All Blacks World Cup bolters
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@Victor-Meldrew I get the experience thing. But I don’t think we are good enough at the moment to play it safe. Weber/Perenara staying at home (aka an hr away at some French beach) and coming in if Smith is injured suits me. So it leaves room for a bolter. If Fakatava or Roigard, whatever. But we won’t beat Ireland or France by being predictable.
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@DMack said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Victor-Meldrew I get the experience thing. But I don’t think we are good enough at the moment to play it safe. Weber/Perenara staying at home (aka an hr away at some French beach) and coming in if Smith is injured suits me. So it leaves room for a bolter. If Fakatava or Roigard, whatever. But we won’t beat Ireland or France by being predictable.
Oh, I don't think we have any option other than to do that, but it's an area of real concern for me. Fakatava's injury and lack of games for, say, Roigard to be blooded is a real problem
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@FakatavaAllBlack said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Bovidae Sevu Reece was a bolter in 2019, wasn't even on a full super contract at the start of that year
Yeah, Reece might be the closest in that squad, but he also started in 3 tests before the RWC squad was announced. Maybe the days of unexpectedly selecting an uncapped player for a RWC is over in the professional era.
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Only seen him play a little bit, but if Peter Lakai can get some decent SR game time, he could be one to consider as a bolter in a month or two.
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@SBW1 said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Bovidae Shaun Stevenson a certainty if Will Jordan is out, even if he is not he would still add some electrifying extra speed.
His boot is also an asset and needed if BB or RM are the pivots.
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@Mackerzzzz said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
There's something badly wrong if Stevenson is not at least in an all blacks squad this year
Came in to post his name. The boy is confident.
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I think Stevenson and Roigard are already well in the mix. Some room in midfield for a 13 and for a 6 or 8. Don't think Aumua up to it though as lacks finesse skills imho. TUJ Sullivan or Poihipi maybe. Tom Robinson and MMT are both possible as is Lakai. Used to think Finau could explode into calculations too. Last bolter may be a young prop as I think Laulala Bower and Tuungafasi are not shoo ins. So Tamati Williams or Ollie Norris may get a chance as a big ball carrier. Numia may be too small.
I think a lot will depend on refereeing interpretations and law changes as to what options the coaches want to develop. If game speeds up then Roigard must be considered. If 8s get more running space off scrum then we need another bulldozer with legspeed. Maybe a 6 like Big Red can swap to 8 for some scrums? I do think a wrecking ball prop may be useful from tap penalties too.
Big search will be for a 10 with a reliably long clearing kick and accurate up and under. Unless Zarn plays 10 for blues that has to be BB RMo or DMac as only genuine contenders.
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@ARHS said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
I think Stevenson and Roigard are already well in the mix. Some room in midfield for a 13 and for a 6 or 8. Don't think Aumua up to it though as lacks finesse skills imho. TUJ Sullivan or Poihipi maybe. Tom Robinson and MMT are both possible as is Lakai. Used to think Finau could explode into calculations too. Last bolter may be a young prop as I think Laulala Bower and Tuungafasi are not shoo ins. So Tamati Williams or Ollie Norris may get a chance as a big ball carrier. Numia may be too small.
I think a lot will depend on refereeing interpretations and law changes as to what options the coaches want to develop. If game speeds up then Roigard must be considered. If 8s get more running space off scrum then we need another bulldozer with legspeed. Maybe a 6 like Big Red can swap to 8 for some scrums? I do think a wrecking ball prop may be useful from tap penalties too.
Big search will be for a 10 with a reliably long clearing kick and accurate up and under. Unless Zarn plays 10 for blues that has to be BB RMo or DMac as only genuine contenders.
BB and Mo'unga have been kicking dreadfully for the AB's over the last few years. Id kill for a Dagg in the team.
Jordie was that guy , but we need him at 12.
