Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play
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@akan004 said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
Who are our young and promising locks? There doesn't seem to be too many coming through. Was somewhat impressed with Louisi this year, especially the game he had against the Lions. Apart from him, can't think of any other young lock that has stood out this year.
I thought Louisi was very good actually! Much better than I thought he would be. Quentin strange looks a very good player also but could do with bulking up
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@family-man Yeah, was impressed with Strange on the few occasions he had a run for the Crusaders but he was underwhelming in the Mitre 10 imo. Definitely needs to bulk up considerably. The average weight for a lock at International level is now 120kgs and he looks to be well short of that.
Is there anyone else coming through?
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@akan004 Reckon he is bigger than S. Barrett?
Hard to judge, he has been very good in Super, but seems injury prone. If he had not missed the Lions game we would be smarter.Lousi probably closer, has the size and has also shown the skills in super.
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Not sure we have to look far for a lock. There's no reason why Pat T with a decent season behind him can't step up a touch further.
Not all players are at their best straight off the bat. Look at Romano. Most are happy with him at the moment but he wasn't so convincing a couple of seasons ago -
I really like the cut of Hemopo's gib. But agree he needs to move to 6 ( which I'd be delighted about as the gaping hole at 6 in NZ puts lock depth concerns in the shade).
I also liked the look of young Dickson for Highlanders v Lions. Small sample, didn't notice him during regular season, don't think he got many games but should this year with Wheeler and Ainsley? moving on.
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@akan004 said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
Who are our young and promising locks?
Reminds you that having world class locks for NZ is the exception rather than the rule. Having one is rare for us, two is unthinkable.
We could be heading back to the era where there is a carousel of locks and we are regularly monstered in the lineout by TRC opponents.
Ironically the development of quality young locking talent has been a disappointment in the past decade. Yes Whitelock and Rettalick will likely retire two of the best three locks in AB history - but the amount of guys that showed raw talent and were identified early and none go close to their potential Bird, Beckhuis, Donnelly, Hoeata, Ross - even Boric I though had more if not for injuries - which comes with the territory for a lock.
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@rotated said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@akan004 said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
Who are our young and promising locks?
Reminds you that having world class locks for NZ is the exception rather than the rule. Having one is rare for us, two is unthinkable.
We could be heading back to the era where there is a carousel of locks and we are regularly monstered in the lineout by TRC opponents.
Ironically the development of quality young locking talent has been a disappointment in the past decade. Yes Whitelock and Rettalick will likely retire two of the best three locks in AB history - but the amount of guys that showed raw talent and were identified early and none go close to their potential Bird, Beckhuis, Donnelly, Hoeata, Ross - even Boric I though had more if not for injuries - which comes with the territory for a lock.
Hoeata for one was WAY too undertall to be a regular test lock.
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My 2 cents. If not injured, I don't see anyone else but Retallick, Whitelock (S), Barrett (S), Romano and/or PT make the 2019 RWC squad. IMO there's no one else at the moment who has stood out enough, except maybe Fatialofa, but he's very injury prone. I'm happy to be proven wrong during the upcoming SR season, but none of the names mentioned here seem convincing, except Bird and we're yet to hear whether he'll be staying in NZ after 2018, and maybe Lousi or Tom Franklin(?).
For the future (after 2019), players like Hemopo, Strange and possibly (?) Fin Hoeata might be worth a look and whichever other, new talent has emerged. And Cridge if he can still walk by that time and has some SR under his belt.
Btw, Romano and Barrett (S) are signed through to 2018, Retallick and PT to 2019, and Sam Whitelock to 2020.
Btw 2, according to their profiles Cowley-Tuioti is 1cm smaller and Fatialofa 1cm taller than Barrett . -
its another of those catch 22 situations isn't it...BBBR & SW are crucial cogs in the AB machine, so you want them out there as much as possible, you don't wanna throw someone out there just to try and develop them.
I think they are pretty good right now, new ones always will and will continue to pop up, aside form the blip in Chicago last year I think our locking over the past few seasons has been managed well and expect going forward they will integrate new faces into the fold.
The fact that numerous players are used shows they are looking at options, with Romano & Barrett the best of those right now, unfortunately Tuipulotu hasn't quite kicked on as many would have expected, but then he's had a tough run the past year or so, so hopefully 2018 will be the year he establishes himself as #3, and if good enough, pressure BBBR & SW into playing better
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@pakman said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
I thought Hemopo was excellent for Clan and Maori. But at 1.93m more the size of a 'tight' 6 than a test lock. Scratton was good for Blues at 5 if one is looking for an aerial as opposed to power lock.
Would love to see Hemopo at 6 as well.There's no doubting his physicality in the tackle and at the rucks, which is something the two current blindsides lack.
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@akan004 said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@pakman said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
I thought Hemopo was excellent for Clan and Maori. But at 1.93m more the size of a 'tight' 6 than a test lock. Scratton was good for Blues at 5 if one is looking for an aerial as opposed to power lock.
Would love to see Hemopo at 6 as well.There's no doubting his physicality in the tackle and at the rucks, which is something the two current blindsides lack.
At 1.93, Hemopo is shorter than Kaino which would make a him a very undertall lock. Anyway, he shares some physical traits with Jerome. Get him in the 6 jumper pronto. He'd make a decent lineout target in the post Kieran era.
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I'd be very surprised if, baring injury, guys like Whitelock, Coles, both Smiths and Read aren't at the world cup. Kaino is in danger of not making it and it will depend on the way the cone back from injury for guys like Dagg and Franks.
While there are plenty of tests between now and the cup it still isn't "that" long given it is only one more full season then it's a RWC year where other than a few bolters and a few outsiders falling away they will have a pretty good idea of who will be there.
Third 9, third hooker and the order of the 6s and backup 10s are the only things i really see changing significantly.
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@pukunui said in [Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play]> Third 9, third hooker and the order of the 6s and backup 10s are the only things i really see changing significantly.
and possibly another outside back - NMS in 2015, Ioane this year show it can be done (coming from a super season)
