Opinions on possible back-up All Blacks 10s
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@Windows97 given only DMac is playing super, it gives at least 4 others a real opportunity to promote themselves.
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@taniwharugby That is true - I just really hope one of them stands up!!
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@taniwharugby said in Opinions on possible back-up All Blacks 10s:
@Windows97 given only DMac is playing super, it gives at least 4 others a real opportunity to promote themselves.
This is why I am not a fan of signings like Rhys Patchell. He might take up one of those spots
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@Windows97 said in Opinions on possible back-up All Blacks 10s:
The main thing this thread shows is that there Dmac, BB and a vast expanse of disagreement filled daylight back to the third choice - who ever that may be.
I'm in the DMac followed by daylight category. And given the cat and dog kickers, I think I might not be alone.
This is one of the early hard decisions for Razor -- can he give Beauden the boot? He must know he should, but the howls of outrage will make it difficult.
(Choosing a captain is the other big one.)
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@mariner4life said in Opinions on possible back-up All Blacks 10s:
if DH is starting at 12 for the Crusaders then they should not be favourite for the comp
We are never favourites, it’s always the Chiefs and Blues.
“It’s their year” 😉
Havili is fine at 12 at SR level. We used him a little different than what we wanted at test level.
Still prefer him as a fullback.
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@Punch_up and for Bridge it did work for a short window! He was playing at a high level. The form and confidence took a hit but coaches were still giving him game time and the pressure and noise got louder.
I don’t think it had anything to to do with him being a Crusaders player per se, but more that they saw something when he was in a purple patch albeit a short period.
A lot of players have been given chances even when the noise has been louder and whilst the provincial card gets thrown around, I doubt it’s that. Unless you are Wayne Smith and Robbie Deans 😎
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@ACT-Crusader The anti-Havili narrative from some here is hilarious. He's been a certain starter at 12 for the Crusaders for years now and he's been really good there at SR level. They've won several titles with him at 12 and he's made a crucial contribution to those titles. He has also had some excellent games at 12 for the ABs (Port Elizabeth win, for example). Jordie is clearly the best 12 we have at test level at the moment, but that doesn't make Havili a bad 12. He's a handy squaddie.
Edited to add that I don't expect him to be in the ABs squad for long, if he makes it at all next year. If only due to his age and the fact that I expect some up-and-comers to overtake him. ALB in the same boat, IMO.
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@Chester-Draws said in Opinions on possible back-up All Blacks 10s:
but the howls of outrage will make it difficult.
Where will those howls come from? Not here for sure
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@Chris I see those three ideas as temporary fixes or experiments that Razor allowed to continue bc the team was still winning.
I 100% agree re that the AB selectors (under Hansen and then Foster) took those ideas without asking themselves if the idea would work in the test environment. For example, Foster should've asked himself "Given the way I want my 12 to play (getting over the gainline) and the fact that at test level most opposition 12s are 107kg+ monsters, is 95kg David Havili the right player for the 12 jersey?"
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@Chester-Draws Can he give Beauden the boot? <<< THIS IS THE OTHER BIG QUESTION
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@ACT-Crusader agree about Havili as 15
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@ACT-Crusader Agree to a degree. It's more like AB selectors failed to notice that George Bridge was a temporary "standard-bearer" or "form guy" at the Cru and they rated the Cru management's decision-making in general.
Also, he came along at a time when journos focused on "doing the basics well" and he was the wing doing that... for a short period.
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@Kiwiwomble Fair enough. On a related note, could the Highlanders not have made a bigger play for say 1 or 2 first-fives from the chiefs and the odd midfielder from the Hurricanes? Those two teams way too stacked in those positions (with quality players looking at cameos at Super level instead of perhaps starring roles at the Highlanders).
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@ACT-Crusader said in Opinions on possible back-up All Blacks 10s:
@Punch_up and for Bridge it did work for a short window! He was playing at a high level. The form and confidence took a hit but coaches were still giving him game time and the pressure and noise got louder.
I don’t think it had anything to to do with him being a Crusaders player per se, but more that they saw something when he was in a purple patch albeit a short period.
A lot of players have been given chances even when the noise has been louder and whilst the provincial card gets thrown around, I doubt it’s that. Unless you are Wayne Smith and Robbie Deans 😎
I remember bridge on an eoyt game in Japan , (from memory there were 2 squads , he wasn’t part of the main group but he played in this game ) as a team we didn’t play particularly well , but he scored 2 or 3 long range tries and everyone went wow , why isn’t he a regular allblack ? And he was selected the next year .
