2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations)
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@Stargazer said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
Geez, judging someone on one NPC game?
No
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Taufua??? No way. I like Gibson, but no need to rush him in yet.
If Cane isn't fit and Matt Todd is crook, then just go with Savea to start and have a bigger loosie on the bench.
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Hmmm. Interested in the reaction to Taufua. He seemed to get a lot of love on here and from foreign journos earlier this season.
I'm not an out and fan or proponent of him, and I've never considered him as a blindside but thought his slightly more robust technique may suit as cover for 7 (and 6) from the bench.
Seems I was wrong
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@Wurzel said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
Taufua in the 20 jumper would bring much the same as Ardie does.
And given Ardie would likely be in 7 if Cane and Todd are out would that be a good thing or a bad thing? ie Same same on the bench or would we look to something different?
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@booboo said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
@Wurzel said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
Taufua in the 20 jumper would bring much the same as Ardie does.
And given Ardie would likely be in 7 if Cane and Todd are out would that be a good thing or a bad thing? ie Same same on the bench or would we look to something different?
He could actually make quite an impact if set loose for a 20 minute burst. He can make some hard tackles and rampaging runs for his size.
However, what's his international status? Surely he isn't holding out for an AB dream? He's not going to be a long termer.
I guess a black jersey ups his price up north but it would be a shame if he was lost to Samoa -
It remains unclear whether Cane will be free to play after a head knock 12 minutes in forced him from the field against the Wallabies in Dunedin. While Ryan Crotty is expected to be available, Cane appears more doubtful.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11916107
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@Chris-B. said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
Surely they'll just pick Ardie at 7 and have a blindside flanker on the bench.
If Kaino is available I'd guess they'll go 6. Kaino, 7. Ardie, 8. Read, 20 Squire.
Mostly agree..
It sounds like they want Kaino to play for Auckland before coming back to the Test side. Which is a good idea, he can take a few games to get up to speed.
I think it might be Savea/Read/Squire with Akira on the bench (who is suspiciously missing the NPC game today)
Looking at the squad cover going forward we have 3 very good opensides.. Squire and Kaino are the quality options at blindside. The number 8 behind Read is not clear.
Ardie has covered 8 from the bench. I suspect they'll want Squire to concentrate on 6 now. Akira seems to be the longer term backup option for 8, so they might as well start looking at him via the bench
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Crotty expected to be available:
Hansen confirmed Crotty had made a good recovery and was expected to be available for selection this week. But there remained uncertainty over Cane's status which would be fully assessed when the group gathers.
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Cane, Crotty, and Crockett cleared. Naholo out. Gibson in as injury cover.
Flanker Sam Cane and midfielder Ryan Crotty have been cleared to play against Argentina after suffering head knocks in the last Bledisloe Cup clash. All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen confirmed their availability at a news conference in New Plymouth on Monday. Prop Wyatt Crockett, who missed the All Blacks last game in Dunedin after a head knock in the first Bledisloe Cup test in Sydney has also been cleared to play the Pumas in New Plymouth on Saturday. But Hansen said wing Waisake Naholo, who has played in the Mitre 10 Cup with Taranaki, is out with a head knock. The All Blacks have called up Auckland flanker Blake Gibson as injury cover. Prop Owen Franks, who missed the Dunedin test with an Achilles tendon injury, is set for surgery on Friday. -
That week off has come at a fortuitous time.
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All Blacks prop Owen Franks has been ruled out for the remainder of the rugby season due to his ongoing Achilles injury.
Franks, who had already been ruled out of the Rugby Championship, will now also miss the end-of-year tour after deciding to undergo surgery.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11916787
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even with Cane cleared, surely be a good opportunity to give Ardie a start
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Hansen said on Monday that Cane's injury made them think who was next in the loose forward pecking order.
He said they settled on Gibson because he was good over the ball and had performed well for NZ U20 in the past even though he had had a lot of injuries.
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Good to get Gibson out of that Auckland enviroment and into a proper one.
