AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?
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@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.
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@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.
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@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.
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@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
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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.
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@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.
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@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.
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@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).
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Ralph is the example i use when explaining not everyone can make the step up to international rugby and coaches need to be able to spot in a player
if they're doing well in super rugby because theyre playing at the top of their game, maybe bringing up those around him
or
doing well at super rugby but could do keep growing if surrounded by world class
i worry Jordie is the former rather than the later
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@KiwiMurph said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@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.
He's not a Johnny come lately by any stretch and we don't have Ben Smith anymore. So who replaces him? McKenzie and Jordie are there and cover a few positions. Are they better options for the bench?
Hardly any fawning going on, we just need someone else in the squad. Best place to try him of the bench I reckon. Is he up to international standard? There is one way to find out...
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@Kiwiwomble said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
i worry Jordie is the former rather than the later
Anyone who can pound over penalties from 50m+, and defend strongly has a future in the backs at international level. I think he'll have other abilities he develops too.
Don't forget, he turned 23 in Feb. The kid is still super young (same age as Rieko Ioane).
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@nzzp said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Kiwiwomble said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
i worry Jordie is the former rather than the later
Anyone who can pound over penalties from 50m+, and defend strongly has a future in the backs at international level. I think he'll have other abilities he develops too.
Don't forget, he turned 23 in Feb. The kid is still super young (same age as Rieko Ioane).
Is Reiko only 23?????
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@nzzp said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Kiwiwomble said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
i worry Jordie is the former rather than the later
Anyone who can pound over penalties from 50m+, and defend strongly has a future in the backs at international level. I think he'll have other abilities he develops too.
Don't forget, he turned 23 in Feb. The kid is still super young (same age as Rieko Ioane).
the difference is Reiko has much more of an impact in his time as an AB than jordie has
as i said unless he's first choice in a position then the ability to knock it over from 50m becomes mute and he's failed to take a claim on a single position
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@Kiwiwomble said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@nzzp said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Kiwiwomble said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
i worry Jordie is the former rather than the later
Anyone who can pound over penalties from 50m+, and defend strongly has a future in the backs at international level. I think he'll have other abilities he develops too.
Don't forget, he turned 23 in Feb. The kid is still super young (same age as Rieko Ioane).
the difference is Reiko has much more of an impact in his time as an AB than jordie has
as i said unless he's first choice in a position then the ability to knock it over from 50m becomes mute and he's failed to take a claim on a single position
More of a positive impact. Jordie had a big impact on one game
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@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.
He's very fast.
You can e.g. watch him gun down Vince Aso from behind in the M10 Cup Final - having given Vince a 5 metre start.
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@Snowy said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@KiwiMurph said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@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.
He's not a Johnny come lately by any stretch and we don't have Ben Smith anymore. So who replaces him? McKenzie and Jordie are there and cover a few positions. Are they better options for the bench?
Hardly any fawning going on, we just need someone else in the squad. Best place to try him of the bench I reckon. Is he up to international standard? There is one way to find out...
Yep, pointless to compare to peak Ben Smith because Ben Smith is gone. If you look at who has the potential to reach that Ben Smith mark though i would argue Jordan looks like he could have the highest ceiling compared to guys like Bridge, Jordie, Dmac and Havili.
But like always with this potential stuff, you are only ever going to find out if you try it at the top level. -
@Kiwiwomble said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
the difference is Reiko has much more of an impact in his time as an AB than jordie has
I can remember one particularly negative impact from Jordie.
Edit: @crucial. Snap
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I thing the AB selectors need to have quite a strong eye on who is going to play halfback for us at the next World Cup.
Aaron Smith will be an old man, TJ, Weber and Hall won't be a lot younger (all in their late 20s now).
I'd be inclined to take a punt on someone younger as the third option.
