2019 Rugby World Cup
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Is that an All Whites training jacket Steve is sporting...?
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Quite a few interesting statements in that article that are not about SBW:
To that end, Hansen admitted the upcoming four Rugby Championship tests were essentially World Cup trials. To that end they would name an extended squad to cover the first two matches against Argentina in Buenos Aires on July 21 (NZT) and against the Springboks in Wellington a week later to allow for the fact most players involved in the Super Rugby final would not make the trip to BA. There would then be a trimmed-back squad for the Bledisloe back and forth against the Wallabies on August 10 and 17 and, finally, an even tighter group of just 31 to head to Japan for the tilt at the threepeat. Hansen was giving little away on Monday around the No 10 position and said the thinking on whether they would need a third specialist or cover it with a utility for Japan remained "fluid".He did not want to pressure contenders behind Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo'unga by commenting on them, but did note Highlanders youngster Josh Ioane was "going well" and was "playing with confidence". At halfback he hinted at a potential change in the pecking order behind Aaron Smith and TJ Perenara with incumbent Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi struggling for game-time at the Chiefs. "Brad [Weber] is playing really well and leading well, and Te Toiroa has come back from his off-season probably not where he should have been. Yeah, I'd like him (Tauriorangi) to get more minutes, but Brad's playing really well, so that's exciting." -
@Snowy said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
See, nothing happened!
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In my nightmares, my hands are too small to cover my eyes.
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The way ALB's playing, Sonny Bill needs to produce some serious quality to get the 12 spot.
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what is more surprising is that people are surprised that barring an injury, the probability of SBW being on the plane to Japan is very high...all selections over the past 2 years have pointed to ward him being thier favoured 12.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
The way ALB's playing, Sonny Bill needs to produce some serious quality to get the 12 spot.
I agree, he's the offload king as well as everything else, but will Shag agree?
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@Machpants said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Victor-Meldrew said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
The way ALB's playing, Sonny Bill needs to produce some serious quality to get the 12 spot.
I agree, he's the offload king as well as everything else, but will Shag agree?
The way he's organised the defence has impressed me the most.
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@taniwharugby I am not surprised. I am disappointed though.
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Surely Sonny Bill is the greatest Foodbill in the pro era.
Crotty and Kahui have got nothing on Sonny Foodbill Williams.
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Steve Hansen obviously knows a thing or two about winning Rugby World Cups.
But if the All Blacks come back from Japan without the trophy, then Shag's manlove obsession with Sonny Bill and his offloads will look very strange indeed given SBW's dreadful form since doing his hamstring in 2016. There are IMHO better midfield options available (Crotty, Goodhue, ALB, Ennor, Laumape, Thompson and even a 36-year-old Ma'a Nonu).
But if he produces the goods in Japan, I will drink to Steve Hansen's persistence and genius.
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Is it just me or does SBW play better when he used as a sub?
He might be a game-winner but for every miracle off-load there always seems to a brain-fart or two.
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Sparky is right, that’s what the coaches get paid for.
So, if it goes tits up, bye Shag - a good size dent on your rep too- and probably bye to Foster.
This year will help us understand whether Shag is a god of coaching and selecting or was just lucky to have had Richie, DC, Whitelock, Read, BBBR, Nonu, and the Smiths at one time. Plus Franks too I guess.
It’s probably somewhere between the two anyway, But how close he gets to the WC really matters, because after the Lions and with the quality of some players allowed to leave, there is doubt about this coaching group.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
Is it just me or does SBW play better when he used as a sub?
He might be a game-winner but for every miracle off-load there always seems to a brain-fart or two.
He definitely was a good impact when we had Nonu and Smith starting.
He was also a very good starter after the above two retired from the ABs. But 4 years is a long time and there are massive question marks IMO over him being able to remain fit for top level rugby and then perform at the level needed.
It may come as a surprise to many but I think Crotty and Goodhue should start and ALB is the best bench option covering both positions and his impact will be essential.
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@ACT-Crusader said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
It may come as a surprise to many but I think Crotty and Goodhue should start and ALB is the best bench option covering both positions and his impact will be essential.
I have a lot of sympathy for the SBW attraction. He can be physically dominant - and that's hard to have at the top level. The combo I wanted to see last year (ruined by injury) was SBW-Goodhue ... but that ship may have sailed.
ALB is playing out of his skin at the moment. Absolutely quality - seems to have a very strong game that (like Goodhue) is built for Tests. Suffered from second season syndrome I think but has really stepped up again.
All that, and we're not talking about Laumape who has done some freakish stuff this year on the field. Do they take 5 midfielders? If not, who misses out?
Crotty
Goodhue
ALB
SBW
Laumape -
While some see a physically dominant SBW, I see a SBW who, for a midfielder, runs bad lines, passes inaccurately, kicks at the wrong time, and very rarely puts a player into space by drawing the defender and timing the pass. In my opinion he is not physically dominant enough to beat the rush defence, and he is not skilled enough in the art of backline manipulation to beat the rush defence.
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@nzzp 5 midfielders seems like overindulgence. It will come down to whether there is enough versatility in the squad. Every one of the 5 (including SFBW) have upsides but maybe other than ALB none of them are a genuine shot to play on the wing at test level.
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@ACT-Crusader said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
maybe other than ALB none of them are a genuine shot to play on the wing at test level.
Laumape would be a shot for that surely?
Edit: as cover, not as a starter obviously
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Top three midfielders IMHO are clearly Ryan Crotty, ALB and Jack Goodhue.
Choosing the 4th to make up the squad is hard. SBW and Maa Nonu bring experience and impact but are past their prime. Nonu's passing game remains a joy to watch. SBW can still manage the occasional offload, although midfielders' shovel kicks tend to be more the way to split defences these days. Ngani Laumape is an excellent bulldozer but hasn't really developed his defensive, passing or kicking game. Really impressed with Braydon Ennor this season, he has come on leaps and bounds. Lacks experience, but the 21 year old's ability to play Wing perhaps gives him the edge.
