Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play
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@Rapido said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
Just realised I forgot entirely about Jacobson. Who actually gives me wood. But giving time to Jacobson takes time away from papali'i. Better to make a choice and stick with it at this late stage
It depends where you need more cover IMO. They both cover all three, but Jacobson is the better 7 and Papali'i is the better 6
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@Rapido said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
Just realised I forgot entirely about Jacobson. Who actually gives me wood. But giving time to Jacobson takes time away from papali'i. Better to make a choice and stick with it at this late stage
Awesome, but I wonder if he has the conditioning to last a tournament. He's young... amazingballs, but young
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@Duluth said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
It depends where you need more cover IMO. They both cover all three, but Jacobson is the better 7 and Papali'i is the better 6
You reckon? In the NZ U20s Jacobson was at 6 and Papalii at 7. Papalii was the no.7 for St Kents too.
Blindside flanker has always been Jacobson's main position followed by no.8.
I think both players have a big role to play in the ABs in the years to come but it might end up being a RWC cycle too early. I hope I'm wrong.
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@Rapido I'd include Havili as one of the unlucky ones. Had a great SR season and IMO should have been picked instead of J Barrett.
And I can't imagine them taking Harris, who isn't even in the 41-squad.
I don't think they'll take 3 first five-eights, unless they like BB at fullback so much that he gets Dmac label as a player who's picked to play both 10 and 15. Josh Ioane, I don't even think he's an "unlucky one". He's more of a "lucky one" if he gets picked.
Jacobson v Papali'i is defintely an intresting one!
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@Bovidae said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
You reckon? In the NZ U20s Jacobson was at 6 and Papalii at 7. Papalii was the no.7 for St Kents too.
Papali'i has grown since then and Jacobson is relatively small for a Test match blindside. Jacobson is better over the ball.
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I would absolutely take 3 10s, and so by default that is Josh Ioane who will be barely above uncapped at that stage. The offset is taking a 5th midfielder or a 5th outside back which just aren't required .
Ambition is just to play v the 2 minnows in our pool and for him to pray for BB and RM health.
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@Duluth I understand what you are saying but I would consider both to be typical of the modern-day hybrid loose forward.
Outside of the top XV, I would prefer loose forwards, and outside backs for that matter, with some utility value in my RWC squad so one of them would be a better option than a specialist who can't cover as many positions.
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@Rapido said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
I would absolutely take 3 10s, and so by default that is Josh Ioane who will be barely above uncapped at that stage.
I think they may be contemplating using TJP and JB as 3rd options at 1st 5. TJP has played there in one of those game of three halves. I'm not saying he starts in any of the pool games but could be used as the reserve against Namibia, for example. They could rotate BB and RM in the other pool matches.
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@Bovidae said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
I understand what you are saying but I would consider both to be typical of the modern-day hybrid loose forward.
Sure, thats the reason they are both in the reckoning - they can play all 3 positions.
They don't have the same strengths though. Papali'i is the size and shape of a blindside, but his workrate means he can cover 7 at a pinch.
Jacobson is smaller but more of a genuine allrounder.If it is a shoot out between them (I have a feeling they both miss out..) the deciding factor might be how well each flank is covered by other players.
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@Bovidae I dunno he seems like he isn't keen. I don't think they'll drop someone out completely to pick a guy that hasn't been involved this year. Not saying he isn't a great player. But it feels like he put himself out of contention for his own reasons.
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@Yeetyaah I thought it was because Squire didn't think his body was up to the rigours of test rugby after playing so little super rugby. We're obviously not privy to his discussions with Hansen as to whether Squire has completely ruled himself out.
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My theoretical squad positions breakdown changes now with BBBR injury, and probably carrying him for first 3 weeks of pool play.
Biggest loser may be Hemopo. The other loser is Todd (although Todd is a luxury already in my squad makeup).
I would now want 4 proper locks in my squad at the expense of the lock/blindside. And now one of the specialist loosies needs to be bigger. I feel Hemopo is too short to be 3rd choice lock for almost a month of the tournament with all the other potential for the unexpected to happen.
So Pat T comes in, and Frizzell comes in.
Hemopo just hasn't specialised enough at 6 for me to see him starting there, so he goes out. Which is a real shame as I like the cut of Hemopo's jib so much and wish he had concentrated on 6 ever since I saw him play (albeit at lock) v the British Lions. I don't rate ether Frizzell or Pat T nearly as high, am I just being a slave to player height stats?
