NPC - news, injuries etc
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I don't think anyone seriously thinks he would make the ABs, he isn't quite built for test rugby in his best positions skill wise.
He is an outstanding NPC level player (which is what we were talking about i.e. move back to Mako$) but if you want to focus on Super level I think he certainly holds his own at that level.
There were Saders games last year where he was MOTM. There were games where he was by far the player that kept them in it.
To state'Mako$ can have him he's nothing special' is plainly an exaggeration to make a point. -
To state'Mako$ can have him he's nothing special' is plainly an exaggeration to make a point.
Sorry a bit late here but as I said earlier my reference was more towards the Super Rugby side of things instead of the Mitre 10 cup where a lot of players do dominate. Blind freddie could tell you that Taufua dominates at that level but I'm talking about Super Rugby level here where yes he stands out against average to weaker opposition but tends to struggle against stronger opposition
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@African-Monkey said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
To state'Mako$ can have him he's nothing special' is plainly an exaggeration to make a point.
Sorry a bit late here but as I said earlier my reference was more towards the Super Rugby side of things instead of the Mitre 10 cup where a lot of players do dominate. Blind freddie could tell you that Taufua dominates at that level but I'm talking about Super Rugby level here where yes he stands out against average to weaker opposition but tends to struggle against stronger opposition
Taufua was easily the best Crusaders' forward in 2015, when the ABs Crusaders forwards weren't trying. At times he was the only one who was. He was close to the best in 2016. His height is a major problem playing 6 or 8 at international level. Otherwise your assessment is terrible.
A great signing by the Mako$ - hard to get anyone better.
One of the best Super rugby players - especially when you take into account how many are going to be playing a bit half-hearted to save themselves for the Lions.
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@Chris-B. said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
@African-Monkey said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
To state'Mako$ can have him he's nothing special' is plainly an exaggeration to make a point.
Sorry a bit late here but as I said earlier my reference was more towards the Super Rugby side of things instead of the Mitre 10 cup where a lot of players do dominate. Blind freddie could tell you that Taufua dominates at that level but I'm talking about Super Rugby level here where yes he stands out against average to weaker opposition but tends to struggle against stronger opposition
Taufua was easily the best Crusaders' forward in 2015, when the ABs Crusaders forwards weren't trying. At times he was the only one who was. He was close to the best in 2016. His height is a major problem playing 6 or 8 at international level. Otherwise your assessment is terrible.
A great signing by the Mako$ - hard to get anyone better.
One of the best Super rugby players - especially when you take into account how many are going to be playing a bit half-hearted to save themselves for the Lions.
I'm not even sure I agree with his height being a problem. According to his Counties profile, Taufua is 1.89cm, according to his Crusaders profile 1.87cm. Compare that with Liam Messam, who's 190cm according to his All Blacks and Chiefs profile. Or Victor Vito, who's 1.92cm according to his All Blacks profile. Is one, or three, centimetres such a big difference?
What I would like the AB coaches to do, is invite a player like Taufua to be tested in the AB environment. Let him train with the ABs and see how he goes. Maybe take him on the EOYT. They have already tried Franklin and Elliott Dixon, who have been far from convincing. Squire not much better. Does a 6 or 8 really have to be 1.96cm tall like Kaino? Does it have to be a player of the same mould? Or can a player bring something else that make him an excellent 6, or 8? If he again has a good season, I think Taufua deserves an opportunity (and no, not just him; Akira Ioane, if he has grown up in the mean time, as well.)
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@Stargazer said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
I'm not even sure I agree with his height being a problem. According to his Counties profile
does it include his hair?
How many units of @mn5 is it?
and, more importantly, has Jegga had breakfast with him?
I'm septical of all of the reported heights.
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@nzzp said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
@Stargazer said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
I'm not even sure I agree with his height being a problem. According to his Counties profile
does it include his hair?
How many units of @mn5 is it?
and, more importantly, has Jegga had breakfast with him?
I'm septical of all of the reported heights.
@Canes4life is the expert not me although I've heard rumours Ardie Savea managed to hit 6 foot 4 after some intense off season training
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@MN5 said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
@nzzp said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
@Stargazer said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
I'm not even sure I agree with his height being a problem. According to his Counties profile
does it include his hair?
How many units of @mn5 is it?
and, more importantly, has Jegga had breakfast with him?
I'm septical of all of the reported heights.
@Canes4life is the expert not me although I've heard rumours Ardie Savea managed to hit 6 foot 4 after some intense off season training
Hah, right you are - I get my belligerent keyboard warriors confused sometimes. Apologies to you both
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@Stargazer I tend to think everything matters in test rugby.
ABs transitioned from having a lineout that regularly malfunctioned when we had Jerry and Rodney at 6&8 to having a pretty impregnable lineout with four tall options including Kaino and Read. We're usually going to have a pretty free throw somewhere in the lineout.
So everything else being equal I'd take the taller option at 6 every time. Otherwise you may end up giving the opposition an easy lineout mismatch with Taufua standing alongside someone of Kaino's height.
But, Taufua probably could be paired with Read without our lineout becoming too dysfunctional. Would be more problematic with a shorter No. 8.
I don't think it rules Taufua out of AB contention - but he has to be doing other things better than everyone else. I'd be surprised if he's not in the frame, but I can see why he hasn't yet made it close enough to the head of the queue - with Read, Kaino, Squire, Dixon, Luatua, Messam, Vito and others also battling for the spots.
Queue has probably shortened a bit this year. If he's playing well I'd consider him - especially if he shows at Super level that he's genuine cover for 7 as well. I didn't think either of Squire or Dixon really nailed down a spot as their own.
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@Stargazer When did Taufua grow 7cm since arriving in rugby? There's no way he's the same height as Messam. Ardie must be 6 ft 7 by now.
Squire has been good as an impact player and who is Franklin?
I actually want to see him convert to 7, I think he'll go well there and increase his AB chances.
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Otago's Lee Allan is all done and dusted at age 25, due to concussion issues.
Allan makes call to give game away
Otago loose forward Lee Allan has hung up his boots, deciding to give the game away due to concussion. Allan, who played 35 games for Otago...
Otago loose forward Lee Allan has hung up his boots, deciding to give the game away due to concussion.
Allan, who played 35 games for Otago from 2012 to 2016, and two games for the Highlanders in 2014, said in the end it was not a hard decision to stop playing.
"There was just one head knock too many. It was probably getting to the stage where it was getting a bit dangerous. You’ve got to start thinking about the future," the 25-year-old said.
"I really love the game and all that. And luckily I can stay involved with the job I have here with the union although I won’t be playing."
Allan works for the Otago Rugby Football Union as a coaching development officer and it is something he was passionate about.
He picked up two head knocks in 2014 and, at the start of the 2015 season, he suffered a bad concussion in a pre-season match against the Crusaders in Timaru. That forced him out of rugby for all of that year.
He made a return last year for Otago, having started playing club rugby for Crescent in South Otago, while working on a farm in South Otago.
He then moved to Dunedin and played for Kaikorai in the later stages of the club season, being instrumental in helping the club win the banner.
Allan, who hails from Kaitangata, was then selected in the Otago Mitre 10 Cup squad but again picked up two concussionsHe suffered a concussion against Manawatu in the final round of the Mitre 10 Cup and did not play in either of the playoff games.
"It was a bit of a no-brainer to be honest. I still want to have a future and want to be able to enjoy myself. I’ve got a partner to consider and a future with her.
"It was just about how easy I was picking them [concussions] up. I never had any bad symptoms from them but they were still coming."
Allan said he would miss the playing of the game.
"I’ve had a few highlights. The biggest one is just the camaraderie, just being around the boys, helping out, being part of a team. Winning the Ranfurly Shield was a big buzz as was making my debut for Otago in Balclutha.
"And winning a Super rugby title. Even though I didn’t get to play I was part of the squad."
He would not be helping coach any side at this stage as he wanted to dedicate himself to his job with the union in which he helped sides and coaches develop their skills.
Allan and long-term partner Alyce Carson are engaged and are due to be married this time next year.
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@Nepia said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
@Stargazer When did Taufua grow 7cm since arriving in rugby? There's no way he's the same height as Messam. Ardie must be 6 ft 7 by now.
Squire has been good as an impact player and who is Franklin?
I actually want to see him convert to 7, I think he'll go well there and increase his AB chances.
You can edit his height on PS4.
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@Dice said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
@Nepia said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
@Stargazer When did Taufua grow 7cm since arriving in rugby? There's no way he's the same height as Messam. Ardie must be 6 ft 7 by now.
Squire has been good as an impact player and who is Franklin?
I actually want to see him convert to 7, I think he'll go well there and increase his AB chances.
You can edit his height on PS4.
Like I'd ever play with a team (Counties, Ta$man, Crusaders) that includes Taufua on it!
I might check him out as my back 7 for the next ABs I select though.
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Not a big surprise: Otago have signed that new, talented AB7s playmaker Vilimoni Koroi.
Also: Tom Donnelly will hang up his boots at the end of the French Top 14 season and has been appointed the new Otago assistant coach for 2017.
Donnelly appointed as assistant coach of Otago
Former All Black and Highlanders lock Tom Donnelly is the new assistant coach of the Otago Mitre 10 Cup side. Donnelly (35) has been appointed for...
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@Stargazer said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
Not a big surprise: Otago have signed that new, talented AB7s playmaker Vilimoni Koroi.
That's a very good signing if it has Highlander backing as well.
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@mikedogz said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
Richard Judd one of the reserve halfbacks for Counties has signed with BOP.
Good player, even if he is a Swamp Fox.
I guess he simply wants more playing time. Being behind Pulu and now Taumateine (who has also leapfrogged him at the Chiefs) was probably a big part of the move.
Even once Augie gets his AB jersey back*, Judd will still be second string at CM.*just to give Nepia a hernia
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@Crucial said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
@mikedogz said in 2016 Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
Richard Judd one of the reserve halfbacks for Counties has signed with BOP.
Good player, even if he is a Swamp Fox.
I guess he simply wants more playing time. Being behind Pulu and now Taumateine (who has also leapfrogged him at the Chiefs) was probably a big part of the move.
Even once Augie gets his AB jersey back*, Judd will still be second string at CM.*just to give Nepia a hernia
Damn, I wish he was still with the Chiefs now. I like Augustine, but it's always fun to have a player from Counties to play the hungus game with.
