AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?
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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........... -
I think this is a good point, he doesn’t have or hasn’t shown a lot of versatility. As a fullback/wing, I think he should be able to go 11/14/15 and if he can’t he’s not quite good enough to hold 11.
Personally, I’d pick Rieko and Clarke because Clarke is very very good under the high ball and has so much scope to be a real weapon. However, it’s probably a year too soon so the selectors will have some choices to make, and Reece is playing very well.
I don’t like him in the team, but he’s been very good the couple of games so it’s hard to see him being dropped.
There is also Jordan. Plus Jordie is playing well.
On form, the player to leave out at 15 is Dmac; we’ll see whether Foster pulls the chain or not.
For Havili, I think last week showed he’s much better defending in traffic. He’s a very good player who is clearly international standard, but I don’t see a place him.
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@gt12 said in Crusaders v Blues:
I think this is a good point, he doesn’t have or hasn’t shown a lot of versatility. As a fullback/wing, I think he should be able to go 11/14/15 and if he can’t he’s not quite good enough to hold 11.
Personally, I’d pick Rieko and Clarke because Clarke is very very good under the high ball and has so much scope to be a real weapon. However, it’s probably a year too soon so the selectors will have some choices to make, and Reece is playing very well.
I don’t like him in the team, but he’s been very good the couple of games so it’s hard to see him being dropped.
There is also Jordan. Plus Jordie is playing well.
On form, the player to leave out at 15 is Dmac; we’ll see whether Foster pulls the chain or not.
For Havili, I think last week showed he’s much better defending in traffic. He’s a very good player who is clearly international standard, but I don’t see a place him.
If Bridge has plans on a serious long-term future in black, then he has to adapt and become more like Ben Smith - the wing / fullback - than Caleb Ralph - the carthorse. There are too many good back three players that offer more of an attacking threat and are more in-line with our recent selections in that part of the field. He therefore has to add that "second fullback" string to his bow.
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@junior said in Crusaders v Blues:
BridgeHowlett'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. -
@Bones said in Crusaders v Blues:
@junior said in Crusaders v Blues:
BridgeHowlett'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.Bridge is nowhere near Howlett in terms of either ability or pace. Howlett also had the ability to play fullback, so thanks for proving my point.
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@junior said in Crusaders v Blues:
@Bones said in Crusaders v Blues:
@junior said in Crusaders v Blues:
BridgeHowlett'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.Bridge is nowhere near Howlett in terms of either ability or pace. Howlett also had the ability to play fullback, so thanks for proving my point.
Bridge has played fullback so that’s covered.
