Substitution Bench - Thoughts
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@chimoaus said in Substitution Bench - Thoughts:
Didn't Jonah play a few games in the forwards during his time, I seem to remember him carving it up from 8?
First class starts all at wing: https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/jonah-tali-lomu
Hart put him at 8 for a few scrums. There was also invitational game (John Kirwan benefit match?) where he played 8. Maybe there was other Baabaa matches?
Otherwise I think it was schoolboys
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Macalou from France cover forwards and backs OK as does Botia from Fiji. Kwagga Smith can too. Sami Finau has back 3 experience too I believe. But few others in NZ
I like it when 9 can cover wing well. Leroy Carter is prime example. But Cam Roigard may have the skills too.
That all said I hate this trend towards a 6 2 bench. I wish they would reduce the numbers overall... -
@Duluth said in Substitution Bench - Thoughts:
@chimoaus said in Substitution Bench - Thoughts:
Didn't Jonah play a few games in the forwards during his time, I seem to remember him carving it up from 8?
First class starts all at wing: https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/jonah-tali-lomu
Hart put him at 8 for a few scrums. There was also invitational game (John Kirwan benefit match?) where he played 8. Maybe there was other Baabaa matches?
Otherwise I think it was schoolboys
Ah yes, that was the game I was thinking of.
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@sparky said in Substitution Bench - Thoughts:
@chimoaus Jonah the Great played 8 for NZ schoolboys in a Test curtain-raiser. He scored a hat-trick at 6 for NZ barbarians in a farewell game for John Kirwan.
Trampled Tim Gavin for one if I remember rightly.
I do recall him packing down at 8 in a canes game and Murray Mexted mentioning he just didn’t have the aerobic capacity to play in that position at a high level. He of all people would know.
But yeah in theory there’s been any number of those type of athletes who could play 6/8 or 11/12/13/14. Did Roy Kinikinilau ever play in the forwards ? You get the impression Victor Vito would have been a handy centre/wing….Vaea Fifita is the most recent example I can think of especially when he did this……
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It was extremely remiss of me not to mention Scotland legend Richie Vernon, a forward at the 2011 WC then a back at the 2015 WC.
Scotland’s Richie Vernon recalls pain of 2015 Rugby World Cup exit
Whatever Scotland go on to achieve at future Rugby World Cups, Richie Vernon is unlikely to lose the distinction of being the only man selected to represent the
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Grant Fox said MJ could have played anywhere in the backline back in the day. And with his current size he's got the front row covered. So it's only really at lock he doesn't fit properly, but he did have a great vertical leap. So I'm ruling that MJ would be the best bench cover.
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@MajorRage Jerry Collins was a six and often played 12 in club footy.
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@KiwiMurph wasn't he a 10?
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@Joans-Town-Jones said in Substitution Bench - Thoughts:
@MajorRage Jerry Collins was a six and often played 12 in club footy.
I bet all midfielders coming up against him learnt how to pass REALLY quickly.
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@sparky said in Substitution Bench - Thoughts:
@chimoaus Jonah the Great played 8 for NZ schoolboys in a Test curtain-raiser. He scored a hat-trick at 6 for NZ barbarians in a farewell game for John Kirwan.
Still my greatest lol moment in rugby that, he took the ball off the back of the scrum in his own 22 and ended up scoring under the posts.
Ran over the number 7, ran over the number 8, swatted off the halfback, out paced the first 5 and winger coming across in cover, last line of D was the fullback who set himself in a death or glory tackle.
Heard this enormous "crack" as the tackle was made an immediately thought in my head what a good tackle!
TV then shows fullback lying prone on the field while Johan trots off to score under the posts.
Poor fullback had to be stretchered off the field.
And thus Jonah's love affair with English fullbacks begun.
