Your 4 midfielders for the Lions

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.

Milk

@Bones said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:

@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.

Ha. Same here... and all these people suggesting Ngatai... OTT even by Fern standards.

Crotty, ALB, Williams for sure IMO. Probably Fekitoa to round out the 4. I can't see them bringing in Proctor, or elevating Ioane or Moala during a Lions tour.

gt12

Shit, I forgot about Proctor too, and didn't mention Laumape.

It's fucking embarrassing, and fucking awesome just how many great players we have, who could be brought in to do the job and do it well.

infidel

SBNZ
ALB
Crotty
Fekitoa

Paekakboyz

I'd like to see
ALB
SBW
Laumape
Crotty

Crotty and ALB give you options at both 12 and 13. Laumape snakes Moala for me, and I just can't warm to Fekitoa. He has done pretty well for us in black, but I don't rate his distribution and decision making. He has played well this year though, I'd expect he's doing enough currently to hold his spot.

akan004

SBW
ALB
Goodhue
Proctor

gollum

@infidel said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:

SBNZ
ALB
Crotty
Fekitoa

Yep, me too. Moala is very close & probably next cab, but I don't buy the idea that in a Lions test they'd look at guys like Crotty & Fekitoa who have been in the system for years & are playing well & go "hmm.. maybe we should pair Laumape & Procter with Rieko on the bench?"

The selectors have never really once in 10 odd years been anything other than conservative & coinsistant bar the odd wing. I doubt they'll start tossing wild cards v Gatland. Plus, super form is a shit thing to go by.

Crucial

@gollum said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:

@infidel said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:

SBNZ
ALB
Crotty
Fekitoa

Yep, me too. Moala is very close & probably next cab, but I don't buy the idea that in a Lions test they'd look at guys like Crotty & Fekitoa who have been in the system for years & are playing well & go "hmm.. maybe we should pair Laumape & Procter with Rieko on the bench?"

The selectors have never really once in 10 odd years been anything other than conservative & coinsistant bar the odd wing. I doubt they'll start tossing wild cards v Gatland. Plus, super form is a shit thing to go by.

Yep. As long as injury doesn't interfere I think you can ink Crotty in at 12. The incumbent 13s (Fekitoa and ALB) will battle it out for first shot.
That provides 3 midfielders and there is probably only going to be 4. SBW gets the last spot as he is not only always in the coaches plans they love using him for impact in the last 20.
I think selecting our bench is going to be one of the big keys in this series. The NH teams have finally caught up with the realisation that the bench shouldn't just be your next best cover player but someone that can take on the responsibility to keep the tempo up and better still someone with the vision to spot weak areas where tired players are grouped.

Crockett, Faumuina, Squire, Ardie Savea, TJP, SBW are all proven in this regard. Nathan Harris was probably the guy they really wanted to sub on for Coles but Taylor fits for now. Biggest question would be whether they take a chance on DMac on the bench.

Back to the midfield options though the next in line players are probably Tamanivalu, Ioane, Moala, then the group that includes Ngatai, Proctor, Laumape and Buckman

MN5

Umaga
McCallister
Smith
Mauger

The Silver Fern

Your 4 midfielders for the Lions