EOYT 2017

[Tim]

Luke Whitelock is a good player, but only a mug would pick him ahead of Ioane for test rugby.

Ioane was very good tonight, and was brilliant against the Lions in two games. Most of NZ's forwards struggled or were below par against them.

[pakman]

@stargazer Oops my bad: didn't read that carefully as assumed it was the usual!

[KiwiMurph]

@chris-b said in EOYT 2017:

Didn't think I'd say this a couple of years ago, but Luke Whitelock is really worth a look at for this team.

There's lots who can play 6 and 8 adequately, but it's quite possible he's the second-best specialist number 8 in the country.

Akira clearly outplayed Luke Whitelock tonight behind an an inferior pack.

[MN5]

@bones said in EOYT 2017:

@gt12 saywha? Ngatai can play 10 now? This guy has some amazing ability to vastly improve his reputation whenever he's out injured.

He's certainly a fern legend for a guy who's AB career can literally be measured in minutes.

[gt12]

@bones

He’s covered 10 (and from drunk memory, played there in the case of injury) for the chiefs - so my point was only that he could make a useful squaddie or bench player in a small WC squad, where he could cover that from the bench against Namibia etc.

He primarily would go as a midfielder who can cover FB easily, plus wing off the bench. That’s a nice utility to have when he’s world class at 12 and 13, plus super handy at 15.

Anyway, I don’t see a place for him. He’s permanently broken, which is a shame.

[Tim]

@gt12 Yeah, Ngatai would be a real gamble at 15. Doesn't look the type to me.

[gt12]

@tim

Really? I reckon he’s really good there, but admittedly it’s been a while since he played there - mainly because of problem A - him being broken all the time.

[gt12]

And, in case anyone thinks I’m a super fan, I’m actually not that super keen on him. I just would really like a player who can cover multiple positions in a WC squad. That’s one nice point for Buckman (for example). Without starting the Ice wars again, that was the thing which made him so useful.

[Tim]

@gt12 Yes, I really think that he would be nowhere near "super handy" as a 15.

[pakman]

Key call is health. Naki seem to have handled him very sensibly. To me many in squad will get one start (French Baa Baas) and one/two bench spots. So not hugely demanding. Think Ngatai would be good squad man and versatility is a big plus for this tour and looking towards RWC.

[Stargazer]

Referee appointments

Canada v Māori All Blacks
Referee: Kurt Weaver (USA)
Assistant 1: USA Appointment
Assistant 2: USA Appointment
TMO: USA Appointment

Barbarians v New Zealand
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant 1: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant 2: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)

French Barbarians v Māori All Blacks
Referee: Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
Assistant 1: FFR Appointment
Assistant 2: FFR Appointment
TMO: FFR Appointment

France v New Zealand
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant 1: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant 2: Tom Foley (England)
TMO: David Grashoff (England)

France XV v New Zealand
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant 1: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant 2: David Wilkinson (Ireland)
TMO: Sean Davey (England)

Scotland v New Zealand
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant 1: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant 2: Ian Davies (Wales)
TMO: David Grashoff (England)

Wales v New Zealand
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant 1: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant 2: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)

[Crucial]

The crew for that Wales game looks like a disaster waiting to happen. Thank god that isn't the Scotland game as I have forked out a fair bit of dosh to go to Murrayfield and don't want the game wrecked.

[booboo]

@bones said in EOYT 2017:

@cgrant what's the problem with Ngatai's defence?

Hardly made a tackle all year

[Bones]

@booboo he's a first five, what do you expect?

[Darren]

@tim said in EOYT 2017:

@gt12 Yeah, Ngatai would be a real gamble at 15. Doesn't look the type to me.

Back when he played for Wellington, I always thought he was a better 15 than midfielder. But that was a few years ago now.

[pakman]

Didn't realise how quick Charlie used to be. Last year at school 10.63 for the 100m!

[broughie]

@booboo Probably because he wasn’t playing.

[booboo]

@broughie said in EOYT 2017:

@booboo Probably because he wasn’t playing.

Good spotting broughie

[pakman]

Interesting that JTA and ToddCane/Savea (A) going to Brisbane.

[MN5]

@pakman said in EOYT 2017:

Didn't realise how quick Charlie used to be. Last year at school 10.63 for the 100m!

Christ on a bike, does the fluffing EVER stop??