TRC squad
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="602025" data-time="1470009515">
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<p>Glad Savea is there. He has a shitload more upside tgan someone like Lowe (who they obviously don't rate as highly as some on the fern). Telling Savea to piss off, harden up and play npc would be the old school way. Personally i think working WITH him to get him right is the better way to do it. In form he is one of the best wingers in the world. Would expect Naholo to be starting though.<br>
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<p>Agree with this totally. He has been there and done that and there is clearly no physical reason why he can't do it again. Without knowing what his issue is, anyone who has been or is going through a tough time can tell you how much it can effect every aspect of your life, its just lucky a lot of us can hide behind semi-cushy jobs out of the limelight while we recover.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canerbry" data-cid="601979" data-time="1470004526"><p>
:mocking: The wide-eyed wonderment at a hated former Crusader turning out actually be a good player after all...</p></blockquote>
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Only got good once he escaped Stalag Christchurch ... -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="602073" data-time="1470020082">
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<p>Is Dixon actually better than Shields?</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>I think he was for most of the season, because Shields was pretty average except for the last few games in which he seemed to improve quite a bit. I think with Dixon it was exactly the opposite, started great, but average in the last few games.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="602073" data-time="1470020082">
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<p>Is Dixon actually better than Shields?</p>
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<p>The stats, if interested:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Shields / Dixon</p>
<p>Games</p>
<p>15 / 15</p>
<p>Minutes</p>
<p>1064 / 1112</p>
<p>Tries</p>
<p>2 / 4</p>
<p>Carries</p>
<p>112 / 69</p>
<p>Metres</p>
<p>219 / 299</p>
<p>Clean Breaks</p>
<p>5 / 12</p>
<p>Defenders Beaten</p>
<p>5 / 12</p>
<p>Offloads</p>
<p>4 / 11</p>
<p>Passes</p>
<p>29 / 59</p>
<p>Lineout Catches</p>
<p>15 / 63</p>
<p>Lineout Steals</p>
<p>0 / 11</p>
<p>Tackles</p>
<p>141 / 103</p>
<p>Missed Tackles</p>
<p>25 / 16</p>
<p>Tackles Success</p>
<p>84.8 / 86.6</p>
<p>Turnovers Conceded</p>
<p>16 / 11</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="601960" data-time="1470003501">
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<p> </p>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>Forwards:</strong><br><br><strong>Hookers</strong><br>
Dane Coles (Wellington / Hurricanes, 39)<br>
Codie Taylor (Canterbury / Crusaders, 5)<br>
Nathan Harris (Bay of Plenty / Chiefs, 4)<br><br><strong>Props</strong><br>
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury / Crusaders, 48)<br>
Charlie Faumuina (Auckland / Blues, 36)<br>
Owen Franks (Canterbury / Crusaders, 80)<br>
Joe Moody (Canterbury / Crusaders, 14)<br>
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland / Blues, 1)<br><br><strong>Locks</strong><br>
Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay / Chiefs, 50)<br>
Luke Romano (Canterbury / Crusaders, 24)<br>
Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland / Blues, 9)<br>
Samuel Whitelock (Canterbury / Crusaders, 75)<br><br><strong>Loose Forwards</strong><br>
Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty / Chiefs, 34)<br>
Elliot Dixon (Southland / Highlanders, 1)<br>
Jerome Kaino (Auckland / Blues, 69)<br>
Kieran Read, captain (Canterbury / Crusaders, 87)<br>
Ardie Savea (Wellington / Hurricanes, 2)<br>
Liam Squire ( Ta$man / Highlanders, 1)<br><br><strong>Backs:</strong><br><br><strong>Halfbacks</strong><br>
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato / Chiefs, 21)<br>
TJ Perenara (Wellington / Hurricanes, 19)<br>
Aaron Smith (Manawatu / Highlanders, 50)<br><br><strong>First five-eighths</strong><br>
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki / Hurricanes, 39)<br>
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu / Chiefs, 39)<br>
Lima Sopoaga (Southland / Highlanders, 2)<br><br><strong>Midfielders</strong><br>
Ryan Crotty (Canterbury / Crusaders, 18)<br>
Malakai Fekitoa (Auckland / Highlanders, 15)<br>
George Moala (Auckland / Blues, 2)<br>
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau / Chiefs, 33)<br><br><strong>Outside backs</strong><br>
Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay / Crusaders, 51)<br>
Waisake Naholo (Taranaki / Highlanders, 6)<br>
Julian Savea (Wellington/ Hurricanes, 43)<br>
Ben Smith (Otago / Highlanders, 51)</div>
<p> </p>
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<p>Hookers - tick</p>
<p>Props - tick. But Crockett is ageing. Needs some forward-thinking selections for the EOYT.</p>
<p>Locks - Romano argh. He's not going to get any better and his best is just not top AB quality IMHO. Once again, hope EOYT sees some new blood.</p>
<p>Loose forwards - happy enough. But Dixon had better step up or he should be gone. I won't be surprised to see Akira Ioane given a go on the EOYT.</p>
<p>Halfbacks - tick. Weber had a mini-mare in the weekend.</p>
<p>1st-fives - tick. Easiest AB selection at the moment.</p>
<p>Midfield - tick. SB has to have a lock on the 12 shirt, I'd hope 13 goes to Crotty or Moala. Where does Ngatai fit in for the EOYT?</p>
<p>Ouside backs - tick. I was beating Lowe's drum 2 weeks ago, but had a pretty terrible (certainly not AB standard) semi-final. Who makes way for NMS in October? Savea seems a protected species so we see.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I think the ABs will comfortably win the RC. Argentina will comfortably come last. SA & Australia fighting it out for 2nd.</p> -
<p>Interesting to see that players who have been terrible during the QF and/or the SF have been included or added (Dixon, Romano, TKB, Fekitoa, Todd). I guess Todd has been added for injury cover since there are no other proven OSF. I am among those who think that he is not physical enough for the highest level as the game against the Lions has clearly showed. But the Pryors and Gibson are not (yet) convincing so Todd's inclusion as a special guest is not so surprising at all.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="602122" data-time="1470035459">
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<p>Interesting to see that players who have been terrible during the QF and/or the SF have been included or added (Dixon, Romano, TKB, Fekitoa, Todd). I guess Todd has been added for injury cover since there are no other proven OSF. I am among those who think that he is not physical enough for the highest level as the game against the Lions has clearly showed. But the Pryors and Gibson are not (yet) convincing so Todd's inclusion as a special guest is not so surprising at all.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>These selectors have always had a soft spot for players from a certain team. Its not quite as bad as the Hart Wylie days yet but if the Crusaders ever won the title it likely would be.</p> -
<p>THese selectors have a fine track record with selections and winning, so I'm prepared to believe they select on more than just the Super colours, but thats just me! </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Winger" data-cid="602123" data-time="1470036426"><p>
These selectors have always had a soft spot for players from a certain team. Its not quite as bad as the Hart Wylie days yet but if the Crusaders ever won the title it likely would be.</p></blockquote>
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Suggest you add "h" as the 2nd letter of your username. <br><br>
Painful. -
<p>What? A conspiracy to give Crusaders players preference for AB selection? Gosh, it's not like Winger to believe in a conspiracy. So out of character. Must have some merit.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="602133" data-time="1470038642">
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<p>What? A conspiracy to give Crusaders players preference for AB selection? Gosh, it's not like Winger to believe in a conspiracy. So out of character. Must have some merit.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thankfully in the Henry and Smith days the selections seemed to fairly represent the performance of the teams. Now its gone back to a Crusaders bias. They have 9 players in this team. Every other team has less. Romano is a joke selection for one.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Its very clear bias. I hoped this crap was finished after we got rid of Hate and Wylie but it seems not.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="602125" data-time="1470036783"><p>THese selectors have a fine track record with selections and winning, so I'm prepared to believe they select on more than just the Super colours, but thats just me!<br></p></blockquote>
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NZRFU Shill -
I know we shouldn't question these guys, and they have more info than we do, and are tasked with creating culture, but<br><br>
Not taking Luatua is mystifying. He's been a dominant player who obviously sorted out what got him dropped in the first place. <br><br>
Have we reached the point where super form only counts if you are new? That's a dangerous proposition -
Those lineout and metres per run stats for Dixon would be pretty appealing to the AB selectors. Plus he has good leadership credentials from what I hear. <br><br>
Not overly surprised with the Luatua omission given he's been on the fringe for a while now and Dixon and Squire haven't yet done anything to say they aren't up to test level. There are always one or two players that "miss out" from a fan's perspective. <br><br>
I've been critical of Romano over the years, but he was better this season. There must be some key stats at test level that they like about his game which warrants continued selection. <br><br><br>
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