AB Depth Chart 2020
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@Stargazer said in AB Depth Chart 2020:
Performance in the first game after months without playing doesn't say anything.
This whole thread has a silly timing. Let's see how things are going at the end of this competition.Agreed. Hard for Luke to impress watching the Blues play in the final.
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@mariner4life said in AB Depth Chart 2020:
Patty T is my big hope, he's the kind of guy that can just bash opposition packs in to surrender. I really hope this year it finally clicks, because it hasn't yet. But he's going to need a Whitelock-type next to him.
Been really impressed with Pat T's improvement over the last 2 seasons and his attitude. He's worked hard and captaincy seems to have given him a lot of maturity.
Some of his more recent games in Black have been excellent.
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What i liked best about the Ginge was he has built off last year.
2019 was breakout year, but we all knew he was too raw. This year he hasn't succumbed to the dreaded 2nd year syndrome, and in fact has got better. Less penalties for a start. Still way busy and loves to hurt people.
Raped and pillaged the canes lineout too.
Ginge Cane and Sotutu loose trio thanks. Ardie for big impact in the last 30
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@mariner4life said in AB Depth Chart 2020:
What i liked best about the Ginge was he has built off last year.
2019 was breakout year, but we all knew he was too raw. This year he hasn't succumbed to the dreaded 2nd year syndrome, and in fact has got better. Less penalties for a start. Still way busy and loves to hurt people.
Raped and pillaged the canes lineout too.
Ginge Cane and Sotutu loose trio thanks. Ardie for big impact in the last 30
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@antipodean said in AB Depth Chart 2020:
@mariner4life said in AB Depth Chart 2020:
Ginge Cane and Sotutu loose trio thanks.
Add in Patty T and the opposition aren't going to enjoy hitting it up much are they?
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@mariner4life said in AB Depth Chart 2020:
@antipodean said in AB Depth Chart 2020:
@mariner4life said in AB Depth Chart 2020:
Ginge Cane and Sotutu loose trio thanks.
Add in Patty T and the opposition aren't going to enjoy hitting it up much are they?
Add Aumua off the bench to add some sting.
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@Chris-B said in AB Depth Chart 2020:
@Bones said in AB Depth Chart 2020:
@Chris-B oh and I don't need to see him in real life, I can see him on TB, next to other players, who are bulkier than him.
Sit down, Arya!
How drunk are ya fella? I have no idea what you're on about. Sounds like a cool story though, perhaps you could use the concave as a soundshell?
Wow, what a giant that guy is.
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@Bovidae said in AB Depth Chart 2020:
Laulala didn't even last 40 mins in his first game against the Blues before injuring his knee. He played more minutes than I thought he would on his return on Sat night. He is the best TH scrummager so I would favour a Nepo-Ofa combo on that side.
Coles is still in the top 2 hookers but is probably better as the impact player now, as long as that impact is positive.
I have doubts about whether or not Nepo is the answer given his lack of oomph around the park. t will be interesting to see what Fozzie does here given how much value teams like the Poms and Jaapies get out of their props around the park and the stated reasons for Franks' dropping last year.
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@mariner4life said in AB Depth Chart 2020:
@Tim said in AB Depth Chart 2020:
Lock
Another tough one. There are three names automatically on the sheet, but all have real limitations or concerns.
Whitelock - One of the best ever for NZ, and pretty much a complete player. Has played a lot over the last three seasons, and form has slid over the last two. May not be an automatic starter any more. Hopefully a break has rejuvenated him. Had a poor World Cup by his standards. ABs need a couple of good years out of him, so needs to have time managed.
Barrett - An "inbetweener". Will never be physically dominant as a lock, but has a great work rate and pace around the field. Not a starter against a big pack (SA, England, France). Not a six. Overrated by NZ media. Decent but not particularly good lineout target.
Tuipulotu - A "power" lock. Physically dominant around the park, improved at set piece a lot, work rate improved. Not a good lineout target at top level. Decent at steals. Should start against the big packs.
Retallick - Potentially the best player in the world. Frequently injured over last two seasons. Not back until next year, and not playing Super Rugby in 2021 either. Don't rely on him as AB saviour ...
Contenders:
Dunshea, Strange, Walker-Leawere.
huge concern. also tied in to Foster needing to have a bit of a rethink around the way we play test football
Whitelock may just be cooked. He's not that old, but he's played a lot of test footy. I hope not, because he's a fucking gun, and probably now in the conversation as an "all-time" AB
Retallick is nearly our most important player. He's the difference maker in our pack. We are so much more average when he is out, or under-cooked. Those days will only be more frequent.
My thoughts on SB are well known. Decent squadie, but to be great, we need an upgrade.
Patty T is my big hope, he's the kind of guy that can just bash opposition packs in to surrender. I really hope this year it finally clicks, because it hasn't yet. But he's going to need a Whitelock-type next to him.
No one really looks "to the manor born"
Patrick is going to be a massive driver of how we play over the next 4 years. If he continues to develop and build upon the physicality and leadership he's shown so far in SR rugby this year, we can potentially change the way we play against the bigger packs. Having him and Retallick, and potentially one or two others, matching up well against those big, physical packs will really allows us to be much more direct and, importantly, less predictable. If he doesn't kick on in the way we all hope he will, I am afraid we will have to be resigned to 4 more years of trying to beat a rush defence with side-to-side shit or cross-field kicks.
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@junior said in AB Depth Chart 2020:
@mariner4life said in AB Depth Chart 2020:
@Tim said in AB Depth Chart 2020:
Lock
Another tough one. There are three names automatically on the sheet, but all have real limitations or concerns.
Whitelock - One of the best ever for NZ, and pretty much a complete player. Has played a lot over the last three seasons, and form has slid over the last two. May not be an automatic starter any more. Hopefully a break has rejuvenated him. Had a poor World Cup by his standards. ABs need a couple of good years out of him, so needs to have time managed.
Barrett - An "inbetweener". Will never be physically dominant as a lock, but has a great work rate and pace around the field. Not a starter against a big pack (SA, England, France). Not a six. Overrated by NZ media. Decent but not particularly good lineout target.
Tuipulotu - A "power" lock. Physically dominant around the park, improved at set piece a lot, work rate improved. Not a good lineout target at top level. Decent at steals. Should start against the big packs.
Retallick - Potentially the best player in the world. Frequently injured over last two seasons. Not back until next year, and not playing Super Rugby in 2021 either. Don't rely on him as AB saviour ...
Contenders:
Dunshea, Strange, Walker-Leawere.
huge concern. also tied in to Foster needing to have a bit of a rethink around the way we play test football
Whitelock may just be cooked. He's not that old, but he's played a lot of test footy. I hope not, because he's a fucking gun, and probably now in the conversation as an "all-time" AB
Retallick is nearly our most important player. He's the difference maker in our pack. We are so much more average when he is out, or under-cooked. Those days will only be more frequent.
My thoughts on SB are well known. Decent squadie, but to be great, we need an upgrade.
Patty T is my big hope, he's the kind of guy that can just bash opposition packs in to surrender. I really hope this year it finally clicks, because it hasn't yet. But he's going to need a Whitelock-type next to him.
No one really looks "to the manor born"
Patrick is going to be a massive driver of how we play over the next 4 years. If he continues to develop and build upon the physicality and leadership he's shown so far in SR rugby this year, we can potentially change the way we play against the bigger packs. Having him and Retallick, and potentially one or two others, matching up well against those big, physical packs will really allows us to be much more direct and, importantly, less predictable. If he doesn't kick on in the way we all hope he will, I am afraid we will have to be resigned to 4 more years of trying to beat a rush defence with side-to-side shit or cross-field kicks.
I'd love to see us able to play up the guts again
