Best players in SR this week
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@kiwi_expat said in Best players in SR this week:
@KiwiMurph Yes, although 12 months ago (according to boardies on here...) the Chiefs back three options were useless, I remember it very clearly, we have no quality finishers they said, it's the reason we lost to Razor's mob they said, the poor performances nothing to do with the coaches, we simply don't have the cattle, they said.
Funny thing is they didn't introduce anyone new to the squad & the sentiment has changed completely, it turns out that developing existing players and improved detail in coaching (Paul Feeney's work with Chiefs outside backs in pre-season) can make a difference. The Chiefs' back three are outperforming everyone this season.
Narawa is our best 14 on show, he is almost the complete package at just 23, I'd personally take him over Telea.
Your recollection may be somewhat dimmed. Chiefs had used Trask, Tiatia and Ioane at fullback, and Narawa once, and they were not up to scratch in 15. Stevenson was not used in the latter half of season. Lowe, Nankivell and Tupaea were used on the wing. ENS was horribly inconsistent - but is improved now. Narawa and Stevenson were always the best choices in my view, but were under-utilised. The complaints last year were valid. Having a consistent back three, with a suitably qualified fullback has brought out the best in all of them.
I take it you were just being facetious about the lack of Crusaders backs in the All Black XV, given they were mostly in the main AB's squad or headed overseas. Regardless, Crusaders have 30 players in their 2023 squad who have either been called into All Black or AB XV squad or played for another international team. Blues have 19, Chiefs have 22 - but 4 have not played this season. Hurricanes have 17 and Highlanders 15.
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@kiwi_expat why are you so butt hurt about people being mean towards the crusaders?
there are currently 2 NZ teams playing better than them and higher up the ladder....and so their players aren't CURRENTLY being talked up as much as others....thats makes sense doesn't it?
I legititmately dont get whats got you so worked up
a couple of things from that article
moody DOWN to a 100% chance of going?
Harmon has been very good....but 100% chance of going?
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@Bones said in Best players in SR this week:
@nostrildamus I'll take you.miised something for 500 thanks Alex.
Imagine what Razor would achieve with the chiefs players.
Excuse my ignorance, but I've seen you make a comment mentioning "Alex" several times now. Who is Alex?
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@Stargazer Alex Trebek? Jeopardy? gameshow where you select a question based on topic and difficulty
"you missed something for 500"
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@Kiwiwomble said in Best players in SR this week:
moody DOWN to a 100% chance of going?
sickening bias
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@Bones said in Best players in SR this week:
@nostrildamus I'll take you.miised something for 500 thanks Alex.
Imagine what Razor would achieve with the chiefs players.
oh you think he is making a comment about Chief coaches to imply the Crusaders chief is an essential reason for Crusaders success?
Quite a long bow for a TSF poster but I appreciate the dedication to the Razor fan club! -
@KiwiMurph said in Best players in SR this week:
@kiwi_expat said in Best players in SR this week:
@Kiwiwomble Nope, was referring to the sentiment on here, as I quoted a ferner's team in my post...
Crusaders having a lot of injuries this season adds to it a lot.
Again, you're missing the point, as in that Super Rugby form team I quoted the Crusaders, with a 5-2 record, had 1 player, even the Highlanders with a 3-4 record had more, Blues with a 5-3 record had more, Hurricanes 5-2 record (with an easier run of matches) also had more. So you could make the argument Crusaders are overachieving in comparison to those teams, especially given who's been unavailable.
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@kiwi_expat ....you understand thats not how these things work aye?
crusaders might have 15 guys rating 7 or 8 every week......and get their 5 wins...the highlanders have 2 guys rating 8-9....and 13 rating 4-6.....getting their 3 wins...but those 2 highlander are going to get picked ahead of 2 crusaders.....its not rocket surgery
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@Kiwiwomble said in Best players in SR this week:
@kiwi_expat why are you so butt hurt about people being mean towards the crusaders?
there are currently 2 NZ teams playing better than them and higher up the ladder....and so their players aren't CURRENTLY being talked up as much as others....thats makes sense doesn't it?
I legititmately dont get whats got you so worked up
a couple of things from that article
moody DOWN to a 100% chance of going?
He was starting in the last one, so a demotion down to just squad
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@Kiwiwomble said in Best players in SR this week:
@kiwi_expat ....you understand thats not how these things work aye?
crusaders might have 15 guys getting 7 or 8 every week......and get their 5 wins...the highlanders have 2 guys getting 8-9....and 13 getting 4-6.....getting their 3 wins...but those 2 highlander are going to get picked ahead of 2 crusaders.....its not rocket surgery
two words
innovative. systems.
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@Kiwiwomble I thought the detail in that article was quite random or whimsical - just looking to stir up readers. The Rayasi, Harmon and Choat %'s were crazy to name just a few. And there were a lot of crazy omissions.
The Herald article seemed on the money to me: Stevenson, Roigard, Norris, Harmon, Aumua as uncapped challengers. I would add Narawa and Ainsley - and the possibility of a 6/8 coming through (Lakai, Flanders, Finau, Mikaele Tu'u, Gardiner) To me, those are the players who have pushed themselves forward on their Super rugby form.
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@ARHS said in Best players in SR this week:
@Kiwiwomble I thought the detail in that article was quite random or whimsical - just looking to stir up readers. The Rayasi, Harmon and Choat %'s were crazy to name just a few. And there were a lot of crazy omissions.
The Herald article seemed on the money to me: Stevenson, Roigard, Norris, Harmon, Aumua as uncapped challengers. I would add Narawa and Ainsley - and the possibility of a 6/8 coming through (Lakai, Flanders, Finau, Mikaele Tu'u, Gardiner) To me, those are the players who have pushed themselves forward on their Super rugby form.
of all of those i can only see Roigard making the WC, and only if they decide against experience for the 3rd halfback (i still sort of expect them to take TJ).
And i think Stephenson makes it only if injuries strike. I can see the fullbacks being BB and DMac, and the wings still being Clarke, Jordan and Telea. And they'll fill the rest of the spots with midfielders. Which is why i see Havili making it too.There will be no new loose forwards.
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@mariner4life thats exactly where i am...all fun chat aside...i just cant see fozzie trying anything new unless he's forced too through injury
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@Bovidae I think Newell is only confirmed as done for Super and still a possibility for RWC. At least I haven't seen any update confirming he's not.
World Cup blow: All Black ruled out for rest of Super Rugby season
The injury potentially threatens his chances of making the World Cup squad.
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@mariner4life said in Best players in SR this week:
@ARHS said in Best players in SR this week:
@Kiwiwomble I thought the detail in that article was quite random or whimsical - just looking to stir up readers. The Rayasi, Harmon and Choat %'s were crazy to name just a few. And there were a lot of crazy omissions.
The Herald article seemed on the money to me: Stevenson, Roigard, Norris, Harmon, Aumua as uncapped challengers. I would add Narawa and Ainsley - and the possibility of a 6/8 coming through (Lakai, Flanders, Finau, Mikaele Tu'u, Gardiner) To me, those are the players who have pushed themselves forward on their Super rugby form.
of all of those i can only see Roigard making the WC, and only if they decide against experience for the 3rd halfback (i still sort of expect them to take TJ).
And i think Stephenson makes it only if injuries strike. I can see the fullbacks being BB and DMac, and the wings still being Clarke, Jordan and Telea. And they'll fill the rest of the spots with midfielders. Which is why i see Havili making it too.There will be no new loose forwards.
It looks to me that this might be an ongoing series of, basically, player power rankings. Gives Richard Knowler a pretty easy column to write every few weeks! I'd do it!
If he just picks the team that really will be going he'd have to largely recycle the same article and they won't pay him for that.
Otherwise, I agree with all your points.
