TRC squad

gollum

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pakman" data-cid="604705" data-time="1470814799">
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No point in waiting for Shag -- the Fern has spoken?!
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.
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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.
 
Its one of the reasons I still think Ben Smith will be at 13 at some stage this year

Tim

Who would you have at 12 to partner Smith? Don't say Crotty.

pakman

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.

gollum

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="604753" data-time="1470828982">
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Who would you have at 12 to partner Smith? Don't say Crotty.
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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.
 
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.

Billy Tell

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. 
He's bloody good at 14 or 15 and I hope he stays there.

Frye

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). 
I'd name Crotty at 12 but use Moala and Naholo in midfield to get us over the gain line when required. 
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.

gollum

Yeah, I'm not really pushing Smith at 13, its more I fully expect he will get time there this year.
 
I'd be perfectly happy with Crotty there, I just feel because he is seen as a bit "average" there will always be a call for him to replaced, and 99% of NZ centre options are great Super centres, but not test centres. Look at the way Rene Ranger was a Super centre, but for the ABs & in France he was seen as a wing as he lacked the 13 skillset. NZ Super centres are mostly like that.

KiwiMurph

Moala deserves a crack at 13. His defence since moving to 13 this season (Blues/one ABs test) has been excellent.

hydro11

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/83056077/chiefs-midfielder-anton-lienertbrown-replaces-sonny-bill-williams-in-all-blacks'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/83056077/chiefs-midfielder-anton-lienertbrown-replaces-sonny-bill-williams-in-all-blacks</a>
 
Obviously wanted cover at 12.

Tim

IIRC, Moala is the only player in the squad who has regularly played at 13 this year.

ACT Crusader

Fekitoa started the season at 13 and played a number of games there before being moved because of injury. 
Didn't Moala play in different positions this year as well? Plus were there games where he came off the bench?

KiwiMurph

Yep Moala started at 12, the midfield combo of him and Ranger/Sau did not work, after the Reds game he went to the bench, then Ranger got injured for the season and Moala shifted to 13 with Francis at 12 - this is when Moala really found form.

Nairobi

I think ALB will be a good long term AB. He and Ngatai can become the next AB midfield pair, and it helps that they are both in one SR team. 
hopefully he kicks on quickly so the team can do away with steady crotty

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nairobi" data-cid="604984" data-time="1470893080">
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I think ALB will be a good long term AB. He and Ngatai can become the next AB midfield pair, and it helps that they are both in one SR team. 
hopefully he kicks on quickly so the team can do away with steady crotty
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off the top of my head I'd say those two have a combined All Black career of about 10 minutes.....and all of those belong to Ngatai.
 
That's pretty fucken rough on Crotty, Fekitoa, Moala, SBW and even Taminuvula. Are they all just keeping the jerseys warm ?

Wurzel

I've never known a player to have ownership of an All Black jersey quite like Ngatai. The way he's talked about 'round here he's the first name Hansen puts on the team sheet.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wurzel" data-cid="605012" data-time="1470900908">
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I've never known a player to have ownership of an All Black jersey quite like Ngatai. The way he's talked about 'round here he's the first name Hansen puts on the team sheet.
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Yeah apparently he's gonna walk into the team and put all the other pretenders into their rightful place and some guy I've never heard of will be joining him. Sweet.

pakman

Presume Todd has joined squad as cover? Has there been any publicity about players for game of three halves, other than Bus is only Hurricane playing?

Nairobi

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="605005" data-time="1470897727">
off the top of my head I'd say those two have a combined All Black career of about 10 minutes.....and all of those belong to Ngatai. 
That's pretty fucken rough on Crotty, Fekitoa, Moala, SBW and even Taminuvula. Are they all just keeping the jerseys warm ?</blockquote>
 
In my opinion ALB has the biggest upside out of all those names you have there. Ngatai was the real deal but has shit luck with injuries. 
SBW is off course the incumbent but age is not on his side. I don't rate the others much.

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="604786" data-time="1470849167">
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Moala deserves a crack at 13. His defence since moving to 13 this season (Blues/one ABs test) has been excellent.
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As long as he passes the ball. Neither Fekitoa or Moala are great distributors, but I would prefer Moala on form.

gollum

I'm less worried re our 13's distribution, more with their organisation of the defensive line. The prospect of Folau or Bosch coming into the backline against a Fekitoa run backline D gives me the shits. 
 
Especially as the end result will be Dagg having to try & cover the mess, slipping of a miracle tackle on Folau & having the fern berate his shithouse defence. Or Savea stuck in no mans land covering 2 guys & the Fern asking why his D is so awful after being great just a year ago.

The Silver Fern

TRC squad