All Blacks 2022
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@Machpants said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
Def. needs to be on the EOYT as 3rd 9
He’d get more time as starting 9 for XV
That's a good point, but assuming Smith steps down next year, we'll need 2-3 halfbacks with Test experience. Weber will be 32 and Fakatava is currently the next cab off the rank after Christie.
XV is not test experience but its good enough. It's certainly a step above SR. I'd be much better, along with RTS, ALB (back from injury), perofeta, etc etc playing lots of minutes for XV, than virtually none for ABs. IMO the XV should be all the 3rd stringers, starting every game
In normal times I'd agree 100% but we're only a few Tests away from RWC2023. I'm a bit concerned by lack of experienced cover at 9 if AS or Christie get injured
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew Saw Blackadder selected at 8 and closed the video. What did he do at test level last year at 7 and 6? Nothing.
I think Blackadder could be a great 6, but at 8 ahead of Ardie? Nah.
I think he'd be an excellent 7.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew Saw Blackadder selected at 8 and closed the video. What did he do at test level last year at 7 and 6? Nothing.
I think Blackadder could be a great 6, but at 8 ahead of Ardie? Nah.
I think he'd be an excellent 7.
I just checked the poll from SA 1 last year where he started at 7. Only J Barrett polled higher. They were by far the 2 stand outs. Being heavily involved in a test match victory over the world champs probably counts as more than nothing I'd suggest.
The discussion around loose forwards on this forum is pretty amusing at times. I wouldn't trade the loosie depth in NZ for any other nation*. Having quality guys on the fringes like Grace, Jacobson and MMT et al is absurd, honestly. Sure there's definitely a lack of players performing at a world class level (only Savea who has been consistent), but I don't think that's because of a lack of talent, more instead to do with muddled selection, stuttering team performance and honestly just average coaching (especially pre Ryan). Cane being on the wane and also un-droppable has also been a problem, and Foster needs to genuinely revisit the captaincy question...
*SA is certainly close but then they also select from outside SA too.
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Justin Marshall has been going around saying he would have Blackadder at 8 and ardie at 7 , I’ve heard him say it 2 or 3 times now ,
I suspect this guy watched one of those podcasts and pinched his idea .
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
Def. needs to be on the EOYT as 3rd 9
He’d get more time as starting 9 for XV
That's a good point, but assuming Smith steps down next year, we'll need 2-3 halfbacks with Test experience. Weber will be 32 and Fakatava is currently the next cab off the rank after Christie.
XV is not test experience but its good enough. It's certainly a step above SR. I'd be much better, along with RTS, ALB (back from injury), perofeta, etc etc playing lots of minutes for XV, than virtually none for ABs. IMO the XV should be all the 3rd stringers, starting every game
In normal times I'd agree 100% but we're only a few Tests away from RWC2023. I'm a bit concerned by lack of experienced cover at 9 if AS or Christie get injured
But he'd get much more minutes for the XV, unless you're suggesting we rest Smith a lot for the NH tour?
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We have an interesting dilemma in our loosie mix ,
Lots of very good options running around ,
But the best starting 3 still doesn’t jump out from the page as the obvious choice , well it doesn’t for me anyway , still find it bit of a head scratcher
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@Machpants said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
Def. needs to be on the EOYT as 3rd 9
He’d get more time as starting 9 for XV
That's a good point, but assuming Smith steps down next year, we'll need 2-3 halfbacks with Test experience. Weber will be 32 and Fakatava is currently the next cab off the rank after Christie.
XV is not test experience but its good enough. It's certainly a step above SR. I'd be much better, along with RTS, ALB (back from injury), perofeta, etc etc playing lots of minutes for XV, than virtually none for ABs. IMO the XV should be all the 3rd stringers, starting every game
In normal times I'd agree 100% but we're only a few Tests away from RWC2023. I'm a bit concerned by lack of experienced cover at 9 if AS or Christie get injured
But he'd get much more minutes for the XV, unless you're suggesting we rest Smith a lot for the NH tour?
Think he'll go as 3rd 9 as he's more the future. Cupboard looks bare if Nugget or Christie get injured. Wouldn't be surprised to see Christie start against Japan and Fakatava on the bench for that game and poss. Scotland or Wales. Nugget hasn't had a break all season has he?
Then again they might take Weber and give Faka to the XV...
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@Victor-Meldrew In terms of experience, Christie has only ever started one test vs USA.
Weber has only started in four, I think.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew In terms of experience, Christie has only ever started one test vs USA.
Weber has only started in four, I think.
Christie has had a load of time off the bench against good opposition and has been really solid. Think he'll start in 2 games on the EOYT.
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@Victor-Meldrew I think he needs to.
From watching a lot of halfbacks alternating over the years (especially Drummond and Hall, but a number of others), I've concluded it's quite a lot easier to shine off the bench than it is to start.
We are really light on experience if Smith goes down (assuming TJP is done).
But, developing Christie further reduces chances for Fakatava. We might be best to send him with the ABs XV and take Weber with the ABs.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew In terms of experience, Christie has only ever started one test vs USA.
Weber has only started in four, I think.
Christie has had a load of time off the bench against good opposition and has been really solid. Think he'll start in 2 games on the EOYT.
For a guy who got moved on from two Super franchises, he has vastly exceeded expectations. Watching him live for the Blues, his big work on for me is running occasionally - he is so focussed on where to throw the bal lhe can ignore gaps in front of him.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
Def. needs to be on the EOYT as 3rd 9
He’d get more time as starting 9 for XV
That's a good point, but assuming Smith steps down next year, we'll need 2-3 halfbacks with Test experience. Weber will be 32 and Fakatava is currently the next cab off the rank after Christie.
XV is not test experience but its good enough. It's certainly a step above SR. I'd be much better, along with RTS, ALB (back from injury), perofeta, etc etc playing lots of minutes for XV, than virtually none for ABs. IMO the XV should be all the 3rd stringers, starting every game
In normal times I'd agree 100% but we're only a few Tests away from RWC2023. I'm a bit concerned by lack of experienced cover at 9 if AS or Christie get injured
But he'd get much more minutes for the XV, unless you're suggesting we rest Smith a lot for the NH tour?
Think he'll go as 3rd 9 as he's more the future. Cupboard looks bare if Nugget or Christie get injured. Wouldn't be surprised to see Christie start against Japan and Fakatava on the bench for that game and poss. Scotland or Wales. Nugget hasn't had a break all season has he?
Then again they might take Weber and give Faka to the XV...
If they go down injured just before or during the RWC that’s when you do an SOS call to TJ Perenara or Weber.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
Def. needs to be on the EOYT as 3rd 9
He’d get more time as starting 9 for XV
That's a good point, but assuming Smith steps down next year, we'll need 2-3 halfbacks with Test experience. Weber will be 32 and Fakatava is currently the next cab off the rank after Christie.
XV is not test experience but its good enough. It's certainly a step above SR. I'd be much better, along with RTS, ALB (back from injury), perofeta, etc etc playing lots of minutes for XV, than virtually none for ABs. IMO the XV should be all the 3rd stringers, starting every game
In normal times I'd agree 100% but we're only a few Tests away from RWC2023. I'm a bit concerned by lack of experienced cover at 9 if AS or Christie get injured
But he'd get much more minutes for the XV, unless you're suggesting we rest Smith a lot for the NH tour?
Think he'll go as 3rd 9 as he's more the future. Cupboard looks bare if Nugget or Christie get injured. Wouldn't be surprised to see Christie start against Japan and Fakatava on the bench for that game and poss. Scotland or Wales. Nugget hasn't had a break all season has he?
Then again they might take Weber and give Faka to the XV...
If they go down injured just before or during the RWC that’s when you do an SOS call to TJ Perenara or Weber.
Not TJ please. His pass is slow motion now.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2022:
@Frye workhorse, hits hard, no respect for his own wellbeing, accurate... but just not enough impact to be a feared blindside.
I'd also query whether he is accurate enough to add more than what we currently have
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2022:
that’s when you do an SOS call to TJ Perenara
Or Meg from the commentary box.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2022:
that’s when you do an SOS call to TJ Perenara
Or Meg from the commentary box.
That sounds better.
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@TheMojoman said in All Blacks 2022:
@pakman said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2022:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2022:
Jordie is a shoe in to start against Wales, Scotland and England.
So does Fozzie leave him at 2nd 5 for all or just a couple of those and have a scenario of perhaps Havili playing 12 against Japan and Wales and Jordie against Scotland and England?
Think Foster will be obviously impressed by Jordie at 12 against Oz but that will be tempered by how good or bad he thinks the Oz team actually were - similar to how some on here have attributed the win to a weak opposition, rather that a good AB performance. Foster/Schmidt probably still see Havilli and Reiko as the top pairing until they see more of JB at 12 so wouldn't be surprised to see him there against Japan and one of Scotland or Wales before he's a shoe-in at 12 for Twickenham.
Does Beaudie start at 10 against Japan and and then bench for Wales and then 15 for Scotland and England?
I'd like to see either Perofeta or DMac. BB is a known quantity at 10.
With ALB coming back you could give ALB 13 for Japan and partner with Havili. They played 5 times as a pairing last year against Wales, Boks, Oz and Fiji.
That's a real conundrum. I'd want a fit and firing ALB in my starting team every time, but, with the current midfield permutations, where do you put him?
If Jordie used at 12, ALB to centre and Rieko to a wing.
That would be the worst outcome IMO. They've invested so much with Rieko at 13 and he's shown the development, maturity plus out and out lethal on attack. He's not the finished product and IMO will never be a Conrad Smith but he could be better. If they shift him to the wing now I can't imagine what that will do to his confidence.
Like the front row we are going to have amazing depth at 12/13. Jordie, Havili, RTS at 12 with Goodhue & Tupaea also options. Rieko and ALB primary options at 13.
Come the RWC I want our savviest midfielder on park for 80: that’s ALB.
So ALB/Rieko (or Jack) OR ALB at 13. If Barrett (J) at 12 I definitely want ALB at 13.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2022:
@Victor-Meldrew I think he needs to.
From watching a lot of halfbacks alternating over the years (especially Drummond and Hall, but a number of others), I've concluded it's quite a lot easier to shine off the bench than it is to start.
We are really light on experience if Smith goes down (assuming TJP is done).
But, developing Christie further reduces chances for Fakatava. We might be best to send him with the ABs XV and take Weber with the ABs.
All good points. Boils down to whether we develop Falatava for RWC2023 or not I guess.
