How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?
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Not sure that I agree, entirely, after Soponga’s performance hard to argue about B.B. being the best 10 in the country but there have been times when the backs looked static outside B.B. and that includes ALB. Offensively SBW and Crotty definitely the worse offensive combo so far. Prior to the last game I thought the backs looked less static with Sopoanga but then he served up that stinker. As I said I am leaning towards Crotty and SBW swapping around. I think Crotty varies his lines better at 12 and it would take a bit of the decision making and handling pressure of SBW.
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@bones said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
@nostrildamus I'd say not bad, but he pulls off some outrageous clangers. Loves face-butting the turf.
it's certainly not a strength just yet. dagg is far from the running threat he once was, and he made jodie look pretty silly one on one this year.
he's just a kid though, and a big, coordinated kid who isn't shy of contact. he'll get there. -
@westcoastie said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
The global commentary about needing to do something about the AB's being so dominant is rubbish (Henry & others)
Of course it's rubbish. We just lost.
Whats that saying to be the best in the world, you need 5 best in the world in their position players, take those guys out, and we still had Coles, Whitelock, Read, Aaron Smith, Ioane - we're doing ok.
Coles is no where near the form he had last year. Whitelock must be exhausted and Ioane is on the wing.
@westcoastie said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
@dmx
I think we're trying to find that Barrett-12-13 combo, its pretty clear BB is our #1 first-five. BB worked pretty effectively with Laumape & Aso at super level, and in 2016 with Crotty & ALB.2011-2015 we had Nonu & Conrad and were pretty blessed for what they brought and that experience they had, pretty sure Sopoaga starting AB debut would've been outside A.Smith and inside Nonu. Has Lima even played with SBW before?
Historically SBW has been at his most effective outside Cruden. I recall struggles outside Carter also, mostly he seemed most effective for the ABs in 2015 outside Nonu.
Maybe for a guy coming back from his Achilles, SBW should've been our bench midfield more.
SBW looked pretty good between Carter and Nonu in the RWC final. He certainly one of the better backs on Saturday. There isn't anyone else who is screaming to be selected over him.
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@dmx and I think the BB-Crotty combo works real well, seems to be better understanding there that BB-SBW
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@reprobate he's being playing out of his favoured position too...whether midfield or FB is his best remains to be seen...
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@westcoastie said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
@dmx and I think the BB-Crotty combo works real well, seems to be better understanding there that BB-SBW
I happen to think BB-SBW complement each other nicely. With Beaudie's speed and SBW's power/ size + offload it creates opportunities. Particularly for a centre/ fullback and winger who aren't over-running the ball.
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@cgrant said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
Maybe we will see a BB - JB - Goodhue in midfield next year ?
And if that happens I guarantee there will be a mixed bag of great, good, okay, poor and terrible.
Midfield combinations need time. Since Nonu and Smith retired we have seen a host of players used with some mixed results. These are all the different combinations we have run with either starting or at some point during a test: Crotty/Fekitoa, Crotty/Tamanivalu, Crotty/Moala, ALB/Fekitoa, Taminavalu/Fekitoa, Crotty/ALB, ALB/B. Smith, ALB/Moala, Fekitoa/Moala, ALB/Ioane, SBW/ALB, SBW/Crotty, Laumape/ALB.
We had a decent run with the Crotty/Fekitoa combo, but Fekitoa went off the boil IMO and ALB emerge as a player. Only one season of SBW/Crotty and I don't think it's surprising that the jury is still out on them. It has only been one season....
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@act-crusader said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
@cgrant said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
Maybe we will see a BB - JB - Goodhue in midfield next year ?
And if that happens I guarantee there will be a mixed bag of great, good, okay, poor and terrible.
Midfield combinations need time. Since Nonu and Smith retired we have seen a host of players used with some mixed results. These are all the different combinations we have run with either starting or at some point during a test: Crotty/Fekitoa, Crotty/Tamanivalu, Crotty/Moala, ALB/Fekitoa, Taminavalu/Fekitoa, Crotty/ALB, ALB/B. Smith, ALB/Moala, Fekitoa/Moala, ALB/Ioane, SBW/ALB, SBW/Crotty, Laumape/ALB.
We had a decent run with the Crotty/Fekitoa combo, but Fekitoa went off the boil IMO and ALB emerge as a player. Only one season of SBW/Crotty and I don't think it's surprising that the jury is still out on them. It has only been one season....
Poor and terrible ? You seem to exaggerate a lot here. JB and Goodhue are sound.
For the EOYT, i'd like to see a BB - Crotty - Goodhue combination, but it won't happen, or maybe against Scotland. -
@cgrant said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
@act-crusader said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
@cgrant said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
Maybe we will see a BB - JB - Goodhue in midfield next year ?
And if that happens I guarantee there will be a mixed bag of great, good, okay, poor and terrible.
Midfield combinations need time. Since Nonu and Smith retired we have seen a host of players used with some mixed results. These are all the different combinations we have run with either starting or at some point during a test: Crotty/Fekitoa, Crotty/Tamanivalu, Crotty/Moala, ALB/Fekitoa, Taminavalu/Fekitoa, Crotty/ALB, ALB/B. Smith, ALB/Moala, Fekitoa/Moala, ALB/Ioane, SBW/ALB, SBW/Crotty, Laumape/ALB.
We had a decent run with the Crotty/Fekitoa combo, but Fekitoa went off the boil IMO and ALB emerge as a player. Only one season of SBW/Crotty and I don't think it's surprising that the jury is still out on them. It has only been one season....
Poor and terrible ? You seem to exaggerate a lot here. JB and Goodhue are sound.
For the EOYT, i'd like to see a BB - Crotty - Goodhue combination, but it won't happen, or maybe against Scotland.@cgrant said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
@act-crusader said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
@cgrant said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
Maybe we will see a BB - JB - Goodhue in midfield next year ?
And if that happens I guarantee there will be a mixed bag of great, good, okay, poor and terrible.
Midfield combinations need time. Since Nonu and Smith retired we have seen a host of players used with some mixed results. These are all the different combinations we have run with either starting or at some point during a test: Crotty/Fekitoa, Crotty/Tamanivalu, Crotty/Moala, ALB/Fekitoa, Taminavalu/Fekitoa, Crotty/ALB, ALB/B. Smith, ALB/Moala, Fekitoa/Moala, ALB/Ioane, SBW/ALB, SBW/Crotty, Laumape/ALB.
We had a decent run with the Crotty/Fekitoa combo, but Fekitoa went off the boil IMO and ALB emerge as a player. Only one season of SBW/Crotty and I don't think it's surprising that the jury is still out on them. It has only been one season....
Poor and terrible ? You seem to exaggerate a lot here. JB and Goodhue are sound.
For the EOYT, i'd like to see a BB - Crotty - Goodhue combination, but it won't happen, or maybe against Scotland.No exaggeration. It’s not too much of a stretch to think that there will be some poor or even terrible play given we have seen some of that from the above mentioned combinations.
I agree they are both good players. But they have no domestic experience together and Jordie has barely got his feet wet when it comes to test footy.
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@cgrant said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
Remember that I wrote that for the 2018 season. By then, JB and Goodhue will have an additional SR behind them, plus maybe the June internationals.
Sure. But Fekitoa seemed to be heading in a good direction too. Until he didn't.
Even Beauden took way longer than that to settle.
And Nonu delivered some stinkers on his way to the top.
You're betting on promise from a handful of games. That is a good way to find disappointment.
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@rotated said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
They are a team that display disinterest that comes with a predictable, consistent squad where no positions are under threat - with none of the cohesiveness.
Are you talking about the Fern?
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@rotated said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
They are a team that display disinterest that comes with a predictable, consistent squad where no positions are under threat - with none of the cohesiveness.
I'm sure Kaino is pleased that his position is under no threat. And Savea A will be relieved Matt Todd has no chance. I'm mighty surprised that Savea J decided to resign his safe position too. Even Bender can't hold his preferred position.
So I think you're wrong.
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@chester-draws said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
@rotated said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
They are a team that display disinterest that comes with a predictable, consistent squad where no positions are under threat - with none of the cohesiveness.
I'm sure Kaino is pleased that his position is under no threat. And Savea A will be relieved Matt Todd has no chance. I'm mighty surprised that Savea J decided to resign his safe position too. Even Bender can't hold his preferred position.
So I think you're wrong.
Dagg and Skudder are definitely competing for the one spot.
Fifita would want what Squire has.
When Bender gets back, DMac would probably be competing with Sopoaga for the bench spot.
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@broughie said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
Too loose and not enough forward dominance. I think the Lions would have killed the team that played on Saturday. Helter skelter is a good description of their game.
But we were playing the Aussies who play equally as loose and frantic.
