AB bolters thread
-
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="577234" data-time="1462450597">
<div>
<p>You have got me confused. Both the locks named to start against the Lions and the Sharks have also been touted as lock/blindside versatile yet Thompson is currently unable to usurp them for a starting spot. Are you implying that Fatialofa and Fifita are both better locks than Thompson but Thompson is a significantly better blindside than the other two are better than him at lock?</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>I think Fifita is slightly better than Thompson. And he can play 8, 6 or lock. Bit short for lock though 1.96 and Thompson is slightly taller 1.98. But both are good</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="577207" data-time="1462445670"><p>
Taufua's more than 100kg.<br><br>
105kgs minimum - probably more.</p></blockquote>
<br>
He's noticeably gained weight this year, one of the more solid loosies in our pack when watching live. -
<p>There were a couple of moments on the weekend that turned me off Dixon. The ball was on the ground, and he either hung off it, waiting for someone else to claim it, or flapped his hand at it. Both resulted in turnovers to the Brumbies. All Black players don't do that shit. And that's not "off night" stuff, that's attitude stuff. It may seem small, but i'm a big believer in doing the little things right. Kaino or Messam would have claimed those balls. </p>
-
<p>Taufua seems to be the reverse Ardie Savea with everyone saying he's bigger than what he's listed in the programme. He appears to have grown 4cm in the last couple of years and apparently he's heavy as whereas Ardie is a skinny runt. I wish a had an early 20s growth spurt.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We really need Ardie and Jordan to stand back to back so we can get something factually correct!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="577262" data-time="1462478896">
<div>
<p>He's noticeably gained weight this year, one of the more solid loosies in our pack when watching live.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Yeah there was a moment in an earlier game where he basically picked up a halfback in one hand and ripped the ball off him with the other - and I thought - Jordan's not that small! </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="577338" data-time="1462496634">
<div>
<p>Yeah there was a moment in an earlier game where he basically picked up a halfback in one hand and ripped the ball off him with the other - and I thought - Jordan's not that small! </p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>unless that halfback is Piri, meh</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="577333" data-time="1462496354">
<div>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>We really need Ardie and Jordan to stand back to back so we can get something factually correct!</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Or better yet a picture of them doing handstands side by side.....</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="577338" data-time="1462496634">
<div>
<p>Yeah there was a moment in an earlier game where he basically picked up a halfback in one hand and ripped the ball off him with the other - and I thought - Jordan's not that small! </p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Also watching him stand next to Read when they pack down a scrum, he's a few centimetres shorter, but much more solidly built.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Nepia, nobody is claiming he's had a growth spurt, just put on a few more kilo's of muscle over the off season.</p> -
<p>call WADA!</p>
-
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="577343" data-time="1462498329">
<div>
<p>How many cms does Ardie's haircut add to his height? :)</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>6 foot 3 according to Canes4life.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I've heard rumours that Patrick Tuipulotu did a lot of conditioning and rehab work during his injury and now stands 7 foot 2.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="577333" data-time="1462496354">
<div>
<p>Taufua seems to be the reverse Ardie Savea with everyone saying he's bigger than what he's listed in the programme. He appears to have grown 4cm in the last couple of years and apparently he's heavy as whereas Ardie is a skinny runt. I wish a had an early 20s growth spurt.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We really need Ardie and Jordan to stand back to back so we can get something factually correct!</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>On Rieko Ioane's Wikipedia profile page, he's listed as 1.89m tall so with Ardie Savea standing right next to him side to side...it pretty much give's you a fair gauge on how tall A.Savea actually is i reckon</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZ37mwqWEAEl8po.jpg" alt="CZ37mwqWEAEl8po.jpg"></p> -
Another possible bolter would be Tom Franklin,I think he has been fantastic<br><br><br>
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="579180" data-time="1463084023"><p>Another possible bolter would be Tom Franklin,I think he has been fantastic<br><br><br>
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk</p></blockquote>
Donnelly mark II. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="579181" data-time="1463084277">
<div>
<p>Donnelly mark II.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>From memory, Donnelly came in when our lineout was pants, and we were picking Isaac farking Ross. Lightweight, mobile, but hitting rucks wasn't his thing. Donnelly was just a good, solid tight forward grafter. Great at the time, but limited.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="579182" data-time="1463085632">
<div>
<p>From memory, Donnelly came in when our lineout was pants, and we were picking Isaac farking Ross. Lightweight, mobile, but hitting rucks wasn't his thing. Donnelly was just a good, solid tight forward grafter. Great at the time, but limited.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>never disgraced himself in Black</p> -
<p>There's only two lock spots (maximum) to be filled behind the good Whitelock and BBBR so I can't see them picking any "journeymen" locks in the Donnelly / Thrush mould. Romano is probably only slightly above that journeyman quality I reckon. The start of the RWC cycle is surely the time to be looking at young guys who could be pushing for a bench spot within a year or two i.e. pushing Romano or Tuipolutu out of the squad. In addition, Tuipolutu is still to have his "sophomore" season in the All Blacks - consider what happened in the second year of, say, Faumuina and Luatua's ABs careers, they were dropped for not being fit enough - so he's no certainty to even be around for the Lions tour next year. It's only where the bright prospects fail (or injury crisis) that you consider drafting in the journeymen.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I like Fatialofa as the bolter but I don't rate his chances of getting picked.</p> -
<p>Key question for me is what balance they decide on for the squad. Generally, I'd think they'd be aiming for:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>3 loosehead props</p>
<p>3 tightheads</p>
<p>3 hookers</p>
<p>3 or 4 locks</p>
<p>5 or 6 loose forwards</p>
<p> </p>
<p>3 halfbacks</p>
<p>3 first fives</p>
<p>4 midfield backs</p>
<p>4 outside backs (noting that Beauden Barrett is going to be picked and will be the outside back bench cover)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But, muddying the waters a bit is that Nepo Laulala, Paulasi Manu, Messam, SBW and NMS are all sitting in the wings to return in due course, so they can afford to go a bit light in selecting for this series in some places - especially where there's no outstanding 3rd/4th candidate.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So they might pick just two of any of tightheads/looseheads/hookers and hope they're not going to get injuries (the Mealamu/Coles strategy). Similarly, maybe just three midfield backs and maybe just two wings. Allowing them to pick a bit heavier in other places.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Fullback is really interesting because Smith and Barrett are certainties - I'd imagine they'll pick a third one, with Ben Smith providing the wing cover - but, one of Dagg or DMac is surely going to miss out.</p>
