All Blacks 2024
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Is this the first Super season Grace got through without an injury break? It's a big improvement from him in that regard alone.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@ruggabee said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 Well Razor is from the mount so
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2024 - lo oking forward:
Mils at Centre?
Mils is an interesting one, initially selected out of position at 15 because Bitchell hated Cullen, then selected out of position at 13 because early Conrad kept breaking.
Deans picked McDonald at centre for the 2003 semi final over a fully fit Umaga which lost us the game because Mortlock had rigorously targetted Leon's channel - the final nail in the coffin was the Spencer intercept happened because Leon was not in the right position to receive the pass because of his inexperience in the midfield, if Umaga had played 13 he would've picked Spencer's pass and scored under the posts.
Mind you, it's a bit of a pity that Tana didn't use this superior positional awareness to not run into Carlos in the Italy game, which is how he hurt his leg in the first place!
A bit rough to blame Tana. Even Carlos didn't know where Carlos was going half the time...
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@ruggabee said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 Well Razor is from the mount so
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2024 - lo oking forward:
Mils at Centre?
Mils is an interesting one, initially selected out of position at 15 because Bitchell hated Cullen, then selected out of position at 13 because early Conrad kept breaking.
Deans picked McDonald at centre for the 2003 semi final over a fully fit Umaga which lost us the game because Mortlock had rigorously targetted Leon's channel - the final nail in the coffin was the Spencer intercept happened because Leon was not in the right position to receive the pass because of his inexperience in the midfield, if Umaga had played 13 he would've picked Spencer's pass and scored under the posts.
Mind you, it's a bit of a pity that Tana didn't use this superior positional awareness to not run into Carlos in the Italy game, which is how he hurt his leg in the first place!
A bit rough to blame Tana. Even Carlos didn't know where Carlos was going half the time...
Tana should have run into a less tough first five like Merhts.
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Do we bring back the 'apprentice' role for Fabian Holland? Either for this part of the season, or when the NPC is over with the EoY tour.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@ruggabee said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 Well Razor is from the mount so
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2024 - lo oking forward:
Mils at Centre?
Mils is an interesting one, initially selected out of position at 15 because Bitchell hated Cullen, then selected out of position at 13 because early Conrad kept breaking.
Deans picked McDonald at centre for the 2003 semi final over a fully fit Umaga which lost us the game because Mortlock had rigorously targetted Leon's channel - the final nail in the coffin was the Spencer intercept happened because Leon was not in the right position to receive the pass because of his inexperience in the midfield, if Umaga had played 13 he would've picked Spencer's pass and scored under the posts.
Mind you, it's a bit of a pity that Tana didn't use this superior positional awareness to not run into Carlos in the Italy game, which is how he hurt his leg in the first place!
A bit rough to blame Tana. Even Carlos didn't know where Carlos was going half the time...
Tana should have run into a less tough first five like Merhts.
If Mitch and Robbie had had a bit more vision they could have played Danny Boy at first five and Ma'a at second five - both in the squad and unused!
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@ruggabee said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 Well Razor is from the mount so
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2024 - lo oking forward:
Mils at Centre?
Mils is an interesting one, initially selected out of position at 15 because Bitchell hated Cullen, then selected out of position at 13 because early Conrad kept breaking.
Deans picked McDonald at centre for the 2003 semi final over a fully fit Umaga which lost us the game because Mortlock had rigorously targetted Leon's channel - the final nail in the coffin was the Spencer intercept happened because Leon was not in the right position to receive the pass because of his inexperience in the midfield, if Umaga had played 13 he would've picked Spencer's pass and scored under the posts.
Mind you, it's a bit of a pity that Tana didn't use this superior positional awareness to not run into Carlos in the Italy game, which is how he hurt his leg in the first place!
A bit rough to blame Tana. Even Carlos didn't know where Carlos was going half the time...
Tana should have run into a less tough first five like Merhts.
If Mitch and Robbie had had a bit more vision they could have played Danny Boy at first five and Ma'a at second five - both in the squad and unused!
I know they were both young at the time but to leave them out as well as Tana was just ridiculous.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@ruggabee said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 Well Razor is from the mount so
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2024 - lo oking forward:
Mils at Centre?
Mils is an interesting one, initially selected out of position at 15 because Bitchell hated Cullen, then selected out of position at 13 because early Conrad kept breaking.
Deans picked McDonald at centre for the 2003 semi final over a fully fit Umaga which lost us the game because Mortlock had rigorously targetted Leon's channel - the final nail in the coffin was the Spencer intercept happened because Leon was not in the right position to receive the pass because of his inexperience in the midfield, if Umaga had played 13 he would've picked Spencer's pass and scored under the posts.
Mind you, it's a bit of a pity that Tana didn't use this superior positional awareness to not run into Carlos in the Italy game, which is how he hurt his leg in the first place!
A bit rough to blame Tana. Even Carlos didn't know where Carlos was going half the time...
Tana should have run into a less tough first five like Merhts.
If Mitch and Robbie had had a bit more vision they could have played Danny Boy at first five and Ma'a at second five - both in the squad and unused!
I know they were both young at the time but to leave them out as well as Tana was just ridiculous.
To be fair, Ma'a didn't even make the RWC squad in 2007.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Realistically who is actually pushing Paps for the starting 7 jersey? And don't say fucking Blackadder. He makes the most sense to me for AB captain, the others just aren't captain material and can't manage the refs as well.
I also don't want to burden SB with the captaincy. People give him shit for "stupid play" at times but we 100% need the mongrel he provides in the tight and I'd worry that giving him the captaincy would make him more refrained in that department which is the last thing we want - we need MORE physicality not less!
Fucking Blackadder. If Ardie is at 8, you need a 6.5 at 7, don't you? This means Papalii, or Blackadder, (or even someone like Harmon). Papalii and Blackadder will be competing for the jersey. I think most pundits outside of this little internet echo chamber would agree. Papalii to start against the Poms with Blackadder (if fit...) on the bench seems the most likely scenario.
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"if fit" is the key part there, he's barely been fit his entire career, I don't think his body can withstand test footy, especially the early exchanges. He would actually make a very effective bench option though given his high energy style of play.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
is Razor really going to pick a Blue as captain?
Que?
Don't get your logic. Won't pick Ble because not Sader but would pick Cane despite not Sader.
Am hoping he's much more impartial and picks who he thinks is best.
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@booboo logic is Crusader coach will likely pick Crusader. Crusader coach more likely to pick HCane over Blue because HCane is best player in the world and has captained ABs before. Crusader unlikely to pick Blue because will be given shit by fellow Crusader peers for picking an inexperienced Blue over more experienced Crusader.
In all seriousness Robertson might have Paps in his leadership team but he won't be captain. The odds would be through the roof if this was the opened up at the TAB.
Unofficial TAB odds:
Scott Barrett $1.80
Ardie Savea $2.00
Codie Taylor $8.00
Dalton Papali'i $60.00 -
ive just bookmarked my first post
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@Canes4life I'll take the $60 bet
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Why do you Blues fans seriously think Dalton is going to be captain? I will happily eat my humble pie if he's announced in a couple weeks. I just can't see it.
Scott Barrett has captained under Razor at the Saders and has had plenty of success, he's likely to go with someone he knows well, just like Fozzie did with SCane.
Ardie improved immensely as captain last year compared to the previous year and I recall plenty on here wanting him to keep the job even when Cane came back last year.
Taylor has also had success leading the Saders under Roberston.
But let's pick a Blue that isn't even the captain of his own franchise. Righto.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
because will be given shit by fellow Crusader peers
If this is a thing we're in way more trouble than we've ever been.
Coach that apparently likes to plumb the depths and try everything in his power to get the best out of his team.....is hampered by childish and antiquated fears.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Crusader unlikely to pick Blue because will be given shit by fellow Crusader peers for picking an inexperienced Blue over more experienced Crusader.
There are reasons for not picking Papalii as AB captain
This is not one of them
If this is anywhere remotely true we are absolutely fucked.
The good news is I can't see Razor operating like that.
