How are the ABs tracking for the RC?
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We can scratch Ben Smith from the RC and EOYT squads! Only available for Bledisloe I and II! That's assuming the media got it right ....
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11891328
Smith may not be the only leading All Black to be rested from certain tests this year. The All Blacks will take a 37-man squad on their end of season tour but have already been open about monitoring workloads and potentially resting some players from the taxing Argentina and South Africa away leg of the Rugby Championship. -
@Stargazer Would have rather seen him take the sabbatical after the RC and come back a month later next year. The Boks are going to cause us the most problems this year, not the wobs. That test in SA could be a 50/50 proposition without our full strength team.
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@gt12 said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
Good on him for taking some rest, but I've got a feeling that he's going to lose his jersey while he's out. That leaves a huuuuuge opportunity for Jordie to get the 15 jersey - especially if he kicks the goals.
Another chance for Shag to grow our depth, after seeing that Jordie can handle the step up and NMS ready to ease back in. No word of him going to play abroad? Just a break?
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@gt12 said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
Good on him for taking some rest, but I've got a feeling that he's going to lose his jersey while he's out. That leaves a huuuuuge opportunity for Jordie to get the 15 jersey - especially if he kicks the goals.
i said it in another thread so dont want to repeat myself ,
but BSmith is an exceptionally good right wing ,
dagg could end up being the one under threat if Jordie becomes a must pick
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That's a good point, and you're probably right that in the medium term the person in most danger is Dagg (I'm assuming that Savea has already lost his place to Ioane).
Interestingly, Jordie looked better and better at 13 the more the game went on. If he sees his long term future in the midfield, he could try to move there next year. Would be fucking awesome for the ABs if we had a 190sonething goal kicking 13 with 10 years or so future capability.
Right now, I think his immediate super and AB future should be at 15 though.
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@gt12 said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
That's a good point, and you're probably right that in the medium term the person in most danger is Dagg (I'm assuming that Savea has already lost his place to Ioane).
Interestingly, Jordie looked better and better at 13 the more the game went on. If he sees his long term future in the midfield, he could try to move there next year. Would be fucking awesome for the ABs if we had a 190sonething goal kicking 13 with 10 years or so future capability.
Right now, I think his immediate super and AB future should be at 15 though.
So many things can change in 2 years , but if i had to predict now , the back 3 at the next WC ,
I would go BSmith , Jordie , Reiko
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Out of Interest, is there any players playing in the Northern Hemisphere who if they returned, would they be in the reckoning for the All Blacks. Obviously if Luatua returned quickly he would be used, but are there any others such as Bundee Aki, Charles Piutau, there could be a few years left in Nonu. Slade, No?
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@jacktothed10 I reckon Piatau would be the most likely of your list
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@jacktothed10
Cruden
Faumuina
TKB -
@gt12 said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
That's a good point, and you're probably right that in the medium term the person in most danger is Dagg (I'm assuming that Savea has already lost his place to Ioane).
Interestingly, Jordie looked better and better at 13 the more the game went on. If he sees his long term future in the midfield, he could try to move there next year. Would be fucking awesome for the ABs if we had a 190sonething goal kicking 13 with 10 years or so future capability.
Right now, I think his immediate super and AB future should be at 15 though.
Jordie would have rocks in his head if he decided to concentrate on midfield.
The 2 incumbent AB FBs are old, where as the AB midfield, while admittedly currently unsettled, is being competed for by gazillions of young talented guys jostling for the 2 spots.
Wouldn't be surprised if 2 of the most anointed young midfielders (Barett & Ioane) spend the next 5 years with mortgages on AB starting positions that aren't in midfield.
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@Rapido said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
@gt12 said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
That's a good point, and you're probably right that in the medium term the person in most danger is Dagg (I'm assuming that Savea has already lost his place to Ioane).
Interestingly, Jordie looked better and better at 13 the more the game went on. If he sees his long term future in the midfield, he could try to move there next year. Would be fucking awesome for the ABs if we had a 190sonething goal kicking 13 with 10 years or so future capability.
Right now, I think his immediate super and AB future should be at 15 though.
Jordie would have rocks in his head if he decided to concentrate on midfield.
The 2 incumbent AB FBs are old, where as the AB midfield, while admittedly currently unsettled, is being competed for by gazillions of young talented guys jostling for the 2 spots.
Wouldn't be surprised if 2 of the most anointed young midfielders (Barett & Ioane) spend the next 5 years with mortgages on AB starting positions that aren't in midfield.
I think Jordie will play where shag tells him to
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What I said about Fullback resources v Midfield resources at AB level, can also be applied at a micro level to the Hurricanes.
There's no incentive for Boyd to want to move Jordie.
The way I see it; neither coach at AB or Franchise level have an incentive to move him. Therefore I don't see any personal motive for Jordie to pursue a positional change.
His important early career as a pro will be at fullback.
I would get used to him being a fullback.
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@Rapido said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
What I said about Fullback resources v Midfield resources at AB level, can also be applied at a micro level to the Hurricanes.
There's no incentive for Boyd to want to move Jordie.
The way I see it; neither coach at AB or Franchise level have an incentive to move him. Therefore I don't see any personal motive for Jordie to pursue a positional change.
His important early career as a pro will be at fullback.
I would get used to him as a fullback.
He's a natural midfielder though. You can see in the way he defends that he's more comfortable in the line rather than at the back. His excellent vision is a huge asset in the attacking line.
Regarding the Canes, only Proctor would be ahead of him as a centre, but he's having a bad run of injuries.
Aso is a better winger.
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@westcoastie said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
Firstly, I would like Kaino to put his hand up and say, he won't make it to RWC2019 and be the force he was in the past. And like Tana retire after the RC.
Third HB? dunno Pulu most likely, Drummond? those Crusader 9's? (combination with Read)
Third first-five? Geez we're light here ain't we? I think everyone needs to accept DMac, is one of those kids who looks good at Super stuff, but that step up to test match is too much. Too physical, too much. Now if he became a 9/10 hybrid that would make the bench interesting...
Third hooker? Lisa Lewis... nah Harris/Coltman got that one covered
Third prop? pass
Beaudy to keep kicking. He'll get better.
Marty schmarty. Gooone.
Bench? Crockett, Taylor, a prop., Savea, a 6/8 or Scotty B. Perenara, Sopoaga, mix n' match between ALB/Laumape/Ioane/J.Barrett. - I firmly believe in the last 10 tests the selectors have realised in games against tougher forward packs, they'll take genuine lock cover in to the test. i.e. vs Lions, Ireland, England, maybe Argentina & South Africa, vs everyone else they won't or don't need to. that Ireland game in Chicago taught them lots I hope they never forget.
I think they may consider Sopoaga able to cover 10/15 (or maybe 10/12) where does he play for the Highlanders if him and Banks are on? They won't (or shouldn't move Beaudy from 10 anymore in the tight ones. Its dumb) So then the bench mix gets interested because theres no place for Jordie if he doesn't start and isn't playing 15 (assuming Sopoaga can) - Are we assuming Ioane is first choice 11 now? BFA first choice 14 or 15? and then Dagg/Naholo at 14 depending on opposition.
Tuipulotu = victim of own stupidity, needs a big Mitre 10. If he'd been on-song it would've been interesting to see him go head to head with Itoje.Just leaving this here... McKenzie as halfback (NZ Herald)
