All Blacks Squad for France
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Tuipulotu was a likely bubble selection but this makes the AB selectors decision easier. With Romano out I expect that Fifita will be the 4th locking option which allows either another loose forward or midfield back in the squad. If they want 4 specialist locks then Franklin should be the lucky player.
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Thompson is a bit niggly though, on a couple of occassions this year i have seen him doing that stupid head rub shit, or giving someone a sneaky push after a try. Can't have that in the ABs now can we?
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A post earlier said Goodhue doesn't offer much of a threat with ball in hand?
I think he offers plenty, has deceptive pace, obviously strong AF and good balance, add that to his excellent defence...
This is a great problem from NZ Rugby perspective:
ALB - 23
Jack Goodhue - 22
Matt Proctor - 25
Rob Thompson - 26Given mid-fielders supposedly don't come into their prime until their late 20's....
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@taniwharugby Laumape is only 25 so a similar age.
Did anyone see Palmerston North BHS play when their midfield was Laumape and Thompson?
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@taniwharugby totally agree with you about Goodhue's value on attack. Like his defensive reads, his reads on attack are classy. He makes things look easy.
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@roninwc said in All Blacks Squad for France:
@billy-tell said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Don’t think he’ll ever be an AB but Thompson has actually been very very good this season. He’s the kind of player who until recently would have been overseas and Hello! playing for Wales/Scotland/Ireland in 3 years. Not sure of his contract status but he won’t be going unnoticed up north that’s for sure.
I’d say Crotty, SBW, Goodhue, ALB and Laumape going for 4 spots. Thompson, Proctor and Aso and I suppose Ngatai probably the pick of the rest and JB can play 12 too.
That would be very disappointing. Again, as I stated earlier in this thread, I think he, along with Matt Proctor, have been the form 13's in the comp thus far.
I think both are playing better than the incumbents. Crotty seems pretty fragile these days, and everything that @Crucial said about ALB can also be said for Thompson and Proctor.
I think Thompson offers more in attack, he's been very creative for his team and lifts his rookie inside centre partner more than what ALB does.
And Proctor and Goodhue are the best defending midfield backs in NZ rugby but again, I think Proctor offers a lot more in attack.
Regardless, I hope they both stick round, cos Crotty & SBW will be gone after 2019.
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Matt Duffy was seen as the new Ben Smith but I think George Bridge offers more similarities with his ability to beat the first tackle and to run good lines. He's definitely more strongly built than Duffy and does not fear to tackle big men. The 125 kg Waratahs winger was stopped neatly while he was at full speed. He is having a very strong season and has not put a foot wrong in everything he did in every game. He might be worth a look.
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@bovidae said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Remember the Crusaders-BIL game? Bridge got badly exposed under the high ball so Murray just kept kicking it to him.
He has improved a lot since that game
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@cgrant said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Matt Duffy was seen as the new Ben Smith but I think George Bridge offers more similarities with his ability to beat the first tackle and to run good lines. He's definitely more strongly built than Duffy and does not fear to tackle big men. The 125 kg Waratahs winger was stopped neatly while he was at full speed. He is having a very strong season and has not put a foot wrong in everything he did in every game. He might be worth a look.
I take it you didn't see the start of the Tahs-Crusaders game? He made a lot of errors early.
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When I see bridge I sort of think Ralph and Hamilton. He’s having a decent season but I’m not yet buying the next Ben smith.
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Wow I wonder what those players have in common?
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@canerbry said in All Blacks Squad for France:
Wow I wonder what those players have in common?
Both massively over-rated?
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I have to laugh about these comments. Every time someone brings up a player that may (or may not) be worth considering for the ABs, esp if it's a Crusaders' (or MABs') player, someone who doesn't agree brings up that one game against the BILs, conveniently forgetting that the Crusaders were the first team to play a test-strength BILs team with that quick line-speed that they hadn't shown in the other games, with the yelling over the line-out calls, the awkward refereeing (particularly of the scrum) etc. It's ridiculous to judge a player on one game in general; it's even more ridiculous to judge a player who has never played a test match on one game against a team like the BILs.
Personally, I don't see Bridge as the next Ben Smith. At this stage, I also can't see him as a test player. He has potential though. A wait-and-see case for me.
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I'm just curious why Bridge was mentioned at all. I assume it is because of the Cully article. Personally, I don't believe any of Bridge, Alaimalo, Duffie or Lam will make the AB squad. NMS can also play wing/FB and will be in the squad ahead of those 4 players.
