BOP v Auckland
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@bayimports I think we should pass judgement on Zarn at 10 after he's actually strung some games together in this position. He's hardly played there for a long time & is still learning at a higher level than 1st XV.
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@Stargazer said in BOP v Auckland:
@bayimports I think we should pass judgement on Zarn at 10 after he's actually strung some games together in this position. He's hardly played there for a long time & is still learning at a higher level than 1st XV.
What we can for certain is he needs the game time to even be considered a ten at Super Rugby level. At the moment looking very much a 15 at this stage of his development.
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@Stargazer said in BOP v Auckland:
@bayimports I think we should pass judgement on Zarn at 10 after he's actually strung some games together in this position. He's hardly played there for a long time & is still learning at a higher level than 1st XV.
Nice skip reading and selective replying..I actually said perhaps at season end which clearly implies more game time. I don't think call I made is too harsh either given how many were asking for him to be starting at a higher level late last year and early this year.
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@Kirwan absolutely clearly not there yet, but showed some nice touches near the end. Great vision and execution with a peach of a pass to his winger late in the game plus nailing that kick under pressure.
I think he will get there too, just hope the coaches give him as much game time as possible at 10, so he gets that experience
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@bayimports said in BOP v Auckland:
For all the talk of Zarn being the new Messiah earlier this year
I think that was just a vocal 4-5 people. Yes some of the comments from them were ridiculous (Dan Carter comparisons etc)
Plenty of us pointed out that he needed to play NPC first to be a real option at SR level.
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Watching the second half of this game now (spared myself the first 35 minutes), and it's a bit concerning that our pack isn't stacked with regular Super Rugby players. Wouldn't be such an issue if there were hot shot youngsters in those positions, but Apisai and Dalzell are pretty rank journeymen. Producing hookers has been a problem for Auckland in recent years, as has producing locks. Hopefully Vikena will start now, with Tuipulotu and Annandale in the 2nd row, and Beehre or another young talent coming off the bench. Ioane will be a big upgrade for the loose forwards.
Outside of our usual weakness at halfback, the backs look strong. Some nice touches from Evans early in the second half.
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I wonder what the contract situation is with some of them? Could the new coaches do a cleanout or were they stuck honouring multi year contracts?
Good to see the young props, Vikena, Beehre and Clark prominent. So there is some change squeezing through
