All Blacks v Tonga
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@booboo said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@crazy-horse said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@african-monkey if we went with Leicester we will lamenting his lack of pace and his slowness on the turn around. Sure, he wins the contact most times, but is that enough?
It's more than George offers
and the ABs weren't turning around that often in that game..
I was meaning against the top teams. Happy for him to have a go though, but I don't think he is the answer we are looking for. Also happy to be wrong. For what it's worth, I prefer big Leicester than Bridge for the Saders.
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I dont understand why people are bagging this game as a fixture. Sure the result was never in doubt, and yeah, it wasn't a spectacle for AB supporters. But has anyone asked the Tongan players or fans if they'd prefer not to play? I didn't see any sad fans in the crowd.
I couldn't believe it when I saw a while back that we had only played them 6 times in our history (now 7). That's a disgrace when you think of their contribution to our culture and the game in NZ.
Of course I get the money angle, and of course they'd be "better off" playing a team closer to their ability. But we shouldn't be denying them opportunities like this.
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@crucial said in All Blacks v Tonga:
A firing Caleb Clarke solves the problem doesn’t it?
Certainly does. Let's hope he can put this season behind him.
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@crazy-horse said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@crucial said in All Blacks v Tonga:
A firing Caleb Clarke solves the problem doesn’t it?
Certainly does. Let's hope he can put this
seasonbehind him.Injury, you mean.
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Halfbacks, if I am allowed to include the Maori All Blacks..
my ranking was Hall then Weber then Christie (but many may disagree esp on the last 2)..
I note Hall is 3 years younger than Aaron Smith, so maybe he is a RWC contender?
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@kirwan said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@crazy-horse said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@crucial said in All Blacks v Tonga:
A firing Caleb Clarke solves the problem doesn’t it?
Certainly does. Let's hope he can put this
seasonbehind him.Injury, you mean.
Thanks Eroni.
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@duluth said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@pukunui said in All Blacks v Tonga:
I actually had a similar thought during the game. That maybe Bridge would make a better midfielder than wing. Similar style to Crotty. Not particularly fast or dynamic but just dare i say it…..safe.
Whatever position he is he shouldn’t be anywhere near the ABs.The fact he was given a rating of 9 in that player rating article just demonstrates the poor quality of journalism in NZ.
I’ve been saying he should be a fullback for the last couple of years.
The issue is his lack of foot work. An AB winger should be have top quality foot work that puts off defenders. Bridge doesn’t have it but every successful AB winger has had it. Even our wingers that were famous for running over people had great feet.
At fullback he could still do his tidy work at the end of the chain. Picking and choosing when to join the line would make space for others. He seems tidy under the high ball, not sure how good his kicking game is though
The problem he has is he needs to it at SR level. He seems unlikely to get game time their at the Crusaders. Maybe If Jordan is considered a winger now that will change (and Havili a 12)
That's probably a fair comment and, like Nepia, I thought George looked a bit down on pace.
But, he is a different sort of wing - a constructive wing who runs into space and links to support inside and out. He does it very well and if they're running loose forwards in the outside channel it's a useful skill to have. I think it it was for a try scored by Papalií down the left - but, George makes a beautiful little half pump dummy to turn the defender and open the space on the outside.
Those who are touting Big Leicester as a better option at present - I don't think they're been watching closely enough. I wouldn't mind him or Rayasi in there as apprentices - even playing these games. But, they are not All Black ready yet.
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@crazy-horse said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@kirwan said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@crazy-horse said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@crucial said in All Blacks v Tonga:
A firing Caleb Clarke solves the problem doesn’t it?
Certainly does. Let's hope he can put this
seasonbehind him.Injury, you mean.
Thanks Eroni.
No worries Mr Bridge.
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@chris-b said in All Blacks v Tonga:
But, he is a different sort of wing - a constructive wing who runs into space and links to support inside and out. He does it very well and if they're running loose forwards in the outside channel it's a useful skill to have. I think it it was for a try scored by Papalií down the left - but, George makes a beautiful little half pump dummy to turn the defender and open the space on the outside.
It's a useful skill to have but it's not the primary skill of a winger. Also I would be disappointed in any All Black back or loose forward that did not have those skills. Christ, most of our tight forwards can do that.
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@chris-b said in All Blacks v Tonga:
Those who are touting Big Leicester as a better option at present - I don't think they're been watching closely enough. I wouldn't mind him or Rayasi in there as apprentices - even playing these games. But, they are not All Black ready yet.
I think that is the point. Bridge is a known quantity, this game was ideal to test a new winger.
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@kirwan said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@crazy-horse said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@kirwan said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@crazy-horse said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@crucial said in All Blacks v Tonga:
A firing Caleb Clarke solves the problem doesn’t it?
Certainly does. Let's hope he can put this
seasonbehind him.Injury, you mean.
Thanks Eroni.
No worries Mr Bridge.
You obviously have me on ignore because in no way have been white knighting Bridge.
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@chris-b said in All Blacks v Tonga:
Those who are touting Big Leicester as a better option at present - I don't think they're been watching closely enough. I wouldn't mind him or Rayasi in there as apprentices - even playing these games. But, they are not All Black ready yet.
I think that is the point. Bridge is a known quantity, this game was ideal to test a new winger.
The general tenor seems to be that most people don't want a bar of George.
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@chris-b ah well. We actually don't have that many wingers.
And perhaps that game against England is still a dark memory for many. But if he has skills at centre-fullback-wing, maybe wing is where he shouldn't play in the big games, because wings need pace.
And at the higher speed of top games at higher speeds, a winger who can link but can't outrun is probably in the wrong position. -
@nostrildamus really? After the erratic display from Hall yesterday. Weber then Christie then Drummond...
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@nostrildamus Maybe - but, at the moment I'm doubtful we've got a better option on the left wing until Caleb Clarke comes back - or maybe Rieko gets pushed there.
He's not going to be the greatest of All Black wingers - but, he's far from the worst.
