Nonu
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<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> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="535647" data-time="1446004052">
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<p>Did Goldie ever play on the left wing?</p>
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<p>Early on in the piece (once Paul Cooke was gone), he would occasionally play 11 for Otago. Not often though. Maybe 10 games at the absolute max?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Smudge" data-cid="535651" data-time="1446004998">
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<p>Early on in the piece (once Paul Cooke was gone), he would occasionally play 11 for Otago. Not often though. Maybe 10 games at the absolute max?</p>
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<p>Cheers!</p>
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<p>Ya bloody almanack.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="WillieTheWaiter" data-cid="535632" data-time="1446002765"><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....<br>
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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>
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Earlier in the year. Pretty sure Conrad Smith runs a fair bit too although that sorta stuff definitely comes more naturally to skinny white boys. -
Ali vs Frasier, Bruce Robertson/Bill Osbourne, in crackley black and white. Too young to appreciate, until now.
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Heard Gregan make the comment when talking about Pocock "great players make everyone else in the team play better".<br><br>
Really rams home how much we are going to miss Nonu, DC and McCaw. Not only are they great players, the confidence they must instill in the rest of the team when they are on the park would be massive. Hugely influential players for the All Blacks.
