MotM vs Australia I
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="608095" data-time="1471856960">
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<p>When Kaino retires, he will be hard to replace. I know there are a lot of good sixes in NZ (Dixon, Squire, Luatua, Taufua, Shields, Seu, Fifita, Sanders) but none of them can terrorize the ball carriers as Kaino does. None of them has his physicality (Luatua maybe) nor his technical abilities. I think he is the perfect 6 while most of the others have issues in their game (Dixon and Squire can go missing sometimes, Taufua is not big enough, Shields has tits for hands, Seu and Fifita do not have the required physicality yet, Sanders misses too many tackles). Luatua is the one who resembles most to Kaino IMO.</p>
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<p>I actually think Squire plays the more similar style to Kaino. He seems to have that combination of psycho and physicality in the tackle, plus the running game, both of which have been a hallmark of Kaino since he was consistently selected for the ABs in 2008.</p>
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<p>The big thing will be for Squire (or whoever takes over from JK) will be consistency of effort that has been relied on for so many years.</p> -
<p>JK is a really smart footballer, something his replacement is going to have to learn. Squire doesn't strike me as that guy, yet. </p>
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<p>I originally went with Barrett, Read and Retallick.</p>
<p>But on second viewing and one without the beer goggles on, I had to revise my picks and add Kaino as I think he had a huge impact on the game.</p>
<p>So new picks are Barrett, Read and Kaino.</p>
<p>His tight work on defense plus with ball in hand allowed Read and others to range a little wider.</p>
<p>And that chargedown, regather and score was just sublime!</p>
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<p>It's also hard to seperate Retallick and Whitelock for their immense work all night. We are absolutely spoiled to have those two working in tandem - Probably will go down in Rugby history as the best locking combo of all time!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="608306" data-time="1471918660"><p>JK is a really smart footballer, something his replacement is going to have to learn. Squire doesn't strike me as that guy, yet.</p></blockquote>
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Yep. Kaino has definitely developed into a high IQ player. Remarkable really given when I first watched him he seemed more interested in making the big hit/shoulder charge or wanting to force the issue. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="608444" data-time="1471951585"><p>
Yep. Kaino has definitely developed into a high IQ player. Remarkable really given when I first watched him he seemed more interested in making the big hit/shoulder charge or wanting to force the issue.</p></blockquote>
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I've loved JK since his first rangy iteration, when he spent that Barbarians game embarrassing mat rogers -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="608095" data-time="1471856960"><p>When Kaino retires, he will be hard to replace. I know there are a lot of good sixes in NZ (Dixon, Squire, Luatua, Taufua, Shields, Seu, Fifita, Sanders) but none of them can terrorize the ball carriers as Kaino does. None of them has his physicality (Luatua maybe) nor his technical abilities. I think he is the perfect 6 while most of the others have issues in their game (Dixon and Squire can go missing sometimes, Taufua is not big enough, Shields has tits for hands, Seu and Fifita do not have the required physicality yet, Sanders misses too many tackles). Luatua is the one who resembles most to Kaino IMO.</p></blockquote><blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="608095" data-time="1471856960"><p>When Kaino retires, he will be hard to replace. I know there are a lot of good sixes in NZ (Dixon, Squire, Luatua, Taufua, Shields, Seu, Fifita, Sanders) but none of them can terrorize the ball carriers as Kaino does. None of them has his physicality (Luatua maybe) nor his technical abilities. I think he is the perfect 6 while most of the others have issues in their game (Dixon and Squire can go missing sometimes, Taufua is not big enough, Shields has tits for hands, Seu and Fifita do not have the required physicality yet, Sanders misses too many tackles). Luatua is the one who resembles most to Kaino IMO.</p></blockquote>
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Spot on. Lots of sides have thought the way to beating the All Blacks was through big ball carrying forwards. Jerome Kaino and Brad Thorn before him played a big role in marking, bringing down and hurling back the opponents' behemoths. It is not just about the number of tackles a player makes, it is the quality of those hits and who they bring down. -
<p>After Kaino's 2nd(?) shoulder surgery and then move overseas I thought he was done. Unbelievable that he managed to come back and reach the same levels as 2011. Like Nepia I've always had a massive man-crush on him, one of the all time AB greats.</p>
