2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations)

Tim

@pakman Would definitely like to see him improve his set piece ability. That's where he lost out to Cowley-Tuioti this year at the Blues.

Tim

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11925345

Stargazer

@tim Unlucky, that man, but at least no surgery. Hopefully, this means he can play SR right from the start of the season.

Stargazer

Hansen said Havili, who played so well for the Crusaders at fullback during their charge to the Super Rugby title, appeared ready for the next challenge in his career.

"He's a confident young man, and plays like that," said Hansen. "He came in a little overawed, as all new All Blacks are. It can be really overwhelming.

"But we've given him enough time to get through that phase of his All Black career, and he is now starting to train well, and looks more comfortable in the environment. We're looking forward to taking the next step with him."

"David has been in the environment long enough now to be comfortable and understand more about it, and now it's probably time to see him play a bit. We'll just take one step at a time."

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/97161282/all-blacks-coach-steve-hansen-hints-test-chance-for-david-havili-could-be-at-hand

Meanwehile, Hansen said he was pleased young prop Tyrel Lomax had been cleared to enter New Zealand rugby ahead of schedule after being released from his contractual obligations to Australia.

"He's a New Zealander, so it's great he's coming home. I think he's a pretty handy rugby player. He was Australia under-20 player of the year in his term, and he can play tighthead, and they're a bit like hen's teeth in that they're hard to find. So it's nice to have another one."

Hansen also admitted to some concern on high about the demise of the Auckland provincial team in 2017.

"There's a lot of talent in Auckland, and what we've got to engineer is how we get that talent to have a work ethic so it can actually grow and bloom. Everyone is working hard to try do that."

Frye

@tim said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11924967

Clickbait headline deserves clickbait response:

Hansen told Tuipulotu to first of all not rush off and sign an overseas contract, but to instead commit himself as captain of Auckland's Mitre 10 Cup to working harder, being more overtly physical and urgent.

He basically said for Tuipulotu to get his hands on the ball more, look to make more, higher impact tackles, get off the ground quicker and wipe people off their feet at the breakdown.