Nonu
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<p>Hopefully he's eyeing the Lions tour.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="539143" data-time="1446606850">
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<p>Hopefully he's eyeing the Lions tour.</p>
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<p>A Smith, Cruds, SBW, Ngatai - I'd be happy (in theory) with that combination against the Lions.</p> -
<p>I'm also interested in seeing more of Ngatai and surely SBW is the next 12 in line (but tough on Fekitoa).</p>
<p>And now for howls of outrage from Safe White Boys fans south of Kaikoura...</p>
<p>I'm actually a fan of Crotty but what little I saw of him in 2015 I thought his form had dipped ever so slightly..</p> -
<p>both sbw and fekitoa started to show signs of developing an improved wide passing game recently, which is such an important thing at 12 and has become such a hallmark of nonu's game.</p>
<p>if sbw was going to stick around and concentrate on 15s he would be a very straightforward selection at 12. but odds on it'll be 7s, then who knows what, at best a short contract, which isn't an easy way to build a team. a massive part of our success is the long-term guys that you can build around. </p>
<p>fekitoa i think has a touch more pace and is a bit smaller, which lends itself to centre a bit more. sbw isn't going to take many outside breaks, whereas his size and strength coming up against the fatties in close is a real asset.</p>
<p>the amount of ruck work done by nonu is the other thing we'll miss. he'd hit the most breakdowns out of all the backs on the field in a lot of games he plays.</p>
<p>as far as combos go, the 10-12 and 13/wing/15 ones are important too. fekitoa/naholo/smith did some great things down south this year, while sbw playing with cruden has an inside track there. but then of course, sopo'aga or barrett may win the race for 10, exciting times.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="539830" data-time="1446842817">
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<p>Just realised from the Nonu side of things he will play outside Quade Cooper next year at Toulon. I'll be curious to see how effective he is under that chemistry. Will have Basteraued though so not losing much in his Centre partner.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Or how much better he might make Kwaiyde look, potentially lethal backline, although, MIchalak at 9?</p>
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<p><img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xlp1/v/t1.0-9/12191786_937141063044417_1584099977646319333_n.png?oh=beb18042d1a327e45ee9f2f3ee7bf546&oe=56F42CEB&__gda__=1459070713_9da5e8c1d1510104f657df73e2a61daa" alt="12191786_937141063044417_158409997764631"></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="539834" data-time="1446844856">
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<p>Surely Giteau will play in Toulon's midfield. Basteraud probably not even in the matchday 23. Alarming for a national team player.</p>
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<p>Not really, he's French, no place in a French club side for a Frenchman! </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="539832" data-time="1446843502">
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<p>Or how much better he might make Kwaiyde look, potentially lethal backline, although, MIchalak at 9?</p>
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<p><img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xlp1/v/t1.0-9/12191786_937141063044417_1584099977646319333_n.png?oh=beb18042d1a327e45ee9f2f3ee7bf546&oe=56F42CEB&__gda__=1459070713_9da5e8c1d1510104f657df73e2a61daa" alt="12191786_937141063044417_158409997764631"></p>
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<p>No wonder French rugby is fucked.</p> -
<p>Shocking how many <em>token </em>French players are in that team!</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Virgil" data-cid="539837" data-time="1446845556"><p>No wonder French rugby is fucked.</p></blockquote> yeah it's fuckin laughable in one sense but sad in another. The day this happens in NZ or soup rugby we can forget international rugby.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="539842" data-time="1446846997"><p>To be fair to France, where would Georgia be as a rugby nation without them?</p></blockquote>
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I've seen people from the nh trying to claim credit for helping out lower tier nations, I don't buy it at all. Firstly it's not intentional at all, the players are not selected with a mind to helping out Georgia etc rather trying to fit within the team budget . Second the club owners are often very reluctant to release the players for international duty or pay them incentives to end their test careers.<br>
The last reason makes me not at all displeased that France are reaping what they have sown in the past . -
<p>thing is, if these club owners are making money, then they arent gonna change anything are they, and the French Union will have a battle on its hands to restrict overseas players from these wealthy owners too (although surely the paying public would rather see local players running out each week and strengthening French Rugby?)</p>
