Nonu
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="DMX" data-cid="537623" data-time="1446330855"><p>Ma'a's pace has been unbelievable this year, the work he must have put in is amazing. I think high odds of Buckman wearing 12,11 or 14 at some point next year.</p></blockquote>
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Agree. Big ups to Nonu this year. He has really shown how important this was to him in his own way. <br>
On your second point I think that Fekitoa/Ngatai may be our natural Nonu/Smith replacements. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Kirwan" data-cid="537534" data-time="1446324046"><p>SBW will be at the sevens next year, maybe Moala at 12; like for like replacement for Nonu.</p></blockquote>
Only like for like in that he is a strong runner. The rest of his game... not so much. He has the raw ingredients though, if he can put the same amount of work into his game that Nonu has he could be a fine All Black. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="DMX" data-cid="537623" data-time="1446330855">
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<p>Ma'a's pace has been unbelievable this year, the work he must have put in is amazing. I think high odds of Buckman wearing 12,11 or 14 at some point next year.</p>
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<p>It's his guile and intelligent play as wellas his pace which has impressed me. this year. He's reall brought another dimension to his play this year.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="537648" data-time="1446332760"><p>Only like for like in that he is a strong runner. The rest of his game... not so much. He has the raw ingredients though, if he can put the same amount of work into his game that Nonu has he could be a fine All Black.</p></blockquote>
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He's a more powerful version of 2007 Nonu, might be a bit faster too. Worth getting into the AB coaches hands. -
<p>fark, 5 hours? </p>
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<p>All Ive done is what the whole damn shebang twice and my day is half gone!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="537667" data-time="1446334815"><p>fark, 5 hours? <br><br>
All Ive done is what the whole damn shebang twice and my day is half gone!</p></blockquote>
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Ha! Same here. Still on the couch nearly 8 hours after kickoff. Keep going to do something but keep watching replays and reading shit on the internet instead. -
<p>I have lawns to mow, but I'm sure I am too tired or something!</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Kirwan" data-cid="537657" data-time="1446333473"><p>He's a more powerful version of 2007 Nonu, might be a bit faster too. Worth getting into the AB coaches hands.</p></blockquote> yep I think Moala has all the makings of a stellar ab career and can chart a path very similar to Nonu in the ab environment. Needs to add some strings to his bow, which I think he will over time. but the raw ingredients definitely are there.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="537673" data-time="1446335431">
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<p>Ha! Same here. Still on the couch nearly 8 hours after kickoff. Keep going to do something but keep watching replays and reading shit on the internet instead.</p>
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<p>Damn you buggers with older kids. I've been up with the oldest one since 2am watching the game, made all 3 of the fckers pancakes at 6.00am, was at the outdoor basketball courts by 8.30am with scooters, basketball and footy ball, back home now via Woolworths to feed them lunch and hopefully get the youngest down for a couple of hours so I can go back to bed. I suspect I won't get to the replay until 8pm tonight.</p>
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<p>And I'm still fcking excited about it.</p> -
<p>Always had a lot of respect for Ma'a after what he said back in 08. <span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">With interest overseas and from the NRL, and him seeming to be on the outer with the ABs in 07, he was asked why he didn't leave NZ, he said he didn't want to be remembered as an average All Black, he wanted to be remembered as a great one.</span></p>
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<p>Mission accomplished, Ma'a.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="voodoo" data-cid="537724" data-time="1446339405">
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<p>Damn you buggers with older kids. I've been up with the oldest one since 2am watching the game, made all 3 of the fckers pancakes at 6.00am, was at the outdoor basketball courts by 8.30am with scooters, basketball and footy ball, back home now via Woolworths to feed them lunch and hopefully get the youngest down for a couple of hours so I can go back to bed. I suspect I won't get to the replay until 8pm tonight.</p>
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<p>And I'm still fcking excited about it.</p>
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<p>mine are 7 & 10, fortunately Miss 7 had a walk with her mum and TR Jnr popped next door to play with his mate...I expect they (like me) will both hit the wall soon!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="537738" data-time="1446341232">
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<p>Always had a lot of respect for Ma'a after what he said back in 08. <span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">With interest overseas and from the NRL, and him seeming to be on the outer with the ABs in 07, he was asked why he didn't leave NZ, he said he didn't want to be remembered as an average All Black, he wanted to be remembered as a great one.</span></p>
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<p>Mission accomplished, Ma'a.</p>
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<p>Probably AB of the year for 2015.</p> -
<p>I haven't read the whole thread but do people think we will see another second five like Mauger? He was a very good player, to be sure but I think Nonu has shown time and time again how important it is to have a 12 who can provide that punch. If we pick Moala at 12 next season then that indicates that we want to replicate what Nonu could do. If we pick Ngatai then that shows we are looking for something a little different.</p>
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<p>As for Nonu, he sort of came from nowhere didn't he? He wasn't a star at the lower levels but just seemed to get better every year. In 2011 he was one of the players I had the least confidence in him being there in 2015. He just continued evolving his game and somehow managed to keep his pace.</p> -
Everyone seems to be forgetting crotty! I think he has played well at international level and like Conrad smith, he reads the game well<br><br><br>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="537778" data-time="1446345410"><p>Everyone seems to be forgetting crotty!</p></blockquote>Don't worry! Canerbry hasn't! He'll be dropping Crotty's name more often than he drops his Andy Ellis "slow delivery" underwear when the Crusaders are playing.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="537759" data-time="1446343029">
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<p>I haven't read the whole thread but do people think we will see another second five like Mauger? He was a very good player, to be sure but I think Nonu has shown time and time again how important it is to have a 12 who can provide that punch. If we pick Moala at 12 next season then that indicates that we want to replicate what Nonu could do. If we pick Ngatai then that shows we are looking for something a little different.</p>
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<p>I think you can have a smaller ball-playing 12 if your 13 is a blockbuster, but agree that at least one of them needs to provide some punch.</p> -
Fekitoa has been on fire this year. Only some sublime form from SBW kept him out of the 23.<br><br>
I'd like to see Fekitoa and Crotty develop a combination, with Moala off the bench.<br><br>
We still have a lot of quality to work with despite losing one of our best ever pairings in Ma'a/Conrad.
