All Blacks EOYT
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As a Blues fan who would love to see Sotutu in the AB's No 8 jersey I do think Lio-Willie is a top player who showed good form in Super Rugby. For me he's the best loose forward in the Crusaders - better than Blackadder. He has a high workrate like Blackadder, lower error rate, and higher impact rate.
Sotutu is a better lineout and mauler than both Blackadder and Lio-Willie.
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@brodean said in All Blacks EOYT:
For me he's the best loose forward in the Crusaders
agree
however the Crusaders were dogshit this year. Hoskins was the best loose forward in the comp.
Unless there has been a specific conversation behind the scenes that we simply don't know about, this is about the biggest indication that they in no way rate Sotutu and he is not even remotely on their agenda.
Which is dog shit selecting, and as far as i am concerned an enormous black mark against this group.
Had the loosies killed it this year i would shut my trap, but...
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I want to know of another loose forward that played as many minutes as Hos did, scoring anywhere near as many tries, or try assists, being as involved not just carrying the ball but as a distributor.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks EOYT:
I want to know of another loose forward that played as many minutes as Hos did, scoring anywhere near as many tries, or try assists, being as involved not just carrying the ball but as a distributor.
he's also high quality at the breakdown.
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i do like the indication that Lakai is the next cab off the rank at 7. I like the skillset he brings.
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@frugby said in All Blacks EOYT:
TSF now stands for The Sotutu Forum
All Blacks loose forwards are outplayed in every test this year
Best loose forward in Super rugby for the past 2 years is continuously overlooked
guys on rugby forum talk about it
"er mer gerd you guys are obsessed"
right.
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Maybe Waisake called Roberston a fluffybunny back in the day and now Razor's getting payback. I just can't see how Sotutu misses out based on the loosies that are now injured. Insane.
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The funny thing is I actually rate Lio-Willie above Blackadder.
I'd have picked him in my wider squad with Akira and Hos.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks EOYT:
@frugby said in All Blacks EOYT:
TSF now stands for The Sotutu Forum
All Blacks loose forwards are outplayed in every test this year
Best loose forward in Super rugby for the past 2 years is continuously overlooked
guys on rugby forum talk about it
"er mer gerd you guys are obsessed"
right.
No I just think it is boring speculation to suggest that Lio-Willie and Haig are rated above Sotutu, when Papalii, Blackadder and Jacobson are injured.
Tell me how many minutes those three have played at #8 for the ABs, and tell me how many minutes Sotutu has played not at #8 at the professional level? It is pure speculation to say he is snubbed here on the consideration they view him as a specialist 8.
Why not focus on the positives like Lakai? Or the interesting things, like a lock being selected to replace a loose forward which may mean Barrett is being viewed as a legit option to play 6.
I personally am a bit over the Sotutu conversation, there is little more to be said on it.
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@DurryMexted said in All Blacks EOYT:
@Canes4life honestly cant say ive watched too many Otago games this year, was more a reflection on Sotutu
Game high 19 carries in that Wellington game, which is 6 more than the next person.
What a fucking log. -
@frugby said in All Blacks EOYT:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks EOYT:
@frugby said in All Blacks EOYT:
TSF now stands for The Sotutu Forum
All Blacks loose forwards are outplayed in every test this year
Best loose forward in Super rugby for the past 2 years is continuously overlooked
guys on rugby forum talk about it
"er mer gerd you guys are obsessed"
right.
No I just think it is boring speculation to suggest that Lio-Willie and Haig are rated above Sotutu, when Papalii, Blackadder and Jacobson are injured.
Tell me how many minutes those three have played at #8 for the ABs, and tell me how many minutes Sotutu has played not at #8 at the professional level? It is pure speculation to say he is snubbed here on the consideration they view him as a specialist 8.
Why not focus on the positives like Lakai? Or the interesting things, like a lock being selected to replace a loose forward which may mean Barrett is being viewed as a legit option to play 6.
I personally am a bit over the Sotutu conversation, there is little more to be said on it.
because my guess is, Jacobson would have been the #8 v Japan had he been fit (not that we have any real evidnce given the absolute lock one guy has over the minutes) so someone is going to have to play at #8 in a test match for NZ.
Internal options are the normal guy, the supposed back up (who also starts at 6 for us so not ideal), or they bring in a #8. Which they have, in Lio-Wille. Ergo Lio-Willie is rated ahead of Sotutu.
The reason Hoskins gets so much chat on here is as i have said, the loose forwards have been super underwhelming this year, and he is literally the main guy in any position who has been banging the door down for 2 years and can't get in. It's a valid discussion right up until our loose forwards start turning in performances of an elite level again.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks EOYT:
Now the conspiracy theory will be if this is an injury or a way of getting out of the tour
Yeah the reason for pulling out will be because he'll go to England. Watch this space.
Surely that means a call up for Brayden Iose. Oh forget it, someone like Cullen Grace will come in.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks EOYT:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks EOYT:
Now the conspiracy theory will be if this is an injury or a way of getting out of the tour
Yeah the reason for pulling out will be because he'll go to England. Watch this space.
Surely that means a call up for Brayden Iose. Oh forget it, someone like Cullen Grace will come in.
Dare I say it, Grace might be a better bet. Iose is the ultimate one-side of the ball player... eye-catching on attack, but probably lacks a bit of size, and not noted for his defending.
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So Hoskins is reportedly out with a knee injury now.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks EOYT:
So Hoskins is reportedly out with a knee injury now.
Well that gives an reason for Lio going instead.
