All Blacks 2021
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@rapido Are you talking to yourself?
They wouldn't have signed Enari if they expected Fakatava to be available, this year. Fakatava got injured reasonably early in the season; without his injury, Fakatava also had a very good chance to be in the ABs (with Weber, because no TJP). So his move to the Magpies was to have him there as a first choice halfback, this year (and probably next year, as well).
Anyway, why again are you discussing an NPC signing by a team you don't support in an All Blacks thread?
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@stargazer When is Fakatava likely to be fit to play again? Any chance he could go on whatever sort of EOYT we have planned?
I gather he'll likely be in a sort of eligibility limbo next year if he can't play this year due to changing/lengthening of residency requirements?
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Fakatava was an ACL wasn't it? even professional sportsmen take several months dont they?
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@chris-b He got injured on 2 April 2021 (full ACL tear requiring surgery). At the time, they said his injury had an rehabilitation period of 9 - 12 months. That would mean Jan-April 2022.
Indeed, it may result in eligibility limbo. They need to seek clarification from World Rugby asap about whether his stay in NZ during his school years amounts to principal residence in NZ (which would mean that the residency period can already start to run in the year he moved to NZ) or whether they use the standard interpretation, that his principal residence was with his parents in Tonga (a bit complicated, because IIRC only one of his parents lived in Tonga and the other one in Australia, and he hardly went back to either). This would mean that his residency period starts to run when he left school. There's a two years difference between both interpretations, which are crucial if the 5-years residency starts to run at the end of this year (as expected).
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@stargazer yeah, im told i wont be running for another couple of months and i did mine in march and the surgeon said that was good progress, im sure someone getting paid to work on it might be slightly fast but still
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Fakatava was always going to be 5 years, the 3 year possibility only came about for him unexpectedly because WR felt some poor nation-hopping mercenary petals were going to 'unfairly' miss their opportunity due to covid cancelled November & June tests last year.
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@rapido said in All Blacks 2021:
@rapido said in All Blacks 2021:
@stargazer said in All Blacks 2021:
@rapido said in All Blacks 2021:
@stargazer said in All Blacks 2021:
@tim said in All Blacks 2021:
@chris Is Enari staying at the Crusaders? He was an absolute gun at U20 level, then basically didn't play for several years. Has also suffered under poor coaching at Canterbury. There must be something wrong with him if he doesn't move to get more opportunity, as he will have doomed any international aspirations by staying in the same franchise.
Enari has been out of NPC and SR for at least a year, because of a horror leg injury. I think it was 2019?
He has now moved away from Canterbury and will be the top dog in the Magpies' squad, with both Weber and Fakatava unavailable. The Magpies have great coaches. He now gets the chance to prove himself and should grab the opportunity with both hands. If successful, who knows whether/where he'll end up playing Super Rugby?
Who the hell would move to an NPC team with already Fakatava and Webber there in your position? Game time will be pure luck, not design.
The guy has a great knack for terrible transfers, it seems.
Brad Weber is with the ABs this season, and it may very well be his last in NZ.
Fakatava won't play for us this year because of his injury, and may very well be in the ABs, next year, or the following year.
The guy has made a good move. He's first choice this season, and first or second choice next year.When did he make the move, though? Design or luck?
Being potentially second choice in a 14 team competition behind a player so important/good that he will probably only get 10 mins each round. He may Steve Bradbury his way to 80 minutes each week, but was it the best option.
What is your issue bro? Heās going to be number 1 for a season in the top division with the Ranfurly Shield holders. If he plays well heāll be in the forefront of coaches minds. Better than being behind a journeyman in the same competition.
Edit: on my phone so didnāt realise there was a whole page more of discussion, which has covered my points.
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@nepia said in All Blacks 2021:
@rapido said in All Blacks 2021:
@rapido said in All Blacks 2021:
@stargazer said in All Blacks 2021:
@rapido said in All Blacks 2021:
@stargazer said in All Blacks 2021:
@tim said in All Blacks 2021:
@chris Is Enari staying at the Crusaders? He was an absolute gun at U20 level, then basically didn't play for several years. Has also suffered under poor coaching at Canterbury. There must be something wrong with him if he doesn't move to get more opportunity, as he will have doomed any international aspirations by staying in the same franchise.
Enari has been out of NPC and SR for at least a year, because of a horror leg injury. I think it was 2019?
He has now moved away from Canterbury and will be the top dog in the Magpies' squad, with both Weber and Fakatava unavailable. The Magpies have great coaches. He now gets the chance to prove himself and should grab the opportunity with both hands. If successful, who knows whether/where he'll end up playing Super Rugby?
Who the hell would move to an NPC team with already Fakatava and Webber there in your position? Game time will be pure luck, not design.
The guy has a great knack for terrible transfers, it seems.
Brad Weber is with the ABs this season, and it may very well be his last in NZ.
Fakatava won't play for us this year because of his injury, and may very well be in the ABs, next year, or the following year.
The guy has made a good move. He's first choice this season, and first or second choice next year.When did he make the move, though? Design or luck?
Being potentially second choice in a 14 team competition behind a player so important/good that he will probably only get 10 mins each round. He may Steve Bradbury his way to 80 minutes each week, but was it the best option.
What is your issue bro? Heās going to be number 1 for a season in the top division with the Ranfurly Shield holders. If he plays well heāll be in the forefront of coaches minds. Better than being behind a journeyman in the same competition.
Edit: on my phone so didnāt realise there was a whole page more of discussion, which has covered my points.
I see he signed 4 days ago. Yes, that is a good move. I concede.
If he had signed this back in Feb, or something, then my point would have been valid.
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@rapido I think even back in Feb it would have made sense - Fakatava was primed for a breakout year, Weber was likely always going to be in the ABs.
We needed a halfback no matter what.
I find it weird he didnāt have a team until recently, unless the Pies and the Village of the Damned made a deal?
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@nepia said in All Blacks 2021:
@rapido I think even back in Feb it would have made sense - Fakatava was primed for a breakout year, Weber was likely always going to be in the ABs.
We needed a halfback no matter what.
I find it weird he didnāt have a team until recently, unless the Pies and the Village of the Damned made a deal?
Yeah. Or just sign for Southland or sumthink. I'd have lined up an almsot guaranteed first choice NPC contract as soon as possible.
The guy needs minutes. He's been 2nd or 3rd choice at SR level and NPC level from most of his career.
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@crucial said in All Blacks 2021:
So Foster has chosen Christie based on him running around like he's at a 5 year old's birthday party after guzzling red cordial? Strange selection process.
Leon talked about on the Breakdown, he was large contributer to the Blues winning with box kicks and his running game. He's easily the best kicking halfback the Blues have, and then it's Ruru (who's the fittest and makes a difference when he comes on as a sub). Nock's kicks straight up in the air got him dropped.
He was injured earlier in the season and took a few weeks to find form, but once he did and the Blues went to a kick heavy game plan with him and Sullivan, the Blues forwards certainly enjoyed the territory he gained, and the wingers loved the contestable kicks.
Think about how bad the Blues exits used to be. Christie has been part of the vast improvement in that area.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2021:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2021:
Fozzie on Christie:
āWith Finlay, we were really excited with how fast [he is], he's quick to the ruck, and things happen around him,ā All Blacks coach Foster said.
āIt's like heās had too much sugar before each game. He runs around and is very, very busy.ā
Which Christie is he watching?
Let me put this into Foster logic terms for you.
The guy is fast, and he looks busy. Sure he doesn't have many skills but he looks busy. As my coaching team don't really help anyone improve their skills (especially in the backs) he might as well look busy. -
The fern (and public) view of Akira is mind-boggling. Sure he had some games where he looked lazy two years ago, maybe a year ago. But to say he wasn't more than decent for the ABs last year (or this final) is bizarre.
I don't really see why he seems to irritate so many posters here beyond the bounds of personal preference.
Granted he might not be the best 6/8 in NZ as there are so many quality candidates, but his performance for the ABs, from what I saw he was one of the most dynamic and intimidating forwards (with special commendation to Sam Cane who added to his great defending with some real go forward and useful running).
I guess some pundits don't like Akira's hairdresser... -
Looking at that squad, Iād say Tim is one of the selectors. All his favourites are there, even Shannon Frizzell!
