All Blacks 2024
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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%
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Going to be a good year, provided no nukes are launched.
Only downer is SL feels like alimony -
@Tim said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
A bunch of NZ commentators and journalists have proposed AB squads recently. IIRC, none had Finau in there
Paul Cully's loose forwards were Savea, Blackadder and Finau.
We need to make a distinction on whether these journalist selections are who they expect the AB selectors to choose, or their own choices.
With Robertson in charge of the loose forward selections I have no idea who he favours, but I expect some unpopular selections/omissions.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
With Robertson in charge of the loose forward selections I have no idea who he favours, but I expect some unpopular selections/omissions.
been a while since we had real selection controversy! I think Foster just wore us down with shitty loyalist picks. Going to be tasty - can't wait to see how Robertson and his team pick. I'm optimistic at the moment!
