All Blacks 2021
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Lost track of squad numbers, and need, if any, for utility value.
Although Moody out, I feel we’ve got two good options at LH in Karl and Ross. Then there’s Hodgman, who was AB experience but a bit meh, and O’Neill who’s solid but injured. De Groot and Norris seem names for future.
TH concerns me, though. Nepo is international level scrummager and Ofa good against most teams. Lomax and Ta’avao are shaky at top level, although the latter is savvy and cheats to compensate.
For me the second best TH scrummager at the mo is Sione Mafileo, another product of Wesley. Held up well today against big Karl, and would be interesting to see what the AB team could do on his overall game.
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@act-crusader said in All Blacks 2021:
@yeetyaah said in All Blacks 2021:
@sparky I'd rather have NvS than a dead rubber fame v Italy. Probably not a popular opinion
I think we’ve had just about enough NZ v NZ games, time for something else...
Disagree. Italy were appalling bad in 6 Nations. The ABs should wrack up 80+ points again them. I would prefer a contest, thank you.
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@act-crusader said in All Blacks 2021:
@yeetyaah said in All Blacks 2021:
@sparky I'd rather have NvS than a dead rubber fame v Italy. Probably not a popular opinion
I think we’ve had just about enough NZ v NZ games, time for something else...
Conceding defeat already
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2021:
@act-crusader said in All Blacks 2021:
@yeetyaah said in All Blacks 2021:
@sparky I'd rather have NvS than a dead rubber fame v Italy. Probably not a popular opinion
I think we’ve had just about enough NZ v NZ games, time for something else...
Disagree. Italy were appalling bad in 6 Nations. The ABs should wrack up 80+ points again them. I would prefer a contest, thank you.
At least it means something. Some ABs have made their debut vs Italy in the past and gone on to play more test footy. That has happened even when the result was not in doubt.
Nobody remembers “debuts” in Nth vs Sth...
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I don't get the impression Foster et al. are sold on Laumape. And he lacks the versatility of his competitors like DH et alone a comparable kicking game.
NB I'm assuming JB has a lock on FB, (I mean, he was starting on the wing so the coaches love him, that they have enough wings (one or two of whom can FB, Jordan, Bridge?*) but that DH being a FB as well and being more consistently in form gives him the edge over NL.
And givn ALB is competing at 12 against DH/NL and at 13 against Ioane (I assume PUJ has not had enough game time to shine) they'd probably prefer DH/ALB to ALB/RI but RI has a chance on the bench as he also provides fairly handy wing cover.
*I wonder how highly they rate DMac at 15/10 cover.
**I'm not sure what is happening with RM/BB at 10 or BB at 15. I'd assume JB is ahead of his bro at 15.
apologies: perhaps this belongs in All Black not Blues thread..(oh, thanks mods!). -
@nostrildamus said in Blues 2021:
I don't get the impression Foster et al. are sold on Laumape. And he lacks the versatility of his competitors like DH et alone a comparable kicking game.
NB I'm assuming JB has a lock on FB, (I mean, he was starting on the wing so the coaches love him, that they have enough wings (one or two of whom can FB, Jordan, Bridge?*) but that DH being a FB as well and being more consistently in form gives him the edge over NL.
And givn ALB is competing at 12 against DH/NL and at 13 against Ioane (I assume PUJ has not had enough game time to shine) they'd probably prefer DH/ALB to ALB/RI but RI has a chance on the bench as he also provides fairly handy wing cover.
*I wonder how highly they rate DMac at 15/10 cover.
**I'm not sure what is happening with RM/BB at 10 or BB at 15. I'd assume JB is ahead of his bro at 15.
apologies: perhaps this belongs in All Black not Blues thread..(oh, thanks mods!).I would like to see Havili/ALB MF lots of smarts ands extra kicking ability of Havili he creates space well for his outsides.
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@chris and you'd assume even with his preference of playing 15 over 12, a black 12 jersey would likely sway him
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2021:
@chris and you'd assume even with his preference of playing 15 over 12, a black 12 jersey would likely sway him
I am sure he will, he’s playing 12 for the Crusaders so he must be ok with playing in that position after sometime in the saddle.
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@chris I'm sure he'd take AB 12 if offered. Where do you think he ranks as an AB 15 contender? I'm guessing JB/BB, DMac, Jordan..DH? Then again perhaps they only see Jordan as a wing at this stage..
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2021:
@chris I'm sure he'd take AB 12 if offered. Where do you think he ranks as an AB 15 contender? I'm guessing JB/BB, DMac, Jordan..DH? Then again perhaps they only see Jordan as a wing at this stage..
rated Behind those players as a FB, 12 is his best bet now I think.
JB I think will be FB, Jordan on the wing is maybe how they will go now. -
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2021:
they'd probably prefer DH/ALB to ALB/RI but RI has a chance on the bench as he also provides fairly handy wing cover.
Pretty much agree with that. Think ALB's experience and ability to play 12 & 13 is key regardless of who partners him as DH & RI are pretty green at that level in midfield. Just hope we don't have too much mucking about in midfield and we get the pecking order sorted this season.
Oh, and let's hope ALB doesn't get injured..
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2021:
I don't get the impression Foster et al. are sold on Laumape. And he lacks the versatility of his competitors like DH et alone a comparable kicking game.
NB I'm assuming JB has a lock on FB, (I mean, he was starting on the wing so the coaches love him, that they have enough wings (one or two of whom can FB, Jordan, Bridge?*) but that DH being a FB as well and being more consistently in form gives him the edge over NL.
And givn ALB is competing at 12 against DH/NL and at 13 against Ioane (I assume PUJ has not had enough game time to shine) they'd probably prefer DH/ALB to ALB/RI but RI has a chance on the bench as he also provides fairly handy wing cover.
*I wonder how highly they rate DMac at 15/10 cover.
**I'm not sure what is happening with RM/BB at 10 or BB at 15. I'd assume JB is ahead of his bro at 15.
apologies: perhaps this belongs in All Black not Blues thread..(oh, thanks mods!).Laumape was excellent on weekend. On Aotearoa Podcast this week, Love was reported as finding him an excellent communicator.
For me, if we want a hard running 12, he's the only game in town right now. So 10 either throwing him a short pass for crash ball, decoy with e.g. Clarke coming outside 10 or skip pass to ALB at 13. NOT 10/12/13.
Content to see NL and DH each get a start. ALB a lock for me at 13. Rioane either starts at wing with option of ALB moving in one, or rides the pine and covers 11/13/14.
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Imo laumape has been borderline diabolical this season. A blind man would have more vision at times.
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@billy-tell said in All Blacks 2021:
Imo laumape has been borderline diabolical this season. A blind man would have more vision at times.
Takes one to know one?
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Can't remember if it was this thread or another where it was mentioned we don't have a big bopper in the midfield, particularly at 12. One player I would encourage to develop in the midfield is big Leicester F. Not saying he is ready to go yet, but I have been quite pleased with what he has brought to the Sader's midfield.
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@crazy-horse said in All Blacks 2021:
Can't remember if it was this thread or another where it was mentioned we don't have a big bopper in the midfield, particularly at 12. One player I would encourage to develop in the midfield is big Leicester F. Not saying he is ready to go yet, but I have been quite pleased with what he has brought to the Sader's midfield.
I would prefer to see midfielders that are skilled at creating space and opportunities over a 'big bopper' . Bending the line can be done using a power wing and/or a hard running 6.
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@crucial said in All Blacks 2021:
@crazy-horse said in All Blacks 2021:
Can't remember if it was this thread or another where it was mentioned we don't have a big bopper in the midfield, particularly at 12. One player I would encourage to develop in the midfield is big Leicester F. Not saying he is ready to go yet, but I have been quite pleased with what he has brought to the Sader's midfield.
I would prefer to see midfielders that are skilled at creating space and opportunities over a 'big bopper' . Bending the line can be done using a power wing and/or a hard running 6.
Agree, and that is why I said he is not there yet (if he gets there at all) In an ideal world we would find someone who is big and skilled.
It was more a reference to where I think Leicester should look to develop. I don't think he has the game
(speed) to be a long term AB winger. -
@nostrildamus cant say I am sold on Laumape either , and it’s more around consistency, there are games where he absolutely rips up , but the best way you can ever gauge a player is when he comes up against the best team , locally the Crusaders and unfortunately most of the time , he’s either very quiet and that’s primarily because he gets shut down..
I see more as an impact player than a starter . -
@steven-harris said in All Blacks 2021:
@nostrildamus cant say I am sold on Laumape either , and it’s more around consistency, there are games where he absolutely rips up , but the best way you can ever gauge a player is when he comes up against the best team , locally the Crusaders and unfortunately most of the time , he’s either very quiet and that’s primarily because he gets shut down..
I see more as an impact player than a starter .And no one has room for a specialist 12 on the bench.
I think Laumape is a very good player and one that (when he steps up) can change the shape of a game. Even when not fully firing he plays a role well, especially if you want a hard running 12 to play a hit and recycle game.
Sadly for him I don't think his future lies in the ABs. He would make very good money in Europe though and probably be a good piece of a coaches plans in a club season strategy.
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@billy-tell said in All Blacks 2021:
Imo laumape has been borderline diabolical this season. A blind man would have more vision at times.
He actually has a really good kicking and passing game to go with his strong running, but as you say he has no vision at all to use them to his advantage. He's shown glimpses but he's not the answer at test level.
