All Blacks 2024
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@sparky tell me then, what other player in Super can cover both 7 and 8 from the bench atm at a high level? Ardie's the only one that has done it to an international standard. Maybe Luke Jacobsen but then again I think a certain someone with the last name Lakai outplayed him the other week. So yeah, I wouldn't be judging someone's season solely on a cameo off the bench when the rest of the team weren't humming.
You might be right in the fact it might be a year early for Lakai but I've got no doubt he'll be an AB, it's just a case of when. In saying that I still think he's good enough to be an AB this year and would be a fine replacement for Ardie if he goes down.
I think there are four players in the Canes atm that are becoming almost impossible to ignore, Aumua is one but injury could prevent him from being selected, Numia, Love and Proctor are the other three. They've been the best players in NZ in their respective positions so far this year and will be very hard for Robertson to pass up. Iose and Lakai are maybes, but there are so many good loosies running around so who knows what Robertson does there, just aslong as he doesn't pick Grace.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@sparky tell me then, what other player in Super can cover both 7 and 8 from the bench atm at a high level? Ardie's the only one that has done it to an international standard. Maybe Luke Jacobsen but then again I think a certain someone with the last name Lakai outplayed him the other week. So yeah, I wouldn't be judging someone's season solely on a cameo off the bench when the rest of the team weren't humming.
You might be right in the fact it might be a year early for Lakai but I've got no doubt he'll be an AB, it's just a case of when. In saying that I still think he's good enough to be an AB this year and would be a fine replacement for Ardie if he goes down.
I think there are four players in the Canes atm that are becoming almost impossible to ignore, Aumua is one but injury could prevent him from being selected, Numia, Love and Proctor are the other three. They've been the best players in NZ in their respective positions so far this year and will be very hard for Robertson to pass up. Iose and Lakai are maybes, but there are so many good loosies running around so who knows what Robertson does there, just aslong as he doesn't pick Grace.
Ethan Blackadder. 6 too in between bouts of curing cancer and walking on water
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Sotutu 8, Savea 7 is an option
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@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Sotutu 8, Savea 7 is an option
& Finau six is my preferred
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@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Sotutu 8, Savea 7 is an option
I'm a big fan of picking your best players in their best position. Ardie is arguably the best 8 in the world right now and he hasn't played 7 for yonks. Covering 7 in an emergency or when replacements come on is fine, but leave his prime position at 8 where he's best.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Sotutu 8, Savea 7 is an option
I'm a big fan of picking your best players in their best position. Ardie is arguably the best 8 in the world right now and he hasn't played 7 for yonks. Covering 7 in an emergency or when replacements come on is fine, but leave his prime position at 8 where he's best.
He started out as a 7 and I always thought 8 wasn't his best position. There's been a paucity of backup reserve talent at 8 for years in the ABs. It makes sense to have a taller lineout too. Why not give it a trial for 2 or 3 matches at least as a sub.
Previous management were loyal to a fault and didn't utilize up n coming talent enough. Not using Roigard or DMac more at the WC was just wrong.
It's going to be a good year. -
@Tim said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
At this stage Finau, Papalii, Savea is maybe our best combination. Not convinced by Finau yet. Love his hits though.
With Frizzell gone, we seem to have deja vu all over again at 6. Be good to see Robertson give Finau the space and time to develop - could pay serious dividends.
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Yeah I don't see why Ardie's game can't work at 8.
8 or 7? Do you mean Sotutu off the bench or at 6?
Haha fuck, thanks. 7.
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Bones While we're at it, Sotutu could enhance his defence. Maybe a role for AB coaches ...
Maybe someone who knows what it's like to be a young dynamic loose forward trying to crack it in the All Blacks.
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Paps, Finau and Savea also has a good ring to it. We are literally making hay atm.
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@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Sotutu 8, Savea 7 is an option
I'm a big fan of picking your best players in their best position. Ardie is arguably the best 8 in the world right now and he hasn't played 7 for yonks. Covering 7 in an emergency or when replacements come on is fine, but leave his prime position at 8 where he's best.
He started out as a 7 and I always thought 8 wasn't his best position. There's been a paucity of backup reserve talent at 8 for years in the ABs. It makes sense to have a taller lineout too. Why not give it a trial for 2 or 3 matches at least as a sub.
We have that luxury now, I guess.
Previous management were loyal to a fault and didn't utilize up n coming talent enough. Not using Roigard or DMac more at the WC was just wrong.
Situation was different and the strategy was to focus on developing known quantities like Frizzell, Mo'unga & Akira. Worked for Frizzell and Mo'unga and the loyalty paid off at RWC. There's now an opportunity to build on that loyalty and develop new players
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Top four back rowers are Savea, Paps, Finau and Sotutu.
God knows where Sam Cane is at.
Sititi, Iose, Lakai and Segner all look to have big potential for the future.
Blackadder, Jacobson and Akira Ioane have been in the squad before and have their plaudits.
Billy Harmon is another quality player.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@sparky are we going to judge him on one cameo off the bench or all the other mins he’s played as a starter where he’s been very good? Remember he’s been very good at 7 this year and came on as an 8 yesterday, a position he hasn’t played in a while.
Fairly odd that out of anyone you could have highlighted on this thread this week you picked a guy that had a minor cameo off the bench in a game where the rest of the team were off. It’s like you were waiting for him to have an off day or something?
Kirifi is the one that should be in the spotlight, he was given an opportunity to start against the Brumbies and was poor. Hopefully Lakai returns to 7 against the Tahs because the balance with him, Shields and Iose is so much better.
Lakai replaced Iosi (who didn't have his best game) and then the team did much better (I was pleased to see this change). I didn't see him miss 2 tackles either. I would need to see first to see what sort of misses. As his defense is usually good.
But agree with your point on Kirifi. He was off form. In fact, the entire starting back row, a Canes strength usually, didn't set the world on fire this week. Iose, who some have rated as AB quality, had a quiet game. Unsure whether he was replaced or went off injured though. His recent ankle injury might still not be 100%
