Players to build the team around?

[cgrant]

I think the talent is here but it's more a collective (or coaching) issue.

[Tim]

This is like the "inventors dilemma" of selection and team building. We held on to a big group of top class players until they were past it, leaving us with lots of inexperienced players with potential to be top class at international level.

[Tim]

@taniwharugby said in Players to build the team around?:

Tuipoluto isnt dominating like a guy of his size should

This is true, and I wish they would use him to hit the ball up in the middle of the park, and target guys for hits with a rush defence close in too. Don't think he suits the go wide quickly and short passing game plans they use.

[ACT Crusader]

@nzzp said in Players to build the team around?:

@reprobate said in Players to build the team around?:

i know it's something of a joke, but jordie probably should move to 12. he's a very good player, but he's never going to demand a spot in our back 3 because he's simply not fast or athletic enough.

I couldn't agree more. I rate JB as a rugby player, but I don't think wing is possible - he'd be a decent 15.

If we pick him, we need to use the big boot, contests in the air and his size. Wing is not that spot.

I know it’s a small sample so far but Jordie’s kicking game from the back has been all over the show during this years tests. Has been one of the problems. Was it much better during SRA?

I also believe he is a natural midfielder.

[Bones]

Piutau, Luatua, Ngatai, Parker. Who am I missing?

[gt12]

Listen to this shit from Jeff whathisname of Sky Sport:

The solution to the AB physicality problem is Liam Squire? WTF? He's fucking near 30 and been out of the game for ages. And you are a professional who gets paid for this shit? Jesus.

Parsons rightly points to Akira, thank god. FFS, he's there and he's a unit. He's a fast unit. He's an aggressive unit. He's ready. Just fucking run him out and tell him this is his chance.

[Bones]

@gt12 I knew I was missing one!

Of course.

Squire.

[nostrildamus]

@Bones sorry are you counting missing overseas players? Vito? (or has he retired?)

[Bones]

@nostrildamus said in Players to build the team around?:

@Bones sorry are you counting missing overseas players? Vito? (or has he retired?)

Sure, we need good, solid locks. Cruden and TKB are sorely missed.

[nostrildamus]

TKB played well for the ABs in the tight last minutes. Cruden might have fancied his chances. But I can't think of any young-enough locks overseas that might be worthy of a return. Please no one say Isaac Ross (even if he is back).

[Bones]

@nostrildamus said in Players to build the team around?:

TKB played well for the ABs in the tight last minutes. Cruden might have fancied his chances. But I can't think of any young-enough locks overseas that might be worthy of a return. Please no one say Isaac Ross (even if he is back).

Fatialofa and that other big bloke for the Canes (with the big head) were pretty good at denting the line...

Edit: remembered now, Lousi.

[Bones]

Which reminds me, an in form Hemopo would probably be pretty useful.

[nostrildamus]

@Bones said in Players to build the team around?:

Hemopo

I had forgotten him! Good, abrasive player but: not tall for an international lock, and don't we have good enough stock now at 6 and 8?

[Bones]

@nostrildamus said in Players to build the team around?:

@Bones said in Players to build the team around?:

Hemopo

I had forgotten him! Good, abrasive player but: not tall for an international lock, and don't we have good enough stock now at 6 and 8?

Yeah, not tall, but his abrasiveness and ability to run great lines meant he was good at bending the line, had a great workrate too. Would be a good squaddie and/or bench option - would be competition for SB I reckon and certainly makes a better fist of blindisde.

[African Monkey]

@gt12 The media don't like mentioning Akira. They'd pick someone like Tom Sanders over him.

[PecoTrain]

@Tim said in Players to build the team around?:

@MN5 OH MY GOD! He said "look at the score" five times! We can't have that sort of behaviour in a professional rugby team.

What an idiotic and hysterical website.

If Nigel Owens had been reffing he may have got a harsh telling off about that sort of behaviour not being part of rugby.

But I accept most refs wouldn't take that hard a line.

[nostrildamus]

@Bones yes I liked him, always went forward, and same height as Brad Thorne who went alright at lock.

[DMX]

Wondering if we are finally paying a price for underperforming Under 20s. The other countries have been producing bigger and better teams and the NZ U20 skill levels have no longer made the point of difference.

[taniwharugby]

@Machpants but he has continued playing at a high level across the board, history has shown coming back from a season where you are voluntarily unavailable for the ABs isnt an ideal path.

I'd love to be wrong and BBBR teams up with Whitelock and they dominate again.

[junior]

@DMX said in Players to build the team around?:

Wondering if we are finally paying a price for underperforming Under 20s. The other countries have been producing bigger and better teams and the NZ U20 skill levels have no longer made the point of difference.

On the contrary, we should be quite optimistic about the next few years based on U20 form

Where are they now: The 2017 New Zealand U20 world champions

Here's where the world-conquering New Zealand U20 side of 2017 have ended up three years after their success in Georgia.

And this too

Where are they now: The 2015 New Zealand U20 world champions

Some have flourished, while others have floundered, but where in the world are New Zealand's world champion U20 class of 2015?