Positions and players to watch - 2021
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@Bones said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Crucial yeah, agree on 3T, Roe and Fakatava seemed to have a slick pass though, I'm looking forward to Nock building on last year too, very similar to TJP on attack I think but also a bit more deft at the breakdown.
I watched Roe closely at Maidstone the other day as all I had really heard about him was his eye for a chance.
I thought he had good running lines/anticipation to the breakdown and was quick to assess options. Didn’t think that his actual pass was all that snappy though. It was accurate and flat but was lacking a few kph -
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@Bones said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
It's pretty funny how Frizzel is left off that list completely...
The forgotten man is Tom Robinson. He wasn't mentioned either.
He has a bad habit of getting injured just before a squad is named.
Hopefully the Blues rotate well. Each week one of Sotutu, Ioane or Robinson probably misses out on the 23. If they get it right that's a positive, keeping everyone fresh and competing against each other
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@KiwiMurph said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Crucial That matches with his Mitre 10 Cup form. Ratima had the better pass for Waikato. Roe a very strong sniper.
Roe's strength is getting to the breakdown quickly and clearing the ball. Speed of pass isn't so important then. Obviously we all want the next Smith but he is unique amongst NZ halfbacks, past or present.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@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.
That cough sounds bad, best you go get a Covid test.
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@Crucial said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Bones said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Crucial said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
Very surprised that halfback hasn’t entered the conversation. Weber is a stopgap measure as number 2 (although we do need him if AS falls over). Still looking for the next cabs off the rank.
I know sometimes @Tim's posts are a bit cryptic, but his OP discussing halfbacks was pretty clear!
You expect us to actually read previous posts? This is the fern!
Actually I did read that. My comment was more that no one picked up in it and carried it on. I think halfback and hooker are by far the most worrisome spots given their critical contribution to playing style.
I think 3T still has the potential, just needs a decent run of games to show it. None of the others mentioned has a fast pass.
ive said before, I love smith, but I really hope Fakatava gets a good run this year coming on with 20-30 at the start of the season and starting later on, smith cant play forever
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@Kiwiwomble said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Crucial said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Bones said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Crucial said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
Very surprised that halfback hasn’t entered the conversation. Weber is a stopgap measure as number 2 (although we do need him if AS falls over). Still looking for the next cabs off the rank.
I know sometimes @Tim's posts are a bit cryptic, but his OP discussing halfbacks was pretty clear!
You expect us to actually read previous posts? This is the fern!
Actually I did read that. My comment was more that no one picked up in it and carried it on. I think halfback and hooker are by far the most worrisome spots given their critical contribution to playing style.
I think 3T still has the potential, just needs a decent run of games to show it. None of the others mentioned has a fast pass.
ive said before, I love smith, but I really hope Fakatava gets a good run this year coming on with 20-30 at the start of the season and starting later on, smith cant play forever
The issue isn't really Smith, it's the coach playing the other halfback in the squad more often than Fakatava like Mauger did last year.
Probably would have been a good year for Fakatava to be at the Canes ... pity they can never see past their nose.
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@Stargazer said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Nepia He was still contracted to the Highlanders though. He comes off contract after this season.
My past their nose comment was referring to before he got a contract with the Highlanders, the Canes should have Billy Proctored or Ruben Loved him.
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@Nepia said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Kiwiwomble said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Crucial said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Bones said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Crucial said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
Very surprised that halfback hasn’t entered the conversation. Weber is a stopgap measure as number 2 (although we do need him if AS falls over). Still looking for the next cabs off the rank.
I know sometimes @Tim's posts are a bit cryptic, but his OP discussing halfbacks was pretty clear!
You expect us to actually read previous posts? This is the fern!
Actually I did read that. My comment was more that no one picked up in it and carried it on. I think halfback and hooker are by far the most worrisome spots given their critical contribution to playing style.
I think 3T still has the potential, just needs a decent run of games to show it. None of the others mentioned has a fast pass.
ive said before, I love smith, but I really hope Fakatava gets a good run this year coming on with 20-30 at the start of the season and starting later on, smith cant play forever
The issue isn't really Smith, it's the coach playing the other halfback in the squad more often than Fakatava like Mauger did last year.
Probably would have been a good year for Fakatava to be at the Canes ... pity they can never see past their nose.
Similar problem at the Canes where Weber was given nearly all the minutes and TTT stagnated
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@Nepia said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Kiwiwomble said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Crucial said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Bones said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Crucial said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
Very surprised that halfback hasn’t entered the conversation. Weber is a stopgap measure as number 2 (although we do need him if AS falls over). Still looking for the next cabs off the rank.
I know sometimes @Tim's posts are a bit cryptic, but his OP discussing halfbacks was pretty clear!
You expect us to actually read previous posts? This is the fern!
Actually I did read that. My comment was more that no one picked up in it and carried it on. I think halfback and hooker are by far the most worrisome spots given their critical contribution to playing style.
I think 3T still has the potential, just needs a decent run of games to show it. None of the others mentioned has a fast pass.
ive said before, I love smith, but I really hope Fakatava gets a good run this year coming on with 20-30 at the start of the season and starting later on, smith cant play forever
The issue isn't really Smith, it's the coach playing the other halfback in the squad more often than Fakatava like Mauger did last year.
Probably would have been a good year for Fakatava to be at the Canes ... pity they can never see past their nose.
another reason we need to play him, show him he has a future with the landers like smith did
edit, ill add the pre season game was a good sign, he was running the show and the team performed so much better in the first half. Im more than happy to have Hammington in the squad, but he has to be third choice now
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@Nepia said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Kiwiwomble said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Crucial said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Bones said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Crucial said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
Very surprised that halfback hasn’t entered the conversation. Weber is a stopgap measure as number 2 (although we do need him if AS falls over). Still looking for the next cabs off the rank.
I know sometimes @Tim's posts are a bit cryptic, but his OP discussing halfbacks was pretty clear!
You expect us to actually read previous posts? This is the fern!
Actually I did read that. My comment was more that no one picked up in it and carried it on. I think halfback and hooker are by far the most worrisome spots given their critical contribution to playing style.
I think 3T still has the potential, just needs a decent run of games to show it. None of the others mentioned has a fast pass.
ive said before, I love smith, but I really hope Fakatava gets a good run this year coming on with 20-30 at the start of the season and starting later on, smith cant play forever
The issue isn't really Smith, it's the coach playing the other halfback in the squad more often than Fakatava like Mauger did last year.
Probably would have been a good year for Fakatava to be at the Canes ... pity they can never see past their nose.
The Highlanders snapped up Fakatava fairly quickly. As they did Smith. At present of course without Perenara (but its only for one year) Fakatava would get lots of game time with the Canes.
Fakatava still needs to prove himself at super rugby level though. Some look world beaters but never step up at the higher level.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@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.
Pretty handy in the weight room too, 170kg bencher !
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@Crucial said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Nepia said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Kiwiwomble said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Crucial said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Bones said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Crucial said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
Very surprised that halfback hasn’t entered the conversation. Weber is a stopgap measure as number 2 (although we do need him if AS falls over). Still looking for the next cabs off the rank.
I know sometimes @Tim's posts are a bit cryptic, but his OP discussing halfbacks was pretty clear!
You expect us to actually read previous posts? This is the fern!
Actually I did read that. My comment was more that no one picked up in it and carried it on. I think halfback and hooker are by far the most worrisome spots given their critical contribution to playing style.
I think 3T still has the potential, just needs a decent run of games to show it. None of the others mentioned has a fast pass.
ive said before, I love smith, but I really hope Fakatava gets a good run this year coming on with 20-30 at the start of the season and starting later on, smith cant play forever
The issue isn't really Smith, it's the coach playing the other halfback in the squad more often than Fakatava like Mauger did last year.
Probably would have been a good year for Fakatava to be at the Canes ... pity they can never see past their nose.
Similar problem at the Canes where Weber was given nearly all the minutes and TTT stagnated
Wasn’t that more a case of TTT’s form stagnating? He was in the box seat, was the regular 3rd AB halfback but got overtaken by Weber for both ABs and Chiefs.
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@Nepia said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Crucial said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Nepia said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Kiwiwomble said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Crucial said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Bones said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Crucial said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
Very surprised that halfback hasn’t entered the conversation. Weber is a stopgap measure as number 2 (although we do need him if AS falls over). Still looking for the next cabs off the rank.
I know sometimes @Tim's posts are a bit cryptic, but his OP discussing halfbacks was pretty clear!
You expect us to actually read previous posts? This is the fern!
Actually I did read that. My comment was more that no one picked up in it and carried it on. I think halfback and hooker are by far the most worrisome spots given their critical contribution to playing style.
I think 3T still has the potential, just needs a decent run of games to show it. None of the others mentioned has a fast pass.
ive said before, I love smith, but I really hope Fakatava gets a good run this year coming on with 20-30 at the start of the season and starting later on, smith cant play forever
The issue isn't really Smith, it's the coach playing the other halfback in the squad more often than Fakatava like Mauger did last year.
Probably would have been a good year for Fakatava to be at the Canes ... pity they can never see past their nose.
Similar problem at the Canes where Weber was given nearly all the minutes and TTT stagnated
Wasn’t that more a case of TTT’s form stagnating? He was in the box seat, was the regular 3rd AB halfback but got overtaken by Weber for both ABs and Chiefs.
I don't recall him being given much of a chance. Saying that, Weber was in a purple patch and the way the games were going whenever it hit that moment of subbing him it looked risky to do so.
Maybe circumstances more than outright form?
It's a difficult job as a sub if the number one is playing well. You are on a hiding to nothing and any minor error is amplified. -
it would be shorter to list the positions we don't need to look at
Openside. We have two good ones. Clark on the left wing looks great, and Ioane is pretty handy as well
Hooker is fucked. Props, while not fucked, are not amazing. Lock is fucked. Blindside is fucked. 8 is fucked if the selectors don't open their goddam eyes. Back up halfback is fucked. A good 10 would be nice. The midfield muddle is fucked. Right wing is fucked. Fullback is okay i guess?
This is also the year the coaching and selecting of the National side should be under pressure to deliver. We were dogshit last year.
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@mariner4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
it would be shorter to list the positions we don't need to look at
Openside. We have two good ones. Clark on the left wing looks great, and Ioane is pretty handy as well
Hooker is fucked. Props, while not fucked, are not amazing. Lock is fucked. Blindside is fucked. 8 is fucked if the selectors don't open their goddam eyes. Back up halfback is fucked. A good 10 would be nice. The midfield muddle is fucked. Right wing is fucked. Fullback is okay i guess?
This is also the year the coaching and selecting of the National side should be under pressure to deliver. We were dogshit last year.
We've been dogshittish since the Lions.
I really, really want another good lock this year.
I think we have a good halfback coming, at Prop there are two really good ones at the Saders, and in the loosies we have heaps of talent but the selectors need to stop being pussies.
At first five, we're thin, and the midfield is still weak - they need to decide between ALB and Goodhue and find a 12.
We have no shortage of potentially v. good right wingers and fullback isn't a position of weakness.
Many/most of these problems come from dodgy selecting and a game plan that hasn't evolved since the 2015 WC where about half of them were all-time All Black players in their position.
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@mariner4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
it would be shorter to list the positions we don't need to look at
Openside. We have two good ones. Clark on the left wing looks great, and Ioane is pretty handy as well
Hooker is fucked. Props, while not fucked, are not amazing. Lock is fucked. Blindside is fucked. 8 is fucked if the selectors don't open their goddam eyes. Back up halfback is fucked. A good 10 would be nice. The midfield muddle is fucked. Right wing is fucked. Fullback is okay i guess?
This is also the year the coaching and selecting of the National side should be under pressure to deliver. We were dogshit last year.
Missed the final test of the year did you?
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@KiwiMurph said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@mariner4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
it would be shorter to list the positions we don't need to look at
Openside. We have two good ones. Clark on the left wing looks great, and Ioane is pretty handy as well
Hooker is fucked. Props, while not fucked, are not amazing. Lock is fucked. Blindside is fucked. 8 is fucked if the selectors don't open their goddam eyes. Back up halfback is fucked. A good 10 would be nice. The midfield muddle is fucked. Right wing is fucked. Fullback is okay i guess?
This is also the year the coaching and selecting of the National side should be under pressure to deliver. We were dogshit last year.
Missed the final test of the year did you?
oh no, i know who i would pick. I know who i would pick nearly everywhere
the problem is finding players who are effective, and who the selectors also like. There seems to be a huge disconnect between those two levels.
Hurricanes: Player
