AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?
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@nzzp said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@canefan said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bovidae said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Nonu didn't always play in the midfield for Wellington. In the 2006 NPC final, for example, he was on the left wing. He was used as a sub as often as a 12/13 in the next 4 years after his AB debut.
All his early matches were at wing for the Canes
Against Ireland in Ireland early on in his career I remember him coming on as a sub, running 50m, being people with power and pace, chipping, regathering and then knocking on in goal. Would have been one of the all time great tries.
Was that the same Ireland match he got carded?
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@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
My take, for what it's worth, is that ALB and Goodhue is a good but not great midfield. The kind that will look a million bucks when we are on top and beating a team, but when shit gets really tough, won't create much by themselves.
I think you can extend that across much of the team that lost to England. We had lots of good solid international players - but, not enough who were capable of the extraordinary. I think that's why we had to go with the Mo'unga-Barrett two playmakers thing - because , they were two of the very few we had capable of busting open the most meticulous defences.
Beyond them, I'd say Ardie Savea meets that standard. Big Brodie usually does, but he was a shadow of his best self. And maybe Sevu Reece. Everyone else was more a role player - solid, but not demanding of extra-special attention.
Compare that to 2015 when we had major threats across the park - maybe eight or nine guys who needed special attention.
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Bearing in mind the results of that player poll about the best wing in NZ, and that most of the people being touted as the potential AB wings were playing in this game - you'd have to say that the somewhat-maligned George Bridge answered his critics.
If this was an old-school AB trial, I'd pick Bridge and Ioane as the two wings (ignoring considerations of who plays left and right).
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@Chris-B said in Crusaders v Blues:
Bearing in mind the results of that player poll about the best wing in NZ, and that most of the people being touted as the potential AB wings were playing in this game - you'd have to say that the somewhat-maligned George Bridge answered his critics.
If this was an old-school AB trial, I'd pick Bridge and Ioane as the two wings (ignoring considerations of who plays left and right).
I will agree that Bridge showed some classy touches but he has to maintain that level if he isnt to be surpassed by others that offer more.
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@Crucial Basically, the contenders for the wing spots are Bridge, Telea, Clarke, and Reece. Then there are wing/midfielders in R Ioane and Ennor, and a wing/fullback in Jordan
It will depend on the number of players they want to select from this group, but I think Bridge, Rieko and Reece are near certainties to be picked. I don't think they'll drop Bridge for either Telea or Clarke.
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@Stargazer said in Crusaders v Blues:
@Crucial Basically, the contenders for the wing spots are Bridge, Telea, Clarke, and Reece. Then there are wing/midfielders in R Ioane and Ennor, and a wing/fullback in Jordan
It will depend on the number of players they want to select from this group, but I think Bridge, Rieko and Reece are near certainties to be picked. I don't think they'll drop Bridge for either Telea or Clarke.
I think Bridge needs to prove he’s up to test rugby In tests. He’s always been class at Super level, but after a decent start to his test career he was pretty average as the season went on. I’d rather he be kept than Reece, but, if we want an awesome attacking wing who has some defensive frailties I’d rather Telea than Reece. Despite his parentage at least Telea is committed to NZ.
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@Stargazer said in Crusaders v Blues:
@Crucial Basically, the contenders for the wing spots are Bridge, Telea, Clarke, and Reece. Then there are wing/midfielders in R Ioane and Ennor, and a wing/fullback in Jordan
It will depend on the number of players they want to select from this group, but I think Bridge, Rieko and Reece are near certainties to be picked. I don't think they'll drop Bridge for either Telea or Clarke.
I think you're right.
Depending on numbers, I'm doubtful that they will replace anyone in the backs from last year's RWC squad - apart from those no longer available. If the same squad size (31) I would pick:
Laumape to replace SBW.
Rieko as a midfielder (though he'd probably still be played on the wing) to replace Crotty.
That opens up a wing/utility spot for Will Jordan.
DMac or Havili to replace Ben Smith, but Fozzie will pick DMac.Beauden will probably still be the starting fullback.
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@Chris-B said in Crusaders v Blues:
@Stargazer said in Crusaders v Blues:
@Crucial Basically, the contenders for the wing spots are Bridge, Telea, Clarke, and Reece. Then there are wing/midfielders in R Ioane and Ennor, and a wing/fullback in Jordan
It will depend on the number of players they want to select from this group, but I think Bridge, Rieko and Reece are near certainties to be picked. I don't think they'll drop Bridge for either Telea or Clarke.
I think you're right.
Depending on numbers, I'm doubtful that they will replace anyone in the backs from last year's RWC squad - apart from those no longer available. If the same squad size (31) I would pick:
Laumape to replace SBW.
Rieko as a midfielder (though he'd probably still be played on the wing) to replace Crotty.
That opens up a wing/utility spot for Will Jordan.
DMac or Havili to replace Ben Smith, but Fozzie will pick DMac.Beauden will probably still be the starting fullback.
From what I've seen these last few weeks, Otere Black is doing his cause no harm at all. Really matured as a player.
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@Victor-Meldrew helps not to be bothered by long term nasty injuries.
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@nzzp said in Crusaders v Blues:
@Victor-Meldrew helps not to be bothered by long term nasty injuries.
Yeah. And his decision-making has gone up another notch as well.
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@KiwiMurph Any of those would be good. Josh Ioane or Otere Black also being added in the backs would be my highest priority.
Fullback is an area where somebody is going to be very unlucky - Beauden, Jordie, DMac, Havili, Jordan - a lot of potential depth there and lots of different attributes/utility options.
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@Chris-B said in Crusaders v Blues:
Fullback is an area where somebody is going to be very unlucky - Beauden, Jordie, DMac, Havili, Jordan - a lot of potential depth there and lots of different attributes/utility options.
Forget about the ABs for a minute, who is starting the NI vs SI game at fullback? That should tell us about the AB coaches preferences. I would think JB and DMac would be the favourites. BB needs to play 1st 5 in that game so he has the responsibility of driving the team.
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@Stargazer said in Crusaders v Blues:
@Crucial Basically, the contenders for the wing spots are Bridge, Telea, Clarke, and Reece. Then there are wing/midfielders in R Ioane and Ennor, and a wing/fullback in Jordan
It will depend on the number of players they want to select from this group, but I think Bridge, Rieko and Reece are near certainties to be picked. I don't think they'll drop Bridge for either Telea or Clarke.
Telea is no where near an all Blacks spot, he's a highlight reel, sure, but nowhere near mature enough as as player and in his positioning, esp on defence.
But there are going to be a lot of good backs out of the ABs, but that's the norm for NZ.
Locks, props, not so much
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@Nepia said in Crusaders v Blues:
@Stargazer said in Crusaders v Blues:
@Crucial Basically, the contenders for the wing spots are Bridge, Telea, Clarke, and Reece. Then there are wing/midfielders in R Ioane and Ennor, and a wing/fullback in Jordan
It will depend on the number of players they want to select from this group, but I think Bridge, Rieko and Reece are near certainties to be picked. I don't think they'll drop Bridge for either Telea or Clarke.
I think Bridge needs to prove he’s up to test rugby In tests. He’s always been class at Super level, but after a decent start to his test career he was pretty average as the season went on. I’d rather he be kept than Reece, but, if we want an awesome attacking wing who has some defensive frailties I’d rather Telea than Reece. Despite his parentage at least Telea is committed to NZ.
Bridge's problem is that his key selling points are being "solid" and capable of running reasonably fast in a straight line. Now, I'm not saying that these aren't valuable attributes, but they just don't cut it at test level. There generally has to be something more on offer.
Now, I would actually be content enough to have him in the team, based upon available options, if he played right wing. Unfortunately, he plays on the left, where two of NZ rugby's more exciting ball-runners in Clarke and Ioane also play. Picking Bridge ahead of those two is almost as bad as picking Ralph ahead of Lomu.
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@Chris-B said in Crusaders v Blues:
Bearing in mind the results of that player poll about the best wing in NZ, and that most of the people being touted as the potential AB wings were playing in this game - you'd have to say that the somewhat-maligned George Bridge answered his critics.
If this was an old-school AB trial, I'd pick Bridge and Ioane as the two wings (ignoring considerations of who plays left and right).
I can’t see the AB selectors dropping Bridge even though i would like to see others selected before him.
As a counter point to the broadly held view that he was “excellent” in this game. It is worth noting that he was the one who had a bad first up tackle miss on Telea which lead to him beating Havili and Bridge having to chase him back to make the tackle the commentators were raving about.
His kick chasing efforts were also greatly aided by Telea shitting the bed in that regard.
Nice pass back inside for the Drummond try though.
But Ioane would have scored that himself...........
