AB bolters thread
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="577333" data-time="1462496354">
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<p>We really need Ardie and Jordan to stand back to back so we can get something factually correct!</p>
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<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">
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="577343" data-time="1462498329">
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<p>How many cms does Ardie's haircut add to his height? :)</p>
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<p>6 foot 3 according to Canes4life.</p>
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<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">
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<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>
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<p>We really need Ardie and Jordan to stand back to back so we can get something factually correct!</p>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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Donnelly mark II. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="579181" data-time="1463084277">
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<p>Donnelly mark II.</p>
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<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">
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="579220" data-time="1463095677">
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<p>They might go for two hookers and have Goodes as one of the (6) props. In an emergency he will be able to cover hooker.</p>
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<p>A hooker is a more specialist position than a prop so you could get by with only 5 props if that was the case. Same for halfback (like the RWC) at the expense of an outside back. Having said that, they are picking 32 players and can call up replacements immediately if required.</p>
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<p>If players like DMac and Weber are selected but not in the match 23 for the 1st test I hope they are released to play for the Chiefs against Wales. They would benefit more from that game than sitting in the stands.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="579226" data-time="1463096425">
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<p>A hooker is a more specialist position than a prop so you could get by with only 5 props if that was the case. Same for halfback (like the RWC) at the expense of an outside back. Having said that, they are picking 32 players and can call up replacements immediately if required.</p>
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<p>The only problem with 5 props is that we don't have a genuine option who can play both sides (I believe that Tu'ungafasi is the closest we have - Mitch Graham might be another option?). Reg Goodes is probably the 5th best prop, but if a tighthead goes down, he won't really be an option there (whereas he has actually played a fair bit of hooker to a reasonable level).</p> -
<p>Ben Franks was so useful in the previous era because he could be that utility / 5th prop and eliminate the need for a 6th prop. So the guy to do the Ben Franks role (minus the dumb penalties) is a valuable commodity when you're only selecting 32 players. Tu'ungafasi was selected on that premise for the training camp last year before the Samoa test, but this was when the ABs squad was bloated to nearly 50 players and so he never even travelled to Apia) while Jeffrey Toomaga Allen was picked in that role in 2013 and played 5-10 minutes in Tokyo. So neither guy has any real loyalty "owed' to him by the selectors. And, is either OT or JTA actually good enough? OT is a monster at 6'5" and 130 kgs but he can't scrum well enough in my mind.</p>
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<p>Because of Nepo Laulala's debut season the selectors have himin reserve might be tempted to try a specialist loosehead. Come in Kane Hames or Reg Goodes?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="579239" data-time="1463098374">
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<p>The only problem with 5 props is that <strong>we don't have a genuine option who can play both sides</strong> (I believe that Tu'ungafasi is the closest we have - Mitch Graham might be another option?). Reg Goodes is probably the 5th best prop, but if a tighthead goes down, he won't really be an option there (whereas he has actually played a fair bit of hooker to a reasonable level).</p>
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<p>That makes it extra disappointing that Brendon Edmonds is out until approx. October. He can play both sides and he's been huge for the Highlanders until his injury.</p> -
<p>I made a "simultaneous" post to Bobily, with pretty similar thinking. I swear we don't share a bedrooom.</p>
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<p>Agreed on Brendon Edmonds. Was superb in 2015 as well in the no-name pack which held its own. </p>
