All Blacks 2024
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sees the bench as a demotion, yes
sorry, i didn't bother typing the rest as i thought it was implied "even though, for a lot of sports, it makes no fucking difference because you are getting huge game time, and the coach probably has a specific job for you"
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024:
@Frank said in All Blacks 2024:
aaaah for the days of Nonu
he learned distribution too - he was not a natural at all. Started on the wing for the ABs I think -against Ireland in Ireland I think?
Incredible transformation; his monster miss on BOD in Hamilton had folk saying 'never again' for the ABs. Go figure.
Taking a guess I thought it was at 13 v England at the Cake Tin 2003 ... will now go google ...
Correct: http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/profile.asp?ABID=1033
But do think @nzzp is kind of correct as he fell out of favour and made the comeback on the EOYT in 2004 (I think)
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2024:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024:
@Frank said in All Blacks 2024:
aaaah for the days of Nonu
he learned distribution too - he was not a natural at all. Started on the wing for the ABs I think -against Ireland in Ireland I think?
Incredible transformation; his monster miss on BOD in Hamilton had folk saying 'never again' for the ABs. Go figure.
Taking a guess I thought it was at 13 v England at the Cake Tin 2003 ... will now go google ...
Correct: http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/profile.asp?ABID=1033
But do think @nzzp is kind of correct as he fell out of favour and made the comeback on the EOYT in 2004 (I think)
huh, I was sure it was Hamilton
Edit: ah you meant debut. For sure. But I remember that perforamnce - he got ripped apart defensively.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024:
@booboo thought his proper "comeback" was after 07? Tana was gone, the astonishingly talented Aaron Mauger was gone.
Lucky Luke was gone. If Mauger and Lucky didn't go we might be talking about how Ma'a was an average AB but became a NH club legend.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024:
With Zach Gallagher coming to the Canes next year I wouldn't mind the Canes shifting Caleb Delany back to 6 where he helped the Lions win an NPC. Great carrier of the ball, awesome lineout jumper but probably needs to work on becoming more of a dominant tackler At 115kg and 197m, he could be an option for the ABs going forward after having a superb season at lock before injury struck.
Why not ?
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024:
@booboo thought his proper "comeback" was after 07? Tana was gone, the astonishingly talented Aaron Mauger was gone.
My recollection was around that time he started to come on as a sub and people were pleasantly surprised he didn't fuck things up and noticed he was adding to the game. Really took off in '08 and a year later he was pretty much the best 12 in the world. He really worked on developing his game and was utterly sublime in his last 2-3 years.
I think this year is make or break for Reiko in the sense we'll see if he can really develop as a 13.
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@cgrant said in All Blacks 2024:
Akira Ioane was the obvious choice as he has all the attributes of a world class blindside loose forward. It's a shame Sotutu is an exclusive Nr.8. A trio formed with Sotutu (8) - Savea (7) and Papali'i (6) could be a stop gap.
I’m a fan of each of those players, but there’s no way our issues are resolved with that trio. I don’t think Sotutu and Savea together can be effective in what we are needing.
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@nzzp I remember Nonu in 2007, well.
On the Fern, there was just me and a guy called Mojo who still thought he might be worth a shot in the 2007 RWC squad. And then he came off the bench on the wing against some team - and he was terrible.
Even me and Mojo had to concede he wasn't up to it.
Someone (and I can't recall who - in case they're still here) wrote, "Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out, Nonu"!
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@Chris-B I remember his talent in 05 - he shifted out to the wing (I think) but created an incredible try opportunity with a chip, regather, swerve and then knocked on over the line. But the pace, power and skill were incredible.
Then in 06 he shat the bed against Ireland defensively ... but man he came back strong from that.
What a player
Edit: the 05 reference was Ireland in Dublin
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@nzzp It was a good lesson for me (and others) that people can get better - and sometimes a lot better.
I reckon Finau might be one like this. He's struggling a bit at the start, but he's got all the attributes to be really good in due course. Also looks like they could still add a few kgs to make him bigger and even better.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024:
@nzzp I remember Nonu in 2007, well.
On the Fern, there was just me and a guy called Mojo who still thought he might be worth a shot in the 2007 RWC squad. And then he came off the bench on the wing against some team - and he was terrible.
Even me and Mojo had to concede he wasn't up to it.
Someone (and I can't recall who - in case they're still here) wrote, "Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out, Nonu"!
I saw us play Wales in Cardiff in '10 when SBW was subbed at half-time after Jamie Roberts had exposed him a little. Up close you noticed how good Nonu was at tying up defenders in just the right position on the field and creating space from that. A real skill.
Something Jordie with his size can work on.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024:
Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out, Nonu
That's bizarrely a really clear memory but yeah no idea who posed it.
So it was probably me.
Lots of people didn't believe in Nonu for some time, his game was just a bit erratic. But with the benefit of time he ironed out all of his weaknesses and became awesome
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024:
@nzzp I remember Nonu in 2007, well.
On the Fern, there was just me and a guy called Mojo who still thought he might be worth a shot in the 2007 RWC squad. And then he came off the bench on the wing against some team - and he was terrible.
Even me and Mojo had to concede he wasn't up to it.
Someone (and I can't recall who - in case they're still here) wrote, "Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out, Nonu"!
I don’t remember that comment but I remember, ‘never want to see him in black again ‘ around those times .
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2024:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024:
Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out, Nonu
That's bizarrely a really clear memory but yeah no idea who posed it.
So it was probably me.
Lots of people didn't believe in Nonu for some time, his game was just a bit erratic. But with the benefit of time he ironed out all of his weaknesses and became awesome
I think moving into 12 really suited him too , in the early years he struggled defensively at 13 and I think it affected his self belief
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2024:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024:
Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out, Nonu
That's bizarrely a really clear memory but yeah no idea who posed it.
So it was probably me.
Lots of people didn't believe in Nonu for some time, his game was just a bit erratic. But with the benefit of time he ironed out all of his weaknesses and became awesome
I couldn't stand how any time he dropped the ball or threw a shit pass he just turned his back and walked off. There was a dramatic attitude change in 07/08 and he was no longer too cool to do the mahi.