Are Akira Ioane and Jackson Hemopo the answer?
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All Blacks forwards looked weak against Ireland. Read is only there on reputation and lineout ability alone because he hasn't played anywhere near amazing for at least two years and lets be honest he looks pretty awful now. While a beast at super level Liam Squire has very little impact at the international level and it seems that both Frizzel and Fafita are more athletes rather than brute talents.
Does the answer to strike fear into international forward backs lay with the two bruising talents of Akira Ioane and Jackson Hemepo.
Akira Ioane is easily the most talented forward in New Zealand rugby. Powerful and dynamic it is almost shaping as the biggest crime story in NZ rugby history and a black mark against Hansen that he has invested no time into him while giving the likes of Whitelock, Frizzel and Fafita extended game time. Ioane has to be there. There are no ifs or buts. I would drop Read and Squire in a heartbeat for Ioane. To not give Ioane game time at this point is disgusting when there is nobody better in the country than him.
Jackson Hemepo is BIG TIME. The guy gives no F's and hits hard, runs hard and storms around the field causing all sorts of carnage. We have to find room for him in the AB's. He has mongrel and fear factor.
Hansen has gone to far wanting to play a fast skills game that the only option left when we flat out fail is for Aaron Smiths pathetic box kicks or Beauden Barretts poke kicks. I dont want to go on but surely Aaron Smiths time in the jersey is about done and Barrett cant remain at 10 anymore.
Time to cut the dead wood?
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Hi Nightmare Hitter, that kind of opening post will go far. You've upset the cantabs, brought the Blues and Highlanders fluffers on board, and then at the end upset the 'canes mafia. I like it.
In answer to your question, dunno. On the theory that Read is a lock for the #8 jersey, then that affects the thinking everywhere else. I like Hemopo a lot, but as with Barrett, i wonder about his speed. If Read is in the team i don't think there is a place for Akira either, unless we change our bench thinking.
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@kiwimurph said in Is Akira Ioane and Jackson Hemepo the answer?:
@nepia said in Is Akira Ioane and Jackson Hemepo the answer?:
I'd actually like Hemopo to be given a decent shot at 6.
I've withdrawn my support of Akira now that mark Reason is fluffing him.
Example?
He's written an anti Read article on Stuff that I of course didn't actually read but followed a thread title on PR that suggested he as fluffing Akira. Now that I've read the article he doesn't fluff Akira at all.
So I'm back on the Akira bandwagon. -
@mariner4life could Akira play 6?
I mean you dont need to play the position in the ABs you play at super level
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@taniwharugby he certainly played well at 6 vs the B&I Lions last year twice.
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Congrats @NightmareHitter you've taken the Akira wank to nigh on untouchable levels.
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@mn5 said in Is Akira Ioane and Jackson Hemepo the answer?:
Congrats @NightmareHitter you've taken the Akira wank to nigh on untouchable levels.
He's a newbie, how did he know that you and @stargazer had put a ban on discussing Akira?
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Aaron Smith is far from done. He is still the best halfback we can field. TJ suited us better for the Irish game IMO but I think AS just needs a break to refresh. He is one of the first 3 names picked.
Barrett is such a reactive talent that it is really hard to judge if he is actually a 10 or just someone that needs to be on the field.
Hemepo looks good-ish and I like what hes done to this point but I would like to see Frizzel given more of a crack.
Couldn't agree more about Ioane re skills and lack of chances. He needs to be given a shot and ahead of Fifita - it does not sit right with me that Fifita publicly bitched about his non selection and it also points to Hansen needing to reaccess because his public reply was far too nicey nice. "We love Vaea" was not really something I was expecting.
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@taniwharugby said in Is Akira Ioane and Jackson Hemepo the answer?:
@nepia imagine if he'd mentioned Ngatai too, @MN5 woulda lost the plot!
I think he's finally been forgotten
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@mariner4life said in Is Akira Ioane and Jackson Hemepo the answer?:
I like Hemopo a lot, but as with Barrett, i wonder about his speed.
This is the try by Hemopo that I mentioned against Chile in the Maori thread (2:27 on video). Sure you have to take into account the quality of the opposition but Hemopo showed some wheels in the last minute of the game. Akira looked good too.
Trouble is that the Highlanders won't play him at 6 and (converted) loose forwards need time on the park to get used to running lines etc.
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@bovidae said in Is Akira Ioane and Jackson Hemepo the answer?:
Trouble is that the Highlanders won't play him at 6 and (converted) loose forwards need time on the park to get used to running lines etc.
He only needs to sit on the bench though.
@mn5 said in Is Akira Ioane and Jackson Hemepo the answer?:
I think he's finally been forgotten
Maybe by the Jewish TSF members, the Christians are awaiting his return.
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@bovidae said in Is Akira Ioane and Jackson Hemepo the answer?:
@mariner4life said in Is Akira Ioane and Jackson Hemepo the answer?:
I like Hemopo a lot, but as with Barrett, i wonder about his speed.
This is the try by Hemopo that I mentioned against Chile in the Maori thread (2:27 on video). Sure you have to take into account the quality of the opposition but Hemopo showed some wheels in the last minute of the game. Akira looked good too.
Akira didn't jump in the lineout that set up the second try. More evidence of his laziness.
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I think one thing we should do is be skeptical of judging players based on performances against Australia (one of the few teams* we've beaten convincingly).
Squire had a big game against them, then had minimal impact afterwards. Beauden Barrrett was superlative, but mixed against other opposition. I'm guessing Aaron Smith was good against them too?
*Argentina and third test France were the others.
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@bovidae said in Is Akira Ioane and Jackson Hemepo the answer?:
@mariner4life said in Is Akira Ioane and Jackson Hemepo the answer?:
I like Hemopo a lot, but as with Barrett, i wonder about his speed.
This is the try by Hemopo that I mentioned against Chile in the Maori thread (2:27 on video). Sure you have to take into account the quality of the opposition but Hemopo showed some wheels in the last minute of the game. Akira looked good too.
Trouble is that the Highlanders won't play him at 6 and (converted) loose forwards need time on the park to get used to running lines etc.
Playing well against Chile is meaningless. I hadn't seen the highlights before though, very good crowd.
I first noticed Hemopo in the Lions series where he looked seriously physical against world class players. Worth a shot, it's not as if anyone else has laid claim to the 6 jersey.
Can't see Read being ousted but it would be very interesting to see what they would do if he was injured. Probably pick Lucky Luke...
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@kiwimurph said in Is Akira Ioane and Jackson Hemepo the answer?:
@nepia said in Is Akira Ioane and Jackson Hemepo the answer?:
I'd actually like Hemopo to be given a decent shot at 6.
I've withdrawn my support of Akira now that mark Reason is fluffing him.
Example?
It's probably Reason' best article, ever.
(which isn't really saying anything)
