What’s out there at Second Five?
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@Stargazer said in What’s out there at Second Five?:
@Kirwan Would be nice, because then JG would have to move back to 13, where we all want him.
Exactly, combinations are even more important in the midfield. Would help RM’s game as well.
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I guess the other thing though, what are we as fans missing that that AB coaches are seeing?
They clearly have something in mind (this doesnt just apply to the mid-field) about how they want these players who are 'out of position' to play, especially when they persist.
I dont buy they are too stubborn to make changes, they want to win too.
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@taniwharugby said in What’s out there at Second Five?:
I guess the other thing though, what are we as fans missing that that AB coaches are seeing?
And we also have to accept that we do not understand rugby, despite over 50 years of watching it and being on the sideline of the playing field pretty much every Saturday during the season in my case. Who are we to argue with the All Black captain when he tells us we do not understand the sport?
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@Higgins well if you read some of the comments online (FB) after the team naming, there is a good portion of people who clearly have zero idea.
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@taniwharugby said in What’s out there at Second Five?:
@Higgins well if you read some of the comments online (FB) after the team naming, there is a good portion of people who clearly have zero idea.
yes, they are Hurricanes fans. but it's a free country and we can't very well just censor them can we?
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@taniwharugby said in What’s out there at Second Five?:
@Higgins well if you read some of the comments online (FB) after the team naming, there is a good portion of people who clearly have zero idea.
Are you referring to the selectors or some of the public in general?
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I think what 'they' mean is that the fans don't see an awful lot of the preparation effort, training form, focus and distraction levels, discipline and a range of physical stats, as well as game stats, that the coaches and their staff do off the field. Fans tend to measure mostly by highlights reels, and not the overall 'package' a player brings. Some of the coaches they will be balancing off potential against building improvements in areas of weakness, to better prepare a player for the brutal demands at a higher level, and that also forms part of their selection. Judging when to replace a player for form issues, and when to give a chance to redeem is not easy either.
I think it was a tall order to do the right thing for all the players sent to Australia, but am glad that many were given their opportunity in that game that was lost to Australia, because they will have learned from it, and may have more resolve in future. A close win would have been better for the public though...
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@Stargazer and then be third in line after ALB and RI.
funny the fern spent 4 years wanting a settled midfield . know after a handful of games they want to keep changing the combination.
anyway wouldnt mind seeing more of ALB/RI together. RI will be better with another year at center at the blues. -
@mariner4life said in What’s out there at Second Five?:
@taniwharugby said in What’s out there at Second Five?:
@Higgins well if you read some of the comments online (FB) after the team naming, there is a good portion of people who clearly have zero idea.
yes, they are Hurricanes fans. but it's a free country and we can't very well just censor them can we?
Don't need to in Wellington, just stand upwind and you'll never hear them again.
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Havili-best position is 12? He can kick as I recall..
Laumape does not just run into players, he can also run over them, not bad athleticism for a disrespected leprechaun.
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@ploughboy said in What’s out there at Second Five?:
@Stargazer and then be third in line after ALB and RI.
funny the fern spent 4 years wanting a settled midfield . know after a handful of games they want to keep changing the combination.
anyway wouldnt mind seeing more of ALB/RI together. RI will be better with another year at center at the blues.Part of the problem is where ALB and JG end up playing in SR. Do you think JG would have been seriously considered at 2nd 5 if he didn't play there all season for the Crusaders? Unlikely I believe. ALB has been more interchangeable at the Chiefs depending on who his midfield partner is.
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I get the argument JB could become a good 12 with more time in the role but the time to learn is not in the ABs. Is he better at 12 than ALB? Are they the most balanced but impactful midfield together in those positions? I don't think so.
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@nostrildamus said in What’s out there at Second Five?:
Havili-best position is 12? He can kick as I recall..
Laumape does not just run into players, he can also run over them, not bad athleticism for a disrespected leprechaun.
Havili started at 12 at the Crusaders - not hugely successfully, but he was just a kid and paired with Fonotia during Toddy Blackadder's spend all the money on 1-10 regime.
He really found his feet when he moved to 15 - but, he's moved back to 12 occasionally when required (and even 10). He's a decent option there.
Currently, he's at best 4th in the fullback queue, so maybe his best chance of being an AB is a shift back to 12.
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15 has to go to a Barrett-it's written in the NZ founding documents.
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@Machpants said in What’s out there at Second Five?:
@nzzp Laumape is doing that, he mentions it often. But it takes time and if you are getting the most success with your running game, then you don;t practise it in the heat of battle often. Not sure that he did many, but he put a few through in SRA, mostly good if not excellent. But the fact he can run through the weak shoulder, and around even fast players (ahem the slow blues version of Beuady) means the kick doesn’t come out often. Fat Bishop does enough for both of them
Just because he doesn't kick doesn't mean that can't. I'm sure he practices a lot, but the simple fact is that we have four other guys in the backline who can and should be kicking as the primary options. Whether he can kick or not is kinda moot. He simply shouldn't have to kick (very often at least).
Everyone talks about how Nonu developed a surprisingly decent kicking game, but the truth is that in over 100 tests he probably kicked the ball ~15-20 times. It was useful when it happened, but whether or not he made those kicks would have had zero impact on his standing as an AB great.
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@junior said in What’s out there at Second Five?:
@Machpants said in What’s out there at Second Five?:
@nzzp Laumape is doing that, he mentions it often. But it takes time and if you are getting the most success with your running game, then you don;t practise it in the heat of battle often. Not sure that he did many, but he put a few through in SRA, mostly good if not excellent. But the fact he can run through the weak shoulder, and around even fast players (ahem the slow blues version of Beuady) means the kick doesn’t come out often. Fat Bishop does enough for both of them
Just because he doesn't kick doesn't mean that can't. I'm sure he practices a lot, but the simple fact is that we have four other guys in the backline who can and should be kicking as the primary options. Whether he can kick or not is kinda moot. He simply shouldn't have to kick (very often at least).
I'm not picking on Ngani here.
What I would say, though, is kickign from multiple backline positions is damn hard to defend. Auckland did it really well in 2018 -- chose the time and space to put the ball to the boot.
I understand the difference between the training pitch kicking and doing it udner pressure. However, I maintain you should be doing it as you never know when you may have to peel one out in a game.
Rayasi, for instance, seems to have a fair old boot on him ... but his core role is running well with the ball in hand. Sure helps the team though
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@nzzp said in What’s out there at Second Five?:
I'm not picking on Ngani here.
Well it certainly looked like you were saying he doesn't try to enhance any of his skills, is lazy and doesn't train...
He had a fantastic SRA and was on fire in the NPC before they dragged him off, showing a range of skills and some very deft touches with the boot.
I get a funny feeling he was given a tight game plan for the ABs and did as he was told.
