All Blacks 2024
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The race for All Blacks centre is far from run
The first All Blacks squad of the year is just three weeks away from being named and some names have surpassed potential bolter status.
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@KiwiMurph I wonder if Proctor takes the 13 jersey we can move Rieko back to 11. He still easily has the pace to play there and I don't think the switch back would be difficult for him. I like the idea of Jordie and Proctor in the midfield building that partnership like Ma'a and Conrad did.
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@No-Quarter do we need him back at 11? i thought we were pretty happy with the wing options
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@Kiwiwomble we don't need him there, but he was the best winger in the world when he played there. He's better than any of the other options, despite the talent we have available.
He's very good at centre, but I'm still not convinced it is the best use of his talents at test level.
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@No-Quarter ....i mean....he was, +3 years ago and is now one of the best centres, im more than happy having multiple good people in every position....especially the midfield as we've kind of struggled for a while
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@KiwiMurph I wonder if Proctor takes the 13 jersey we can move Rieko back to 11. He still easily has the pace to play there and I don't think the switch back would be difficult for him. I like the idea of Jordie and Proctor in the midfield building that partnership like Ma'a and Conrad did.
been wondering the same.one of the reasons I'm really looking forward to seeing where Robertson goes with selecting this team.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
He's very good at centre, but I'm still not convinced it is the best use of his talents at test level.
I think it is now. AB Wingers over 25 have a very short life. Talent just keeps coming onto the scene. He's really developed at centre, to the point he's in the chat for a World XV. There aren't many in the team that you can say that about
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
He's better than any of the other options, despite the talent we have available.
As a wing? Not sure that's true in 2024. 2017-18 is a long time ago.
Rieko's test form last year was terrific but I think there's still room for competition. For a test centre his hands are poor and he has no kicking game whatsoever.
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Do we think he's lost any pace since then? If not then I can't see how he would be a worse player, I'd think the opposite would be true.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Do we think he's lost any pace since then?
He's at the magical age where wingers are done, so, yes.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Jordie and Proctor in the midfield building that partnership like Ma'a and Conrad did
Ma'a and Conrad from Wish
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Rieko's test form last year was terrific but I think there's still room for competition. For a test centre his hands are poor and he has no kicking game whatsoever.
Reiko is a fucking terrific centre though, and there isn't a team around who wouldn't pick him. So if Proctor is now better than him that is awesome for the ABs. And then you have a guy in the 23 jersey who is an absolute weapon.
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@mariner4life I don't think we'll ever get a centre pairing as good as them again. The benefit of playing Super and AB rugby together helped them though, and now we have another couple of good Canes lads that can do the same.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Rieko's test form last year was terrific but I think there's still room for competition. For a test centre his hands are poor and he has no kicking game whatsoever.
Reiko is a fucking terrific centre though, and there isn't a team around who wouldn't pick him. So if Proctor is now better than him that is awesome for the ABs. And then you have a guy in the 23 jersey who is an absolute weapon.
Rieko has to be in the starting 15 no matter what, that's why I am wondering about a move back to 11 to accommodate Proctor. Like you I am loathe to play players out of position for this reason, but at the same time switching back to 11 where he was the worlds best wouldn't be difficult for him.
I take the point that it's been a long time since he played there though, but I haven't noticed any decrease in his pace or elusiveness which is what has hampered other wingers his age.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Rieko's test form last year was terrific but I think there's still room for competition. For a test centre his hands are poor and he has no kicking game whatsoever.
Reiko is a fucking terrific centre though, and there isn't a team around who wouldn't pick him. So if Proctor is now better than him that is awesome for the ABs. And then you have a guy in the 23 jersey who is an absolute weapon.
Rieko has to be in the starting 15 no matter what, that's why I am wondering about a move back to 11 to accommodate Proctor. Like you I am loathe to play players out of position for this reason, but at the same time switching back to 11 where he was the worlds best wouldn't be difficult for him.
I take the point that it's been a long time since he played there though, but I haven't noticed any decrease in his pace or elusiveness which is what has hampered other wingers his age.
the point would be, it's a long time since he was a winger.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Rieko's test form last year was terrific but I think there's still room for competition. For a test centre his hands are poor and he has no kicking game whatsoever.
Reiko is a fucking terrific centre though, and there isn't a team around who wouldn't pick him. So if Proctor is now better than him that is awesome for the ABs. And then you have a guy in the 23 jersey who is an absolute weapon.
Rieko has to be in the starting 15 no matter what, that's why I am wondering about a move back to 11 to accommodate Proctor. Like you I am loathe to play players out of position for this reason, but at the same time switching back to 11 where he was the worlds best wouldn't be difficult for him.
I take the point that it's been a long time since he played there though, but I haven't noticed any decrease in his pace or elusiveness which is what has hampered other wingers his age.
this the the thinking we need to move on from i think, if jordie and proctor provide a better option as a pair than RI as an individual and we have strong established wings...then there might not be a starting spot for RI, having a weapon on the bench would be huge, the bench isn't just the second best players and hasnt been for a long time
and champion team beats a team of champions etc etc
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This post is deleted!
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Proctor or RI obviously depends on what Razor and co are wanting from their centre. Both very good players but bring slightly different things to the table. I thought about the Saders when wondering what Razor may prefer from his centre. Proctor and RI remind me a bit of Goodhue and Ennor. If I recall correctly when Goodhue was injury free we tended to see him at 13 and Ennor on the wing. Then Goodhue when got injured and even slower, we saw Ennor become the favoured centre. Other factors involved as well, so really I am not sure which way Razor will go. I am just waffling.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Tana should have run into a less tough first five like Merhts.
Actually Merhts heard the criticism of his light frame and really bulked up.
Shame it was after he stopped playing.
