Bledisloe II
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@pakman This might be a controversial call but I believe Laulala has overtaken Franks as our no 1 tighthead. I think he is at least as good as Franks as a scrummager and is a lot better around the park. If they select Laulala ahead of Franks when he returns, it will be interesting to see if they choose to go with Franks off the bench or discard him from the 23 all together as there are other players who offer more impact when they come on.
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@akan004 I'd like to see him play some rugby before making that call. I'm a fan but a number of posters raised concerns about his defence when he was playing. As awful as Franks' propensity to drop before the tackle is, he offers a shitload around the park in terms of defence, breakdowns and distribution. Plus hasn't been such a penalty magnet so far.
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@akan004 said in Bledisloe II:
@pakman This might be a controversial call but I believe Laulala has overtaken Franks as our no 1 tighthead. I think he is at least as good as Franks as a scrummager and is a lot better around the park. If they select Laulala ahead of Franks when he returns, it will be interesting to see if they choose to go with Franks off the bench or discard him from the 23 all together as there are other players who offer more impact when they come on.
Franks I don't think is an option off the bench he starts or he's not in the 23
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@wreck-diver it's 5 years ago, but he did a pretty fucken good job off the bench against Ireland!
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@bones said in Bledisloe II:
@wreck-diver it's 5 years ago, but he did a pretty fucken good job off the bench against Ireland!
I just think at this stage in his career he's a starter and our 1 tight head.
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@akan004 said in Bledisloe II:
@pakman This might be a controversial call but I believe Laulala has overtaken Franks as our no 1 tighthead. I think he is at least as good as Franks as a scrummager and is a lot better around the park. If they select Laulala ahead of Franks when he returns, it will be interesting to see if they choose to go with Franks off the bench or discard him from the 23 all together as there are other players who offer more impact when they come on.
Hasn’t the guy been injured for 12 months, so how does he suddenly leap frog Franks?
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@gunner said in Bledisloe II:
@akan004 said in Bledisloe II:
@pakman This might be a controversial call but I believe Laulala has overtaken Franks as our no 1 tighthead. I think he is at least as good as Franks as a scrummager and is a lot better around the park. If they select Laulala ahead of Franks when he returns, it will be interesting to see if they choose to go with Franks off the bench or discard him from the 23 all together as there are other players who offer more impact when they come on.
Hasn’t the guy been injured for 12 months, so how does he suddenly leap frog Franks?
No way Laulala is a better scrummager than Franks, but to me he is the next best we have, and capable of becoming world class, which I don't think applies to JTA, Ofa or Angus T. Much better runner than Franks, but then again so is most of the Fern! Once fit, it's realistic to see Laulala as starter from 2020 on, not before then.
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@gunner said in Bledisloe II:
@akan004 said in Bledisloe II:
@pakman This might be a controversial call but I believe Laulala has overtaken Franks as our no 1 tighthead. I think he is at least as good as Franks as a scrummager and is a lot better around the park. If they select Laulala ahead of Franks when he returns, it will be interesting to see if they choose to go with Franks off the bench or discard him from the 23 all together as there are other players who offer more impact when they come on.
Hasn’t the guy been injured for 12 months, so how does he suddenly leap frog Franks?
The same way Ngatai became our best 2nd 5 after Nonu left....
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@act-crusader said in Bledisloe II:
@gunner said in Bledisloe II:
@akan004 said in Bledisloe II:
@pakman This might be a controversial call but I believe Laulala has overtaken Franks as our no 1 tighthead. I think he is at least as good as Franks as a scrummager and is a lot better around the park. If they select Laulala ahead of Franks when he returns, it will be interesting to see if they choose to go with Franks off the bench or discard him from the 23 all together as there are other players who offer more impact when they come on.
Hasn’t the guy been injured for 12 months, so how does he suddenly leap frog Franks?
The same way Ngatai became our best 2nd 5 after Nonu left....
Playing for the chiefs?
