Positions and players to watch - 2021
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@Canes4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
Caleb Clarke: can’t wait to see how he performs after a few games in black. Looks to have all the skills in the world but I’d like to see him dominate at Super level.
Didn't put a foot wrong and doesn't seem to have any weaknesses.
What surprised me was his maturity - looked as though he'd been playing Test rugby for years. Hungry for work too.
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@MN5 said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
.....and for those doubting whether he has the more subtle touches to his game could look at how Nonu developed these at a similar age.
It would be great to see his skills develop and used a la Nonu. He looks to me to still be a bit one-dimensional ATM.
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@MN5 said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Canes4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@MN5 yeah that game against the Blues last year at the Cake Tin was something else by Laumape. Must of had about five red bulls before that game, certainly played like one.
.....and for those doubting whether he has the more subtle touches to his game could look at how Nonu developed these at a similar age.
Similar ages? Laumape is the same age nonu was at the 2011 world cup. This so called development is a couple of years behind
Nonu was also 4cm taller and 10kg heavier
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@mariner4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@MN5 said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Canes4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@MN5 yeah that game against the Blues last year at the Cake Tin was something else by Laumape. Must of had about five red bulls before that game, certainly played like one.
.....and for those doubting whether he has the more subtle touches to his game could look at how Nonu developed these at a similar age.
Similar ages? Laumape is the same age nonu was at the 2011 world cup. This so called development is a couple of years behind
Nonu was also 4cm taller and 10kg heavier
The Laumape/Nonu analogy is just dumb. Nonu always had the physical game at test level.
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@mariner4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@MN5 said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Canes4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@MN5 yeah that game against the Blues last year at the Cake Tin was something else by Laumape. Must of had about five red bulls before that game, certainly played like one.
.....and for those doubting whether he has the more subtle touches to his game could look at how Nonu developed these at a similar age.
Similar ages? Laumape is the same age nonu was at the 2011 world cup. This so called development is a couple of years behind
Nonu was also 4cm taller and 10kg heavier
Yes. Similar ages. The skillset you're after has developed nicely over the last couple of years.
Also - he hasn't been playing union forever.
@Tim said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@mariner4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@MN5 said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Canes4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@MN5 yeah that game against the Blues last year at the Cake Tin was something else by Laumape. Must of had about five red bulls before that game, certainly played like one.
.....and for those doubting whether he has the more subtle touches to his game could look at how Nonu developed these at a similar age.
Similar ages? Laumape is the same age nonu was at the 2011 world cup. This so called development is a couple of years behind
Nonu was also 4cm taller and 10kg heavier
The Laumape/Nonu analogy is just dumb. Nonu always had the physical game at test level.
Maybe so in that comparisons are odious and such like, but really? You think there's nothing analogous about two midfielders with strong running/crash ball games that were both asked to develop other complementary skills?
Agreed Laumape hasn't broken into the test team as easily as Nonu did, but I'd argue that's more due to the quality of competition.None of us have seen enough yet to know whether Laumape has the physical game at test level.
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He's less.than 100kg. At best he's Sam tuitupou
Players don't magically get better in their late 20s
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@mariner4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
He's less.than 100kg. At best he's Sam tuitupou
Players don't magically get better in their late 20s
I'll just leave this here.
If that doesn't convince you I'll get my mate to ask his future step son in law ( who is in the Hurricanes ) to get him to jump on the scales at pre season training.
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@Canes4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
Number 6s look fairly competitive.
Devan Flanders (Canes), Cullen Grace (Crusaders), Mikaele Tu’u (Highlanders), Akira Ioane (Blues) and Luke Jacobsen (Chiefs) will give the AB selectors a headache I’m sure.
Fifita and Squire are probably two other guys looking to return to international footy and have a little bit to prove.
Except that he's an 8....
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@Canes4life nah don't coz he'll call the fern out for "disrespecting his name."
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@Bones said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Canes4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
Number 6s look fairly competitive.
Devan Flanders (Canes), Cullen Grace (Crusaders), Mikaele Tu’u (Highlanders), Akira Ioane (Blues) and Luke Jacobsen (Chiefs) will give the AB selectors a headache I’m sure.
Fifita and Squire are probably two other guys looking to return to international footy and have a little bit to prove.
Except that he's an 8....
As is Jacobson.
And, apparently Grace wants to play 8 too (can't remember where I read that).
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@Tim said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
2nd Five-Eighth
A big one this year, as our midfield really underperformed last year, lacking penetration and defensive muscle. Distribution from 12 was often mediocre too. This may also be the position with least depth, with some AB options better suited to centre.
ALB - seems more like a centre to me. Classy player, can run good lines outwide, accurate defender, decent distributor, not direct or physical enough at 12.
Jack Goodhue - not the fastest, doesn't have a good long passing game from 12, better suited to centre where he is an accurate player and very good off-loader.
Laumape - not suited to test rugby. Too small to play his direct, physical game at that level. Poor distribution, running lines aren't adequate at that level.
TJ Faiane - probably too small.
Peter Umaga-Jensen - does he have the distribution to play 12? Might be worth trying.
Havili - need to see a full season at 12 in Super Rugby.
Will be interesting to see if "2nd five-eighth" rather than an inside centre type puts their hand up.
Cough cough Jordie cough cough.
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@MN5 said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@mariner4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
He's less.than 100kg. At best he's Sam tuitupou
Players don't magically get better in their late 20s
I'll just leave this here.
If that doesn't convince you I'll get my mate to ask his future step son in law ( who is in the Hurricanes ) to get him to jump on the scales at pre season training.
He’s not a tall man but he’s built like a brick shit house. Farking tree trunk legs. He may lack certain skills but it’s pretty strange to say he doesn’t have the physical attributes. It’s not like he needs to jump in line outs.
