AB Positions up for grabs
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Bird is horribly overrated. I just don’t get the love from some posters.
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@billy-tell said in AB Positions up for grabs:
Bird is horribly overrated. I just don’t get the love from some posters.
What has Romano got that he hasn't though?
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@bones said in AB Positions up for grabs:
I'm not sure if it's been raised, but it seems strange to me there's such a massive size difference between Gibson and poor old puny Todd. I mean, no stats bear it out but look at their respective teams, Gibson must be HUGE.
If you talk enough about a player they become massive by default bro. Have you not heard of Ardie Savea ?
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@tim said in AB Positions up for grabs:
@bones Todd is a better link player and better over the ball. Gibson is a better tackler.
Todd is never going to be a particularly good test player, and has been acceptable at best. The step down from Cane in terms of physical impact is huge.
Eh? Todd is already a particularly good test player.
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If Moody comes back Crockett should go. He's become a complete liability
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@mariner4life said in AB Positions up for grabs:
If Moody comes back Crockett should go. He's become a complete liability
I agree. Time to move on from a 35 yr old reserve and develop a player who will be there in 2019.
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I thought Hames really came right as an International prop by the end of last year. What I find interesting about him is that he shows the difference between Super Rugby and International rugby. I mean, from my point of view, the guy kind of sux for the Chiefs. Our scrum doesn't seem that good and he gets penalized ALL the bloody time.
I know the cupboard was bare and they desperately needed someone to fill a gap, but Cron must have seen something in his scrummaging that would translate better to International rugby than Super rugby. I'm sure they are asking him to develop his game around the park, so maybe we'll see signs of that this year.
I like his selection backstory though, and how he is an example of people not coming through the traditional pathways and getting rewarded for sticking around and working hard.
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Crockett has been bloody good for a long time. He currently holds the world record of consecutive Test wins - 45. Time has caught up? Maybe but let`s see what happens in Super Rugby before the usual call for his replacement from the cheap seats should be acted on. His dynamism around the park and work ethic will be sorely missed.
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@tim said in AB Positions up for grabs:
Backup 1st 5
Perofeta - young... Completely dominant at U20 World Cup last year. Has had a bad run of injuries.
...; Tiaan Falcon is too young yet (promising player though);
Didn't Perofeta miss most of the RWC as the Blues held him back? Pretty sure he only played the final (flown in specially) when Falcon was injured.
Whilst Perofeta seems to be rated higher difficult to use the "too young" argument for one but not the other.
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@booboo said in AB Positions up for grabs:
@tim said in AB Positions up for grabs:
Backup 1st 5
Perofeta - young... Completely dominant at U20 World Cup last year. Has had a bad run of injuries.
...; Tiaan Falcon is too young yet (promising player though);
Didn't Perofeta miss most of the RWC as the Blues held him back? Pretty sure he only played the final (flown in specially) when Falcon was injured.
Whilst Perofeta seems to be rated higher difficult to use the "too young" argument for one but not the other.
Yes, I found that a strange comment, too. Falcon is only 3 months younger than Perofeta and had a great JWC.
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@tim said in AB Positions up for grabs:
Backup Openside Flanker
Cane is an excellent player, but he's frequently injured, so we need a good backup for him. In reserve we have some good but not great players, some younger than others. Most need to improve their physical impact, which is easier for the young.
Contenders:
Todd - excellent Super Rugby player, lacks size and physical impact at test level, especially on defence. Still gets turnovers though.
Savea - very fast, good link player, but lacks size. Did not impress last year, where his defence (especially around the ruck) was exposed by Australia, and his lack of physicality by the Lions. How much weight has he put on in the off-season? Didn't notice him in the preseason game against the Blues. 24 years old.
Gibson - very good defender, wins turnovers, high workrate. Needs to work on link play, ball carrying, and general physical impact. Makes dominant tackles but not as often as Cane. Chances curtailed by injury so far. Could be in for a breakout season. Only 22 years old.
Dillion Hunt - fine all-round player, not outstanding in any aspect, but young (22) and has potential to develop.
Lachlan Boshier - good player but not a standout. 23.
Dalton Papali'i is the dark horse here. Physically imposing, he's one of the best young players I've seen recently. Was good against the Hurricanes in limited game time.
Todd is well ahead of the rest in this list. He's a proven test player and much more than an "excellent Super Rugby player". The drop-off is not behind Cane in the queue, but behind Todd and an in-form Savea.
I don't think Dalton Papali'i is a contender yet. Has only played 4 NPC games. Oh, and if Falcon is "too young", than Dalton Papali'i definitely is (5 months younger). Hard to see Boshier as a contender at this stage, too, although he has shown some promise in SR.
