All Blacks - loosie selections in recent years
-
One thing not really discussed here is even what the hell is EB's best position, or Jacobson.
It seems unfair to move them around, and maybe we should just stick with a specialist 6. Sure they can both do that but LJ seems to be permanently moved because of his utility value and if you want a big bruising 6, I just don't think EB's body can take it. So it's not saying he/they are crap players but an argument they're being done a disservice (well actually LJ can play all 3 positions but he's kind of turned into a swinging door at international level). Whoever they choose I hope they bed them in ,and try to establish decent combinations. -
Jacobson feels like an ideal bench option - can play all three positions, very Masoe like.
The problem is that's literally an entire generation of rugby ago. The current replacement laws and their implementation by SA have shown that you may as well stack your bench with 6 forward replacements, so all-rounders are less and less important.
And, in other news:
"We're just making sure we get our combinations right, like who can play in two positions. What will help us win those three tests ... how do we manage those positions, combinations - that's been our work at the moment."
Razor, ODT, May 2024
-
Luke Jacobson has never been given a proper starting run for the All Blacks - he's largely been thrown scraps against average teams when the whole side is rotated or asked to come off the bench, which isn't really his strength. I wouldn't mind seeing him get some proper minutes in one position.
-
-
@Smuts said in All Blacks - loosie selections in recent years:
Sticking a seriously out of date and uninformed oar in, but Jacobson, Sititi, Ardie was the combo I was afraid Robertson might discover by accident.
Can’t pretend to explain why but that felt like it would have the right workrate to flash balance
It might not be out of date, Robertson has said very nice things about LJ in the past and Ardie has proven he's quite decent still at 7.
-
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks - loosie selections in recent years:
Luke Jacobson has never been given a proper starting run for the All Blacks
Also, he hasn't started that often in his better positions (8 or 7). I don't think LJ is a 6, and he never plays there for the Chiefs.
-
I like Jacobson, but position is a real problem for me.
He isn't fast enough or a good enough support runner, or quite good enough over the ball to be my ideal 7. I think Savea and Kirifi are clear as my 1&2 there.
At 8, he isn't the ball runner I want. Sotutu, Sititi, Lakai, Lio-Willie, Savea are all better.
At 6, he isn't the lineout target I'd like - which can be mitigated if they pick Sotutu. But if we go down the workrate 6 path, then he's not as involved as EB or DP. -
@reprobate said in All Blacks - loosie selections in recent years:
I like Jacobson, but position is a real problem for me.
He isn't fast enough or a good enough support runner, or quite good enough over the ball to be my ideal 7. I think Savea and Kirifi are clear as my 1&2 there.
At 8, he isn't the ball runner I want. Sotutu, Sititi, Lakai, Lio-Willie, Savea are all better.
At 6, he isn't the lineout target I'd like - which can be mitigated if they pick Sotutu. But if we go down the workrate 6 path, then he's not as involved as EB or DP.he is a big hitter though isn't he ? hardest shoulder in super Rugby or some nonsense like that.
-
@MN5 said in All Blacks - loosie selections in recent years:
@reprobate said in All Blacks - loosie selections in recent years:
I like Jacobson, but position is a real problem for me.
He isn't fast enough or a good enough support runner, or quite good enough over the ball to be my ideal 7. I think Savea and Kirifi are clear as my 1&2 there.
At 8, he isn't the ball runner I want. Sotutu, Sititi, Lakai, Lio-Willie, Savea are all better.
At 6, he isn't the lineout target I'd like - which can be mitigated if they pick Sotutu. But if we go down the workrate 6 path, then he's not as involved as EB or DP.he is a big hitter though isn't he ? hardest shoulder in super Rugby or some nonsense like that.
Yep, he's a good, accurate, hard tackler.
I was surprised to see that he hasn't actually make a lot of what are classed as dominant tackles this year though, I assume because he doesn't get up quick and hit people behind the advantage line? Less than Parker, Finau, Blackadder, Savea, Lakai, Withy, Kirifi etc. Dalton is right down the list too. Probably only shows that stats aren't everything.
Most of those guys (including DP but not Finau or Parker) have made more tackles per minute than Jacobson too. -
@brodean said in All Blacks - loosie selections in recent years:
On attack Papali'i and Jacobson are both better breakdown operators than Savea or Kirifi.
Yep, and that I think is the main argument in favour of one of DP/LJ/EB starting - assuming Savea is a given at 7 or 8, we need someone to hit rucks and secure our ball.
-
-
hearing he is def in the frame, but has that injury that will likely have him play no part in the super finals, even if the Chiefs go all the way.
-
@brodean said in All Blacks - loosie selections in recent years:
Flanders certainly has the skills to hang out on the wing all day.
Flanders to Finau: "you merely adopted the wing. I was born on the wing"
Most tackles and most carries for the Canes vs Brumbies wasn't it?
Don't normally see wingers with those stats...
