AB RWC squad
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@Canes4life said in AB RWC squad (SBW gone?):
@kiwiinmelb @Frank SBW doesn't have the perfect game either. He has lost a yard or two of pace and he has been injury prone for a long time now. Don't forget his tendency to use the shoulder in the tackle that has been costly to the All Blacks in the past.
I didn’t suggest he has the perfect game , just what I think they see in him that makes him different.
And like has been mentioned by many, maybe a key to unlocking the rush defence.
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SBW is there over Laumape for a number of reasons (experience in general, experience at RWCs) but most importantly he is the better player for the gameplay and structure.
He is there to be in pod one which involves bending the line and recycling quickly out to the second playmaker.
NL is great at bending the line but his ball handling is not at SBWs level.
I probably would have had NL there over Crotty but concede that loses some squad flexibility.
NL is just unlucky not undeserving -
@kiwiinmelb said in AB RWC squad (SBW gone?):
@Frank said in AB RWC squad (SBW gone?):
@Canes4life said in AB RWC squad (SBW gone?):
@Siam of course I don’t wish injury upon anyone, but for Ngani’s sake I hope he gets the opportunity he deserves after playing the house down all year.
He has played well this year, but Hansen and co. clearly see him as the 5th best midfielder in the country at international level. This suggests to me his game has some shortcomings compared to SBW.
I think it’s the offloading game that sets him apart . Pretty much makes him unique compared to anyone , not just laumape.
When he offloads to the opposition or the ground? Everyone offloads, that's not unique.
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@Stargazer said in AB RWC squad (SBW gone?):
Haha, there goes whatever credibility Hamish McKay had.
If I was Laumape I'd make sure I knew where my passport was, just in case
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@canefan said in AB RWC squad (SBW gone?):
@Stargazer said in AB RWC squad (SBW gone?):
Haha, there goes whatever credibility Hamish McKay had.
If I was Laumape I'd make sure I knew where my passport was, just in case
Good point, I'm sure he has absolutely no idea.
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@Stargazer said in AB RWC squad (SBW gone?):
Haha, there goes whatever credibility Hamish McKay had.
Will you still say that if SBW goes home sometime over the next 2-3 weeks?
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RETALLICK ON TRACK FOR EARLY RETURN AT WORLD CUP
Once suffering his shoulder dislocation when hit during a clean out against South Africa in Wellington, Retallick said he had always intended to do so aqua jogging during his rebilitation. On one of those occasions, a few days before the World Cup squad was named, while in the water working out he gained an unexpected benefit from his efforts. "It seemed to click into place, whether there was a bit of scar tissue there, but it felt good after it did click and from there it's just gone upwards and progressed," he said. Initially there had been a sharp pain which caused him to grab his shoulder and say that it hurt but he found when getting out of the pool it was 'pretty much as good as gold'."I'm not sure on an exact date but hopefully sooner rather than later I'll be available for selection," he said. He had full range of motion in the shoulder and his strength was nearly back to where it was.Retallick said in an ideal scenario he would probably have one full week of build-up before getting into a full week of training ahead of a game. That would give him two full weeks of contact and set-piece work. -
@Stargazer that’s great news,Tuipulotu and Barrett have both done well in the big guys absence..but to get Brodie back is next level
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@shark said in AB RWC squad (SBW gone?):
@Stargazer said in AB RWC squad (SBW gone?):
Haha, there goes whatever credibility Hamish McKay had.
Will you still say that if SBW goes home sometime over the next 2-3 weeks?
Yes. All it would mean is a stopped clock is correct at some point.
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@Stargazer Fantastic news. No disrespect to the others in the squad, but he's a shoe in for a world XV and we need as many of those on the field as possible to do a threepeat.
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@nzzp said in AB RWC squad:
Mods - can you update the thread title as SBW isn't just not gone, he played at the weekend!
And will probably start next game.
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I'll whack this in here, for lack of patience scrolling down. In depth analysis
Analysis: How the All Blacks defend and where all the weak points are
There are only 15 men allowed on the field, and the field is too wide for us to cover it all. Therefore, in defence we have compromises to make.
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When watching Laulala get yellow carded.
It dawned on me that the NZ selectors have gone too aggressive on their impact props.
I don't, for a second, assume Laulala will be suspended. But if he was in the next match etc. NZ are too light on scrummaging props.
Both Franks and Karl T ommitted was a risk, fair enough, you want impact from subs.
But when we saw Malherbe come back on for Nyakane in the SAF test, we saw him eat Angus alive. (edit: actually was eat loosehead version of Ofa T alive, not Angus)
So, this subs ploy only works, if:
- the opposition put similar emphasis on impact subs props, rather than scrummaging subs props.
- No 'unepected' happenings like the opposition starting prop coming back on.
- Or that the goddam humidity finally goes away so players stop dropping the ball all the time. We might have 10 scrums in the last 30 at the rate people are dropping the ball this tournament.
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@Rapido I subscribed to this train of thought before the All Black team was selected that Owen Franks should have been taken simply because he is an out and out scrummager , I saw some very real concerns in the Springbok game when both Laulala and Moody were replaced..I have doubts over both Ta’avao and Tua’ngafasi being on the paddock at the same time...it’s a real shame Tu’nukuafi had been out because has been on fire in the Mitre 10 cup...
It’s an area that’s still bugging me, I hope am not correct on this, I would rather I was wrong and eat humble pie.. -
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@Steven-Harris said in AB RWC squad:
@Rapido I subscribed to this train of thought before the All Black team was selected that Owen Franks should have been taken simply because he is an out and out scrummager ,
But it has been a long time since he dominated a scrum. I really don't think he is any better scrummager than anyone else, but offers next to nothing around the park.
