How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?
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@Chris-B. Thompson.
@Nepia I think I can see where they're going with J Barrett. Reads the game very well and has some nice skills, along with a very promising boot. I reckon they've got him there to focus on his shortcomings, mainly - speed, inconsistent passing, defence. Doubt he'll see much gametime.
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Ofa T should be nowhere near an All Black squad. He was also poor against the Lions the other night.
If you are looking for guys who play both sides then Atu Moli would be a better investment .
I would rate Eves , May, Fisihoi and Prattley (all average props) over him -
@mariner4life Missed tackles, general scrimmaging and the miles offside tackle on Biggar.
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@Kiwidom said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@mariner4life Missed tackles, general scrimmaging and the miles offside tackle on Biggar.
I thought that was fine given the ref clearly didn't give a shit about foul play. He also ran 10m before he snotted Biggar, Would have helped if his teammates ran another two metres to put him onside.
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@KiwiMurph Agreed Prattley was a bad example, but Nepo Laulala could have been picked instead , with Faumuina as both TH and LH cover
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@Kiwidom my memory of Nepo Laulala in a black jersey involves him over-celebrating a scrum win vs Samoa in Apia and then missing a goal line tackle on the Wallaby try scorer for the match sealing try for the last Bledisloe the ABs lost, 2015 Sydney.
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@KiwiMurph You forgetting his dominant cameo against the strong Argentina scrum in Chritchurch of that same year then ? I just think he has a lot more potential than Ofa, and they are around the same age
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Ofa's alright. No matter how well he's going he'll always struggle to shake off the bad reputation he has with his scrummaging which has barely been a problem in the last couple of seasons.
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Ofa is a big strong unit. His size and strength is a good advantage at lineout time. He's good around the park and has some work ons at scrum time. I don't see why people are surprised given he was in the environment most of last year and is clearly a work in progress.
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I am a huge fan of Luatua but some here and around the traps are carrying on as though his form was undeniable.
The spot they were picking for is a non playing reserve for an established loose trio and Ardie. There is no chance of competition to make it to match day. So it changes the equation a little.
Hansen is too canny to say this, but injury permitting whoever was picked maybe gets a look in for the third test if it's a dead rubber and Kaino and Read are better rested.
No point carrying a guy for three weeks when if all goes to plan he is going to get 60 minutes in the last game and then leave. Spend those resources wisely on building for the future.
Certainly not vindictive, if a clear selection was heading overseas they would be picked. That said it doesn't hurt to remind fringe players once in a while that they might want to think twice about leaving.
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@rotated Whilst I have a lot of sympathy for your view, the fact remains that Squire and Read are a non-negligible risk. If sod's law struck and both were to miss first two Lions tests I'd want my top man in reserve. For me, Luatua is it. If Read passed fully fit by all means release him. Nothing to stop Akira being apprentice or whatever they wish to call him.
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@pakman said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@rotated Whilst I have a lot of sympathy for your view, the fact remains that Squire and Read are a non-negligible risk. If sod's law struck and both were to miss first two Lions tests I'd want my top man in reserve. For me, Luatua is it. If Read passed fully fit by all means release him. Nothing to stop Akira being apprentice or whatever they wish to call him.
Nothing to stop Luatua being called in if Kaino/Read/Squire are unable to play. We've seen them pick from outside the squad straight into the 23 regularly when a specific type of player is needed. I don't see Todd or Savea shoehorned into Kaino or Reads spot if out for the series.
Read and Kaino are pros - their injuries aren't going to be assessed like the average player. These two have the experience and demenour to be selected without a second thought unless they sustain further injury, irrespective of match fitness or chronic injury. They are on the Richie 2011 plan.
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I'm surprised they selected Laumape, mainly because after a player has a standout season they tend to wait to see how he backs it up. However, I can understand at some point form becomes simply undeniable. This is the thing that annoys me about Damian McKenzie's non-selection. By any measure he is the form fullback of the competition. I get that he is small but I have seen him chop down too many players twice his size, run the ball through too many forward packs and get up after getting merked too many times for that to count against him.
There is an argument that Jordie has more utility value, but in my opinion that's just theoretical until I actually see him playing some other positions at senior level. I could argue McKenzie has more utility value because no other player non-first five comes in first receiver as much as him, but I won't argue that because I wouldn't want to see either player playing anywhere but fullback for the All Blacks right now.
I'm excited about Jordie Barrett and think he will probably go on to have a far better All Blacks career than McKenzie, but I don't agree with this selection.
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@Milk said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
I'm surprised they selected Laumape, mainly because after a player has a standout season they tend to wait to see how he backs it up. However, I can understand at some point form becomes simply undeniable. This is the thing that annoys me about Damian McKenzie's non-selection. By any measure he is the form fullback of the competition. I get that he is small but I have seen him chop down too many players twice his size, run the ball through too many forward packs and get up after getting merked too many times for that to count against him.
There is an argument that Jordie has more utility value, but in my opinion that's just theoretical until I actually see him playing some other positions at senior level. I could argue McKenzie has more utility value because no other player non-first five comes in first receiver as much as him, but I won't argue that because I wouldn't want to see either player playing anywhere but fullback for the All Blacks right now.
I'm excited about Jordie Barrett and think he will probably go on to have a far better All Blacks career than McKenzie, but I don't agree with this selection.
I completely agree although I am guessing (hoping) that there is a plan for the future here with JB being the utility back (important for RWCs) and DMac becomes the new BB (pre BB becoming the 10)
