Nonu
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="535238" data-time="1445947655"><p>He used to be a big time penalty magnet at super level, less so with the ABs but now he is very disciplined</p></blockquote>
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Pre-2008 he gave away a fair few penalties in black. Loved the shoulder charge..... -
When Henry was rotating the squad every test during that 05-07 period, I quite liked the 12. Mauger 13. Nonu combo when it got a run. The other combo being used was Lucky/Snakey. And then there Mils and Toeava being used also. Also Lucky was used at centre a couple of times. <br><br>
The concern early on with Nonu at centre was his defence. But he improved out of sight when Tana retired and Nonu was getting regular game time at the Canes at 12. -
Did Luke ever get a serious run at Centre? I only recall the diabolical 2007 Bledisloe game where he got shoehorned in after Toeava went down on the Thursday? Maybe a couple of games against Italy or Scotland but not in a serious test surely especially with Smith underplayed.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="535233" data-time="1445945790">
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<p>That 2004 test vs the Boks in Saffaland when Marius Joubert scored a hatrick running through, around and over Tana sort of exposed Tana's defensive frailties as a centre.<br><br>
I always felt far more comfortable when Snakey came in and shored up the defence at centre. Not a slight on Tana as an overall footy player and his mana, but I liked him on the wing better.</p>
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<p>What bollocks. </p>
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<p>Lets set aside for a second that looking at one game is far from a good way to judge a player's defensive abilities. Tana was only at direct fault for one of those tries - the scrum one where he missed Joubert on a one on one tackle. The other two were not Tana's misses. In one he came in to tackle a loose forward and the ball was passed inside to Joubert and on the other Tana tackled the guy who made the break in cover.</p>
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<p>Tana's defence was fine.</p>
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<p>Is there another player whose playing reputation gets worse and worse as time goes on (by some fans)? We're almost at who's better between Scott Hamilton and Tana these days. :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="535554" data-time="1445996985">
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<p><span style="font-size:12px;">who's better between Scott Hamilton and Tana these days. </span> :)</p>
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<p>Bubbles is still playing and Tana hasn't played for about 5 years, so I'm leaning towards Scotty. :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="535554" data-time="1445996985">
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<p>Is there another player whose playing reputation gets worse and worse as time goes on (by some fans)? We're almost at who's better between Scott Hamilton and Tana these days. :)</p>
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<p>I reckon Goldie gets it a bit too.</p>
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<p>Tana falls me into that category of players with Goldie, Justin Marshall, Ali Williams, Keven Mealamu, Ian Jones - maybe Piri (but I seem to rate Piri higher than most). A bloody good level, tenured ABs whose place in the team was never in jeopardy, massive contributors over a long period, but again just not locks for the best player in the world in their spots over a decent period of time. That's great company to be in I reckon and he fits better that group than McCaw, Carter, Cullen, Zinzan etc.</p>
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<p>As a Blues fan I hope he turns out to be a Wayne Smith. Bloody great player and even better coach!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="535583" data-time="1445998200">
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<p>I reckon Goldie gets it a bit too.</p>
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<p>Tana falls me into that category of players with <strong>Goldie</strong>, Justin Marshall, Ali Williams, Keven Mealamu, Ian Jones - maybe Piri (but I seem to rate Piri higher than most). A bloody good level, tenured ABs whose place in the team was never in jeopardy, massive contributors over a long period, <strong>but again just not locks for the best player in the world in their spots over a decent period of time</strong>. That's great company to be in I reckon and he fits better that group than McCaw, Carter, Cullen, Zinzan etc.</p>
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<p>As a Blues fan I hope he turns out to be a Wayne Smith. Bloody great player and even better coach!</p>
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<p>Does not compute</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="535578" data-time="1445997996">
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<p>Bubbles is still playing and Tana hasn't played for about 5 years, so I'm leaning towards Scotty. :)</p>
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<p>Of course you Cantabs, yes, you're just a Far North Cantab, would say that. I'd take the arthritis ridden old man bones of Tana over Bubbles any day of the week ... and I quite liked Bubbles as a player (from Canterbury).</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="535583" data-time="1445998200">
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<p>I reckon Goldie gets it a bit too.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Tana falls me into that category of players with Goldie, Justin Marshall, Ali Williams, Keven Mealamu, Ian Jones - maybe Piri (but I seem to rate Piri higher than most). A bloody good level, tenured ABs whose place in the team was never in jeopardy, massive contributors over a long period, but again just not locks for the best player in the world in their spots over a decent period of time. That's great company to be in I reckon and he fits better that group than McCaw, Carter, Cullen, Zinzan etc.</p>
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<p>As a Blues fan I hope he turns out to be a Wayne Smith. Bloody great player and even better coach!</p>
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<p>I always thought Goldie was rated pretty highly TBH. Maybe playing in the shadow of Jonah and his early retirement/return/retirement plays a part in how he's rated by some?</p>
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<p>I rate Piri highly but don't think he should be in that group, although if you want the perfect reserve halfback then he was probably in that group.</p>
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<p>Ian Jones suffers because of his ability to mangle both the English and Maori languages, and the sneaking suspicion that Robin Brooke was better when not injured.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="535590" data-time="1445998773">
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<p>Of course you Cantabs, yes, you're just a Far North Cantab, would say that. I'd take the arthritis ridden old man bones of Tana over Bubbles any day of the week ... and I quite liked Bubbles as a player (from Canterbury).</p>
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<p>Nah, Ta$man are the South Central Vikings</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="535554" data-time="1445996985">
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<p> </p>
<p>Is there another player whose playing reputation gets worse and worse as time goes on (by some fans)? We're almost at who's better between Scott Hamilton and Tana these days. :)</p>
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<p>Reminds me of several peoples attitudes to the most successful coach in Super rugby history. Present company included.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="535597" data-time="1445999013">
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<p>Reminds me of several peoples attitudes to the most successful coach in Super rugby history. Present company included.</p>
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<p>That's a bit left field. And, at any rate I don't think anyone doesn't rate Deans' time in charge of the Crusaders ....</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="535593" data-time="1445998838">
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<p>Nah, Ta$man are the South Central Vikings</p>
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<p>Settle down Joh Bjelke.</p> -
<p>motherf...</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="535586" data-time="1445998360">
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<p>Does not compute</p>
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<p>Yeah fair call. If you take right wing/left wing as substantively different positions. I don't really - like with locks but it's fair enough too. Of that group listed Goldie would be the closest to the Cully, Lomu range for sure. Maybe it comes up to the second criteria I mentioned earlier in the thread about being the standout player in your area (tight five, loosies, halves, backline) for a good chunk of time as an AB and like Nepia said perhaps Lomu and Cully were so clearly more dominant - plus 99 semi and the early retirement.</p>
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<p>I freaking loved Goldie, growing up he was one of my favourites - especially with the double international thing - but I watched back about 10 tests from the 1995-1997 era and he just wasn't as good as what I remembered. Still brilliant at times and far more solid in defence and support play than the other two. 1997 was a special team.</p> -
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="535554" data-time="1445996985"><p>What bollocks. <br><br>
Lets set aside for a second that looking at one game is far from a good way to judge a player's defensive abilities. Tana was only at direct fault for one of those tries - the scrum one where he missed Joubert on a one on one tackle. The other two were not Tana's misses. In one he came in to tackle a loose forward and the ball was passed inside to Joubert and on the other Tana tackled the guy who made the break in cover.<br><br>
Tana's defence was fine.<br><br>
Is there another player whose playing reputation gets worse and worse as time goes on (by some fans)? We're almost at who's better between Scott Hamilton and Tana these days. :)</p></blockquote>
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I could point out a number of games where his lateral movement was questionable. <br><br>
Anyway for me Umaga's reputation is still the same from when he retired. A great winger, an excellent captain that had the respect of his team mates and many opposition players, an okay centre. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="535614" data-time="1446000287">
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<p><strong>I could point out a number of games where his lateral movement was questionable.</strong><br><br>
Anyway for me Umaga's reputation is still the same from when he retired. A great winger, an excellent captain that had the respect of his team mates and many opposition players, an okay centre.</p>
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<p>After your comments about Joubert's tries I'm not sure I'd believe you without video evidence.</p> -
The problem with Tana towards the end was that he was too inconsistent. He was player of the series against the Lions in 2005 but then had serious tits for hands on the EOYT.<br><br>
Bit hard to compare them though. Tana started off as a winger during the amateur era and switched to centre fairly late in his career. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="535602" data-time="1445999283">
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<p>I freaking loved Goldie, growing up he was one of my favourites - especially with the double international thing - but I watched back about 10 tests from the 1995-1997 era and he just wasn't as good as what I remembered. Still brilliant at times and far more solid in defence and support play than the other two.</p>
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<p>Wilson was bloody good in the 1996 SA series. Who can forget those chip and chases? It just shows we all have different opinions of former players. I'm picking Goldie over Lomu on the left wing everytime in my all-time AB XV.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="534969" data-time="1445898626">
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<p>Having seen him running up some of Wellys nastiest hills and looking like he's about to keel over at any moment I can assure the fern he must work his arse off to get in the shape that he does and the work he has done on his skills in the last few years is clearly evident.</p>
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<p>Random comment I remembered after reading this. I remember Colin Meads saying at a thing he was speaking at last year that Ritchie and Sam Whitelock were the only guys that actually ran quite a bit in terms of distance in the AB's....</p>
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<p>When did you see Nonu doing this training? wonder if he's changed it up a bit this year cause he's certainly looking trimmer.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="535629" data-time="1446002527">
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<p>Wilson was bloody good in the 1996 SA series. Who can forget those chip and chases? It just shows we all have different opinions of former players. I'm picking Goldie over Lomu on the left wing everytime in my all-time AB XV.</p>
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<p>You're picking a right wing over a left wing for your all time ABs team? Yes, we do have different opinions of former players.</p>
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<p>Did Goldie ever play on the left wing?</p>
