Possible All Blacks 2020
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@Duluth I've seen way more stupid posts. Like the constant fanboying and victim card playing regarding poor Akira.
And yes, I've way more confidence in the ability of ABs selectors to assess a player's abilities and shortcomings than that of some people on the Fern who haven't been present at trainings and who don't know the players. Who knows, he may have discipline issues or character flaws we don't know about. They'll hardly say that in public, won't they?
The new selection panel still has Foster and Fox, but yes, Akira may get another shot at it, if he deserves one. Let's hope he grabs that opportunity with both hands if it comes.
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Hard not to think there wasn't a personality clash between Akira and one or more of the coaches. He's shown he can dominate at the highest level. Frizzel getting so mamy chances after doing absolutely nothing at Super level is bizarre. They've made Akira work far harder than anyone else for a proper shot.
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@nzzp said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@antipodean said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
I think the way things have transpired, perhaps what the brains trust saw in Akira had some grounding.
Really? You don't think his physical gifts meant it was worth investing in his mental side? I dunno, from the outside seemed a very hands off approach. Honest question - would you rather have peak Luke Whitelock, or peak Akira?
Easily Akira based on physical impact. But plenty of players have been brought into the environment and prospered so it's not like the coaches didn't have form in that area. What they saw in that space required improvement and from when he was slaying it on the field to now has not seen an improvement. Quite the opposite.
And yes he clearly needed a rest last year. But what's the excuse now?
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@Stargazer This does not relate to anything I have said in this thread. You are assigning opinions to me and then arguing against them
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@nzzp said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@antipodean said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
I think the way things have transpired, perhaps what the brains trust saw in Akira had some grounding.
Really? You don't think his physical gifts meant it was worth investing in his mental side? I dunno, from the outside seemed a very hands off approach. Honest question - would you rather have peak Luke Whitelock, or peak Akira?
Whitelock L got 8 caps....
I think maybe too much stick and not enough carrot for Akira.
After Auckland won the NPC, I think even Sir Ted said Hansen should show him some love.
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@antipodean said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
And yes he clearly needed a rest last year. But what's the excuse now?
Who's calling for him to make the ABs at the moment? This is all historical (just what the Fern is for) - his form and attitude hasn't been great the last 12 months, and he's run out of steam.
What's frustrating for me is that he's got the physical goods to be a generational talent, but just doesn't seem to have the mental game at this stage. Not unique to him - Sione Lauaki, Peter Saili were phsyically amazing, but just not there mentally. Not sure either of them did as much as Akira did though...
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@nzzp said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@antipodean said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
And yes he clearly needed a rest last year. But what's the excuse now?
Who's calling for him to make the ABs at the moment? This is all historical (just what the Fern is for) - his form and attitude hasn't been great the last 12 months, and he's run out of steam.
What's frustrating for me is that he's got the physical goods to be a generational talent, but just doesn't seem to have the mental game at this stage. Not unique to him - Sione Lauaki, Peter Saili were phsyically amazing, but just not there mentally. Not sure either of them did as much as Akira did though...
Ok, as long as we're having one of those grainy tinted flashbacks of yesteryear threads. Toeava was exposed to Test rugby too early with too much expectation on his shoulders. Discuss.
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Nah lets stick to Frizell being shit and provincialism of those defending him
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@antipodean said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@nzzp said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@antipodean said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
And yes he clearly needed a rest last year. But what's the excuse now?
Who's calling for him to make the ABs at the moment? This is all historical (just what the Fern is for) - his form and attitude hasn't been great the last 12 months, and he's run out of steam.
What's frustrating for me is that he's got the physical goods to be a generational talent, but just doesn't seem to have the mental game at this stage. Not unique to him - Sione Lauaki, Peter Saili were phsyically amazing, but just not there mentally. Not sure either of them did as much as Akira did though...
Ok, as long as we're having one of those grainy tinted flashbacks of yesteryear threads. Toeava was exposed to Test rugby too early with too much expectation on his shoulders. Discuss.
fark me, that guy was a talent. Wayne Smith admitted they stuffed up his career by bigging him up too soon.
How good would the Blues have been with Luatua, Piutau, Toeava, keeping Charlie F, John Afoa ... poor administration and coaching has stuffed the franchise completely. You'd be bringing AKira and Rieko into a healthy environment, not the total clusterfark that has been there from time to time.
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@Duluth I can't be the lone ranger upset that Frizell, despite his obvious athletic gifts, doesn't display the intent to legally commit grievous bodily harm on the field.
I like the ginger from Auckland, but he's going to need to play flanker more than lock to squeeze himself into the squad.
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@antipodean said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
I like the ginger from Auckland
@taniwharugby you might want to jump in here
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@Duluth well I guess @antipodean is Australian, and he sees the Blues and thinks Auckland...
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@taniwharugby said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@Duluth well I guess @antipodean is Australian, and he sees the Blues and thinks Auckland...
Yeah. Fair enough.
from Northland.
Penance served.
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@antipodean said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
I like the ginger from North Auckland, but he's going to need to play flanker more than lock to squeeze himself into the squad.
That versatility might help him get into the squad. A genuine lock/6 is very useful for the bench. There's not many players that can do it and I think he does it better than Barrett or Fafita
Fafita of course can't be ignored because he once did well on a TSF man of the match poll versus Argentina
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@Duluth said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
Fafita of course can't be ignored because he once did well on a TSF man of the match poll versus Argentina
One sprint around the outside...
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@Duluth said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@antipodean said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
I like the ginger from North Auckland, but he's going to need to play flanker more than lock to squeeze himself into the squad.
That versatility might help him get into the squad. A genuine lock/6 is very useful for the bench. There's not many players that can do it and I think he does it better than Barrett or Fafita
Fafita of course can't be ignored because he once did well on a TSF man of the match poll versus Argentina
Fafita has some mongrel about him which I like,But the Brain fades and drifting out of games too often ruins it somewhat for me.
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@antipodean said in Possible All Blacks 2020:
@Duluth I can't be the lone ranger upset that Frizell, despite his obvious athletic gifts, doesn't display the intent to legally commit grievous bodily harm on the field.
I like the ginger from Auckland, but he's going to need to play flanker more than lock to squeeze himself into the squad.
Our national obsession with fit forwards who have skills leads us to these cycles where we run out of guys in NZ rugby who just like to hurt people. Good teams still need old fashioned aggression.
