How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?

Chris B.

@JayCee Yeah that was an interesting comment about "not wanting to drill down into that".

You don't have to look too far to see that if it's not the first five doing the kicking then it's pretty much got to be Dmac or Jordie - unless Dagg is suddenly going to be a revelation.

My guess would be that if they decide it's a major concern then they could shoehorn DMac into fullback and play Ben Smith on the wing (or even vice versa - even though I've not seen McKenzie play wing).

I simply can't see them giving Jordie a debut in this series.

Stargazer

@JayCee I wouldn't be surprised at all if it's TJP. He made a very bad attempt in one of the previous Canes games, but I've seen footage of him kicking some great ones at training. Or they borrow Richie Mo'unga's boots.

hydro11

I think they will just back Barrett to take the kicks.

Crucial

BBBR to take the kicks. He just took a week off to learn how.

Stargazer

I was actually thinking of Kieran Read, or whoever replaces him as captain. True leadership takes charge of a difficult situation.

taniwharugby

fuck it, why bother with kicks at all?

Score tries and head back to half way, we go in multiples of 5 vs thier 3!

No Quarter

I think the alternative will be the guy that's played and kicked for 40 odd tests when DC was injured - Cruden. If BB's kicking is really costing us then Cruds will come on, BB to 15 and B Smith to 14. I doubt they're losing too much sleep over it.

Bones

Dagg...

Tim

Cruden also has concussion symptoms.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/92309380/rennie-does-not-think-cruden-will-be-out-for-long

westcoastie

Weekly injury update (also updated the OP)

UPDATE 7/5/17
How are we going with injuries?
NMS - out, but could be back for the Maori game I read
Squire - annnnd, out for 4-6 weeks (busted thumb)
Coles - dicky calves 50/50 for 'Canes v Stormers, now with added Concussion, return TBC
Kaino - successful surgery, back in for 3-5 weeks (back for the Samoa test)
Dagg - might be back for Hurricanes game
Ben Smith - out for 1-2 weeks, Ankle Sprain
Read - out for 5 weeks, broken thumb (back in time for Samoa test)
Cruden - out with concussion, Chiefs v Reds.
SBW - possible concussion, Blues v Waratahs

Naholo - back and scoring tries

Wairau

@westcoastie said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:

Read - out for 5 weeks, broken sprain (back in time for Samoa test)

Thanks for the list!
This is the one I am most worried about, a broken sprain, sounds pretty serious..is that like 4*4 weeks out?

westcoastie

@Wairau mmm, dunno what I did there...

mariner4life

We're doomed. Dooooommmmed!

JC

@taniwharugby aha, the Dread Pirate Roberts tactic, they're all actually kicking with their wrong foot.

I reckon Sam Whitelock is using his 2 weeks to learn how it's done.

ACT Crusader

@mariner4life said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:

We're doomed. Dooooommmmed!

Injury lists pffftttt, we've still got Canerbreeeeee / Sader players plus a few tokens fit and firing

1 Moody
2 Taylor
3 Franks
4 S Whitelock
5 Romano
6 S Barrett
7 Todd
8 L Whitelock
9 A Smith
10 B Barrett
11 Savea
12 Crotty
13 Lienert-Brown
14 Tamanivalu
15 J Barrett

Billy Tell

Our training strip for 2017...

alt text

Milk

I think they'll just get B Barrett to kick. It's what they did last year and I can't imagine his kicking being much worse than usual.

I hope they don't select J Barrett; he's just not ready in my opinion. He's a great player with an exciting future, but he's not an All Black level full back yet... not unless both Smith and Dagg are injured. I don't get this talk about his utility value either. In the future, sure, but as of now he can't have played more than one or two games in the midfield at Super Rugby level? Personally, I hope the selectors take their time with him.

Crucial

@Milk said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:

I think they'll just get B Barrett to kick. It's what they did last year and I can't imagine his kicking being much worse than usual.

I hope they don't select J Barrett; he's just not ready in my opinion. He's a great player with an exciting future, but he's not an All Black level full back yet... not unless both Smith and Dagg are injured. I don't get this talk about his utility value either. In the future, sure, but as of now he can't have played more than one or two games in the midfield at Super Rugby level? Personally, I hope the selectors take their time with him.

Agree with all of that. If they want utility value then it makes more sense to put DMac on the bench. But I think they will be conservative at the start and have Cruden on the pine. What would be ideal is another Kahui type that can cover midfield and wing.
I don't think Tamanivalu is that guy either. An in form SBW works at a pinch.