AB bolters thread

Canes4life

The problem for Thomson is that he is so versatile. He can play lock, 6 and No 8 and I guess not playing consistently in one position is his downfall when it comes to test selection, where the selectors only really need one player like that in the test squad. Personally i believe he is a better player than Shields but because he can cover so many positions he is therefore used where ever he is needed. I think the side would look better if Thomson started but I guess the coaches see him as an impact player. Coming off the bench doesn't reduce his importance to the side because he has a skill set and work-rate that would do wonders on the international scene. If you go back and watch the Canes vs Crusaders games over the last two years Thomson had Read's number on both of those occasions.
 
I also feel when Vito leaves he will have the opportunity to nail down that No 8 spot and I believe we will the see the best out of him getting consistent game time in one position.
 
just a wee snippit of him at 8 where I think he plays best. :yes:

Higgins

You have got me confused. Both the locks named to start against the Lions and the Sharks have also been touted as lock/blindside versatile yet Thompson is currently unable to usurp them for a starting spot. Are you implying that Fatialofa and Fifita are both better locks than Thompson but Thompson is a significantly better blindside than the other two are better than him at lock?

Winger

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="577234" data-time="1462450597">
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You have got me confused. Both the locks named to start against the Lions and the Sharks have also been touted as lock/blindside versatile yet Thompson is currently unable to usurp them for a starting spot. Are you implying that Fatialofa and Fifita are both better locks than Thompson but Thompson is a significantly better blindside than the other two are better than him at lock?
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I think Fifita is slightly better than Thompson. And he can play 8, 6 or lock. Bit short for lock though 1.96 and Thompson is slightly taller 1.98. But both are good

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="577207" data-time="1462445670">
Taufua's more than 100kg. 
105kgs minimum - probably more.</blockquote>
 
He's noticeably gained weight this year, one of the more solid loosies in our pack when watching live.

mariner4life

There were a couple of moments on the weekend that turned me off Dixon. The ball was on the ground, and he either hung off it, waiting for someone else to claim it, or flapped his hand at it. Both resulted in turnovers to the Brumbies. All Black players don't do that shit. And that's not "off night" stuff, that's attitude stuff. It may seem small, but i'm a big believer in doing the little things right. Kaino or Messam would have claimed those balls.

Nepia

Taufua seems to be the reverse Ardie Savea with everyone saying he's bigger than what he's listed in the programme. He appears to have grown 4cm in the last couple of years and apparently he's heavy as whereas Ardie is a skinny runt. I wish a had an early 20s growth spurt.
 
We really need Ardie and Jordan to stand back to back so we can get something factually correct!

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="577262" data-time="1462478896">
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He's noticeably gained weight this year, one of the more solid loosies in our pack when watching live.
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Yeah there was a moment in an earlier game where he basically picked up a halfback in one hand and ripped the ball off him with the other - and I thought - Jordan's not that small!

mariner4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="577338" data-time="1462496634">
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Yeah there was a moment in an earlier game where he basically picked up a halfback in one hand and ripped the ball off him with the other - and I thought - Jordan's not that small! 
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unless that halfback is Piri, meh

Bovidae

How many cms does Ardie's haircut add to his height? :)

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="577333" data-time="1462496354">
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We really need Ardie and Jordan to stand back to back so we can get something factually correct!
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Or better yet a picture of them doing handstands side by side.....

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="577338" data-time="1462496634">
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Yeah there was a moment in an earlier game where he basically picked up a halfback in one hand and ripped the ball off him with the other - and I thought - Jordan's not that small! 
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Also watching him stand next to Read when they pack down a scrum, he's a few centimetres shorter, but much more solidly built.
 
Nepia, nobody is claiming he's had a growth spurt, just put on a few more kilo's of muscle over the off season.

mariner4life

call WADA!

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="577343" data-time="1462498329">
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How many cms does Ardie's haircut add to his height? :)
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6 foot 3 according to Canes4life.
 
I've heard rumours that Patrick Tuipulotu did a lot of conditioning and rehab work during his injury and now stands 7 foot 2.

reprobate

i'm 6'7, but only when i've got a stiffy.

chico

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="577333" data-time="1462496354">
<div>
Taufua seems to be the reverse Ardie Savea with everyone saying he's bigger than what he's listed in the programme. He appears to have grown 4cm in the last couple of years and apparently he's heavy as whereas Ardie is a skinny runt. I wish a had an early 20s growth spurt.
 
We really need Ardie and Jordan to stand back to back so we can get something factually correct!
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On Rieko Ioane's Wikipedia profile page, he's listed as 1.89m tall so with Ardie Savea standing right next to him side to side...it pretty much give's you a fair gauge on how tall A.Savea actually is i reckon
 
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZ37mwqWEAEl8po.jpg" alt="CZ37mwqWEAEl8po.jpg">

leytonandamanda

Another possible bolter would be Tom Franklin,I think he has been fantastic 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="579180" data-time="1463084023">Another possible bolter would be Tom Franklin,I think he has been fantastic 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk</blockquote>
Donnelly mark II.

nzzp

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="579181" data-time="1463084277">
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Donnelly mark II.
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From memory, Donnelly came in when our lineout was pants, and we were picking Isaac farking Ross. Lightweight, mobile, but hitting rucks wasn't his thing. Donnelly was just a good, solid tight forward grafter. Great at the time, but limited.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="579182" data-time="1463085632">
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From memory, Donnelly came in when our lineout was pants, and we were picking Isaac farking Ross. Lightweight, mobile, but hitting rucks wasn't his thing. Donnelly was just a good, solid tight forward grafter. Great at the time, but limited.
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never disgraced himself in Black

Provincial Stalwart

There's only two lock spots (maximum) to be filled behind the good Whitelock and BBBR so I can't see them picking any "journeymen" locks in the Donnelly / Thrush mould. Romano is probably only slightly above that journeyman quality I reckon. The start of the RWC cycle is surely the time to be looking at young guys who could be pushing for a bench spot within a year or two i.e. pushing Romano or Tuipolutu out of the squad. In addition, Tuipolutu is still to have his "sophomore" season in the All Blacks - consider what happened in the second year of, say, Faumuina and Luatua's ABs careers, they were dropped for not being fit enough - so he's no certainty to even be around for the Lions tour next year. It's only where the bright prospects fail (or injury crisis) that you consider drafting in the journeymen.
 
I like Fatialofa as the bolter but I don't rate his chances of getting picked.

The Silver Fern

AB bolters thread