AB bolters thread
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="579263" data-time="1463103793">
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<p>Which makes selecting only 2 hookers more of a risk. In the RWC final the ABs had 14 lineout feeds and only 3 scrum feeds (8 scrums in total). I think they'll choose 6 props and 3 hookers to be safe. I never thought that B Franks was actually that good but Cron obviously rated him. He certainly wasn't as good a scrummager as Loe or even Dowd on both sides of the scrum.</p>
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<p>It does, but it is a risk that the selectors have been willing to take before. There have been times when Mealamu and Hore were the only hookers taken overseas, and there have also been times where only Mealamu and Coles were taken overseas. I believe in the past, they said that if things went to crap, they'd have Woodcock throwing in and one of the tighthead props would play hooker.</p>
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<p>In my opinion, the issue with a lack of a third tighthead prop option is one to do with player safety, and that according to the rules of the game, they need a bench option who can play there (even if they don't get on the field).</p>
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<p>With hooker, I imagine Reg Goodes would be safe enough playing there to take the risk, given his previous experience there. His lineout throwing could need a bit of work (though he's done it before) but it'd still require two hookers to go down in a short time span for it to be an issue (one would have to go down shortly before the game, the other in the middle of the game). Otherwise, you could just call James Parsons or Hika Elliot in at short notice.</p> -
<p>Both Crockett and Moody have played minutes at tighthead for Canterbury in the NPC.</p>
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<p>I think we could cover an emergency if we had to with those 2.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="579287" data-time="1463110851"><p>People on here said that he lacked the little extras to ever get picked for the ABs, same with Jeremy Thrush but they both did. Craig Clarke must be pissed off based on that......</p></blockquote>
"People on here"? -
<p>And I don't think Hames is anywhere near the 17 with those 2 in the squad.</p>
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<p>Not until he starts a few games for the Chiefs</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="579296" data-time="1463112586">
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<p>"People on here"?</p>
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<p>Oh sorry, THE FERN.......</p>
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<p>Go back to sleep, I don't want you getting grumpy later on in the day.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="579299" data-time="1463112987"><p>Oh sorry, THE FERN.......<br><br>
Go back to sleep, I don't want you getting grumpy later on in the day.</p></blockquote>
I don't recall that being said about Donnelly... -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="579294" data-time="1463112514">
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<p>Both Crockett and Moody have played minutes at tighthead for Canterbury in the NPC.</p>
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<p>I think we could cover an emergency if we had to with those 2.</p>
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<p>Personally, I'd probably feel more comfortable with Faumuina being the loosehead cover (with another tighthead in the squad) than Crockett/Moody being the tighthead cover a (particularly once Laulala is back).</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="579302" data-time="1463113801">
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<p>I don't recall that being said about Donnelly...</p>
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<p>Red Beard, Bart and guys like that were all over it. Said he lacked the "extras" that were needed that Williams, Boric etc had.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="579303" data-time="1463113891">
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<p>Personally, I'd probably feel more comfortable with Faumuina being the loosehead cover (with another tighthead in the squad) than Crockett/Moody being the tighthead cover a (particularly once Laulala is back).</p>
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<p>Agree, was really responding to the comment that we needed 6 props. I think 5 in the squad is adequate.</p>
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<p>I'd only look to use either of those guys in an emergency</p> -
Nah.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="579305" data-time="1463114139">
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<p>Nah.</p>
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<p>Yeah nah Yeah bro. It's true. They were both so ashamed they got something wrong on the interweb that they left in disgrace, never to be heard from again.</p> -
<p>Red Beard loved Donnelly.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="579311" data-time="1463115274"><p>Red Beard loved Donnelly.</p></blockquote>
I thought Bart did too. I don't recall any talk about him lacking "those little extras". <br><br>
MN5 did you mean " People in my head"? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="579312" data-time="1463116071">
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<p>I thought Bart did too. I don't recall any talk about him lacking "those little extras".<br><br>
MN5 did you mean " People in my head"?</p>
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<p>No. All you ferners are real to me.</p>
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<p>I'll text them both and ask if they remember and have a full report to you by Monday.</p> -
Wow cool.
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<p>those 2 woulda loved the old school Donnelly! </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="579324" data-time="1463120231">
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<p>those 2 woulda loved the old school Donnelly! </p>
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<p>You're talking about them like they're dead. All they did was get lives and leave the fern.</p> -
<p>That's no way to live.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="579327" data-time="1463122665">
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<p>You're talking about them like they're dead. All they did was get lives and leave the fern.</p>
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<p>They are dead to me!</p>
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<p>Not to mention form a guy using peoples opinions that arent here to back them up (or deny)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="579330" data-time="1463123096">
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<p>They are dead to me!</p>
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<p>Not to mention form a guy using peoples opinions that arent here to back them up (or deny)</p>
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<p>I mentioned it in passing. You douches are making a thing of it.</p>
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<p>I spoke to RB on the phone the other day. He didn't say to say hi to anyone, maybe he really has moved on. It's tough cos now we just have to judge who is a good prop by guesswork.</p> -
<p>Kaino still very much in pole position....but he is 33 and Dixon is 26, might be a change in the guard soon.</p>
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<p>Dixon has to be a shoe in for the All Blacks now. His style of game would suit the All Blacks as well. He has a combination of a hard nosed physical type like Kaino, but probaly offers more than an aging Kaino on attack you would have to say.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="579563" data-time="1463137880"><p>Dixon has to be a shoe in for the All Blacks now. His style of game would suit the All Blacks as well. He has a combination of a hard nosed physical type like Kaino, but probaly offers more than an aging Kaino on attack you would have to say.</p></blockquote><br>His workrate and impact have been very good and it's not like this is a flash in the pan - he was very good last year too.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="579563" data-time="1463137880">
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<p>Dixon has to be a shoe in for the All Blacks now. His style of game would suit the All Blacks as well. He has a combination of a hard nosed physical type like Kaino, but probaly offers more than an aging Kaino on attack you would have to say.</p>
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<p>They will take 2 opensides, Read and Kaino. Personally, I think Luatua has to make it. It's tempting to take Dixon but Vito is still around. I would probably find a spot for Dixon but I don't think it is clear cut.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="579576" data-time="1463139370"><p>They will take 2 opensides, Read and Kaino. Personally, I think Luatua has to make it. It's tempting to take Dixon but Vito is still around. I would probably find a spot for Dixon but I don't think it is clear cut.</p></blockquote>
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Vito is surely out of the picture - a guy already signed for overseas who has been mailing it in for most of Super Rugby.<br><br>
I'm a Luatua and Blues fan but i'm not sure he 'has' to make it over Dixon. Dixon is playing bloody well and can cover 6, lock and 8. -
<p>Vito is out of the picture. Dixon has shown in last years Super Rugby semi and final that he has what it takes and has backed it up this season</p>
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<p>If Read was to go down injured , who starts at 8 ? </p>
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<p>This is where I see Vito as a loss , a genuine 8 now IMO </p> -
Whitelock the younger.....
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<p>Let's not lose the run of ourselves.</p>
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<p>Whitelock L has had 2 excellent games in my time watching him play: the Reds (for the Crusaders) 2 seasons back I think, and last night.</p>
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<p>He's not yet the 2nd best 8 in NZ.</p>
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<p>Ye olde loose forward AB squad selections is going to be mighty interesting.</p> -
I have Dixon as the 2nd best 6 in the country right now, behind the kaino of 2015. He's better than the next best available 8 in the country, who is probably squire. If they take 5 or 6 specialist loose forwards then he's in. If they want a guy to be a hybrid lock, 6 and 8 or a guy to cover a loose forward positions then that's a different story.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="579601" data-time="1463167941">
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<p>I have Dixon as the 2nd best 6 in the country right now, behind the kaino of 2015. He's better than the next best available 8 in the country, who is probably squire. If they take 5 or 6 specialist loose forwards then he's in. If they want a guy to be a hybrid lock, 6 and 8 or a guy to cover a loose forward positions then that's a different story.</p>
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<p>Yeah, if they want a 6/8/Lock it has to be Luatua, who in fairness has been in decent enough form.</p>
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<p>I didn't realise until recently that kaino is 33, so a succession plan definitely needs to be put in place at 6.</p>
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<p>Taufua wasn't bad, but dixon was better i think.</p> -
Don't understand the love for luatua. He looked better than he actually was in 2013 due to playing for unbeaten all blacks. He turned up unfit for the blues in 2014, got his public humiliation that june running wind sprints, picked for the 2014 rugby championship after a lock injury crisis (BBBR and PT were crocked) and has been an ex all black ever since. He's as hard as a marshmallow and we have better young lock / 6 options.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="579604" data-time="1463168586"><p>Don't understand the love for luatua. He looked better than he actually was in 2013 due to playing for unbeaten all blacks. He turned up unfit for the blues in 2014, got his public humiliation that june running wind sprints, picked for the 2014 rugby championship after a lock injury crisis (BBBR and PT were crocked) and has been an ex all black ever since. He's as hard as a marshmallow and we have better young lock / 6 options.</p></blockquote>
That's a bit unfair as he has been in excellent form this year! Probably blues best player this year -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="579604" data-time="1463168586"><p>
Don't understand the love for luatua. He looked better than he actually was in 2013 due to playing for unbeaten all blacks. He turned up unfit for the blues in 2014, got his public humiliation that june running wind sprints, picked for the 2014 rugby championship after a lock injury crisis (BBBR and PT were crocked) and has been an ex all black ever since. He's as hard as a marshmallow and we have better young lock / 6 options.</p></blockquote>
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That's harsh. Frankly I disagree entirely. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="579595" data-time="1463164199"><p>If Read was to go down injured , who starts at 8 ? <br>
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This is where I see Vito as a loss , a genuine 8 now IMO<br></p></blockquote>
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Where is the value in picking Vito when he's buggering off overseas? IMO ABs are better off developing another 8 option, or at least seeing if someone can play there (think Dixon/Luatua/Squire etc). -
I think there's a kid called akira ioane who's earmarked for that trial sometime this year.<br><br>
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Blindside is where we station our pack enforcer. Jerry Collins, Jerome kaino. I don't picture luatua as capable of providing that muscle. <br><br>
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An enforcer job is certainly a role Dixon doesn't mind taking on. He's absolutely fantastic.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="579647" data-time="1463183614">
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<p><strong>Blindside is where we station our pack enforcer</strong>. Jerry Collins, Jerome kaino. I don't picture luatua as capable of providing that muscle.<br><br>
Sent from my VF-895N using Tapatalk</p>
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<p>Yeah but Rueben Thorne and Taine Randell have played there too.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="579595" data-time="1463164199"><p>If Read was to go down injured , who starts at 8 ? <br><br>
This is where I see Vito as a loss , a genuine 8 now IMO</p></blockquote>
Kaino with Luatua to the blindside. After Rio it will be Akira as Read's understudy. Massive upsides to him.<br><br>
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