AB squad for the Rugby Championship
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When Kieran Read retires, the All Blacks must be looking for a big bruising Nr.8 to face teams like England or Ireland. Ardie Savea was outstanding for the Canes with the Nr.8 jersey this season but Super Rugby is not test rugby. How many big Nr.8s are playing in the NZ franchises (except Read) ? Ioane is the only NZ player who has the physique to counter men like Vunipola, Stander or Picamoles. I don't see anyone else (Ben Nicholas and Mikaele Tuu, who are big men, are both very green).
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@cgrant CJ Stander is a midget by international no.8 standards (listed as 1.85 m, 114 kg).
But agree with your point about Read's replacement. No obvious option for 2020.
If Frizell moves to 8, he could become that player (I think he’s a better 6 though).
Equally, Paps and Jacobson can play all three positions, so either of them may now try to move. Papalii may have a future at 7 too.
Personally, I think that Akira is the answer - it just seems like fitness and workrate (I think that stat mentioned was getting up and back into line quickly) are needed. Were he to move down to the Chiefs, I’m sure that we could accommodate him
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@cgrant CJ Stander is a midget by international no.8 standards (listed as 1.85 m, 114 kg).
But agree with your point about Read's replacement. No obvious option for 2020.
@Bovidae said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
@cgrant CJ Stander is a midget by international no.8 standards (listed as 1.85 m, 114 kg).
But agree with your point about Read's replacement. No obvious option for 2020.
Ardie Savea and Gareth Evans
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@WillieTheWaiter Nothing out of the Blues or Auckland camp to suggest he’s a team culture issue is there? Didn’t he get a players award one year?
@Nepia Man people talk some shit on here haha as if they're in the know and they turn up to every Blues training session and yes he got players player of the year for the Blues and was a big part of Auckland's Mitre 10 cup winning side. Hope he can sort out the issues the ABs selectors have with him as it's only gonna benefit NZ rugby going forward having him fit and firing despite the hatred from some towards him.
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When Kieran Read retires, the All Blacks must be looking for a big bruising Nr.8 to face teams like England or Ireland. Ardie Savea was outstanding for the Canes with the Nr.8 jersey this season but Super Rugby is not test rugby. How many big Nr.8s are playing in the NZ franchises (except Read) ? Ioane is the only NZ player who has the physique to counter men like Vunipola, Stander or Picamoles. I don't see anyone else (Ben Nicholas and Mikaele Tuu, who are big men, are both very green).
@cgrant said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
When Kieran Read retires, the All Blacks must be looking for a big bruising Nr.8 to face teams like England or Ireland. Ardie Savea was outstanding for the Canes with the Nr.8 jersey this season but Super Rugby is not test rugby. How many big Nr.8s are playing in the NZ franchises (except Read) ? Ioane is the only NZ player who has the physique to counter men like Vunipola, Stander or Picamoles. I don't see anyone else (Ben Nicholas and Mikaele Tuu, who are big men, are both very green).
Convert Vaea Fifita. Problem solved
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If Frizell moves to 8, he could become that player (I think he’s a better 6 though).
Equally, Paps and Jacobson can play all three positions, so either of them may now try to move. Papalii may have a future at 7 too.
Personally, I think that Akira is the answer - it just seems like fitness and workrate (I think that stat mentioned was getting up and back into line quickly) are needed. Were he to move down to the Chiefs, I’m sure that we could accommodate him
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@gt12 Forgot about Frizell - easy to do, of course.
I hope Akira gets his shit together and doesn't become Lauaki mkII.
@Bovidae said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
@gt12 Forgot about Frizell - easy to do, of course.
I hope Akira gets his shit together and doesn't become Lauaki mkII.
Ummmm Lauaki actually played quite a few tests, Ioane may never do so, therefore I think he's well behind the 8 ball ( and jersey ) there......
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This has to be linked to the distinct lack of strong leaders in the playing group. Standards are set by those leaders, not by coaches. The other teams have guys who would be driving those standards, and setting the tone in terms of prep.
Cane and Retallic at the Chiefs would definitely be model pros. I have no doubt TJP, the Barretts, and Savea are at the Canes. You could throw a stone blindfolded in the Crusaders dressing room and hit one. Even the Landers on the back of at the very least Ben Smith.
Who are the guys you can easily see driving that at the Blues?
That's no excusing Akira though. He's 24 years old, and has no doubt been told what the expectation. Failing to meet those standards is entirely on him. It seems a shame, but lets hope a very public dressing down is what was needed.
@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
Who are the guys you can easily see driving that at the Blues?
Great point. I thought Pat T started to do that in the early games for the Blues but then faded away. It's almost as if they have a team culture issue or something
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@KiwiMurph Are all Blues ABs playing for the same club? Didn't SBW also play for Ponsonby last weekend? Great for all other clubs in the comp.
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@KiwiMurph Are all Blues ABs playing for the same club? Didn't SBW also play for Ponsonby last weekend? Great for all other clubs in the comp.
@Stargazer Pat T and the Ioanes were all Ponsonby players.
Karl T is a Takapuna player, Ofa T is Grammar TEC, Dalton Papalii is a Pakuranga man.
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listening to Marshall on RS this morning, he said when he went along to one of the AB camps this year (that Akira was at) and he spent the whole time running with Read, didnt get involved in hardly any of the other stuff other players were doing, just running with Read (who was still rehabbing at the time)
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@KiwiMurph Are all Blues ABs playing for the same club? Didn't SBW also play for Ponsonby last weekend? Great for all other clubs in the comp.
@Stargazer said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
@KiwiMurph Are all Blues ABs playing for the same club? Didn't SBW also play for Ponsonby last weekend? Great for all other clubs in the comp.
If they are Auckland born and bred then I'd prefer they play for the clubs they played for as juniors.
Which I believe is happening?
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love that these guys are playing club rugby. throwback weekend.
boring "in my day" anecdote time
back in the very early 2000s when Super rugby players played club rugby, we played a preseason trial, and our club had a bunch of Hurricanes playing. It was pretty cool as a very limited player sharing a field with them.
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@Stargazer said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
@KiwiMurph Are all Blues ABs playing for the same club? Didn't SBW also play for Ponsonby last weekend? Great for all other clubs in the comp.
If they are Auckland born and bred then I'd prefer they play for the clubs they played for as juniors.
Which I believe is happening?
@SammyC Yup both Rieko and Pat are Ponsonby juniors.
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love that these guys are playing club rugby. throwback weekend.
boring "in my day" anecdote time
back in the very early 2000s when Super rugby players played club rugby, we played a preseason trial, and our club had a bunch of Hurricanes playing. It was pretty cool as a very limited player sharing a field with them.
@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
love that these guys are playing club rugby. throwback weekend.
boring "in my day" anecdote time
back in the very early 2000s when Super rugby players played club rugby, we played a preseason trial, and our club had a bunch of Hurricanes playing. It was pretty cool as a very limited player sharing a field with them.
But did you have breakfast with them? Or was it brunch.
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@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
love that these guys are playing club rugby. throwback weekend.
boring "in my day" anecdote time
back in the very early 2000s when Super rugby players played club rugby, we played a preseason trial, and our club had a bunch of Hurricanes playing. It was pretty cool as a very limited player sharing a field with them.
But did you have breakfast with them? Or was it brunch.
@ACT-Crusader said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:
love that these guys are playing club rugby. throwback weekend.
boring "in my day" anecdote time
back in the very early 2000s when Super rugby players played club rugby, we played a preseason trial, and our club had a bunch of Hurricanes playing. It was pretty cool as a very limited player sharing a field with them.
But did you have breakfast with them? Or was it brunch.
Beer. Winners beer.
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Rattue having his 2 cents worth on the Reece selection on RS at moment....he aint happy.
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Rattue having his 2 cents worth on the Reece selection on RS at moment....he aint happy.
@taniwharugby Rattue terrible journalist clickbait expert the fuckwit
