2018 AB Depth Chart
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@Tim said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
@Bovidae Is Dmac going to play there? Or will Donald? I haven't seen Dmac play a good game at 10 yet, even if he does have a lot of potential.
I'm pretty sure that the plan is to give DMac a whole season at 10.
He shouldn't have been thrown in there for the Maori. It was a silly idea that also disrupted a potential great back three on counterattack for them.I have seen him play some really good games at 10 (waikato and a couple at the start of the season when Cruden was injured) but he needs some longer term experience to learn how to handle scenarios that aren't going his way like when his pack are getting mullered.
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@Chris-B. said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
Mitch Hunt might be a good Ta$man boy, but if he's our 4th best first five, we'd better not get any injuries!
Bro, he's a Crusader now. His AB chances have now skyrocketed up the pecking order
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@booboo said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
@Tim said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
Right, on to Hooker.
- Coles (hopefully back for the RC)
- Taylor
- Harris (not sure about this guy, at all - outplayed by Parsons and Taylor this year)
- Coltman
- Parsons
- Funnell (always liked the look of him, would love to watch him starting against quality opposition)
- GPT (FFS Blues)
- Riccitelli (young but promising)
- Dixon (exposed by the Lions, journeyman at best)
- Adrian Smith (deadset Harbour legend)
Asafo Aumua is the obvious young player to look for.
Other names that spring to mind ...
...Faiva
Apisai (? NZQ'ed?)
Anderson-Heather
MouldsAndrew Makalio ( Ta$man & Crusaders) is one to watch. He is very strong and hard to stop ball in hand. I don't know much about his abilities in terms of throwing though.
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@Crucial said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
I have seen him play some really good games at 10 (waikato and a couple at the start of the season when Cruden was injured) but he needs some longer term experience to learn how to handle scenarios that aren't going his way like when his pack are getting mullered.
I watched him live against the Rebels early in the season and thought he really struggled at 10. The Rebels did a good job in crowding him (Colby Fa'ainga mainly) and that wasn't even because the Rebels were dominating the forward battle. It was pretty even for most of the game and then late in the 2nd half Chiefs got some dominance.
He drifted in and out of the contest and then Donald was taking a bit of 1st receiver ball. When DMac had space he as always looked good.
Excellent fullback, but I think without the space to build up acceleration which you don't get at 10, his main assets are nullified.
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mo'unga is an interesting one. vastly improved this year, but genuinely horrible against the highlanders and the lions when the pressure came on, which suggests he shouldn't be near the ABs just yet to me. lima is a very good back-up, but beyond him i don't see anyone i'd be comfortable with.
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@reprobate said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
mo'unga is an interesting one. vastly improved this year, but genuinely horrible against the highlanders and the lions when the pressure came on, which suggests he shouldn't be near the ABs just yet to me. lima is a very good back-up, but beyond him i don't see anyone i'd be comfortable with.
I'd agree with that and think he looked 'more ready' at times this year because his team afforded him time and space. Give him time to learn from those games, just as some of the others need time as well (DMac, Black)
The only other 10 I think I'd be comfortable with today if there was an injury crisis is Banks but even then I'd be tempted to use Dagg or Crotty as a stop gap.
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@Tim said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
OK, onwards. Let's talk locks. A little tricky here are some are better of the bench that starting, and some better lineout or scrum exponents, while others are favoured for work around the pitch.
- Retallick
- Whitelock
- Big gap
- S Barrett
- Romano
- Scrafton
- Franklin
- Fatialofa
- Bird
- Tuipulotu (I do hope he has an injury free run next year)
Good call at 3 there. Been very impressed. Possible bolster for EOYT?
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@Crucial Would be an interesting call what they'd do for the third test if they lost both Barrett and Cruden on Saturday. Especially if the series was on the line.
I'm inclined to think they'd call up Mo'unga to sit on the bench and hope not to have to use him, but I think cases could also be made for all of Banks, DMac and Beaver!
I think the lack of space that causes the trouble for the rookie first fives would cause similar problems and maybe worse for guys like Dagg and Crotty who don't play there. I guess there's a reason that good first fives command the big bucks!
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@reprobate said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
mo'unga is an interesting one. vastly improved this year, but genuinely horrible against the highlanders and the lions when the pressure came on, which suggests he shouldn't be near the ABs just yet to me. lima is a very good back-up, but beyond him i don't see anyone i'd be comfortable with.
Still very hopeful that Premiership player of the year Jimmy Gopperth can be lured back to don black.
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If you're going to name people that are not specialists 8s in that list then Ardie should be there too - has played there quite a bit for the Canes this year and also for the ABs vs Samoa.
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@No-Quarter There you go.
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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
- Dillon Hunt
- Pryors
- Lentjes
Probably a couple of others worth naming.
Up and comers: There's a couple in the U20 team - Luke Jacobson and Dalton Papali'i.
Boshier has fans
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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!
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@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!
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