Uncapped XV

Tim

15 Billy Tell
14 booboo
13 ACT Crusader
12 mimic
11 Unco
10 Crucial
09 Stargazer
08 KiwiMurph (c)
07 Duluth
06 Chris B.
05 Chester Draws
04 cgrant
03 rotated
02 Bones
01 Pot Hale (project player)

Based on what's posted here by people in the know, this team should master tactics down to a tee. Not sure about the stats on the training paddock though - a carefully guarded secret.

I'm the coach.

akan004

I hope Blake Gibson transitions over to blindside. He could be a Jaco Kriel type player. He's dynamic, physical and has all the attributes to be a very good blindside. It will give him a better chance of cracking the ABs as well as blindside is arguably our weakest position in terms of depth. It's a shame if a guy who is this good doesn't get a chance at higher honours, but I don't see him doing it at 7 where we already have three world class players in that position.

Tim

@akan004 I don't think he's far off - he needs to improve his link game. If he was playing in a team with better patterns his support play would look better.

antipodean

@Cantab79 said in Uncapped XV:

Based solely on test capped status, so injured players may be included;

15-David Havili
14-George Bridge
13-Jack Goodhue
12-Matt Proctor
11-Vince Aso
10-Richie Mo'unga
9-Byrn Hall

8-Jordan Taufua
7-Blake Gibson
6-Brad Shields
5-Cowley-Tuioti
4-Tom Franklin
3-Atu Moli
2-Ben Funnell
1-Ben May

No way does that loosehead ever get a cap.

KiwiMurph

@Tim I think Gibson is an excellent 7 - only thing keeping him out of test calculations is depth.

Tim

This thread shows why we should have an NZ B team.

Tim

Also note how much stronger than the NZ Maori team the uncapped XXIII could be. That forward pack would eat them for dinner.

Bones

@akan004 Kriel is an openside...

mikedogz

@Billy-Tell

I bags reserve tight head Prop, I am actually still playing, played B's rugby and finishing the season with the presidents.

mikedogz

Pauliasi Manu for loosehead prop.

Tim

@mikedogz Ah, I thought he'd been capped.

Wurzel

@Tim said in Uncapped XV:

@mikedogz Ah, I thought he'd been capped.

Not been capped but owns a Ruby World Cup winners medal. One of the great pub quiz questions.

... could add another layer of complexity to things if he were to miss out on the All Blacks and turn out for Samoa in the future.

Tim

@Wurzel Yeah, that is a cracking trivia question.

mimic

@Wurzel said in Uncapped XV:

@Tim said in Uncapped XV:

@mikedogz Ah, I thought he'd been capped.

Not been capped but owns a Ruby World Cup winners medal. One of the great pub quiz questions.

... could add another layer of complexity to things if he were to miss out on the All Blacks and turn out for Samoa in the future.

I always thought he was full Tongan, but if he is part Samoan, then sure, we'll claim him.

Wurzel

@mimic

Be a real brain teaser if he turned out for Samoa then. Apologies, should know that Manu is a Tongan surname (Nasi, Daniel, etc)

cgrant

@akan004 said in Uncapped XV:

I hope Blake Gibson transitions over to blindside. He could be a Jaco Kriel type player. He's dynamic, physical and has all the attributes to be a very good blindside. It will give him a better chance of cracking the ABs as well as blindside is arguably our weakest position in terms of depth. It's a shame if a guy who is this good doesn't get a chance at higher honours, but I don't see him doing it at 7 where we already have three world class players in that position.

He's a bit too short for a blindside. He would be a bit like Jordan Taufua, strong but not tall enough. An international Nr.6 usually provides a supplementary option for the lineout.

ACT Crusader

@Bones said in Uncapped XV:

@akan004 Kriel is an openside...

Exactly.

Gibson is a slightly bigger than Kriel too so I'm not sure what the problem with Gibson at openside is. With Cane, Savea and Todd still in prime Gibson may be waiting a while to get his shot. Could be this generations Josh Blackie

akan004

@ACT-Crusader He's a great openside and is underrated if anything. He would make most other International squads imo but unfortunately has three world class players ahead of him in NZ. There's nothing wrong with him staying at openside if he is happy to continue being a Super player and has no ambitions of making it to the next level.

The only reason I want him at six is so that he has a better chance at cracking the ABs. It's our weakest position atm in terms of depth, and when you see a guy like Fifita in there, one would think that his route to the team would be a lot easier if he changed positions.

Duluth

Gibson is a great defensive openside at the moment. His tackling accuracy is up there with Matt Todds.

@Tim nailed it about his linking game though. He's not in the right place often enough

Just checked some stats for this season:
Offloads: Todd 16, Savea 12, Gibson 3
Passes: Savea 78, Todd 72, Gibson 33

Try stats aren't that important but it is surprising that he's only scored 2 tries in 2 1/2 seasons

I'm confident he'll improve that part of is game. There's some great 7's that only added the linking/running side of their game after a few seasons

He does have good power when he gets the ball in space..

The Silver Fern

Uncapped XV