2019 Rugby Championship
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@gt12 Probably Otere Black.
The ABs were happy to play DMac at first five after pretty much one season of Super rugby as a first five - by the time we get to the 4N Black should have a similar amount of of Super time under his belt plus the added advantage of having specialized at first five throughout his career.
Disadvantage of no prior international experience - but, it seems like DMac wasn't going to play much first five for the Chiefs this year, so I'm not panicking just yet. We've lost our third string first five - but, there's at least 10 players we can less afford to lose.
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@gt12 What they probably won't now do is:
ASmith, Mo'unga, Ioane, a second five, Goodhue, BSmith, BBarrett, which might well be our best combination.
But, I don't think Hansen would entrust Mo'unga with the reins - it goes against his grain when he's got an experienced option - and that grain has served him pretty well.
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@Chris-B said in 2019 Rugby Championship:
@gt12 What they probably won't now do is:
ASmith, Mo'unga, Ioane, a second five, Goodhue, BSmith, BBarrett, which might well be our best combination.
But, I don't think Hansen would entrust Mo'unga with the reins - it goes against his grain when he's got an experienced option - and that grain has served him pretty well.
This means we may finish with a backline you and I have wanted to see for a while though. Mo'unga is a strong ball runner and has made a big impact on tests in his career to date so is well suited to the bench as well. Then shifting Beauden to 15 for the final 20 also allows him to cut loose against tired legs.
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@No-Quarter Yeah - although I wonder how often they'll be willing to risk having both of our decent first fives on the park at the same time.
I certainly don't see them starting them together. A bit of a luxury even shifting Beaudy to fullback in non-knockout games.
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@Chris-B said in 2019 Rugby Championship:
Reality is that if Beaudy and Mo'unga get broken from here, we are most likely fucked.
Depending on the timing it could be a blessing in disguise. Not that by any means I think we are a better team without those two, but a catastrophic happening like that would most likely force a complete rethink of the overall gameplan.
We have an elite fullback, a halfback capable of elite play and two all-time great locks. This is a very good base to win a world cup from if we shelve any notion of playing ethereal XV man rugby (losing those two would surely do that).
Our best chance of getting tipped up unexpectedly is playing an enigmatic 10 who isn't a particularly strong goal kicker.
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If they're forced to play a rookie 10, then IMO they would be well served to pick the best defensive player and one who makes the fewest mistakes (especially with exit plays). Stephen Donald might not have offered much else, but in a knock-out world cup game, you at least knew he could tackle with meaning.
The worst option would be someone might be technically a better first-five for a Super season, but doubtful defensively and prone to errors. The ability to make exciting runs really won't cancel out missed tackles and poor clearances.
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@rotated said in 2019 Rugby Championship:
We have an elite fullback, a halfback capable of elite play and two all-time great locks. This is a very good base to win a world cup from if we shelve any notion of playing ethereal XV man rugby (losing those two would surely do that).
And, I'd add a left wing who could be (if on form) the wing of the tournament. A hooker coming back from injury who has been the best in the world.
We're 50/50 I reckon, but that's pretty good going
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@booboo said in 2019 Rugby Championship:
MacDonald was an experienced 10. Played plenty of provincial and Super at 10.
Wasn't almost all of it after he was selected to play at 10 for the All Blacks though? A few games for Marlborough as a kid.
Someone ought to tell All Blacks .com that they are talking shit: link text
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@Chester-Draws Didn't MacDonald play 10 against the Reds in a semi final for the Crusaders in 99 or something?
My memory of MacDonald at 10 for the ABs was him getting charged down 50,000 times.
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@Chester-Draws said in 2019 Rugby Championship:
@booboo said in 2019 Rugby Championship:
MacDonald was an experienced 10. Played plenty of provincial and Super at 10.
Wasn't almost all of it after he was selected to play at 10 for the All Blacks though? A few games for Marlborough as a kid.
Someone ought to tell All Blacks .com that they are talking shit: link text
No.
I'll expand. He had played plenty of rep rugby at 10 well before he was picked fir the ABs.
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@booboo said in 2019 Rugby Championship:
@Chester-Draws said in 2019 Rugby Championship:
@booboo said in 2019 Rugby Championship:
MacDonald was an experienced 10. Played plenty of provincial and Super at 10.
Wasn't almost all of it after he was selected to play at 10 for the All Blacks though? A few games for Marlborough as a kid.
Someone ought to tell All Blacks .com that they are talking shit: link text
No.
I'll expand. He had played plenty of rep rugby at 10 well before he was picked fir the ABs.
I think we must have different definitions of "plenty".
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@Tim said in 2019 Rugby Championship:
MacDonald played the first Super Rugby season at 10 for the Chiefs.
Well, I did not know that. Since I've watched pretty much every Chiefs game except 2018 I must have seen him too.
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Leon started out as a 10. Converted to fullback.
Leon MacDonald - WildTomato
Leon Macdonald READ MAGAZINE Tough coaching pays off for Leon BY GEOFF MOFFETT He went on to a stellar career with the All Blacks, but Tasman Makos coach Leon MacDonald had thugs and gods against him in his teenage rep debut for Marlborough, Geoff Moffett reports. Could a 16-year-old future All...
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Shit I'm blind: my guess updated at mid SR season
What's coming up:
Super Rugby Final 6 July
decent gap to >21 Jul Argentina v All Blacks Buenos Aires 6:05 AM
27 Jul All Blacks v South Africa Westpac Stadium, Wellington 7:35 PM
10 Aug Australia v All Blacks Perth 10:00 PM
17 Aug All Blacks v Australia Eden Park, Auckland 7:35 PMSo away, home, away, home then a warm up vs Tonga
07 Sep All Blacks v Tonga FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton 2:35 PM
The RWC vs Boks on the 21stGoogle couldn't tell me the squad naming deadline, hopefully it is not before 17 August, and I think it is after, 3 weeks before the Cup starts on the 31st of August or so. Unlike previous years there seems to be more time for squad camps, rests, etc from SR>RC>warm up>RWC
33 named for last year's RC squad, so I guess similar this year - unless they go to RWC sized 31 man squad because of a shortened RC series, but I think they'll name 33 to give them some options - like a 3rd #10 who won't go to RWC unless there's an emergency
My guess: BOLD last RWC
Hookers (3)
Taylor, Coles, HarrisProps (5)
Moody, Franks, Karl T, Ofa T, Nepo LLocks (4)
BBBR, Whitelock, Little barrett, Pat TLoose Forwards (6, one to drop RWC)
Read, Cane, Ardie, Frizzell, Squire, AkiraHalfbacks (3)
Smith, Tj, TTT1st Fives (3, Black to drop RWC)
Beaudy, Mo'unga, BlackMidfielders (4)
SBW, ALB, Goodhue, CrottyOutside/Utility backs (5)
BFA, Ioane, Jordie, Havili, BridgeThis is what I expect to see, as it stands, obviously things can change. There is also, worryingly, a lot of space as the squad is not settled like 2011/15. I also expect a lot to be with the squad training for the entire period they can, esp so they can do full team opposed runs & spread the current knowledge for emergency replacements
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I really really need to post the insiders thoughts that I've been meaning to since Dec or it'll be too late.
As a taster They don't rate Akira because he's a lazy penalty magnet (my words). What he does he does well but one of the KPI's they place a lot of emphasis on is how quickly someone gets up from a ruck and apparently he's one of the worst around. Can't play the AB game if half the time you're sitting on your arse (my words again)
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