Waratahs v Highlanders - QF
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While Naholo did a bone headed play I would not be quick to jettison him. As for Bridge he does have a bit of gas and has nouse. I haven’t watch a lot of him but what I have seen he is pretty reliable. How is he under the high ball since our wingers have to have that skill and can he play FB?
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@broughie I'll be pretty surprised if Naholo gets ditched - and if he does, I reckon Lam will get his spot.
I'll be a bit less surprised if NMS loses his place - and if he does Bridge or Alaimalo (hands off, Hansen - Ta$man need him for the NPC!) would be leading contenders for the wing-fullback role - though I think it would be equally likely that they'd keep five midfielders in the squad.
Yep - Bridge can play fullback. He can be a Dagg/Corey Jane type option - or if you're a detractor - a Bubbles/McNicholl.
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@sammyc said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
Alainono > bridge > lam in my opinion.
Alaimono has been great this year, on attack and defense. Also gets himself involved in close of play doesn’t run his way.
Agree.
Lam seems a poor mans Hosea Gear to me. All the physical attributes and can look a world beater every now and then, but goes missing for the most part and is waiting for the action rather than being a creator.
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@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@sammyc said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
Alainono > bridge > lam in my opinion.
Alaimono has been great this year, on attack and defense. Also gets himself involved in close of play doesn’t run his way.
Agree.
Lam seems a poor mans Hosea Gear to me. All the physical attributes and can look a world beater every now and then, but goes missing for the most part and is waiting for the action rather than being a creator.
Lam is a great finisher but he doesn't have the all-round game of someone like Alaimalo, and I agree he does tend to go missing at times. He's more competing with Rieko for the power winger spot IMO.
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@no-quarter said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@sammyc said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
Alainono > bridge > lam in my opinion.
Alaimono has been great this year, on attack and defense. Also gets himself involved in close of play doesn’t run his way.
Agree.
Lam seems a poor mans Hosea Gear to me. All the physical attributes and can look a world beater every now and then, but goes missing for the most part and is waiting for the action rather than being a creator.
Lam is a great finisher but he doesn't have the all-round game of someone like Alaimalo, and I agree he does tend to go missing at times. He's more competing with Rieko for the power winger spot IMO.
Ioane is not a winger. He is a midfielder. Ask Tana
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@nepia said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@chris-b They need to get Alaimalo in there ASAP - I have no sympathy for Ta$man, you keep poaching players about to become ABs.
I'm one of the "never really understood why Hansen hearts Naholo so much".
Pretty sure that all of Squire, Havili, Taufua, Perry and Frizell played their first NPC matches for Ta$man. Hames and Alaimalo were poaches. We've had a fair few snatched off us, though - especially the season when Tew tried to get rid of us - notably by Waikato, BoP, Hawkes Bay and Southland.
So fuck all of those guys!
Naholo - usually pretty good at Super level - good size, blistering pace, wins turnovers. Hasn't been as effective at test level - not sure he's ever had a "signature" test. But, he's got 12 tries in 19 tests, which isn't too bad when you compare his strike rate to Ioane's 14 tries in 16 tests.
It's a bit strange that we're struggling a bit on one wing. Symptomatic of the Blues' woes? They're usually a good source of AB wings.
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@Chris-B Dagg was a mainstay on that right wing before getting injured and not really recovering form wise.
It’s wide open but I think we will keep playing Bender there with either Jordie or (gulp) DMac playing fullback.
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@act-crusader I think that's highly likely.
But, in addition to BSmith, Jordie and Rieko, they'll need to pick at least one more outside back - and possibly two.
My guess is that Naholo is on the inside track.
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@frank said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
Left field idea (very left field perhaps)
Can Laumape play wing?
And of course covers 2nd five.
If so he’d really put the power into power wing!
I’m sure he’d be more than capable but imagine he wouldn’t have the top end speed to be a genuine starting option? -
@gunner said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@frank said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
Left field idea (very left field perhaps)
Can Laumape play wing?
And of course covers 2nd five.
If so he’d really put the power into power wing!
I’m sure he’d be more than capable but imagine he wouldn’t have the top end speed to be a genuine starting option?Aerial skills under the high ball might be an issue. We need specialist winger/fullbacks that have experience reading the kicks.
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@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@no-quarter said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@sammyc said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
Alainono > bridge > lam in my opinion.
Alaimono has been great this year, on attack and defense. Also gets himself involved in close of play doesn’t run his way.
Agree.
Lam seems a poor mans Hosea Gear to me. All the physical attributes and can look a world beater every now and then, but goes missing for the most part and is waiting for the action rather than being a creator.
Lam is a great finisher but he doesn't have the all-round game of someone like Alaimalo, and I agree he does tend to go missing at times. He's more competing with Rieko for the power winger spot IMO.
Ioane is not a winger. He is a midfielder. Ask Tana
Or ask most Blues 'fans' before he was used there and shown up. It was like the endless cries for JB to be shifted to the midfield despite evidence to the contrary at this level.
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@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@gunner said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@frank said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
Left field idea (very left field perhaps)
Can Laumape play wing?
And of course covers 2nd five.
If so he’d really put the power into power wing!
I’m sure he’d be more than capable but imagine he wouldn’t have the top end speed to be a genuine starting option?Aerial skills under the high ball might be an issue. We need specialist winger/fullbacks that have experience reading the kicks.
Definitely lacks top end pace as well, he is always easily run down after making a break. He'd be an absolute last resort covering wing.
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@crucial said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@no-quarter said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@sammyc said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
Alainono > bridge > lam in my opinion.
Alaimono has been great this year, on attack and defense. Also gets himself involved in close of play doesn’t run his way.
Agree.
Lam seems a poor mans Hosea Gear to me. All the physical attributes and can look a world beater every now and then, but goes missing for the most part and is waiting for the action rather than being a creator.
Lam is a great finisher but he doesn't have the all-round game of someone like Alaimalo, and I agree he does tend to go missing at times. He's more competing with Rieko for the power winger spot IMO.
Ioane is not a winger. He is a midfielder. Ask Tana
Or ask most Blues 'fans' before he was used there and shown up. It was like the endless cries for JB to be shifted to the midfield despite evidence to the contrary at this level.
Is JB Jordie Barrett? I don't think a single person has wanted him at 13. Any "cries" have been for 12, where he has yet to play this level.
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@crucial said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@no-quarter said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@act-crusader said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
@sammyc said in Waratahs v Highlanders - QF:
Alainono > bridge > lam in my opinion.
Alaimono has been great this year, on attack and defense. Also gets himself involved in close of play doesn’t run his way.
Agree.
Lam seems a poor mans Hosea Gear to me. All the physical attributes and can look a world beater every now and then, but goes missing for the most part and is waiting for the action rather than being a creator.
Lam is a great finisher but he doesn't have the all-round game of someone like Alaimalo, and I agree he does tend to go missing at times. He's more competing with Rieko for the power winger spot IMO.
Ioane is not a winger. He is a midfielder. Ask Tana
Or ask most Blues 'fans' before he was used there and shown up. It was like the endless cries for JB to be shifted to the midfield despite evidence to the contrary at this level.
And the knight in shining armour award goes to....
