All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test
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@Canes4life Ardie was all shades of shit in the final. Like he wasn't even on the field. How many tackles?
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@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Chris said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@TheMojoman said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Chris said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
If Dalton isn't 100% why is he on the bench given there's 2 x 7s in the starting loose forward trio? Akira injured but are Hoskins and Vaai covid/injured?
Yeah I couldn't understand that one, then Foster coming out and saying SB is a option at 6 potentially long term.
He's not even a legit 6 option for the Crusaders, only when there are injuries. Given test rugby is alot tighter I'm sure he has the skills/athleticism to play there but just strange he's plonked there after being picked in the squad as a lock and Foster & co speaking highly of Va'ai as a 6 option.
Yeah I think he could play there as he did well for the Crusaders but its strange messaging and selections isn't it,Players picked like you say Va'ai as a lock but mentioned by Foster as real option at 6 now Barret is a 6 option maybe long term.
exactly, if we need a lock the SB is ya man....if we need a 6 that can step into lock for the final 20mins...there are better options, this is just fozzie getting blinded by just getting who he considers the best 23 players on the pitch without considering other factors
Are there?
I can think of Frizell (who won't get much support here), Tom Robinson (who I think proved pretty comprehensively in the SR Final that he shouldn't be played as an international lock anytime soon) and Vaa'i.
But, Vaa'i is still an international rookie and you don't have to go back too far (Italy, I think) to find him having a pretty poor test in his specialist position. Vaaí is certainly promising, but at this point I'd have Scott as my 6/lock every day and twice on Saturday.
Scott as my 6 is an entirely different question.
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@Kirwan said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Dan54 Akira was mud in that Super Rugby final. Alot of people forget that Ardie was one of our best last year, and despite the shit @mariner4life talks, his work-rate is top notch. The problem is that Ardie can't play 7 because Cane is captain, but he's too good to leave out.
It doesn't help when other players aren't really putting their hand up for selection. The only player that stands out to me right now is Cullen Grace but this coach picked PGS instead, so he's really left himself short of options.
I agree about Ardie, that a few seem to forget was probably one of best forwards in Super this year, and was picked in world XV last year. Also Akira who I keep hoping will play to his potential was pretty average in semi as well as final in super, I just not sure what is wrong with him.
Also will be interested to see who else comes down with covid by Saturday, as with Feeks getting it now ,I guessing there still quite a chance of more.If you read up above, Foster mentioned his foot injury has flared up, so he has been playing injured over the finals. Even with that, he was still getting through a good amount of work, up there with the other loose forwards for tackles, etc
Kind of pleased to hear that Kirwan, I hadn't read Fosters comments as I just got home form being away at Maori ABs Ireland game. Still should of read it I know!
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@Bones said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Chris-B Scott Barret is not an experienced 6 at super level, let alone test level. My memory is shit, but has he even had an adequate game at 6 for the AB's?
I'd still rather have him than any other option if the criteria is someone who can cover lock.
If we were just picking an available 6, I'd be happier with Tom Robinson - but, I don't want a bar of him covering lock.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Bones said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Chris-B Scott Barret is not an experienced 6 at super level, let alone test level. My memory is shit, but has he even had an adequate game at 6 for the AB's?
I'd still rather have him than any other option if the criteria is someone who can cover lock.
If we were just picking an available 6, I'd be happier with Tom Robinson - but, I don't want a bar of him covering lock.
I've lost track, is Vaai out? He's shown a shedload more than Barrett at 6.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Bones Read my post above on Vaa'i.
Scott Barrett is a rookie at 6 full stop. Vaai has been an AB for two years now isn't it? And has shown he's more than capable at test level, as Well as showing he's a better 6 than Barrett (at least at SR). We have different definitions of rookie...
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@Bones said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Bones Read my post above on Vaa'i.
Scott Barrett is a rookie at 6 full stop. Vaai has been an AB for two years now isn't it? And has shown he's more than capable at test level, as Well as showing he's a better 6 than Barrett (at least at SR). We have different definitions of rookie...
According to you.
If they're going to pick one of the two, I'd pick Scott and it's not close.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Bones said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Bones Read my post above on Vaa'i.
Scott Barrett is a rookie at 6 full stop. Vaai has been an AB for two years now isn't it? And has shown he's more than capable at test level, as Well as showing he's a better 6 than Barrett (at least at SR). We have different definitions of rookie...
According to you.
If they're going to pick one of the two, I'd pick Scott and it's not close.
Based on what exactly?
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@KiwiMurph Me not really being comfortable with Vaaí starting a big test at lock - let alone moving him out of his specialist position.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@KiwiMurph Me not really being comfortable with Vaaí starting a big test at lock - let alone moving him out of his specialist position.
That's a pretty bizarre opinion, not sure if you caught many chiefs games this season?
Happy for you to point me to a game where Barrett shows how good he is at 6 though.
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@Bones said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@KiwiMurph Me not really being comfortable with Vaaí starting a big test at lock - let alone moving him out of his specialist position.
Happy for you to point me to a game where Barrett shows how good he is at 6 though.
I don't believe you!
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Bones said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@KiwiMurph Me not really being comfortable with Vaaí starting a big test at lock - let alone moving him out of his specialist position.
Happy for you to point me to a game where Barrett shows how good he is at 6 though.
I don't believe you!
I can't think of any! He never plays there for the saders does he? But maybe they have better 6s available that aren't available to Foster.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@KiwiMurph Me not really being comfortable with Vaaí starting a big test at lock - let alone moving him out of his specialist position.
He started Bledisloe test 2 2020 thrown into the deep end at Eden Park (test 1 was drawn) due to injuries and had a fine game.
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@Bones said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Bones said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@KiwiMurph Me not really being comfortable with Vaaí starting a big test at lock - let alone moving him out of his specialist position.
Happy for you to point me to a game where Barrett shows how good he is at 6 though.
I don't believe you!
I can't think of any! He never plays there for the saders does he? But maybe they have better 6s available that aren't available to Foster.
A Crusaders game in 2017 and one last year:
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@Stargazer remember who against?
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@Bones Yes - he does play there for the Crusaders on occasion. Thaqt';s where Hansen got his RWC idea from.
Started there at least once this season.
@KiwiMurph - That's true - but, I can remember watching a game last year - which I'm pretty sure was against Italy, when we were short of locks and I thought that if we needed to use Vaaí in the forthcoming big tests we will be in trouble. So, he's got re-proving to do for me.
Scott Kevin Barrett | New Zealand Rugby History
