Your 4 midfielders for the Lions
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The tight five is probably the place we can least afford injuries.
I think there's a step down to any of the second string and often another step down to the next guy (coming onto the bench).
A few UK scribes identifying Beauden's goal-kicking as a potential issue, which it likely will be if the Lions can stop us scoring tries.
I'm assuming Hansen will just roll the dice and hope he makes his kicks on the day(s). Alternatively, they could try to shoehorn DMac or Jordie into fullback or wing to give themselves a more reliable kicker. Not sure starting Cruden would give you a much more reliable kicker. Sopoaga probably is, but he's not close in ability to set things alight.
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The tight five is probably the place we can least afford injuries.
I think there's a step down to any of the second string and often another step down to the next guy (coming onto the bench).
A few UK scribes identifying Beauden's goal-kicking as a potential issue, which it likely will be if the Lions can stop us scoring tries.
I'm assuming Hansen will just roll the dice and hope he makes his kicks on the day(s). Alternatively, they could try to shoehorn DMac or Jordie into fullback or wing to give themselves a more reliable kicker. Not sure starting Cruden would give you a much more reliable kicker. Sopoaga probably is, but he's not close in ability to set things alight.
@Chris-B. is Izzy back for the Lions? If so, throw him the ball as soon as he can start practicing.
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@Chris-B. is Izzy back for the Lions? If so, throw him the ball as soon as he can start practicing.
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@taniwharugby He should be!
Given how competitive most of the backs spots are - everyone should be practicing!
Get into it, Sonny Bill!
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I vaguely remember the commentators saying during the Blues v Hurricanes game that there was a medical issue (I forgot what) for Beauden not kicking or not kicking well at the moment.
@Stargazer Beauden has had a side strain recently which has kept him from goalkicking.
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@Chris-B. is Izzy back for the Lions? If so, throw him the ball as soon as he can start practicing.
@taniwharugby said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:
@Chris-B. is Izzy back for the Lions? If so, throw him the ball as soon as he can start practicing.
From what I've heard, he is not too far away from returning. I guess we'll get an indication of how far he is when the Crusaders name their travelling squad to SA this weekend.
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Apparently he has a bruised rib. TJP kicked when Jordie went off the other week. Personally I think that if he's so injured that he can't kick goals, then he shouldn't be playing. As mentioned, goal kicking is his Kryptonite, or at least was last year, and he needs some serious practice. If these games devolve into an arm-wrestle then we'll be friar tucked if BB can't land his kicks. Starting DMac and JB is tempting, but neither have played in a test of this importance. Even these two have shockers with the boot sometimes.
Comparing other hookers to Coles is impossible. You just don't get hookers who can play like that. The guy is a freak.
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Apparently he has a bruised rib. TJP kicked when Jordie went off the other week. Personally I think that if he's so injured that he can't kick goals, then he shouldn't be playing. As mentioned, goal kicking is his Kryptonite, or at least was last year, and he needs some serious practice. If these games devolve into an arm-wrestle then we'll be friar tucked if BB can't land his kicks. Starting DMac and JB is tempting, but neither have played in a test of this importance. Even these two have shockers with the boot sometimes.
Comparing other hookers to Coles is impossible. You just don't get hookers who can play like that. The guy is a freak.
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:
Apparently he has a bruised rib. TJP kicked when Jordie went off the other week. Personally I think that if he's so injured that he can't kick goals, then he shouldn't be playing.
I agree. I would also think that such an injury would restrict you punting the ball but he's still doing that.
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I disagree with that view of he isn't fit to kick goals then he should play. There is a genuine kicker at fullback so if Beauden can run you play him.
Similar to the Cruden and DMac situation.
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@Bovidae said in Your 4 midfielders for the Lions:
Beauden needs to start kicking for the Canes ASAP.
Why? Jordie is the better kicker so it makes sense for him to take the kicks.
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@akan004 I am thinking with my AB cap on.
I wouldn't want Barrett heading into a Lions series having not goal kicked in a match situation for over 2 months.
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I'm totally guessing here but maybe BB is 'changing his swing', working on a new routine to improve his %
It wouldn't have been lost on the coaches that when he nailed down the starting 10 role it opened a weak point around kicking. I just wonder if there is some work being done behind the scenes and the paint isn't quite dry on it yet.
He changed style last year to stabbing at the ball a bit more and keeping it low. It worked at times but didn't produce a high level of consistency.
The best option is to ensure that games don't come down to kicks, but they are still a great scoreboard option early in a game to accumulate and frustrate the opposition game plan. -
I'm totally guessing here but maybe BB is 'changing his swing', working on a new routine to improve his %
It wouldn't have been lost on the coaches that when he nailed down the starting 10 role it opened a weak point around kicking. I just wonder if there is some work being done behind the scenes and the paint isn't quite dry on it yet.
He changed style last year to stabbing at the ball a bit more and keeping it low. It worked at times but didn't produce a high level of consistency.
The best option is to ensure that games don't come down to kicks, but they are still a great scoreboard option early in a game to accumulate and frustrate the opposition game plan.@Crucial Agreed. If you don't nail your early opportunities and punish your opposition, they stay in the game. Example one: Weepu in the 2011 RWC...
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I'm totally guessing here but maybe BB is 'changing his swing', working on a new routine to improve his %
It wouldn't have been lost on the coaches that when he nailed down the starting 10 role it opened a weak point around kicking. I just wonder if there is some work being done behind the scenes and the paint isn't quite dry on it yet.
He changed style last year to stabbing at the ball a bit more and keeping it low. It worked at times but didn't produce a high level of consistency.
The best option is to ensure that games don't come down to kicks, but they are still a great scoreboard option early in a game to accumulate and frustrate the opposition game plan.This has occurred to me Crucial.
The story in the media is that he has some kind of side strain so is not goal kicking at the moment.
From his general play, tactical and line kicking it doesn't exactly look like he is carrying any niggles.
My tea leaves are telling me he's nailed his goal kicking gig
and is now being kept in cotton wool until the Lions get here.
