TRC squad
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="603846" data-time="1470574568">
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<p>Does that matter? All of Cane, TKB, Romano, Faumuina, Moala, Crockett, Crotty, Moody, Harris, Ofa and Squire have had extended periods, either this season or in recent ones, where they haven't be automatic starters yet they are selected without too much fuss. </p>
<p>I don't think Hansen gives a shit what a lower level coach does with selections if he thinks he can get the best out of a player.</p>
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<p>He would need the power of a god to get Ofa<em> </em><span>Tuungafasi competitive against the better props going round.</span></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="603847" data-time="1470576152">
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<p>He would need the power of a god to get Ofa<em> </em>Tuungafasi competitive against the better props going round.</p>
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<p>Well yeah, some of those selections are debatable but more for the player quality rather than the fact that they aren't starting for their Super teams.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="603846" data-time="1470574568">
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<p>Does that matter? All of Cane, TKB, Romano, Faumuina, Moala, Crockett, Crotty, Moody, Harris, Ofa and Squire have had extended periods, either this season or in recent ones, where they haven't be automatic starters yet they are selected without too much fuss. </p>
<p><strong>I don't think Hansen gives a shit what a lower level coach does with selections if he thinks he can get the best out of a player.</strong></p>
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<p>The problem being even he hasn't been able to get the best out of Savea for a while now.</p> -
<p>Apparently Leinert-Brown will be brought into the full squad, leapfrogging Seta. Wayne Smith's a massive fan. Was instrumental in getting him from Canterbury to the Chiefs; and the All Blacks had intended to take him away as an apprentice on an end of year tour a few seasons back but he got injured in the NPC.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wurzel" data-cid="604557" data-time="1470786143">
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<p>Apparently Leinert-Brown will be brought into the full squad, leapfrogging Seta. Wayne Smith's a massive fan. Was instrumental in getting him from Canterbury to the Chiefs; and the All Blacks had intended to take him away as an apprentice on an end of year tour a few seasons back but he got injured in the NPC.</p>
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<p>I'm happy with that, I prefer Leinert-Brown to Tamanivalu. </p> -
Leinert-Brown made the SANZAAAAAAR Super Rugby team. I like the look of him; he never seems flustered and executes very well.<br><br>That way you could put Moala on the left wing...
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="604572" data-time="1470787268">
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<p>Yep big fan of ALB - prefer him over Tamanivalu as well - <strong>he can also slot in at 12 or 13 </strong>which is handy. Very happy with that.</p>
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<p>I was going to say that same thing. Made his Super debut on the wing too.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pakman" data-cid="604503" data-time="1470776847">
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<p>Looks like SBW a write off for 2016. Seta T back in squad? Get well soon, Charlie!</p>
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<p>Seems a mistake, in retrospect, for him to go to the Olympics. At his age, with so many miles on the clock already, especially his weight, undergoing the rigorous training for 7's was too much. His decision, and now he must do the patient recovery work for his future career and health. Wish him well.</p>
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<p>The focus for 7's players should be on light, fast and young-early 20s. NZ's advantage is that we have so many instinctive, skillful and dedicated young players. Not all of them need to become Super 15 players.</p>
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<p>And don't call them the All Black Sevens!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wairau" data-cid="604707" data-time="1470815234"><p>Seems a mistake, in retrospect, for him to go to the Olympics. At his age, with so many miles on the clock already, especially his weight, undergoing the rigorous training for 7's was too much. His decision, and now he must do the patient recovery work for his future career and health. Wish him well.<br><br>
The focus for 7's players should be on light, fast and young-early 20s. NZ's advantage is that we have so many instinctive, skillful and dedicated young players. Not all of them need to become Super 15 players.<br><br>
And don't call them the All Black Sevens!</p></blockquote>
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I don't think it was a mistake at all. He was playing okay and it just seemed an innocuous sort of injury rather than a wear and tear sort of thing. <br><br>
And we've been pretty successful with the likes of Forbes in the side for a good while and he's far from a light early 20 year old. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pakman" data-cid="604705" data-time="1470814799">
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<p>No point in waiting for Shag -- the Fern has spoken?!</p>
<p>As an aside, Fekitoa just maybe will settle outside an ALB (or CN for that matter). He has an instinctive X-factor which seems to be negated when he has to think too much.</p>
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<p>Problem for me with Fekitoa at 13 is its the pivotal position in the backline in terms of organising the defence, telling your wingers where you want them, telling the 10 & 12 who they have, being able to make key decisions re drifting / pushing up. You want a guy there who is above all a calm communicator. Crotty has that, Fekitoa REALLY does not. I'd actually put part of the issue with our wings this year down to going from having a calm communicator at 13 to having an erratic chook. At times everyone from 12 out look to be trying to play on the fly & being startled by events happening around them.</p>
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<p>Its one of the reasons I still think Ben Smith will be at 13 at some stage this year </p> -
In fact Gollum has touched on my point, which admittedly I didn't really express. To expand: IMO ONE of 12 and 13 has to be an organiser. Conrad was that for us for many years, but before him Mauger did same at 12. But from what I recall Mauger had more to offer at 12 than Crotty, who while defensively is solid doesn't offer much of a threat on attack. Nonu really prospered having Conrad outside him to do the thinking, at least in the early years, so he could play instinctively. In the same way I could see Charlie Ngatai organising from 12 thus letting Fekitoa play his natural game. ALB also seems very tidy, whereas Seta is not.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="604753" data-time="1470828982">
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<p>Who would you have at 12 to partner Smith? Don't say Crotty.</p>
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<p>Well ideally I'd have SBW at 12 with Crotty oustide & I'd give Smith a run at some stage to see if he's an option, I like Crotty as a 13, but he's a 7/10. A consistent 7/10, but thats it. With SBW out I still want Crotty / Smith at 13 & a smasher at 12 - I'm still more or less OK with Fekitoa there, he's got a great step, if he can get time alongside a 10 he'll develop timing off short passes etc that his pace can exploit. Also at 12 there is some cover for him when he sprints out of the line, when he does that at 13 the huge dogleg in D means your fullback has to be a god to cover it. Moala has the skills to play 12, well, his passing needs work, but he's young still.</p>
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<p>In the past we would go 1st five then 2nd five - ie both organisers in close, modern rugby tends to be more 1st five / 15 as your pivots, hence the love for Dagg & Barrett there, ie you want a lot of space between them, probably because players are so much fitter a tighter attack is easy to shut down. So I lean towards a smasher at 12 & an organiser at 13 - especially as the defensive patterns have made 13 so much more vital on that front. </p> -
I'm utterly opposed to Ben Smith at 13. It was the stopgappiest of stopgap measures in 2013 or whenever it was, and while not a disaster it was not a resounding success either. <br><br>
He's bloody good at 14 or 15 and I hope he stays there. -
I'm not against Ben Smith at 13. It isn't a World Cup and we at least have some good wing options. Also the last time we played a fullback at centre for a Tri Nations we basically went undefeated (Mils in 2006).<br><br>
I'd name Crotty at 12 but use Moala and Naholo in midfield to get us over the gain line when required.<br><br>
It's basically the same backline many would select except Smith would be better used as a organiser in midfield and our strike players could roam more.
