Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play
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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)
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@pakman said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@no-quarter said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
Our top back three is 11. R Ioane 14. B Smith 15. J Barrett - that has the best balance to it.
I can see Rieko moving to centre down the track but while he has his pace he's best suited to the wing at test level, he can break tight tests apart if he gets half a yard of space.
The average age of your best three is just under 24, which is ideal!
What about the average height and weight?
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@crucial said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@pakman said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@no-quarter said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
Our top back three is 11. R Ioane 14. B Smith 15. J Barrett - that has the best balance to it.
I can see Rieko moving to centre down the track but while he has his pace he's best suited to the wing at test level, he can break tight tests apart if he gets half a yard of space.
The average age of your best three is just under 24, which is ideal!
What about the average height and weight?
By average height do you mean somewhere in no mans land, between undertall and overshort?
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@crucial said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@pakman said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@no-quarter said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
Our top back three is 11. R Ioane 14. B Smith 15. J Barrett - that has the best balance to it.
I can see Rieko moving to centre down the track but while he has his pace he's best suited to the wing at test level, he can break tight tests apart if he gets half a yard of space.
The average age of your best three is just under 24, which is ideal!
What about the average height and weight?
Just observing that the extreme youth of Ioane (R) and Barrett (J) is balanced by Smith (B) being four years past the usual cut off for AB wings!
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@pakman said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@crucial said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@pakman said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@no-quarter said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
Our top back three is 11. R Ioane 14. B Smith 15. J Barrett - that has the best balance to it.
I can see Rieko moving to centre down the track but while he has his pace he's best suited to the wing at test level, he can break tight tests apart if he gets half a yard of space.
The average age of your best three is just under 24, which is ideal!
What about the average height and weight?
Just observing that the extreme youth of Ioane (R) and Barrett (J) is balanced by Smith (B) being four years past the usual cut off for AB wings!
But would three 23.5 year olds be the same?
- just taking the piss. Not sure if you were around here in the old 'Carl Hayman fits the ideal height to weight ratio for a Number 8' days
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@pakman said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@crucial Been around a while, but must have missed that one!
It's TSF history stuff that one. We had a poster who argued his point constantly about positions having ideal height/weight ratios and how certain existing players should look at moving positions.
If you see references to Hayman being an ideal 8, that is the origin.NB: this is not the basis of the Ardie at 12 or Dagg at 10 theories
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@taniwharugby said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@crucial Dagg to 10 had different origins I believe.
Reading comprehension not so good in the morning TR?
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@crucial said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
There is an assumption on here that Harris is only filling a gap as third hooker yet Hansen singled him out for praise. There has to be a reason behind that. They will know stuff from training that we don't. e.g. I don't think anyone here has praised his contribution in some very key late scrummaging efforts. That kind of stuff is game winning.
Can you recall where Hansen singled him out? I haven't seen that.
EDIT: Think I found it:
As the third choice hooker he really needs to showcase what he can do in Super Rugby so everyone can see what he's got. Unfortunately is seems like he can't string many games together. Hopefully 2018!
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I wouldn't be surprised if Brad Weber takes up that 3rd half back spot. Likely the starter for the Chiefs this year. I think thats why they took TKB on the EOYT no point giving a test to drummond if 2018 is Weber Vs Drummond for that 3rd spot.
In regards to people who may not make it. Someone mentioned Sam Whitelock in amoungst a few names. What indication has he shown that he won't be able. Guy has been a beast without his partner in crime as well.
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@magpie_in_aus I think it's between Weber and Drummond (and maybe Hall).
Weber, because he was already in the picture before 2017 and has only played 8 Mitre 10 Cup games (493 minutes) this year due to breaking his leg during the Brisbane 10 final and just had a screw removed from his leg, which apparently bothered him. So his real test comes during SR.
Drummond and Hall, because they both played very well for the Crusaders and during the NPC, and I think they wouldn't have given Drummond a game in black if they didn't see him as a contender. They don't just hand out black jerseys, not even in non-test games. They could just have started TKB with TJP providing cover from the bench. TJP hasn't played that many minutes.
Hall would probably have gotten the second halfback spot in the Maori ABs if he hadn't been injured.The only one who really seems to be out of the picture is Pulu. He was fit and available, and they didn't call him into the squad. For the other, more inexperienced players, the 2019 RWC probably comes too soon, unless one of them really shines during SR in 2018, but none of them will be regular starters for their SR franchise ...
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