Your 4 midfielders for the Lions

Unco

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="610965" data-time="1472604271">
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People seem to be picking three second fives. Moala, ALB, SBW and Ngatai are all primarily 12's. Crotty, Fekitoa and Tamanivalu are all primarily 13's. Someone of them can play both positions and some of them can only really play one. I genuinely cannot see SBW, Crotty or Fekitoa missing out so I think we have ALB, Moala and Ngatai playing for one spot.
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Crotty's a 12 for the ABs. I think the only times he's ever played at 13 for the AB was when Nonu or SBW were at 12. And I'd argue Moala is probably a 13, since that's where he played against Wales and the Blues 12 jersey will be SBW's next year.
 
But instead of pinning players down as 12's or 13's, I'd split them by "type" because you want that Nonu/Conrad balance.
 
Regardless, I agree that SBW, Crotty and Fekitoa pretty much have their spots on lock and I'd probably go with Ngatai as the fourth, assuming he's playing as well as he was earlier this year. I am wondering if ALB could do a Kahui and sneak in as a centre/wing though.

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="610922" data-time="1472597614">
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It's weird becuase right now I have abosolutely no idea who the midfield will be, but I'm also not concerned about it at all. I think we have a host of players that would do a good job. Settling on a final combination will be the challenge for the selectors.
 
I really like Moala, him paired with Crotty is my preference at this stage. If Ngatai can get fit and make the step up to international footy then he will be in the mix, but he is completely unproven at this stage. Plenty of guys have looked the goods at Super level.
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Ngatai looked excellent at Super Rugby level. Maybe he would at international level. Maybe he wouldn't. I don't see how he's becomes a guaranteed AB selection for some people.
 
Hansen and co have invested the most time in SBW, Crotty & Fekitoa. Leaving one of those out would be a bit tantamount to failure on their part.

antipodean

Or acknowledgement that there's a better player than one of them.

No Quarter

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="611058" data-time="1472617831">Ngatai looked excellent at Super Rugby level. Maybe he would at international level. Maybe he wouldn't. I don't see how he's becomes a guaranteed AB selection for some people. 
Hansen and co have invested the most time in SBW, Crotty & Fekitoa. Leaving one of those out would be a bit tantamount to failure on their part.</blockquote>
I think those 3 are almost certain, and Moala has a very good shot at the 4th spot due to his versatility.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="611058" data-time="1472617831">
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Ngatai looked excellent at Super Rugby level. Maybe he would at international level. Maybe he wouldn't. I don't see how he's becomes a guaranteed AB selection for some people.
 
Hansen and co have invested the most time in SBW, Crotty & Fekitoa. Leaving one of those out would be a bit tantamount to failure on their part.
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In terms of a "hyped beyond any level of rational thinking even on an internet forum" midfield can I nominate C Ngatai at 12 and J Barrett at 13 to take on the Lions next year ?
 
The other guys mentioned are just place fillers at best

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="611081" data-time="1472625550">
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In terms of a "hyped beyond any level of rational thinking even on an internet forum" midfield can I nominate C Ngatai at 12 and J Barrett at 13 to take on the Lions next year ?
 
The other guys mentioned are just place fillers at best
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If you're going to be all whiny and repetitive about it then I think we should be allowed to use the "Fucken go and watch more Chiefs games fluffybunny" line without having to get creative. ;)

gt12

SBW, Crotty is our first choice IMO. 
Following that Fekitoa has a lot of miles on the clock now, so Moala, ALB, Taimanivalu, and Ngatai (in that order) fighting for the fourth spot. 
IF all were injury free, I'd pick SBW, Crotty, Ngatai and Moala with Fekitoa next in line or ALB (who looked so at home there he could become first choice 12 if SBW doesn't come back well). However, I think Ngatai will be a 'what might have been' player - injuries and versatility have slowed him down. 
Not exactly a weak area anymore, is it?

Derm McCrum

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="610338" data-time="1472425401">
If the clubs are that concerned about the tour and the injury / short offseason, why don't they just give the Lions players August and September off? There are how many clubs who will supply players to the tour - 12 or 15? Even if you're taking 46 players (I'm not sure what the squad size is going to be but it needs to be huge) then that's only 3-4 players per supplying club. Perhaps Saracens or other top English clubs will be disproportionately badly hit. 
The Lions tour is the biggest rugby event outside the RWC, and who cares if it disrupts the start of a club season once every four years (yes, I know RWC also disrupts the start of the club season once every four years).</blockquote>
 
The world and its mother has complained about the idiotic schedule for the Lions tour next year. Despite the timing of club seasons being known about well in advance, some idiots went ahead and scheduled a match for 3 June. NZRU must be falling off their seats laughing at the incompetency and dollar prospects. 
Hope it's not too late to drop three or four of the midweek matches and the third test which is redundant anyway. 
Hopefully Argentina are included in the next schedule post 2019. A Lions tour there would be cracking.

jegga

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pot Hale" data-cid="611168" data-time="1472668663">
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The world and its mother has complained about the idiotic schedule for the Lions tour next year. Despite the timing of club seasons being known about well in advance, some idiots went ahead and scheduled a match for 3 June. NZRU must be falling off their seats laughing at the incompetency and dollar prospects. 
Hope it's not too late to drop three or four of the midweek matches and the third test which is redundant anyway. 
Hopefully Argentina are included in the next schedule post 2019. A Lions tour there would be cracking.
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[cough]

kiwiinmelb

its like throwing darts at the dartboard for me , 
 
So much there without a lot splitting them , 
 
If SBW gets back to full fitness , I reckon he is the closest to a certainty because Hansen loves him and has gone back to him pretty much whenever available , 
 
One thing is for sure , if all fit. good players will miss out , 
 
SBW, Crotty , Fekitoa, Moala at a stab

rotated

SBW, ALB, Fekitoa, Moala.
 
This is largely on the basis that I think Fekitoa will come right by years end and have himself down as one of the first backs on the team sheet. The selection panel (and injuries) will give him every opportunity to claim a spot in the centres - but if he can't do it by the EOYT I think they will tire of him and he will need an outstanding Super season or a run of injuries for others to make it back.
 
If he doesn't pan out or Moala doesn't continue to make strides with the Blues then Ngatai if fit and firing would replace either.
 
Also with NMS returning, Savea and Naholo wildcards and our propensity to turn up raw barnstorming wingers regularly there is also every chance a 31 year old Ben Smith factors into the midfield equation more than he does now. Not necessarily as a starter but he could be the 4th midfield cover in a squad where you need to create room for another utility in Damian McKensie.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="610912" data-time="1472595137">
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You only have to see how the Chiefs backline performed with Ngatai, and then without him, to realise the influence he has. Hansen talked him up too when the AB squad was selected. I think he can assume the role of C Smith as the ABs backline general.
 
But he needs to get back on the field first. The Maori tour is also an option for him.
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Yep. The AB selectors don't pick too many duds these days.
 
In my opinion, Ngatai looked the best of the NZ midfielders in Super rugby this year. I don't see any real reason why he wouldn't be able to replicate that for the All Blacks.
 
A couple of months ago the selectors thought he was better than Moala, Tamanivalu, and ALB - the only things that have changed is that Ngatai has been injured and the others have got to play a game or two of test rugby with good to middling results.
 
It will greatly surprise me if Ngatai turns out to be useless at test rugby - in fact, I expect him to be fucking good.
 
I'd really like to see SBW play centre for both the Blues and the ABs. There's a bit of a logjam at 2nd five and, since he's pretty much a certainty to be picked, I think we'd be more likely to pair our best alternatives with him that way (those guys being Ngatai and Crotty for me).

Derm McCrum

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="611169" data-time="1472669367">
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[cough]
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Bit of a cold, have we? :)

Paekakboyz

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pot Hale" data-cid="611212" data-time="1472689043">
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Bit of a cold, have we? :)
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Just getting his check up with the doc :whistle:

gt12

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="611203" data-time="1472686701">
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Yep. The AB selectors don't pick too many duds these days.
 
In my opinion, Ngatai looked the best of the NZ midfielders in Super rugby this year. I don't see any real reason why he wouldn't be able to replicate that for the All Blacks.
 
A couple of months ago the selectors thought he was better than Moala, Tamanivalu, and ALB - the only things that have changed is that Ngatai has been injured and the others have got to play a game or two of test rugby with good to middling results.
 
It will greatly surprise me if Ngatai turns out to be useless at test rugby - in fact, I expect him to be fucking good.
 
I'd really like to see SBW play centre for both the Blues and the ABs. There's a bit of a logjam at 2nd five and, since he's pretty much a certainty to be picked, I think we'd be more likely to pair our best alternatives with him that way (those guys being Ngatai and Crotty for me).
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On the other hand, I reckon that Crotty, Ngatai, and even Moala look better at 13, so assuming SBW comes back and holds his spot, wouldn't the others getting more time in the 13 jersey be better? Plus Ioane is coming too.

Billy Tell

@Billy-Tell said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:

Based on what Hansen has said and who he has selected, these seem to be the pool of players.

Sonny Bill Williams (injured), Ryan Crotty (injured this week), Malakai Fekitoa, George Moala (injured), Anton Lienert-Brown, Seta Tamanivalu, Rieko Ioane, Charlie Ngatai (injured), and Hansen also named-checked Richard Buckman at one stage.
I consider NgÄtai totally unproven at AB level. At the moment, assuming everyone fit and 4 spots: SBW, Crotty, Fekitoa, Moala for me.

And bump. Laumape has been a revelation this season, whereas I thought he looked completely one-dimensional in 2016. Meanwhile Moala & Ioane haven't really put their hands up, Tamanivalu has been injured and was on the wing anyway, Ngatai remains unsighted, and Buckman is back. Some people have been impressed by Proctor.

Crotty, SBW and ALB seem certainties. And Fekitoa has been steadily improving.

But should be interesting times. Definitely not the massive weakness feared after the end of Nonu/Smith anyway.

antipodean

@Billy-Tell Moala has to work on his distribution skills. Ioane apparently has to further develop his work ethic. As good as Laumape has been, Proctor makes everyone around him look good by doing everything well.

If I wanted a centre for his defence alone, it would be Fekitoa. On attack he just needs to be decisive.

Bovidae

@Billy-Tell said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:

Crotty, SBW and ALB seem certainties. And Fekitoa has been steadily improving.

I think this is the 4 they'll select in the end. Who starts in the 1st test is still to be decided.

Ioane and Moala's best chance is to make the squad as a utility. Ioane a better bet.

Laumape is still untested at the pointy end of the Super season, which the AB selectors focus on.

gt12

Tamanivalu might be getting time on the wing to fill the midfield/wing spot with Cruden coming off the bench. He's my pick for 5th or 6th right now, ahead of R Ioane.

I can't see Ngatai getting in for the Lions -perhaps later in the year if he is fit - so it's really between Fekitoa, SBW and Moala with ALB and Crotty nailed on certainties. I can't see them leaving out SBW or, for that matter, Fekitoa unless Moala, Ioane etc are totally playing down the house. Buck man is a dark horse, but would need injuries. He's about 7th or 8th by my list.

In (my) order: ALB, Crotty, SBW, Fekitoa, Moala or Tamanivalu, Ioane, Buckman or Ngatai

Bones

@Billy-Tell you fucker! I was reading all these posts not even mentioning ALB and becoming exasperated, only to realise they were almost a year old.

The Silver Fern

Your 4 midfielders for the Lions