2018 AB Depth Chart
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@Tim said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
Time for number 7.
- Cane
- Todd
- Savea (not very good this year, more of an impact player)
- Gibson
5. Dillon Hunt - Pryors
- Lentjes
- Boshier
Probably a couple of others worth naming.
Up and comers: There's a couple in the U20 team - Luke Jacobson and Dalton Papali'i.
I have been really impressed by Dillon Hunt.
Has come in this year as a virtual unknown (at least to me as it's hard to follow NZ Schools/Club rugby from Sydney) but has been very very impressive in his first year of Super Rugby.
I think he has shown a maturity which belies his youth and prior to this season his inexperiance at these levels. He also played very well in that Lions game as well!
He is quick and good over the ball as all Kiwi 7's tend to be with a huge appetite for work.
What impresses me most is that he has that nose for the ball and his support lines are excellent.
Not wanting to jinx him but to me he has a bit of a young McCaw about him.
At 22 years of age I think he has a huge future ahead of him and I hope he continues to improve and hopefully will be in contention for higher honours some time down the track.
Just struggling to find his current height and weight to get an idea of how he stacks up against the other 7's on the list.
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@Tim Donald also plays 12, so surely should be in the list. Probably not enough champion blues in either of the centres lists, throw Ioane in there. Surely there's a possibility Little could be thrown a bone? I'm pretty sure I've seen Adrian Smith slot in at 2nd receiver at some stage, so he's in. Reckon we could get Thompson down to at least 15.
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@Tim said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
There's a little troll in each list for the keen eyed reader.
Yes - I figured there were a few barbs being thrown in. Ignoring that some of these are barbs....
at 6 - Dixon definitely and probably Taufua ahead of Mitchell Brown. Haven't watched him closely, but Gareth Evans seems to have been quite effective for the Highlanders.
Sam Cane can play 8 competently - I'd have him there ahead of Ardie.
At halfback, put Billy Guyton in at 3 - or failing that - I think Pulu has to be ranked ahead of Weber, since he's had test starts.
Second five - personally, I'd have Ngatai at 5 and Rob Thompson no lower than 8.
Crotty clearly ranked ahead of ALB based on last week's selections and moved further ahead after playing the game. Sonny Bill played centre in the RWC final, so should be somewhere on the list even though Hansen seemed to say they don't see him as a centre. Tamanivalu a bit higher than he is, since again he has recent test caps at centre.
Wing - Jules higher.
Fullback - Havili at 5, Michael Collins at 6, maybe Faddes and Buckman somewhere - probably Beauden should feature at 2 pushing everyone else down a slot.
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@Bones Good call on Donald! He's been alright there this year. Adrian Smith is concentrating on hooker down at the Highlanders, but there's a couple of U20 players at Northland who I'll fit in there.
Sadly Little is no longer playing in NZ! Never say never though.
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@Tim possibly Ranger & Macilai on wings, and also Alaimalo who played a few games for Chiefs this season...its 12 where we have someone missing.
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@Tim said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
Sadly Little is no longer playing in NZ! Never say never though.
He'd answer the call. McAlister is still playing in Europe right? Another blue who we know is dedicated to NZ rugby and would come running if asked.
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@Nepia said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
@No-Quarter said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
@Chris-B. said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
Squire is clearly ahead of Ioane in the pecking order at both 6 and 8. Squire's three test starts have been at 6 and even injured Hansen has chosen him in the full squad instead of Akira.
In fact, the only thing we don't know is whether he might have surpassed Kainbo and should be at the top of the 6 list if fit..... that's just for you you Blues-loving bastard!
I was reading that first line and thinking that's all good, I agree with that, what's the issue!
Then I read the second! Clearly my alert system didn't go off because Chris B, who has clearly lost his marbles, can't spell properly.
Just a bit of reverse trolling of Tim. Bloody Blues supporters - they get a draw and a win and suddenly they think they're on a roll and it's 1991 all over again.
Bloody John Hart will be top of the coaches list - mark my words!
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@RoninWC yeah he's shown massive improvement, started off looking well out of his depth as you would expect but now could almost run in a silver medal against world's best Gibson.
I'd liken him more to Kronfeld. Has something very old school about him, is a nugget and as you say, those lines he runs are heart warming.
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@Bones said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
@RoninWC yeah he's shown massive improvement, started off looking well out of his depth as you would expect but now could almost run in a silver medal against world's best Gibson.
I'd liken him more to Kronfeld. Has something very old school about him, is a nugget and as you say, those lines he runs are heart warming.
They're making a film about them as we speak. Spielberg is tipped to direct.
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@Tim said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
@Bones said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
@RoninWC yeah he's shown massive improvement, started off looking well out of his depth as you would expect but now could almost run in a silver medal against world's best Gibson.
I'd liken him more to Kronfeld. Has something very old school about him, is a nugget and as you say, those lines he runs are heart warming.
They're making a film about them as we speak. Spielberg is tipped to direct.
Has he moved to North Harbour?
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@Tim said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
Wing.
- Dagg (wonder how his speed will hold up)
- Ioane
- Naholo
- Smith (wonder how his speed will hold up)
- Nanai
- Aso
- Savea
- Duffie
- Stevenson
- NMS - without injuries he should be much higher up
George Bridge is having a good first year; I'd add him. Tamanivalu played mostly at 14 this year and quite well, too. Not sure where he'll be playing next year. I'm not sure whether he has any fans on the Fern (I'm not one of them), but maybe add Wes Goosen? Ben Lam?
Do we still mention Jane? Not sure whether he will retire or not.
Again a list to which you can add Jonah Lowe. Played there for the U20s most of the time last year too, scoring several tries. During Mitre 10 Cup he played several games on the wing, too, I think (when Fruean played at centre).
For the future, U20s wings Clarke and Faingaanuku are worth keeping an eye on.
If this is not an AB list, but SR list, then non-NZ eligible players like Digby Ioane and Toni Pulu can be added, too.
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@Stargazer Lowe might get a better shot if he signed with the blues.
