TRC: Pumas v All Blacks
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@mofitzy_ said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
Is Bridge being rested?
I wouldn't read anything into the selections at this stage. They'll give most of the squad a run in the first few games
I remember 1014 mentioning match day 23's in 2015. Basically the selectors tested a few players out early and then dialled their squad in. Each Test got closer and closer to the RWC side.
So for the first Test in 2015 (v Samoa) there were 9 players not named in the RWC squad:
Andy Ellis, Charles Piutau, George Moala, Israel Dagg, Hikawera Elliot, Nepo Laulala, Matt Todd, Brad Webber, Charlie NgataiThe 2nd Test (v Argentina) there were 5 players not named in the RWC squad:
Charles Piutau, Israel Dagg, Nepo Laulala, Jeremy Thrush, Andy EllisI suspect Hansen will follow a similar pattern this year. This 23 seems comparable to that game v Samoa
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Good test for Atu Moli against Juan Figallo. If he holds his own in the set scrums and shows what he can do in the loose, he'll be on the plane to Japan.
@cgrant said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
Good test for Atu Moli against Juan Figallo. If he holds his own in the set scrums and shows what he can do in the loose, he'll be on the plane to Japan.
The Jags scrum has been ordinary in the games I watched (I didn't see the final so can't comment on that). In the two games the Chiefs played against them the Chiefs had an obvious advantage. We will find out whether the addition of Figallo makes a huge difference to the Pumas' scrum.
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@cgrant said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
Good test for Atu Moli against Juan Figallo. If he holds his own in the set scrums and shows what he can do in the loose, he'll be on the plane to Japan.
The Jags scrum has been ordinary in the games I watched (I didn't see the final so can't comment on that). In the two games the Chiefs played against them the Chiefs had an obvious advantage. We will find out whether the addition of Figallo makes a huge difference to the Pumas' scrum.
@Bovidae said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
@cgrant said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
Good test for Atu Moli against Juan Figallo. If he holds his own in the set scrums and shows what he can do in the loose, he'll be on the plane to Japan.
The Jags scrum has been ordinary in the games I watched (I didn't see the final so can't comment on that). In the two games the Chiefs played against them the Chiefs had an obvious advantage. We will find out whether the addition of Figallo makes a huge difference to the Pumas' scrum.
Figallo was a key cog for the Pumas scrum last year He started vs SA in Mendoza and Pumas had scrum ascendancy
Even scored a try off 1st phase scrum Ofa T at #1 is okay but hardly a stellar player TBH
Add Sanchez at #10 and Pumas improve markedly at two positions of weakness
If Pumas can have a good 1st half & not be 15-20 points behind like they've been in recent games in BA vs ABs they'll have a great chance of winning the game
AB bench is average compared to their normally high standards
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Hansen not picking George Bridge for this one seems a bit odd to me.
Hansen says, "We're pretty comfortable with George's ability; he's been around as a player of some standard with the Crusaders for a while. He had a good week with us in Japan and played really well (after coming on at halftime in Tokyo last year)."
That makes it sound like George is pretty much a sure thing for the RWC, but in reality he's played half a game for the ABs vs Japan.
If they're only taking four outside backs to the World Cup and Ben Smith, Jordie and Reiko have three of the spots locked up, I'd have thought giving the next cab off the rank (which in my view should clearly be Bridge) pretty much every game would have been sensible. And would have been pretty easy to pair Bridge and Reece as the wings.
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Hansen not picking George Bridge for this one seems a bit odd to me.
Hansen says, "We're pretty comfortable with George's ability; he's been around as a player of some standard with the Crusaders for a while. He had a good week with us in Japan and played really well (after coming on at halftime in Tokyo last year)."
That makes it sound like George is pretty much a sure thing for the RWC, but in reality he's played half a game for the ABs vs Japan.
If they're only taking four outside backs to the World Cup and Ben Smith, Jordie and Reiko have three of the spots locked up, I'd have thought giving the next cab off the rank (which in my view should clearly be Bridge) pretty much every game would have been sensible. And would have been pretty easy to pair Bridge and Reece as the wings.
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@Chris-B I get the sense Hansen wanted some more experience in the back 3 rather than essentially 2 rookie wings (whilst at the same time seeing how Jordie goes as a potential left wing option as they already know what Rieko offers)
@KiwiMurph Probably, but I would then have picked George instead of Sevu.
Unless they're seriously considering taking Reece to the RWC or Jordie as a big game wing, this pairing seems a waste of what could be critical experience for George.
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Bridge probably playing SA but on which wing? Rieko will be back and is the senior winger. I know Ioane did play a game for the Blues on the right wing but I'd put Bridge there to see if he offers any utility value.
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@KiwiMurph Probably, but I would then have picked George instead of Sevu.
Unless they're seriously considering taking Reece to the RWC or Jordie as a big game wing, this pairing seems a waste of what could be critical experience for George.
@Chris-B said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
@KiwiMurph Probably, but I would then have picked George instead of Sevu.
Unless they're seriously considering taking Reece to the RWC or Jordie as a big game wing, this pairing seems a waste of what could be critical experience for George.
I'd say both of these are very still much in play. We took 2 rookie wingers to the last RWC 2015.
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Bridge probably playing SA but on which wing? Rieko will be back and is the senior winger. I know Ioane did play a game for the Blues on the right wing but I'd put Bridge there to see if he offers any utility value.
@Bovidae said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
Bridge probably playing SA but on which wing? Rieko will be back and is the senior winger. I know Ioane did play a game for the Blues on the right wing but I'd put Bridge there to see if he offers any utility value.
Bridge’s utility is that he can play fullback.
I think the interesting selection is Ennor on the bench.
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@Bovidae said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
Bridge probably playing SA but on which wing? Rieko will be back and is the senior winger. I know Ioane did play a game for the Blues on the right wing but I'd put Bridge there to see if he offers any utility value.
Bridge’s utility is that he can play fullback.
I think the interesting selection is Ennor on the bench.
@ACT-Crusader said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
Bridge’s utility is that he can play fullback.
I know that, but it's the right wing position that seems to be undecided in the starting XV (unless Ioane is moved).
With DMac injured I expect BFA to remain at fullback now. Jordie seems to be pencilled in as the ultimate outside back utility who could play at 12 too if required. That might mean they are reconsidering the makeup of their midfield/outside back balance.
Ennor is the midfield cover so that makes sense.
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Reece is bloody lucky.
- no utility value
- not particularly good defense
- good fortune of being on the end of a dominant team's backline at Super level
- outside the AB center at Super rugby level
@Frank said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
Reece is bloody lucky.
- no utility value
- not particularly good defense
- good fortune of being on the end of a dominant team's backline at Super level
- outside the AB center at Super rugby level
I think that is a bit silly as he was dominant try scorer for this years comp in a good team? No reason in another good team (The AB's) he couldn't do the same?
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@Frank said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
Reece is bloody lucky.
- no utility value
- not particularly good defense
- good fortune of being on the end of a dominant team's backline at Super level
- outside the AB center at Super rugby level
I think that is a bit silly as he was dominant try scorer for this years comp in a good team? No reason in another good team (The AB's) he couldn't do the same?
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@Frank said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
Reece is bloody lucky.
- no utility value
- not particularly good defense
- good fortune of being on the end of a dominant team's backline at Super level
- outside the AB center at Super rugby level
I think that is a bit silly as he was dominant try scorer for this years comp in a good team? No reason in another good team (The AB's) he couldn't do the same?
Sevu Reece is essentially the Naholo of 2015
Even had a offshore contract lined up.....
I don't see the big fuss about Bridge & Rieko Iaone playing #11 or #14
Surely playing the role is interchangeable
Heck I even saw Reece with a #11 on his back for Waikato
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Sevu Reece is essentially the Naholo of 2015
Even had a offshore contract lined up.....
I don't see the big fuss about Bridge & Rieko Iaone playing #11 or #14
Surely playing the role is interchangeable
Heck I even saw Reece with a #11 on his back for Waikato
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@Jaguares4real Yeah, Reece played both on the left and right wing for the Crusaders, too.
@Stargazer said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
@Jaguares4real Yeah, Reece played both on the left and right wing for the Crusaders, too.
@Stargazer said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
@Jaguares4real Yeah, Reece played both on the left and right wing for the Crusaders, too.
Cheers
Furthers reinforces my point about wingers Shouldn't matter at that level if you play #11 or #14
I'd expect Hansen to taken 5 outside backs to Japan: Bender Ioane Reece Bridge J Barrett
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@Stargazer said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
@Jaguares4real Yeah, Reece played both on the left and right wing for the Crusaders, too.
@Stargazer said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
@Jaguares4real Yeah, Reece played both on the left and right wing for the Crusaders, too.
Cheers
Furthers reinforces my point about wingers Shouldn't matter at that level if you play #11 or #14
I'd expect Hansen to taken 5 outside backs to Japan: Bender Ioane Reece Bridge J Barrett
@Jaguares4real for those that kick off either foot it definitely shouldn't be an issue. But if they are limited kicking-wise it can be a factor. With the number of hybrid winger-fullbacks it's become less of an issue in recent times.
Hmm in saying that I am not sure if I've even seen Reiko kick for touch!?
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@Stargazer said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
@Jaguares4real Yeah, Reece played both on the left and right wing for the Crusaders, too.
@Stargazer said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
@Jaguares4real Yeah, Reece played both on the left and right wing for the Crusaders, too.
Cheers
Furthers reinforces my point about wingers Shouldn't matter at that level if you play #11 or #14
I'd expect Hansen to taken 5 outside backs to Japan: Bender Ioane Reece Bridge J Barrett
@Jaguares4real Makes a difference, though - if you're a right sided player you'll prefer to carry the ball in your right hand, kick with your right foot and step off your right foot - all of which make it advantageous to play on the right wing.
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Sevu Reece is essentially the Naholo of 2015
Even had a offshore contract lined up.....
I don't see the big fuss about Bridge & Rieko Iaone playing #11 or #14
Surely playing the role is interchangeable
Heck I even saw Reece with a #11 on his back for Waikato
@Jaguares4real said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
Sevu Reece is essentially the Naholo of 2015
Even had a offshore contract lined up.....
I don't see the big fuss about Bridge & Rieko Iaone playing #11 or #14
Surely playing the role is interchangeable
Heck I even saw Reece with a #11 on his back for WaikatoHansen said Corey Jane struggled playing 11.
Something about jumping off the wrong foot when taking high balls.
I'd think it natural to more used to fending with a certain hand and leading with a certain foot when jumping. Not saying wingers shouldn't be able to play both sides, but it's pretty natural to prefer one side.
