AB bolters thread

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="576398" data-time="1462178394">
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If Naholo is back in that makes the back 3 very competitive. Naholo + Smith + Savea. That leaves McKenzie and Dagg fighting for 1 spot, unless they only take 3 midfielders (I doubt it). Having Barrett also cover FB is not going to help Dagg. Jane is in form, but he's too old and not the future, so I wouldn't pick him.
 
I think Luatua has taken the lead on Thompson and Dixon.
 
Lock will be interesting: only Whitelock, Retallick and Project Tuipolotu are certainties. It's Romano vs Barrett vs maybe Fataialofa for the 4th spot. Bird is nowhere near the level IMO - never was (picked initially on his physical stats rather than his actual performances).
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Bird got nominated for the ITM Cup Player of the Year, so I'd be surprised if he's not at least part of the conversation.
 
I think Tuipolutu and Romano are competing for the same "power" lock position behind Retallick. Barrett and Bird are more the lighter loosehead lineout options behind Sammy.

Crash

Am really enjoying the whole Cruden vs Barrett vs Sopoaga debate.
Am also enjoying seeing competition for midfield spots heat up. Has Moala done enough? Can Ngatai remain unbroken for an entire season? Is Procter on the selectors radar? What about the continued development of Laumape? Is Tamanivalu's defence good enough? Does a Crotty/Fekitoa combination pose enough of a midfield threat? Or are they too "safe"? Will Aso or Lienert-Brown ever be considered?
Oh the questions - but what a pleasant selectorial headache to have..

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crash" data-cid="576426" data-time="1462192563">
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Am really enjoying the whole Cruden vs Barrett vs Sopoaga debate.
Am also enjoying seeing competition for midfield spots heat up. Has Moala done enough? Can Ngatai remain unbroken for an entire season? Is Procter on the selectors radar? What about the continued development of Laumape? Is Tamanivalu's defence good enough? Does a Crotty/Fekitoa combination pose enough of a midfield threat? Or are they too "safe"? Will Aso or Lienert-Brown ever be considered?
Oh the questions - but what a pleasant selectorial headache to have..
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I'm not ruling out Sopoaga getting a surprise nod: he has the established combination with Smith, he's the best goalkicker, and his performances have to be taken into context of the Highlanders team. I'm expecting Cruden to get the 1st 2 games, and Sopoaga to get the 3rd test if the series is already wrapped up.
 
I think Ngatai, Fekitoa and Crotty are locks for the midfield. SBW may well be back later in the year - in that case Hansen might not bother investing in a 4th spot and use it elsewhere in the squad, otherwise I'm probably expecting Moala, but there are others in the mix as you outline. To your list I would also add Havili, but maybe I just have a blindspot in his regard. I don't really rate Tamanivalu I must say.

antipodean

Naholo is a starter for the same reason Savea is; fit they both find the try line and that's the fundamental test for a winger. Fekitoa had a selection test against the incumbent Wallaby centre and acquitted himself exceptionally well. The pressure is now on the other contenders. The questions still remain (and will until the final Super series play out) for the bench front row, fly half and bench composition. We well know the electors prefer a tight forward that can slot into a lock if required (and that appears to be Luatua IMO thus far). Given a fit Naholo takes the right wing berth, that means Ben from Accounts takes fullback which leaves Dagg and McKenzie to provide benefit from the bench over Beaudy (unlikely) if we expect Cruden to get the nod over Sopoaga (which isn't as clear cut as some might claim). This will be an interesting second half to the Super Rugby season from here.

Winger

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crash" data-cid="576426" data-time="1462192563">
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Am really enjoying the whole Cruden vs Barrett vs Sopoaga debate.
Am also enjoying seeing competition for midfield spots heat up. Has Moala done enough? Can Ngatai remain unbroken for an entire season? Is Procter on the selectors radar? What about the continued development of Laumape? Is Tamanivalu's defence good enough? Does a Crotty/Fekitoa combination pose enough of a midfield threat? Or are they too "safe"? Will Aso or Lienert-Brown ever be considered?
Oh the questions - but what a pleasant selectorial headache to have..
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He will be lucky to get his starting place back from Aso. If Aso stays fit and continues to develop like he has then with two injuries he might be an option

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="576446" data-time="1462202016">
The questions still remain (and will until the final Super series play out) for the bench front row, fly half and bench composition. We well know the electors prefer a tight forward that can slot into a lock if required (and that appears to be Luatua IMO thus far).</blockquote>
 
Hansen has by and large selected a genuine lock on the bench. Sure there's been the occasional Luatua or Kaino covering lock, but Whitelock, Retallick, Romano, Tuipoluto and Thrush have by and large filled the 4,5 and bench spots.

Milk

I'd go Tuipulotu and Savea coming off the bench. The opposition won't know what hit them.

Siam

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Milk" data-cid="576681" data-time="1462285542">
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I'd go Tuipulotu and Savea coming off the bench. The opposition won't know what hit them.
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Tuipulotu and Todd, cause Cane's only coming off if broken and Todd often plays 6....(I'm sticking to this like shit to a blanket dreaming of my internet cred in June )
 
No one gave Leicester a hope either...

gollum

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="576675" data-time="1462278968">
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Hansen has by and large selected a genuine lock on the bench. Sure there's been the occasional Luatua or Kaino covering lock, but Whitelock, Retallick, Romano, Tuipoluto and Thrush have by and large filled the 4,5 and bench spots.
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Quarter, semi & final of the WC Vito was the cover on the bench
 
That may have had a lot to do with the lack of punch Romano offered & had Tuipuloto been around he would have been used as he is a real impact sub, but they got a really good roll on not having a specialist on the bench.

Billy Tell

Twas stopgap, because their plans were blown out of the water when Tuipolotu pulled out, Romano was "meh" last season, and Broadhurst completely underwhelmed when given the chance so that he couldn't be trusted for the RWC. The Vito experiment worked, but only because our locks didn't get injured early into a match.
 
I fully expect Paddy to be back on the bench.

Sapetyvi

Just like Straya, you guys were light on lock replacements in the RWC. If it was BBBR and not Kane Douglas who went off injured in the final, it might have been a different game, MIGHT have.

kiwiinmelb

I think Tuipoluto is the ideal lock replacement on the bench when at his best , 
 
A genuine lock that provides impact when he comes on , 
 
He is like the Beauden Barrett of locks.

Billy Tell

That reads like a poem. 
Very nice

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="576691" data-time="1462300810">
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I think Tuipoluto is the ideal lock replacement on the bench when at his best , 
 
A genuine lock that provides impact when he comes on , 
 
He is like the Beauden Barrett of locks. 
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He's like we all wished Troy Flavell would have been.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="576683" data-time="1462286033">
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Tuipulotu and Todd, cause Cane's only coming off if broken and Todd often plays 6....(I'm sticking to this like shit to a blanket dreaming of my internet cred in June )
 
No one gave Leicester a hope either...
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Last year they said Cane was knackered after Super rugby and didn't pick him till late in the 4N.
 
Make a bolder call - Todd will start! :)

Canes4life

Anyone else like the rise of Auckland lock Michael Fatialofa for the Canes. He is bringing that BBBR style game in and around ruck time and it is fun to watch. 
 
The odds wont be in his favour in regards to cracking the All Blacks this year but if injuries occur he may be one player finding himself in and amongst the All Blacks environment by the end of the year. Right now the favourite four players for locking duties would have to be Sam Whitelock, Brodie Rettalick, Patrick Tuipolotu and Luke Romano with Fatialofa and Barrett on the fringes id say.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gollum" data-cid="576687" data-time="1462292237">
Quarter, semi & final of the WC Vito was the cover on the bench 
That may have had a lot to do with the lack of punch Romano offered & had Tuipuloto been around he would have been used as he is a real impact sub, but they got a really good roll on not having a specialist on the bench.</blockquote>
Given the top 2 locks were so critical to how we play and the fact they were probably 2 of our top 4 players, I think the intention was to play them for 80 (like Richie) barring injury or a blow out. Both have huge motors as well and last year often played 80 for their super sides.

gt12

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="576741" data-time="1462319504">
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Given the top 2 locks were so critical to how we play and the fact they were probably 2 of our top 4 players, I think the intention was to play them for 80 (like Richie) barring injury or a blow out. Both have huge motors as well and last year often played 80 for their super sides.
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Great WC final(s) strategy, but I'd hope that the coaches have some plans to develop other players, and will try to take the 1st minute injury out of play for the Wales tests and RC. I'm picking Pat or another hybrid on the bench.

taniwharugby

The RWC we were pretty lucky, almost a perfect run on injuries...think of all the angst of fans over the Slade/Sopoaga/DC selection, Naholos selection, think there was a couple of others too, but at the end of the day, they were lucky to be able to use the core of their squad and run them 80 as well when needed.

Frank

Romano has done jack-shit for the ABs since coming back. Kind of a journeyman these days.
Tuipolotu is a much better bet.

The Silver Fern

AB bolters thread