2020 All Blacks Squad
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@Stargazer whenever I see someone mention Laumape I have a little laugh because at test level he’s been between okay-ish and anonymous.
There’s been several times in tests he’s played and all he’s done is run decoy lines and been bypassed. I don’t think there was a a great deal of trust there at the next level.
A very effective Super rugby player so I do not begrudge his selection one bit, but at this point I think he needs to show a lot more than what he has. And he has had opportunity!
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@ACT-Crusader I thought Laumape was improving during the 2019 season, but I'm keen to see Toala get opportunities for the Canes. If he takes those opportunities, he might add some competition for the Canes 12 jersey and who knows what will follow. Laumape hasn't had enough competition for that Canes 12 jersey; it might actually help him improve, too.
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@ACT-Crusader that's certainly not the impression I've got from his test appearances. 10 tries in 15 tests doesn't exactly scream ordinary either.
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@Bones more than half of those tries have come against Japan, Baabaas, Italy, French invitational.
I can think of an Argies test and one of the BIL tests that I thought he was okay. But his distribution game is limited and I think that’s where he’s been bypassed as a ball playing option during games and it’s been noticeable.
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@ACT-Crusader yeah my impression was he was used in a specific role just like most of the players. We see it a lot with "new" players where they come in and do a lot of ball tucking.
Looking good against a non tier one side is still looking good imo.
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@shark said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
@taniwharugby said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
@shark I expect Savea will be at 8 next year.
I hope not. We need bulk with mobility at 8 and 6.
Yeah, Savea is notoriously lacking in mobility!
It's all bullshit anyway that big is better. The Springboks -- famous for their size -- have a huge PSDT. But alongside him they have a Francois Louw and Siya Kolisi, neither of which are huge, and a tiny by modern standards Kwagga Smith. Duane Vermeulen isn't enormous. We've beaten them most years -- indeed this year -- without requiring huge men.
Better is better, and if you think a bigger man is going to be better than Ardie Savea has been this year, then you're mental.
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@Chester-Draws well shit, if Duane Vermuelen isn't a big bastard then I've obviously misidentified him. Kolisi is a good size unit too, he isn't small, especially for an openside.
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@ACT-Crusader said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
@Bones more than half of those tries have come against Japan, Baabaas, Italy, French invitational.
I can think of an Argies test and one of the BIL tests that I thought he was okay. But his distribution game is limited and I think that’s where he’s been bypassed as a ball playing option during games and it’s been noticeable.
For 2020, I'd be happy enough to shelve the idea that we need an entire backline of small guys who pass real good but can't generate any go forward
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@Bones Back in the day I was involved in selecting a west Auckland rep team for the Walter Dickson schoolboy tournament and Sam showed up to trial. He was a year younger than most and easily the smallest boy there so we pretty much dismissed his prospects on sight. By the end of the trial where he proceeded to destroy the opposition back line and smash all and sundry with those trade mark big hits he was the first name written on the team sheet.
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@junior said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
@ACT-Crusader said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
@Bones more than half of those tries have come against Japan, Baabaas, Italy, French invitational.
I can think of an Argies test and one of the BIL tests that I thought he was okay. But his distribution game is limited and I think that’s where he’s been bypassed as a ball playing option during games and it’s been noticeable.
For 2020, I'd be happy enough to shelve the idea that we need an entire backline of small guys who pass real good but can't generate any go forward
So ALB and Goodhue it is then. Consider 2019 shelved!
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@Bones said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
@Chester-Draws well shit, if Duane Vermuelen isn't a big bastard then I've obviously misidentified him. Kolisi is a good size unit too, he isn't small, especially for an openside.
When Vermeulen was playing for Toulon, he was listed at 120 kg. In the Worldrugby site, he has slimmed down to 108 kg ! I don't think this is a true reflection of his size. He must be well over 120 kg as he looks very very big. Tom Curry and Sam Underhill are both listed at 106 kg and their respective sizes cannot be compared to Vermeulen's who looks twice as large as them.
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@junior said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
For 2020, I'd be happy enough to shelve the idea that we need an entire backline of small guys who pass real good but can't generate any go forward
Yeah - having people like Nonu, Savea and SBW who win collisions was pretty handy in 2015.
I'd like to see some rapid development of Rayasi and Big Leicester, among others.
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@Chris-B said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
@junior said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
For 2020, I'd be happy enough to shelve the idea that we need an entire backline of small guys who pass real good but can't generate any go forward
Yeah - having people like Nonu, Savea and SBW who win collisions was pretty handy in 2015.
It seems fanciful to think that after losing a bunch of generational players we would win the cup for a third time. Frustratingly we almost could have
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@ACT-Crusader said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
@junior said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
@ACT-Crusader said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:
@Bones more than half of those tries have come against Japan, Baabaas, Italy, French invitational.
I can think of an Argies test and one of the BIL tests that I thought he was okay. But his distribution game is limited and I think that’s where he’s been bypassed as a ball playing option during games and it’s been noticeable.
For 2020, I'd be happy enough to shelve the idea that we need an entire backline of small guys who pass real good but can't generate any go forward
So ALB and Goodhue it is then. Consider 2019 shelved!
I really like Jack and ALB and, IMO, they could be the AB midfield pairing for the next 5 years. My issue with those guys is that they're a bit "samey" and they're both kinda 'tweeners. Neither is a massive big bruiser in the Nonu / De Allende / Mortlock mould (I think it's fair to say that, in the last 10 years our first-fives have looked at their absolute best when having a bruiser - generally Nonu or SBW - alongside them to hold the defence or bail them out if needed). But neither is exactly a really skilful or silky midfielder in, say, the Horan / C Smith / O'Driscoll mould.
My main concern with having them both, therefore, is that our midfield might lack a bit of balance. I think it's probably fair to say that both are at their best playing 13, while ALB is probably only a serviceable 12.
