Blues v Highlanders
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@mariner4life I'll let the Canes supporters bite...
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@Dice said in Blues v Highlanders:
@Bovidae said in Blues v Highlanders:
@Dice said in Blues v Highlanders:
I have a feeling the Chiefs will get Black next year.
What makes you say this?
DMac is being developed to be Cruden's replacement at the Chiefs with Stevenson moving to FB.
I doubt Black moves to sit on the bench (again).
I was thinking that, but then I figured that there was no guarantees that Cooper will want to move DMac from fullback since he's so good there. If a 10 spot is open at the Chiefs and they make a pitch to Black, I can't see the Blues getting him.
Is Stevenson still signed for next season? The move to Harbour might indicate that he's coming home for all his rugby. The Blues CEO has said they're working to bring back some of the homegrown talent.
That would be really dumb of Cooper if that was a plan. DMac would be goooone as soon as his contract was up. He knows the ABs see him as a 10/15 not the other way around. He is happy at the moment to sit behind Cruden as there is no hurry and he gets to watch and learn while waiting for his moment to step up.
ABs would love to have another BB equivalent on the bench to create things from 15 in the last 20 while covering 10 as well. It would mean they could carry a specialist midfield reserve as well such as SBW for impact. -
@Crucial said in Blues v Highlanders:
@Dice said in Blues v Highlanders:
@Bovidae said in Blues v Highlanders:
@Dice said in Blues v Highlanders:
I have a feeling the Chiefs will get Black next year.
What makes you say this?
DMac is being developed to be Cruden's replacement at the Chiefs with Stevenson moving to FB.
I doubt Black moves to sit on the bench (again).
I was thinking that, but then I figured that there was no guarantees that Cooper will want to move DMac from fullback since he's so good there. If a 10 spot is open at the Chiefs and they make a pitch to Black, I can't see the Blues getting him.
Is Stevenson still signed for next season? The move to Harbour might indicate that he's coming home for all his rugby. The Blues CEO has said they're working to bring back some of the homegrown talent.
That would be really dumb of Cooper if that was a plan. DMac would be goooone as soon as his contract was up. He knows the ABs see him as a 10/15 not the other way around. He is happy at the moment to sit behind Cruden as there is no hurry and he gets to watch and learn while waiting for his moment to step up.
ABs would love to have another BB equivalent on the bench to create things from 15 in the last 20 while covering 10 as well. It would mean they could carry a specialist midfield reserve as well such as SBW for impact.That's what I'm hoping for.
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Somehow I just can't see DMac wearing the ABs 10 jersey, maybe, just maybe the 22 jersey. Weren't they talking about training him to play at halfback in case two halfbacks went down and there were only two in the squad? That fits his midget size much better.
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Who will be getting game time in next year's Super Rugby season? Probably Barrett, Sopoaga (signed until the end of 2018 super rugby season or AB season?), DMac, Moaga, and whoever is at the Blues. You'd probably tip him to be 3rd choice for the ABs based on that.
BTW, is Otere Black contracted to the Canes for next season?
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@Stargazer said in Blues v Highlanders:
Somehow I just can't see DMac wearing the ABs 10 jersey, maybe, just maybe the 22 jersey. Weren't they talking about training him to play at halfback in case two halfbacks went down and there were only two in the squad? That fits his midget size much better.
You just never know how players develop ,
Some kick on , others dont
I can remember having little confidence in Beauden when he first started getting selected
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@Stargazer said in Blues v Highlanders:
Somehow I just can't see DMac wearing the ABs 10 jersey, maybe, just maybe the 22 jersey. Weren't they talking about training him to play at halfback in case two halfbacks went down and there were only two in the squad? That fits his midget size much better.
That's where I see him as well (22). I'm saying that just as the selectors found that having BB on the bench was a bonus for more reasons than just his own playing, the same could end up the case with DMac once he gets more 10 time under his belt.
For example a 5/3 split on the bench with a lock/6 and a true 7. A back reserve squad just like the RWC with something like TJP, SBW, DMac is pretty good. It does require versatile outside backs as well but we have those with NMS, BFA and Dagg -
@kiwiinmelb said in Blues v Highlanders:
@Stargazer said in Blues v Highlanders:
Somehow I just can't see DMac wearing the ABs 10 jersey, maybe, just maybe the 22 jersey. Weren't they talking about training him to play at halfback in case two halfbacks went down and there were only two in the squad? That fits his midget size much better.
You just never know how players develop ,
Some kick on , others dont
I can remember having little confidence in Beauden when he first started getting selected
I had more confidence his skillset would improve than a player would grow half a foot and twenty kilos...
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@Crucial said in Blues v Highlanders:
@Stargazer said in Blues v Highlanders:
Somehow I just can't see DMac wearing the ABs 10 jersey, maybe, just maybe the 22 jersey. Weren't they talking about training him to play at halfback in case two halfbacks went down and there were only two in the squad? That fits his midget size much better.
That's where I see him as well (22). I'm saying that just as the selectors found that having BB on the bench was a bonus for more reasons than just his own playing, the same could end up the case with DMac once he gets more 10 time under his belt.
For example a 5/3 split on the bench with a lock/6 and a true 7. A back reserve squad just like the RWC with something like TJP, SBW, DMac is pretty good. It does require versatile outside backs as well but we have those with NMS, BFA and Dagg5/3 is the normal split.
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@Frye said in Blues v Highlanders:
@Crucial said in Blues v Highlanders:
@Stargazer said in Blues v Highlanders:
Somehow I just can't see DMac wearing the ABs 10 jersey, maybe, just maybe the 22 jersey. Weren't they talking about training him to play at halfback in case two halfbacks went down and there were only two in the squad? That fits his midget size much better.
That's where I see him as well (22). I'm saying that just as the selectors found that having BB on the bench was a bonus for more reasons than just his own playing, the same could end up the case with DMac once he gets more 10 time under his belt.
For example a 5/3 split on the bench with a lock/6 and a true 7. A back reserve squad just like the RWC with something like TJP, SBW, DMac is pretty good. It does require versatile outside backs as well but we have those with NMS, BFA and Dagg5/3 is the normal split.
I know, I'm stating the obvious in that regard. However if you have a two places taken by a halfback and a 10 (eg TJP and Cruden/Sopoaga) then it compromises impact as the third player needs to be midfield/outside utility (or you have to already have one on the field.
For me it works better with a true midfield impact player on the bench. -
@antipodean said in Blues v Highlanders:
@kiwiinmelb said in Blues v Highlanders:
@Stargazer said in Blues v Highlanders:
Somehow I just can't see DMac wearing the ABs 10 jersey, maybe, just maybe the 22 jersey. Weren't they talking about training him to play at halfback in case two halfbacks went down and there were only two in the squad? That fits his midget size much better.
You just never know how players develop ,
Some kick on , others dont
I can remember having little confidence in Beauden when he first started getting selected
I had more confidence his skillset would improve than a player would grow half a foot and twenty kilos...
I remember people having similar concerns over cruden.
Bit shorter , but wouldn't think cruden would be much heavier back when he was first selected , used to look like a skinny school kid .Not saying his size won't go against him , but you have to careful writing him off on that alone .
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@kiwiinmelb said in Blues v Highlanders:
@antipodean said in Blues v Highlanders:
@kiwiinmelb said in Blues v Highlanders:
@Stargazer said in Blues v Highlanders:
Somehow I just can't see DMac wearing the ABs 10 jersey, maybe, just maybe the 22 jersey. Weren't they talking about training him to play at halfback in case two halfbacks went down and there were only two in the squad? That fits his midget size much better.
You just never know how players develop ,
Some kick on , others dont
I can remember having little confidence in Beauden when he first started getting selected
I had more confidence his skillset would improve than a player would grow half a foot and twenty kilos...
I remember people having similar concerns over cruden.
Bit shorter , but wouldn't think cruden would be much heavier back when he was first selected , used to look like a skinny school kid .Not saying his size won't go against him , but you have to careful writing him off on that alone .
Size of the fight in the dog and all that....
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@kiwiinmelb said in Blues v Highlanders:
I remember people having similar concerns over cruden.
Bit shorter , but wouldn't think cruden would be much heavier back when he was first selected , used to look like a skinny school kid .Not saying his size won't go against him , but you have to careful writing him off on that alone .
I reckon DMac may have put on some weight (relatively speaking) over the summer as he looks a little bigger. I don't think you could ever question his courage as he regularly runs into the big boys as first receiver.
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@kiwiinmelb said in Blues v Highlanders:
@antipodean said in Blues v Highlanders:
@kiwiinmelb said in Blues v Highlanders:
@Stargazer said in Blues v Highlanders:
Somehow I just can't see DMac wearing the ABs 10 jersey, maybe, just maybe the 22 jersey. Weren't they talking about training him to play at halfback in case two halfbacks went down and there were only two in the squad? That fits his midget size much better.
You just never know how players develop ,
Some kick on , others dont
I can remember having little confidence in Beauden when he first started getting selected
I had more confidence his skillset would improve than a player would grow half a foot and twenty kilos...
I remember people having similar concerns over cruden.
Bit shorter , but wouldn't think cruden would be much heavier back when he was first selected , used to look like a skinny school kid .Not saying his size won't go against him , but you have to careful writing him off on that alone .
Yeah, the same things were said about Cruden, even @Stargazer comment about covering halfback was said about Cruden.
DMac can play a similar game of taking it to the line despite his size as it has worked for Cruden pretty well for 6 odd years.
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@Stargazer said in Blues v Highlanders:
Somehow I just can't see DMac wearing the ABs 10 jersey, maybe, just maybe the 22 jersey.
Heard that about some other fulla recently. Can't remember his name ... starts with B ...
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