AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?

[Chris B.]

@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@canefan said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@Bovidae said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

We don't have a Nonu available. Laumape isn't that either as his distribution is more like Nonu c2003.

You need to have all 3 on the field so that's (11) Ioane, (12) ALB and (13) Goodhue.

How did Nonu turn out? Nani may end up being another Sam Tuitupou, or maybe he'll expand his game like Ma'a. He does bring toughness and the ability to break the line

Laumape is 27. Ma'a Nonu was already polished product 2011 Ma'a Nonu by that point. I think it's time to accept current Laumape is the finished product.

He's also not very big, so more punchy than anything at test level.

He's not the next Nonu, and agree with @Bones he's not even really Tuitupou

Well, for the 2007 RWC, when Nonu was a contender, the only people who were still supporting him as an AB contender on this board were me and that guy from Wellington who used to have Andy from Little Britain as his avatar. I distinctly recall someone writing "Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out, Nonu"!

He must have been 25 at that time.

[Bones]

@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@canefan said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@Bovidae said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

We don't have a Nonu available. Laumape isn't that either as his distribution is more like Nonu c2003.

You need to have all 3 on the field so that's (11) Ioane, (12) ALB and (13) Goodhue.

How did Nonu turn out? Nani may end up being another Sam Tuitupou, or maybe he'll expand his game like Ma'a. He does bring toughness and the ability to break the line

Laumape is 27. Ma'a Nonu was already polished product 2011 Ma'a Nonu by that point. I think it's time to accept current Laumape is the finished product.

He's also not very big, so more punchy than anything at test level.

He's not the next Nonu, and agree with @Bones he's not even really Tuitupou

I think to be fair, we have to accept Laumape started a bit later than Nonu - and has certainly shown development in his game over the last 4 years. He's got a very handy kicking game now. I've seen him throw the odd long pass very nicely too - just what we have to hope develops is his vision, accuracy and timing (something which Nonu had in absolute spades which isn't so easy to come by). No reason why he can't develop further, but he's not on the Nonu trajectory.

[Chris B.]

This is turning into the best thread since Covid!

[Chris B.]

@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@Tim said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@Bones ALB/Goodhue, ALB/Ioane, Goodhue/Ioane, and Goodhue/ALB all lack a dominant midfield ball carrier, and rely on a player who looks to take the outside break.

we don't really have one in the country because we are at that point in our cycle where we abhor "bashers" and think skill and fitness is absolutely everything

which it absolutely is for Super Rugby if I'm being fair.

I agree totally with that philosophy. Size is important - you need some big guys in the backs to get you over the gain line, you need a big blindside in the forwards to take lineout ball and to provide bulk on defence, and if you have too many small guys in the backs the opposition will get over the gain line too frequently and easily.

[gt12]

@Bovidae

One hopes. I think the bench is crucial too.

Allowing me to pick some injured players, I think we would be very dangerous if we can get the following players in form:

1. Moody 17. Big Karl /Moli

2. Taylor 16. Coles/Aumua

3. Ofa 18. Ta'avao/ Lomax

4. Patty T 19. Robinson/Barrett

5. Whitelock

6. Ioane /Robinson 20. Savea

7. Cane

8. Sotutu

9. Smith 21. TJP

10. Barrett 22. Mo'unga

11. Ioane

12. ALB

13. Goodhue

14. Clarke / Bridge (I really really want Alaimalo to stand up for this spot, but he's miles away right now)

15. Dmac / Jordan 23 Barrett

[Tim]

@gt12 Dmac looks as far from test level as possible this year. Maybe he'll be better next year when his knee is in better condition. Moli is dog shit at loosehead. Better at tighthead.

[gt12]

@Tim

Like I said, in form. I wouldn't pick Dmac right now, but when he and Barrett were playing together, they were electric using Dmac at 2nd/3rd receiver

Actually, Moli at 18 would be nice; he'd be the new Ofa (who I think should start)

[taniwharugby]

@gt12 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

Alaimalo

yeah he has fallen away hugely, after being touted as a possible bolter for EOYT a few years ago, he barely features in conversations aside from what people think he could be if he gets his mojo back

@Chris-B I think it was @mojo who had that avatar

[Chris B.]

@taniwharugby That's the guy!

[gt12]

We're debating back selections, but if we can get metres up front, it won't matter whether it is Jordie, Dmac, Jordan, or Havili at 15.

At prop, lock, and in the loose forwards, we need at least one player who can consistently get metres, and do their core roles. We've been missing that for a while with Moody/Laulala and Savea/Cane/Read.

If BBBR and Taylor/Coles don't make metres, we get stuck. IMO, that's the biggest area to address and bringing in Scott Barrett to replace BBBr won't help.

[Chris B.]

@gt12 Robinson at 6.

[gt12]

@Chris-B

There is going to be a bunch of ppl I'll forget. Edited accordingly.

Actually, he's ideal for the lock/6 (19) spot if he can cover lock.

If not, then he'll be a good competitor with Ioane for the 6 jersey.

[Chris B.]

@gt12 ....and Lomax at least as an apprentice.

[Bones]

@Chris-B said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@gt12 ....and Lomax at least as an apprentice.

Needs to head back down South and start looking like an AB again...

[KiwiMurph]

One thing in Lomax's favour is the ABs forwards coach has plenty of knowledge about him.

[Chris B.]

@Bones Going to the Canes has rarely been a good decision for a prop.

We'll get him right again at Ta$man!

[Bones]

@KiwiMurph said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

One thing in Lomax's favour is the ABs forwards coach has plenty of knowledge about him.

I quite like him - definitely doesn't go backwards. Solid in contact (like Moli), just needs to knuckle down and play rugby.

[Chris B.]

@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@KiwiMurph said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

One thing in Lomax's favour is the ABs forwards coach has plenty of knowledge about him.

I quite like him - definitely doesn't go backwards. Solid in contact (like Moli), just needs to knuckle down and play rugby.

He's the way of the future (Howard Hughes).

If he's not our tighthead prop at 2023 RWC we will have a fucking good one.

[Bones]

@Chris-B said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@KiwiMurph said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

One thing in Lomax's favour is the ABs forwards coach has plenty of knowledge about him.

I quite like him - definitely doesn't go backwards. Solid in contact (like Moli), just needs to knuckle down and play rugby.

He's the way of the future (Howard Hughes).

If he's not our tighthead prop at 2023 RWC we will have a fucking good one.

Maybe Mitch Hunt.

Or Sotutu.

[Chris B.]

@Bones He's the guy I'm putting my speculative prop money on.

Will Jordan and Shannon Frizell will be fucking good from Ta$man as well.

Mitch Hunt will struggle to get past Richie Mo'unga, but will be great from the bench!