Brumbies v Blues
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One area where Duffie would have it all over Rieko is contested high balls. Duffie is elite in that area whilst Rieko is still very much in the development phase of that skillset. Rieko's metres after contact is really impressive though - so much power.
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@taniwharugby Yes, it has been that long! It's strange, because as a development side, the JABs are a truly representative team that can provide international experience to all players (with no restrictions on eligibility). Nowadays, they use the Maori ABs and NZ Baabaas as development teams, but only the first play international games.
I assume it all comes down to not having the time/budget to fit in Junior AB games - in addition to ABs and Maori ABs matches - in the busy playing schedule. Personally, I think they should give the Junior ABs games in the Winter international window, while continuing the Maori ABs tours in November.
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@Nepia said in Brumbies v Blues:
I'm surprised that Duffie has been elevated so much in some posters estimations. He's playing well but I'm not sure he's in ready to leapfrog a guy like Reiko and I don't think he should be promoted on the basis of being considered 'safe'. Our so called safe guys like BFA actually have crazy x factor. And a guy like Rieko is actually pretty 'safe' in his decision making anyway.
I like Nanai, he looks uncommonly good at times, however, I kind of think he should be playing for Samoa and not us.
He's not just "safe", he's a bloody good player. His aerial ability alone makes him an excellent test prospect. Ultimately you have to look at what will be the best fit for the abs. I like Rieko, but Duffie looks more the complete footballer at this stage.
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I'll say this for him; no player has had a greater transformation in the last 12 months.
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@Chris-B. said in Brumbies v Blues:
@Billy-Tell said in Brumbies v Blues:
I reckon Duffy is now the next cab off the rank after (in no particular order) Savea, Dagg, Smith, NMS and Naholo. All this talk about Jordie Barrett, but Duffy has been pretty darn solid.
Probably the biggest losers in that list of (presumably) wings would be Rieko Ioane and Melani Nanai. One an AB wing and the other called in for training when we had injuries.
Are they both accidentally omitted, or do you reckon Duffy is now ahead of both of them?
It doesn't really matter what I think, it's what Steve thinks...they are all much of a muchness, but Duffy brings high-ball skills which is something the current AB wings, Dagg excepted, wouldn't have as a major forte. Nanai can't seem to pin down a starting spot for the Blues,a and I think Ioane has been a touch underwhelming this season. All 3 of them are in with a shout, but Duffy has looked really composed in recent weeks.
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im not saying pick him ,
but he does look the type they sometimes like to have on one wing , a fullback hybrid type, and usually on the right ,
With a power winger on the left ,
But i would imagine Dagg has that spot sewn up anyway , but if he wasnt available , with NMS not available ,
You never know
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Brumbies v Blues:
@Nepia said in Brumbies v Blues:
I'm surprised that Duffie has been elevated so much in some posters estimations. He's playing well but I'm not sure he's in ready to leapfrog a guy like Reiko and I don't think he should be promoted on the basis of being considered 'safe'. Our so called safe guys like BFA actually have crazy x factor. And a guy like Rieko is actually pretty 'safe' in his decision making anyway.
I like Nanai, he looks uncommonly good at times, however, I kind of think he should be playing for Samoa and not us.
He's not just "safe", he's a bloody good player. His aerial ability alone makes him an excellent test prospect. Ultimately you have to look at what will be the best fit for the abs. I like Rieko, but Duffie looks more the complete footballer at this stage.
I wasn't saying he was just safe.
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@Stargazer i think they should rissole the Maori all together, and only wheel them out on special occasions. Given the current make up of the NZ rugby playing community, they no longer deserve to be regarded as our 2nd team, it leaves out too higher proportion of the community
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@mariner4life think that is part of the problem, they aren't our 2nd team, they are simply the Maori All Blacks....which is more akin to another Super team, or a Provincial type side, but picked on heritage, least there is no race quota, no SWB allowed!
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Indeed, but if there are financial resources available, then they get it. Why are they sent on tour?
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might be showing my age here ,
But I think with the lions touring , its once every 12 years
you just have to have them play the maoris ,
Lions v Maoris , its tradition man
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@mariner4life Don't we discuss this every year? Tew has said in the past that it's easier to source funding (sponsorship) for the Maori team to tour.
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@Nepia and I'm saying that's not a good enough reason
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@mariner4life Fair enough if that's not geed enough for you but you asked why they were sent on tour, I answered why. I assume that if they're not sent on tour then no team is - NZA included.
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The Moari v JABs thing. It's definitely money reasons that the JABs were cryogenically frozen in 2008.
As for the then resulting choice between the 2, I assume it comes down to 3 things.
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Heritage
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NZRU deliberately choosing* not to lock in PI dual eligible players for just some underwhelming JAB games.
- keep this mum, ruins our Mossad rep.
- Crowd pulling potential ( therefore money generating potential) of MABs v the rather meh aura of NZA or JABs.
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I'm probably imposing my own values, and interpreting them as NZRU policy.
But I'm glad that eg Le-Lo or Leiua etc hadn't been accidentally captured by NZ in a JAB v Canada game in circa 2013 etc etc
It's therefore likely that Jordan Taufua etc will play for Samoa when he decides to cash in up north, if the JABs were around last year he would have been NZ captured.
But the price of that good will is a Bundee Aki, Sean Maitland or 2 or 3.
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If there was an appetite for a NZ A team we'd be playing comparable teams from Aust, SA and Arg in the RC like they do in the 6N. The U21s and women also play eachother at the same time in Europe. Obviously travel expenses and distance are a major impediment in the Southern Hemisphere. I'm not sure NZ A/JABs would have much appeal either for an overseas tour as those teams would rather host the ABs. The Maori have some history behind them and marketability, and a point of difference to the ABs.
For those that can remember back in the early 1990s there was also a NZ XV that played touring teams like Romania, the Soviet Union and England B.
