All Blacks World Cup bolters
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@nostrildamus He looks a bit like he can be rocks and diamonds. If he can tidy some of the errors he could be phenominal.
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Steve said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
Rayasi
Salesi Rayasi is 26 years old? We don't have that many wingers, he may have a chance with injuries...
I don’t mean age wise.
I meant late in the sense that Fozzy seems to have his squad. I can’t see him changing now.
I don’t see much fresh blood getting a gig this year regardless of form.Stevenson is blessed to be even in the conversation. He wasn’t even initially picked for the dirt trackers in the winter.
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@Steve said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
I don’t mean age wise.
I meant late in the sense that Fozzy seems to have his squad. I can’t see him changing now.
I don’t see much fresh blood getting a gig this year regardless of form.Fair enough.
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@Bones said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@number9 said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Bones you're right the thread is about bolters but when posters talk about Vaai and Tuipoulotu then it is beyond that. It is called semantics, stop being argumentative for the sake of it.
Hey man I'm not the one calling people piston wristed gibbons for not posting in the spirit of the thread, then posting completely not in the spirit of the thread.
Still being argumentative for the sake of it. I think you should learn to read first knob. Now getting back to the spirit of the thread, which you lack. Numia is a good call he has massed up this season and is mobile. ABs lack depth at Hooker, Taylor and Coles are done bring on Taukeaho and Aumua. Now come on @Bones let's see whether you can have a decent conversation
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@Darren said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
Stevenson 100% I'd probably pick him to start in the back 3.
Roigard to get some time, with a view to him being the long term 9
But this is the same as everyone else, so pointless post really...
New to the Fern?
Roigard will be an AB just a case of whether his form will be so good this super season that it will be impossible to not pick him.
Or because it’s a RWC the coaches will go with what they know. There’s merit and risks with both. My view is that if all of Smith, Christie, Weber and Fakatava are fit and playing come selection, Roigard won’t get picked.
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Too early for Lakai however, if he sees more game time and produces some magic with Ardie and Dupes/Flanders could be a possiblilty, I believe Riley Higgins has the goods too IMO
Stevenson fo sure!
Id like to see Ainsley get a call up probably the next best TH option we have. Re Numia, too small? A midget? You maybe looking at something else? Well, He’s definitely beefed up this season at 120kg scrumming well, along with everything else he ads defs worth a look at -
@number9 i think he'd rather someone who is bigger! to scare people with their size, but do SFA around the field. Also, Have you seen the Irish LHP and hooker, athletically built and are mobile. We are definitely behind the eight ball
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Jeez I hate how Ireland seems to be the benchmark for everything these days...
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Mobility is the current key. That is why EDG was told to shape up at the start of last year.
It’s not mobility on attack, it is about not having lead footed targets in the defensive line that can be exploited.
At present Ireland and France manipulate until there are “slow” defenders right where that want them then go hard at that spot.
We need guys that can close gaps quickly. -
@Crucial Totally agree. But who are our most mobile props? Is Ainsley worth a go? And much as I love BBBR and Sammy Whitelock, what happens if they break down, who are our next cabs off the rank? Paddy T not effective enough.
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@Steve said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Steve Could we see a situation where we have 2 speedsters
For me it’s Stevenson or Jordan at FB with the other on the right wing in the Cory Jane, Ben Smith mould.
Sevu Reece or Telea for 11 I suppose. (I’d rather Ioane but we have no centres).
Clark grinds my gears. I’ve never seen a lad hit so many gaps and then not “take it to the house” . He gets reeled in or falls over his own feet.
The dual pivot thing ruined Mo’unga and Barrett at international level. The lack of clarity done them both a disservice. Barrett in particular has had a precipitous drop off. It ruined our ten and messed up our back 3 for the guts of 4 years.
Will Jordan still hasn’t started at 15 for fuck sake.
I don’t even think its too difficult to solve to be honest. Ireland are kicking everyone’s arse with Mack Hansen James Lowe and Hugo Keenan as the back three. They catch their kicks, they kick well in return and and get plenty of touches each game.
I still wouldn’t take them over any of our options and I would wager if they were on these shores they wouldn’t be in the squad. Well , with Lowe we already have evidence he didn’t make it here.
Couple of things Steve, while seeing your points, I not convinced that Jordan is a test 15, I know if he there I would pepper him with high balls as on eveidence I have seen in tests (thinking Irish last year) he tends to show no interest in getting under them, I know he speed is great at 15 on attacck etc, but think 15 needs to catch ball etc. I like the look os Stevenson at 15, if he can keep up work, but has to show he can play first receiver at times, we can rubbish dual playmaker but you need options each side of breakdowns etc, or it too easy to set up defence for opposition.
And as for Lowe not being picked , he never really looked like an AB before he went away, too many flashes followed by f*** ups, has matured into bloody good player, although he was dropped by Ireland last year or so because he was still going missing on defence at times.
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@Jailbreak7 said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Crucial Totally agree. But who are our most mobile props? Is Ainsley worth a go? And much as I love BBBR and Sammy Whitelock, what happens if they break down, who are our next cabs off the rank? Paddy T not effective enough.
I think the selectors have identified the players most likely to be mobile enough for the current game and fill the other duties. There will always be trade offs in skillsets and strengths.
I would guess that it is easier to take a younger mobile prop and improve their scrum, handling and close defence impact than it is to take a dominant scrummager/close hitter and get them lighter on their feet for phase play.
We aren't there yet butI also don't think that that perfect mix exists among non selected players either. -
not that he'd be a bolter, but when is Lord back?
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
not that he'd be a bolter, but when is Lord back?
Due to play some club rugby in the Naki in a few weeks.
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@BerhamporeNinja said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
Also, Have you seen the Irish LHP and hooker, athletically built and are mobile.
Mobile, yes, but Porter is not a tall/big prop compared to who the ABs have used (de Groot, Moody).
As @Crucial says, it is speed off the ground and lateral movement in the defensive line is just as important as scrummaging/ball-carrying. That should automatically exclude Laulala, who only offers one of those.
