All Blacks v France Test 3

booboo

Anyone else think he's a candidate for WR to charge him with bringing the game into disrepute?

Stargazer

@booboo WR would be afraid of the NH media backlash. They wouldn't have the guts to charge him, even if they wanted to.

Chris B.

So Atonio is arguing that refs from all countries except New Zealand (since they never ref the ABs) are useless cheating fluffybunnies!

I'd be outraged if I wasn't a New Zealander - but, I knew that we're the best!

junior

@bones I don't think Ioane playing at centre in the long-term should be dismissed. Inevitably, he will hit an age where he is no longer able to keep it up on the wing (as all our wingers inevitably do), but he could have an Umaga-like career path where he gradually transitions to the midfield. He certainly has the body-shape and ball-skills to do it. I agree that this week might be too soon for that though.

cgrant

@gunner said in All Blacks v France Test 3:

Goodhue will be the long term centre, Ioane can therefore keep being the worlds best winger for a few more years.

There is no outstanding centre in NZ ... currently. Goodhue has yet to play a test match at this level. I think Ioane has the necessary dimension to become what the AB are looking for. The left wing spot won't be a problem since there are incredibly promising young guns coming (Caleb Clarke, Leicester Faingaanuku). So it is urgent to test Ioane there as the French team is not a great threat and the RWC is coming next year.

MN5

@cgrant said in All Blacks v France Test 3:

@gunner said in All Blacks v France Test 3:

Goodhue will be the long term centre, Ioane can therefore keep being the worlds best winger for a few more years.

There is no outstanding centre in NZ ... currently. Goodhue has nowyet to play a test match at this level. I think Ioane has the necessary dimension to become what the AB are looking for. The left wing spot won't be a problem since there are incredibly promising young guns coming (Caleb Clarke, Leicester Faingaanuku). So it is urgent to test Ioane there as the French team is not a great threat and the RWC is coming next year.

The Charlie Ngatai of 2018

Bones

@junior said in All Blacks v France Test 3:

@bones I don't think Ioane playing at centre in the long-term should be dismissed. Inevitably, he will hit an age where he is no longer able to keep it up on the wing (as all our wingers inevitably do), but he could have an Umaga-like career path where he gradually transitions to the midfield. He certainly has the body-shape and ball-skills to do it. I agree that this week might be too soon for that though.

I didn't dismiss Ioane playing at centre in the long-term.

junior

@bones Good.

Victor Meldrew

@shark said in All Blacks v France Test 3:

But midfield is messy as is 8.

Not helped by injuries and, to a certain extent, not allowing combinations to develop. The 1st choice midfield should be pretty settled by now but you sense Hansen & co. are still doing too much tinkering.

We just need a solid, if unspectacular, 12/13 combination and I just don't see that at all.

MajorRage

@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks v France Test 3:

@shark said in All Blacks v France Test 3:

But midfield is messy as is 8.

Not helped by injuries and, to a certain extent, not allowing combinations to develop. The 1st choice midfield should be pretty settled by now but you sense Hansen & co. are still doing too much tinkering.

We just need a solid, if unspectacular, 12/13 combination and I just don't see that at all.

ALB & SBW doesn't fit this bill?

Goodhue is just a Canterbury pick if you ask me.

Victor Meldrew

@majorrage

The fact that ALB & SBW aren't a settled pair kinda proves my point.

A year and a bit out from RWC2019 and it's 2 out of ALB/SBW/Crotty - sometimes in different positions.

Wreck Diver

@victor-meldrew SWB and Crotty are the starters if fit for any test

Bones

@wreck-diver said in All Blacks v France Test 3:

@victor-meldrew SWB and Crotty are the starters if fit for any test

Urban Dictionary: SWB

Crucial

@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks v France Test 3:

@majorrage

The fact that ALB & SBW aren't a settled pair kinda proves my point.

A year and a bit out from RWC2019 and it's 2 out of ALB/SBW/Crotty - sometimes in different positions.

I'm beginning to wonder if that is such a bad thing.
Although we were lucky to have Nonu/Smith, the times they couldn't play together caused no end of headaches at times (eg Ben Smith filling in)
There aren't many teams around that don't get issues around injuries in the centres these days and hoping for a pair that are available more often than not may be wishful thinking.
Having the available combos with Crotty moving between the two jerseys is great.

Wreck Diver

@bones

Crucial

@bones said in All Blacks v France Test 3:

@wreck-diver said in All Blacks v France Test 3:

@victor-meldrew SWB and Crotty are the starters if fit for any test

Urban Dictionary: SWB

They are missing this

swb
meaning 'Safe White Boy' is an adjective pronounced (swub). This is a rugby player, usually a back and playing for a Canterbury based team. They are notably boring and are selected instead of more mercurial brown players.
eg
Did you see who is selected on the wing?
Oh yea. another swb! He's unlikely to cause problems

Do not confuse with SBW