All Blacks 2021
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People seem to forget sbw played two sessions in France before coming to NZ and the ABs. Even then he still couldn't de League his tackles, and had kick it dead and get a yellow brain farts for ABs. RTS had heft it too late to make the RWC squad imo, especially with covid disruptions
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@machpants said in All Blacks 2021:
People seem to forget sbw played two sessions in France before coming to NZ and the ABs. Even then he still couldn't de League his tackles, and had kick it dead and get a yellow brain farts for ABs. RTS had heft it too late to make the RWC squad imo, especially with covid disruptions
SBW was a back rower who moved to the midfield
RTS is a shit hot fullback who will play wing.
Korobete is a good comparison, he was good pretty much straight away.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2021:
@machpants said in All Blacks 2021:
People seem to forget sbw played two sessions in France before coming to NZ and the ABs. Even then he still couldn't de League his tackles, and had kick it dead and get a yellow brain farts for ABs. RTS had heft it too late to make the RWC squad imo, especially with covid disruptions
SBW was a back rower who moved to the midfield
RTS is a shit hot fullback who will play wing.
Korobete is a good comparison, he was good pretty much straight away.
And didn't RTS play first 15 at Auckland Grammar?
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@machpants said in All Blacks 2021:
People seem to forget sbw played two sessions in France before coming to NZ and the ABs. Even then he still couldn't de League his tackles, and had kick it dead and get a yellow brain farts for ABs. RTS had heft it too late to make the RWC squad imo, especially with covid disruptions
He also will be almost 31 come WC time,
Old for a winger now a days.
Unless he is moved to the MF he may struggle to make it. -
@canefan said in All Blacks 2021:
And didn't RTS play first 15 at Auckland Grammar?
Otahuhu College. He made some Blues/NZ age group rugby teams so does have some pedigree.
RTS will have to re-learn some skills. I noticed that Kata doesn't look comfortable placing the ball when tackled.
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@bovidae said in All Blacks 2021:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2021:
And didn't RTS play first 15 at Auckland Grammar?
Otahuhu College. He made some Blues/NZ age group rugby teams so does have some pedigree.
RTS will have to re-learn some skills. I noticed that Kata doesn't look comfortable placing the ball when tackled.
RTS is to Kata what Cullen was to, say, Ben Blair
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2021:
@bovidae said in All Blacks 2021:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2021:
And didn't RTS play first 15 at Auckland Grammar?
Otahuhu College. He made some Blues/NZ age group rugby teams so does have some pedigree.
RTS will have to re-learn some skills. I noticed that Kata doesn't look comfortable placing the ball when tackled.
RTS is to Kata what Cullen was to, say, Ben Blair
a different species?
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2021:
@bovidae said in All Blacks 2021:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2021:
And didn't RTS play first 15 at Auckland Grammar?
Otahuhu College. He made some Blues/NZ age group rugby teams so does have some pedigree.
RTS will have to re-learn some skills. I noticed that Kata doesn't look comfortable placing the ball when tackled.
RTS is to Kata what Cullen was to, say, Ben Blair
So Kata will be at RWC 2023 and RTS not….
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@act-crusader said in All Blacks 2021:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2021:
@bovidae said in All Blacks 2021:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2021:
And didn't RTS play first 15 at Auckland Grammar?
Otahuhu College. He made some Blues/NZ age group rugby teams so does have some pedigree.
RTS will have to re-learn some skills. I noticed that Kata doesn't look comfortable placing the ball when tackled.
RTS is to Kata what Cullen was to, say, Ben Blair
So Kata will be at 2023 and RTS not….
fuck that's actually really funny
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@act-crusader said in All Blacks 2021:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2021:
@bovidae said in All Blacks 2021:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2021:
And didn't RTS play first 15 at Auckland Grammar?
Otahuhu College. He made some Blues/NZ age group rugby teams so does have some pedigree.
RTS will have to re-learn some skills. I noticed that Kata doesn't look comfortable placing the ball when tackled.
RTS is to Kata what Cullen was to, say, Ben Blair
So Kata will be at RWC 2023 and RTS not….
That's what happens when you entrust selections to this clown
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Cullen was cooked in 2003.
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@machpants said in All Blacks 2021:
What is the tattoo on mo'unga arm? ...8/17 190 purple reign?
Good to see Prince fans amongst the younger generations.
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@machpants said in All Blacks 2021:
What is the tattoo on mo'unga arm? ...8/17 190 purple reign?
Clearly a wrestling fan
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2021:
Cullen was cooked in 2003.
The Paekakariki Express had slowed down a wee bit by 2003 that's for sure. But he was still the Hurricanes top try-scorer with eight that year. The Hurricanes made the Semis losing to a star-studded Crusaders team. The top try scorer in the whole competition in in 2003 was Doug Howlett with 12.
https://rugby.statbunker.com/competitions/LeadingTopScorers?comp_id=106&club_id=154
Even well past his best, Cullen should have been selected for the 2003 AB Rugby World Cup Squad ahead of Ben Blair and certainly as the injury replacement for Ben Blair ahead of 20 year old Ben Atiga.
I blame Deans.....
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@sparky wasn't Ben Blair the backup (and very accurate) kicker? Not something I recall Cullen being famous for?
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2021:
@sparky wasn't Ben Blair the backup (and very accurate) kicker? Not something I recall Cullen being famous for?
Carlos Spencer and Leon Macdonald were the main goal kickers in the 2003 squad. A backup, young Second Five in that squad called Dan Carter turned out to be useful with the boot. Not really convinced by the need for a fourth goal kicker...
Cullen got left out because Mitchell and Deans thought he was an arrogant fluffybunny and wouldn't play a big part in the competition after his injuries.
Post -2003 Cullen reinvented himself as a defensive Fullback for Munster for a few seasons but had a lot of time out with a dodgy shoulder.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2021:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2021:
@sparky wasn't Ben Blair the backup (and very accurate) kicker? Not something I recall Cullen being famous for?
Carlos Spencer and Leon Macdonald were the main goal kickers in the 2003 squad. A backup, young Second Five in that squad called Dan Carter turned out to be useful with the boot. Not really convinced by the need for a fourth goal kicker...
Cullen got left out because Mitchell and Deans thought he was an arrogant fluffybunny and wouldn't play a big part in the competition after his injuries.
Post -2003 Cullen reinvented himself as a defensive Fullback for Munster for a few seasons but had a lot of time out with a dodgy shoulder.
Carlos was a flakey kicker, Leon was (hmm, big boot but I'm trying to remember his then accuracy), Carter was a guppy (but I remember seeing him as 12, from bench I think, and going, this guy looks good) but he got injured pretty quickly and I don't recall anyone mentioning him as a kicking substitute.
Ben Blair was, I'm pretty sure of it. I can't remember if his horror game was before selection, during, or after though. I suspect he has a lot of Fernie disapproval in part because he failed to reach Ardie-esque lofty heights.
Edit: and I think Blair was the most accurate kicker that season, or at least pretty close to it.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2021:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2021:
@sparky wasn't Ben Blair the backup (and very accurate) kicker? Not something I recall Cullen being famous for?
Carlos Spencer and Leon Macdonald were the main goal kickers in the 2003 squad. A backup, young Second Five in that squad called Dan Carter turned out to be useful with the boot. Not really convinced by the need for a fourth goal kicker...
Cullen got left out because Mitchell and Deans thought he was an arrogant fluffybunny and wouldn't play a big part in the competition after his injuries.
Post -2003 Cullen reinvented himself as a defensive Fullback for Munster for a few seasons but had a lot of time out with a dodgy shoulder.
Yeah, Cullen being left our had nothing to do with rugby, Mitchell selected two midfielders (Mils, Atiga) and two players from the same team (Rangi and Blair) over Cullen.
Cullen was one of the best performing 15s of the 2003 Super 12, even if he wasn't at his peak level, Rangi is a fair enough selection over him but they were lucky Mils turned into a class 15 that year.
Also handy to remember Mitchell didn't rate Jeff Wilson as well.
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