All Blacks 2024
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@Kiwiwomble If we're only going to pick specialists according to your definition, we won't have any players to choose from.
Scooter and Vaa'i are obviously locks.
Colin Meads played quite a few less tests than Scooter - but started twice as many as a loose forward!
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@Chris-B but the comparison was with the 2015 team...how many times did BBBR or whitekock play 6 for the AB's?
or read play 7? savea play on the right? nonu and smith play 15 or wing?
there is a big difference between what in the past was considered versatility and now where its not 100% clear several players best position
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@Kiwiwomble Talking about Razor's era - we haven't had any locks playing 6 have we?
The loosies have shuffled a bit, but mostly it's been Dalton and Cane who are specialist 7s playing 7, Ardie's been a constant at 8. Sititi's been a surprise - and Blackadder and Jacobson have been a bit like Vito was in 2015.
Actually, Ben Franks played both sides during the 2015 RWC, Kaino, Read and Vito all appear to have spent some time at lock. Cane played at 6 - these ones off the bench. SBW played at 12 and 13. Bender at 14 and 15. Beauden at 10 and 15. Colin Slade started a game at fullback.
Vito appears to have played half an hour at centre!
Haven't looked at all of the games.
Though, generally, I'd agree that it seems we've moved towatds placing greater value on utility.
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@canefan for me immediate, we dont want another fozzie debacle where it dragged on and frankly became less and less clear what was going on
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@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2024:
@canefan for me immediate, we dont want another fozzie debacle where it dragged on and frankly became less and less clear what was going on
Fair is fair. If Fozzie faced scrutiny, so should Razor if he isn't performing
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A fit and firing Jack Goodhue in his prime (or a player in his mould) would solve a lot of problems in the AB midfield
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@MiketheSnow said in All Blacks 2024:
A fit and firing Jack Goodhue in his prime (or a player in his mould) would solve a lot of problems in the AB midfield
He promised much but ultimately failed to deliver because of injury
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024:
@Kiwiwomble Talking about Razor's era - we haven't had any locks playing 6 have we?
The loosies have shuffled a bit, but mostly it's been Dalton and Cane who are specialist 7s playing 7, Ardie's been a constant at 8. Sititi's been a surprise - and Blackadder and Jacobson have been a bit like Vito was in 2015.
Actually, Ben Franks played both sides during the 2015 RWC, Kaino, Read and Vito all appear to have spent some time at lock. Cane played at 6 - these ones off the bench. SBW played at 12 and 13. Bender at 14 and 15. Beauden at 10 and 15. Colin Slade started a game at fullback.
Vito appears to have played half an hour at centre!
Haven't looked at all of the games.
Though, generally, I'd agree that it seems we've moved towatds placing greater value on utility.
“I am really big on players playing two positions; their preferred position and another position. Things change really quickly, and the utility factor is critical.”
How will Scott Robertson shuffle his backline pack for the Rugby Championship?
After the England Series, the All Blacks have rung the backline changes ahead of The Rugby Championship opener with Los Pumas
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@MiketheSnow said in All Blacks 2024:
A fit and firing Jack Goodhue in his prime (or a player in his mould) would solve a lot of problems in the AB midfield
If we are dreaming lets have Nonu thanks
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@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024:
Who is the most ill-disciplined All Black?
RNZ crunches the numbers to find New Zealand's biggest card culprit.
"... crunches the numbers"... 'LOL'.
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@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024:
@MiketheSnow said in All Blacks 2024:
A fit and firing Jack Goodhue in his prime (or a player in his mould) would solve a lot of problems in the AB midfield
If we are dreaming lets have Nonu thanks
Absolutely. I can’t even remember Goodhue at all apart from a questionable mullet.
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024:
@MiketheSnow said in All Blacks 2024:
A fit and firing Jack Goodhue in his prime (or a player in his mould) would solve a lot of problems in the AB midfield
If we are dreaming lets have Nonu thanks
Absolutely. I can’t even remember Goodhue at all apart from a questionable mullet.
his defensive performance vs SA in WLG was incredible. Test level. But then he got injured, slow and form fell off a cliff
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024:
@MiketheSnow said in All Blacks 2024:
A fit and firing Jack Goodhue in his prime (or a player in his mould) would solve a lot of problems in the AB midfield
If we are dreaming lets have Nonu thanks
Absolutely. I can’t even remember Goodhue at all apart from a questionable mullet.
his defensive performance vs SA in WLG was incredible. Test level. But then he got injured, slow and form fell off a cliff
Yeah the not remembering bit is more a comment on me than anything he ever did. Coincided with me not caring a hell of a lot about rugby after so many of my favourites retired.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024:
When the ABs were at their peak in 2015 we had our best players playing in their specialist positions. ie. Conrad Smith was seen as purely a centre, Nonu as a 12, Kaino as a 6. McCaw as a 7, Read as an 8, Carter as a 10 etc etc. We achieved consistently excellent results because selection wasn't based on the bullshit that we see today.
I reckon you'd find there was a bit more shifting around than you recall.
Just in the 2015 RWC Final, SBW replaced Conrad at halftime and played at centre - a position he only ever once started in for the ABs.
Beaudy came on for NMS - I pretty sure at fullback and pushed Ben Smith to the right wing.
Beaudy was also our first five reserve and started there in at least one of the pool matches.
No. SBW played 12 and Nonu moved out one. Was previewed against Samoa, something at the time I thought was random.
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Love the selection of Fihaki to be brought into the squad. Thought it was really well deserved.
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2024:
Barrett and Vaai are specialist locks. Using them at 6 would be not playing specialists.
In the international game it’s quite common for LH lock (slim one) to play blindside. Almost a new hybrid role.
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@pakman Your memory is better than mine.
Doesn't change the gist of what I was saying about utility in 2015.
They also pulled Conrad for SBW in the QF vs France. Do you recall who played 2nd five in that game. It would be odd if they played SBW at centre.
n.b. on reflection, I also suspect Vito played wing rather than centre, but I definitely can't remember that game.
