AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?
-
I reckon they might get Otere Black in as an apprentice, but otherwise it's going to be a green squad if they pick on form. A fair few edge ABs not playing well. And once again were short of locks and props, tight 5 is our problem area (tight 6 if you include a tall and/or smashing people 6).
-
@Machpants plenty of potential 6s about who could step up.
-
-
@Machpants said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
no stand out
There has been one for a year or two, but for some reason he is a bit controversial, so I won't mention him.
-
@Snowy said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Machpants said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
no stand out
There has been one for a year or two, but for some reason he is a bit controversial, so I won't mention him.
Barrett is an 808.
-
Jordie has to be pretty far down the pecking order now, never really made the most of getting the call up and now there so many guys putting their hand up with awesome form, i cant think of anywhere id consider him even in the top three
-
-
Scored three tries at RWC 2019. Still only 23. Big, strong, super skilled and fast, issues around his composure but Jordie Barrett is far too good for the selectors to ignore.
-
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
The love for Will Jordan on this thread sounds very much like the love for George Bridge last year. Just saying.
Good player but he's not a patch on prime Ben Smith (which is the benchmark)
Yeah, but for many years Ben Smith wasn't yet as good as prime Ben Smith.
Lots to like about Will Jordan, good finisher, brave in contact, very solid under the high ball, fast, doesn't seem to slow much when carrying the ball in two hands, strong work rate.
Not fully convinced yet about the composure or his passing but he deserves a chance to show what he can do at international level.
-
@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
The love for Will Jordan on this thread sounds very much like the love for George Bridge last year. Just saying.
Good player but he's not a patch on prime Ben Smith (which is the benchmark)
Yeah, but for many years Ben Smith wasn't yet as good as prime Ben Smith.
Lots to like about Will Jordan, good finisher, brave in contact, very solid under the high ball, fast, doesn't seem to slow much when carrying the ball in two hands, strong work rate.
Not fully convinced yet about the composure or his passing but he deserves a chance to show what he can do at international level.
Pretty much proves my point that this is what people were saying about Bridge.
-
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
The love for Will Jordan on this thread sounds very much like the love for George Bridge last year. Just saying.
Good player but he's not a patch on prime Ben Smith (which is the benchmark)
Yeah, but for many years Ben Smith wasn't yet as good as prime Ben Smith.
Lots to like about Will Jordan, good finisher, brave in contact, very solid under the high ball, fast, doesn't seem to slow much when carrying the ball in two hands, strong work rate.
Not fully convinced yet about the composure or his passing but he deserves a chance to show what he can do at international level.
Pretty much proves my point that this is what people were saying about Bridge.
Jordan has been earmarked for a long time (much moreso than Bridge) - was outstanding for NZ U20s and then Ta$man in the Mitre 10 Cup.
-
@sparky said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
The love for Will Jordan on this thread sounds very much like the love for George Bridge last year. Just saying.
Good player but he's not a patch on prime Ben Smith (which is the benchmark)
Yeah, but for many years Ben Smith wasn't yet as good as prime Ben Smith.
Lots to like about Will Jordan, good finisher, brave in contact, very solid under the high ball, fast, doesn't seem to slow much when carrying the ball in two hands, strong work rate.
Not fully convinced yet about the composure or his passing but he deserves a chance to show what he can do at international level.
Ben Smith was world class long before it was recognised outside of the south, he suffered from the old issue of sometimes being harder to get out of the AB's than in it
your point about Jordie falls into this, wasnt one of his tries against canada? in a 60 something to zip hiding...hardly grounds to keep him around when there are guys putting their hands up in this brutal Aotearoa comp, he need to match them in my mine
-
I’m not fully convinced about Jordan yet but he has one thing that Bridge doesn’t - genuine ability to beat a man.
He’s very quick to get going too, although I’m not sure about his top range speed.
I think he’d make a good apprentice this year, but he might play depending on where and how Barrett gets used.
-
@gt12 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I’m not fully convinced about Jordan yet but he has one thing that Bridge doesn’t - genuine ability to beat a man.
He’s very quick to get going too, although I’m not sure about his top range speed.
I think he’d make a good apprentice this year, but he might play depending on where and how Barrett gets used.
I don't disagree that the kid has talent or could be a good international, I'd just like to see him fine tune things (in or out of the AB camp) before inking him into a squad.
-
-
-
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@gt12 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I’m only pointing out a few flaws in the comparison to
Caleb RalphGeorge Bridge.The comparison was to the fawning on here. But I do get your point.
Poor old Caleb, last test was 17 years ago but he still gets grief. I suppose being slow and passive in contact lives long in the memory.
-
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@gt12 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I’m only pointing out a few flaws in the comparison to
Caleb RalphGeorge Bridge.The comparison was to the fawning on here. But I do get your point.
Poor old Caleb, last test was 17 years ago but he still gets grief. I suppose being slow and passive in contact lives long in the memory.
I try to remember him as that good centre for the Maori, and that star 7s player who Titch always included in his best 7s team - not as the dude who had all the flair beaten out of him at the Death Star (which TBF worked well for him as it got him a bunch of caps).
