How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?
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Hopefully the one single lesson the selectors learnt from Chicago is not to pick players out of position. They can get cute against any Tier 2 team in the world, and half of the rest - but sure as the sun rises they cannot get cute by playing anyone in a position they haven't regularly performed at a high standard too in at least Super Rugby level. So NO to S.Barrett at 6. NO to Cane on the blindside.
Smith/TJP and Cruden will be half 2/3 our bench backline, the other spot will go to a midfield I would suggest for this first test, one of SBW, ALB or Fekitoa, we are too exposed in the centres if we cop an injury in the first 10min. Whereas Beaudy can go to wing/FB, and Crudes can come on if we cop an injury in the back 3.
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Hansen is loyal and doesn't place too much stock in their Super rugby form if he knows what they can do for the ABs.
I fully expect A Smith and J Savea to be in starting XV for the 1st test. Same for Dagg, who has little or no form either (due to injury).
Looking ahead to the ABs, are we to read anything into Luatua being named at no.8 for the Blues against the B&I Lions instead of Ioane? Squire's injury might be taking longer to heal as well.
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@Bovidae
A Smith why?He's not the incumbent, he's certainly not playing better than Perenara (TKB even?) currently and was definitely out of form last year
Loyalty would suggest that the incumbent would hold sway
Dagg and Savea make it on those loyalty/injuries don't retard a selection but toilet boy has been nothing but average for about 12 months now -
Haven't seen much of TJP this year, but it remains the case the Nugget has ability to get ball out fast on gain line which is unparalleled. Ball movement is a real achilles heel for Lions. Reality is both will be in squad and test team will depend a fair bit on how things go at training.
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Smith has shown glimpses of the form we know and love, but unfortunately that is all they have been, glimpses, TJP is in some form at the moment and surely his combo with BB is a positive.
Although, if the selectors feel they can get the Smith back to his best, then they will go there as that extra time he gives BB will be invaluable...
So to summarise, I have no clue.
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@Siam Because I don't see them discarding Smith, who has been central to the way the ABs play. They'll back themselves to get him in the right frame of mind in the ABs.
If you were ranking the 3 AB halfbacks on current form, then yes, Smith would be 3rd.
Jules was very average last year too due to off-field issues but they picked him.
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I imagine they'll both play but who gets the 9 jersey possibly depends on whether they need some physical presence after an hour or a speedy presence.
No hassles really
I've seen a bit of them this year and the impact TJP as on the game (lots of facets - reading, defense, team management, leadership, sniping) is far superior to what toilet boy is doing.
I think they're both dickish fellas (too emotional for my liking) but TJP is offering more to his team at the minute - can't see TJ not diving on that ball that led to a saders try. The extra physicality might be handy against the Lions forward pack too
Also looks to me like TJP and TKB have sped up their delivery this year.
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All this talk about halfbacks, rewind 12 years and it's dejavu on the Fern.....
Marshall got the first test start over Kelleher and some posters went into meltdown 😀
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Bet we weren't talking about playing a lock at 6 though. RIP Jerry.
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Of the three halfbacks, if you rate them on proven ability to execute under pressure then AS is still the best. I would also say that if you expected the Lions forwards to dominate (and I don't) then TKB is a better option than TJP.
TJP is shining at the moment because his team is dominant AND he is a good player. Check the games where his forwards have been bullied (Chiefs and Crusaders) and they were his worst games. In fact he was a big part of the loss to the Chiefs because he got rattled for periods and his game fell apart. He was totally outplayed by TKB that night.
I'd still go AS/TJP though.
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@ACT-Crusader said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
All this talk about halfbacks, rewind 12 years and it's dejavu on the Fern.....
Marshall got the first test start over Kelleher and some posters went into meltdown 😀
Also lost a hooker before the series with Anton doing a calf in the Crusaders v Highlanders match just before the series started from
memory. -
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It could come down to styles , which one they feel is the better to start , and which one is better suited to close .
But now that I think about it , I think we had the same discussion a year ago on the 10s , and that didnt go as many of us thought , most of us thought Cruden the better starter , Barrett the better finisher at the time ,
So who knows
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@Siam said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Bovidae
A Smith why?For me: the pass.
Add to that when he remembers he is Aaron Smith he remains awesome. I'm backing the AB coaches and environment to remind him he is Aaron Smith.
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Sounds like we've picked halfbacks that are slow passes, can't box kick, get bullied and are one side dominant.
We are stuffed
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I was on the A Smith train up until the weekend but during the Landers v Saders game I nearly fell off and am only just hanging on at the moment - he made some pretty poor errors. You'd hope in the AB environment he will come right but if we're honest he hasn't played with any consistency since the toilet fiasco - those pervs who recorded him have a lot to answer for.
51/49 towards Smith at the moment.
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Should be TJP 9 TKB 21
Will be AS 9 TJP 21 (or vice versa)
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