confident they can put something in place to get the best out of him and time it to be something that other nations can't really plan for, why shouldn't we let them have at it? I haven't seen anything to point to Ioane being disillusioned, why is everyone getting offended on his behalf? That kind of behaviour is what most of the fern wails against.