AB squad for the Rugby Championship

ACT Crusader

On Messam, I was a fan and thought we didn’t miss a beat when he got his chance to permanently play blindside after Kaino went overseas. He was a bit hit and miss before that, but he was definitely test standard in the couple of seasons following the 2011 RWC.

Also in the Messam to centre camp

Rapido

Messam, tbh I thought we was going to be a stinker at test level. A super Rugby flash harry a-la Fafita. Man, was I wrong, he stepped up so well. A very good All Black.

He's relevant to the not-tall 6 discussion going on though.

mariner4life

@ACT-Crusader said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

On Messam, I was a fan and thought we didn’t miss a beat when he got his chance to permanently play blindside after Kaino went overseas. He was a bit hit and miss before that, but he was definitely test standard in the couple of seasons following the 2011 RWC.

Also in the Messam to centre camp

that year Mess started at 6 for the ABs he was awesome. A few memories not quite lining up with the reality there. I guess first impressions really do stick.

I am an unashamed fan though. He's a deadset chiefs legend.

But to downplay his contribution to the All Blacks when he was needed is hugely unfair. He wasn't Kaino (but then who is?) but he was a mile in front of every option available now.

Bovidae

Messam was easily the best NZ no.6 in SR in 2012 when the Chiefs won their first title. He made that jersey his own for those 2 years with Vito and Luatua also in the mix.

You can't say there is a stand-out no.6 at the moment, and that's the problem.

SammyC

@Nepia said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

@broughie If Messam was around now we wouldn’t be having a 6 debate.

Messam became one of my favourite Ab's over the course of his career. After thinking he was a useless seagull early on.

Turned into a real hardman in the pack, the Saffa's really respected him for this. Which says a lot.

I want a bully at 6.... a shame Akira can't motivate himself to get fit because he could be that guy. Frizzell and Fifita are too loose, Jacobson has potential (love how hard he hits in the tackle). Papalii also has potential (but plays too much like a headless chook at this stage)

Whetu Douglas could do the job I reckon until one of the aforementioned are ready to step up.

kiwiinmelb

In the current situation, I’ve got this feeling they might start Scott Barrett at 6 , at least we won’t be lacking in grunt early against the more physical packs,

And a rampaging ardie to enter around halftime for one of the 3.

Bovidae

@kiwiinmelb said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

In the current situation, I’ve got this feeling they might start Scott Barrett at 6 , at least we won’t be lacking in grunt early against the more physical packs,

Unlikely now that BBBR is injured, unless they are confident in either Tuipulotu or Hemopo starting at lock.

kiwiinmelb

@Bovidae said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

@kiwiinmelb said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

In the current situation, I’ve got this feeling they might start Scott Barrett at 6 , at least we won’t be lacking in grunt early against the more physical packs,

Unlikely now that BBBR is injured, unless they are confident in either Tuipulotu or Hemopo starting at lock.

Let’s hope he makes it back for the WC,

I reckon this option might be good early when the teams are generally playing tight and low risk, our set piece would be very strong .

WillieTheWaiter

@taniwharugby

@taniwharugby said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

@WillieTheWaiter if you recall we saw Kaino in the NZ age group team that won the RWC a year or so prior to that and he was even skinnier...

too far back to recall, memory very hazy... just remember sammy T, and the awesome haka they busted out.. and that Kirwan missed it cause we sent him to get beers. ha!

Bones

@kiwiinmelb said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

@Bovidae said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

@kiwiinmelb said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

In the current situation, I’ve got this feeling they might start Scott Barrett at 6 , at least we won’t be lacking in grunt early against the more physical packs,

Unlikely now that BBBR is injured, unless they are confident in either Tuipulotu or Hemopo starting at lock.

Let’s hope he makes it back for the WC,

I reckon this option might be good early when the teams are generally playing tight and low risk, our set piece would be very strong .

As opposed to when the finals roll around and they start playing baabaas style?

kiwiinmelb

@Bones I meant early in the game, not early in the tournament:)

taniwharugby

@WillieTheWaiter you recall giving Mark Gerrard shit during the game and then realising he was a unit when you saw him after the game hoping he didnt recognise you haha

MN5

@pukunui said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

@Bovidae said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

At the presser yesterday Hansen was asked again about Read at 6. He just smiled and said they had a plan for the no.6 jersey while not giving anything away. Cryptic.

SBW to 6! Should have happened years ago.

Way too slow

pakman

@broughie said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

@kiwiinmelb Messam was just a shade below test level. Never felt confident in him. He was in between a 6 and 7.

Overall I agree, but he had a couple of games against the Boks where he was very good indeed.

mimic

@ACT-Crusader said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

@KiwiMurph said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

Kaino's debut AB game v Baabaas was end of year Tour 2004.

He then made his test debut vs Ireland in 2006 (June) but was poor.

In 2008 he made the ABs regularly. He got mucked around a bit in 2008 by initially playing 8 (I recall a Bledisloe where he was at 8 and Rodders was at 6) before settling into 6.

Just goes to show that some guys need time.

Also, some forget that we did have a lot of experimenting, swapping and trying different guys/combos during a period we were quite successful.

From memory Kaino got injured after 2004.
After his injury, he lost a lot of his speed, and then had to change his game and play a lot tighter.

I really do hope Papali'i focusses on being a blindside and models his game on Kaino, because I think they are really similar.

ACT Crusader

@MN5 said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

@pukunui said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

@Bovidae said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

At the presser yesterday Hansen was asked again about Read at 6. He just smiled and said they had a plan for the no.6 jersey while not giving anything away. Cryptic.

SBW to 6! Should have happened years ago.

Way too slow

I recall a game for Toulon that SBW did play on the blindside. Not a bad lineout option in that one.

pakman

I heard that Kaino was excellent athlete at St. Kent's, and second fastest 100m after Joe the Rock.

Later certainly built himself up. No. 2 AB at chins behind BBBT and benched about the same as Sam Whitelock.

Remember one EOYT c. 2011 where he was voted best player of any team, touring or domestic.

That said, his clean on 'cheap shot' O'Brien in third Lions test was as brutal as that on BBBR the other day.

Legend.

booboo

@Rapido said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

Messam, tbh I thought we was going to be a stinker at test level. A super Rugby flash harry a-la Fafita. Man, was I wrong, he stepped up so well. A very good All Black.

He's relevant to the not-tall 6 discussion going on though.

You mean Messum?

sparky

Jacobson and Josh Ioane have sore heads:

https://twitter.com/AllBlacks/status/1157396435572273153?s=20

booboo

@sparky said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

Jacobson and Josh Ioane have sore heads:

https://twitter.com/AllBlacks/status/1157396435572273153?s=20

How does Ioane get concussed by not playing?

Must be some full on training.

The Silver Fern

AB squad for the Rugby Championship