AB bolters thread

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="579250" data-time="1463099873">
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Pretty much exactly what I'm thinking. I've got pretty strong memories of watching Ta$man absolutely smash the Auckland scrum in last year's ITM Cup, so Tu'ungafasi has plenty of work to redeem himself in my mind. I'd go with JTA despite my aversion to Hurricanes' props. :)
 
Hames is a good call, but I'd think he needs a start for the Chiefs. Goodes is probably the more likely option.
 
So maybe JTA and Goodes, but neither to get caps? 
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There aren't too many options at tighthead, but that'd be what I'd go for. I wouldn't mind Goodes coming off the bench to replace Moody at some point. I wouldn't want JTA playing at this stage, though.
 
As much as I think Goodes will get selected, I hope Hames gets a couple of starts for the Chiefs and puts forward his case for the ABs 17 spot. I'd back him to do very well against most countries' replacement tighthead props.

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="579249" data-time="1463099588">
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I don't think 5 props is really an option without the dual-sided prop. Sometimes injuries happen in the warm-up, in which case there is not enough time to bring someone in.
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Which makes selecting only 2 hookers more of a risk. In the RWC final the ABs had 14 lineout feeds and only 3 scrum feeds (8 scrums in total). I think they'll choose 6 props and 3 hookers to be safe. I never thought that B Franks was actually that good but Cron obviously rated him. He certainly wasn't as good a scrummager as Loe or even Dowd on both sides of the scrum.
 
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="579241" data-time="1463098836">
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Tu'ungafasi was selected on that premise for the training camp last year before the Samoa test, but this was when the ABs squad was bloated to nearly 50 players and so he never even travelled to Apia)
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I'm sure he was on Apia, as I remember him on the sidelines along with Tamanivalu. Like others, I have reservations about Ofa T's scrummaging. But Charlie's scrummaging isn't great either.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="579263" data-time="1463103793">
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Which makes selecting only 2 hookers more of a risk. In the RWC final the ABs had 14 lineout feeds and only 3 scrum feeds (8 scrums in total). I think they'll choose 6 props and 3 hookers to be safe. I never thought that B Franks was actually that good but Cron obviously rated him. He certainly wasn't as good a scrummager as Loe or even Dowd on both sides of the scrum.
 
 
 
I'm sure he was on Apia, as I remember him on the sidelines along with Tamanivalu. Like others, I have reservations about Ofa T's scrummaging. But Charlie's scrummaging isn't great either.
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It was interesting how the ABs used Ben Franks. A far better scrummager on the tighthead side from what I could see, but early on the ABs played him predominantly at loosehead.

MN5

<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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People on here said that he lacked the little extras to ever get picked for the ABs, same with Jeremy Thrush but they both did. Craig Clarke must be pissed off based on that......

Billy Tell

Don't think messam will play for the ABs again. Unless he suddenly finds incredible form after his 7s stint.

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="579263" data-time="1463103793">
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Which makes selecting only 2 hookers more of a risk. In the RWC final the ABs had 14 lineout feeds and only 3 scrum feeds (8 scrums in total). I think they'll choose 6 props and 3 hookers to be safe. I never thought that B Franks was actually that good but Cron obviously rated him. He certainly wasn't as good a scrummager as Loe or even Dowd on both sides of the scrum.
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It does, but it is a risk that the selectors have been willing to take before. There have been times when Mealamu and Hore were the only hookers taken overseas, and there have also been times where only Mealamu and Coles were taken overseas. I believe in the past, they said that if things went to crap, they'd have Woodcock throwing in and one of the tighthead props would play hooker.
 
In my opinion, the issue with a lack of a third tighthead prop option is one to do with player safety, and that according to the rules of the game, they need a bench option who can play there (even if they don't get on the field).
 
With hooker, I imagine Reg Goodes would be safe enough playing there to take the risk, given his previous experience there. His lineout throwing could need a bit of work (though he's done it before) but it'd still require two hookers to go down in a short time span for it to be an issue (one would have to go down shortly before the game, the other in the middle of the game). Otherwise, you could just call James Parsons or Hika Elliot in at short notice.

SammyC

Both Crockett and Moody have played minutes at tighthead for Canterbury in the NPC.
 
I think we could cover an emergency if we had to with those 2.

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="579287" data-time="1463110851">People on here said that he lacked the little extras to ever get picked for the ABs, same with Jeremy Thrush but they both did. Craig Clarke must be pissed off based on that......</blockquote>
"People on here"?

SammyC

And I don't think Hames is anywhere near the 17 with those 2 in the squad.
 
Not until he starts a few games for the Chiefs

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="579296" data-time="1463112586">
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"People on here"?
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Oh sorry, THE FERN.......
 
Go back to sleep, I don't want you getting grumpy later on in the day.

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="579299" data-time="1463112987">Oh sorry, THE FERN....... 
Go back to sleep, I don't want you getting grumpy later on in the day.</blockquote>
I don't recall that being said about Donnelly...

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="579294" data-time="1463112514">
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Both Crockett and Moody have played minutes at tighthead for Canterbury in the NPC.
 
I think we could cover an emergency if we had to with those 2.
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Personally, I'd probably feel more comfortable with Faumuina being the loosehead cover (with another tighthead in the squad) than Crockett/Moody being the tighthead cover a (particularly once Laulala is back).

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="579302" data-time="1463113801">
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I don't recall that being said about Donnelly...
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Red Beard, Bart and guys like that were all over it. Said he lacked the "extras" that were needed that Williams, Boric etc had.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="579303" data-time="1463113891">
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Personally, I'd probably feel more comfortable with Faumuina being the loosehead cover (with another tighthead in the squad) than Crockett/Moody being the tighthead cover a (particularly once Laulala is back).
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Agree, was really responding to the comment that we needed 6 props. I think 5 in the squad is adequate.
 
I'd only look to use either of those guys in an emergency

Bones

Nah.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="579305" data-time="1463114139">
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Nah.
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Yeah nah Yeah bro. It's true. They were both so ashamed they got something wrong on the interweb that they left in disgrace, never to be heard from again.

Tim

Red Beard loved Donnelly.

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="579311" data-time="1463115274">Red Beard loved Donnelly.</blockquote>
I thought Bart did too. I don't recall any talk about him lacking "those little extras". 
MN5 did you mean " People in my head"?

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="579312" data-time="1463116071">
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I thought Bart did too. I don't recall any talk about him lacking "those little extras". 
MN5 did you mean " People in my head"?
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No. All you ferners are real to me.
 
I'll text them both and ask if they remember and have a full report to you by Monday.

Bones

Wow cool.

The Silver Fern

AB bolters thread