AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?

[shark]

@booboo Oh shit I take it back. You were serious re Ennor at 12! Ummmm.....

[Nepia]

@ACT-Crusader said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

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

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

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

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

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

Braydon Ennor has an ACL rip. Out for 9 months.

Pooh.

There goes my proposal to test a future 12 ...

He doesn't look like a test 12 to me ... why do you think he does?

Dunno.

Just a thunk.

Just get this impression he could straighten a line and create some space for a 13 outside him.

But frankly ignore me. I know nothing about back play ... rugby ... anything much.

Overly self deprecating there.

He does have some skills.

Does the 13 have to be a white boy? Apparently that is an issue

Is it?

Two of our recent best three centres haven't been.

[ACT Crusader]

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

@ACT-Crusader said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

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

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

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

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

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

Braydon Ennor has an ACL rip. Out for 9 months.

Pooh.

There goes my proposal to test a future 12 ...

He doesn't look like a test 12 to me ... why do you think he does?

Dunno.

Just a thunk.

Just get this impression he could straighten a line and create some space for a 13 outside him.

But frankly ignore me. I know nothing about back play ... rugby ... anything much.

Overly self deprecating there.

He does have some skills.

Does the 13 have to be a white boy? Apparently that is an issue

Is it?

Two of our recent best three centres haven't been.

I’m still struggling to find what the “issue” is?

[Nepia]

@ACT-Crusader said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

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

@ACT-Crusader said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

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

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

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

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

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

Braydon Ennor has an ACL rip. Out for 9 months.

Pooh.

There goes my proposal to test a future 12 ...

He doesn't look like a test 12 to me ... why do you think he does?

Dunno.

Just a thunk.

Just get this impression he could straighten a line and create some space for a 13 outside him.

But frankly ignore me. I know nothing about back play ... rugby ... anything much.

Overly self deprecating there.

He does have some skills.

Does the 13 have to be a white boy? Apparently that is an issue

Is it?

Two of our recent best three centres haven't been.

I’m still struggling to find what the “issue” is?

I have no idea, was just feeling left out so thought I'd join in.

[shark]

Please don't get into positional racial profiling. I'm getting as fucked off with the 'skinny white boy' stereotype as I am with the rationale that a first five should be white, or wingers should be brown. We've had a lot of great players of both persuasions in most positions over a long period of time.

[Nepia]

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

Please don't get into positional racial profiling. I'm getting as fucked off with the 'skinny white boy' stereotype as I am with the rationale that a first five should be white, or wingers should be brown. We've had a lot of great players of both persuasions in most positions over a long period of time.

I'm with you, as long as we can agree that all halfbacks in the ABs have to be Maori. We don't want anymore Drummonds accidentally slipping through the cracks.

[No Quarter]

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

@Nepia Didn't someone mention that as a piss-take and then someone else picked it up and ran with it as if it was a possible scenario? Don't give it any more air, please. Ennor is a wing/centre.

I would however like to see J Barrett at 12.

Jordie has the goods to make a fine 12. Problem is, he's finally found his feet at 15 and is looking like he will be world class in that position now, so I'd be loathe to move him again and make him start over learning a new position at the top level.

[shark]

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

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

Please don't get into positional racial profiling. I'm getting as fucked off with the 'skinny white boy' stereotype as I am with the rationale that a first five should be white, or wingers should be brown. We've had a lot of great players of both persuasions in most positions over a long period of time.

I'm with you, as long as we can agree that all halfbacks in the ABs have to be Maori. We don't want anymore Drummonds accidentally slipping through the cracks.

Ok. As long as we agree that no starting openside flankers can be Cane. But they can be 'Canes.

[Nepia]

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

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

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

Please don't get into positional racial profiling. I'm getting as fucked off with the 'skinny white boy' stereotype as I am with the rationale that a first five should be white, or wingers should be brown. We've had a lot of great players of both persuasions in most positions over a long period of time.

I'm with you, as long as we can agree that all halfbacks in the ABs have to be Maori. We don't want anymore Drummonds accidentally slipping through the cracks.

Ok. As long as we agree that no starting openside flankers can be Cane. But they can be 'Canes.

Cane and Drummond are apt comparisons.

[shark]

@No-Quarter said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

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

@Nepia Didn't someone mention that as a piss-take and then someone else picked it up and ran with it as if it was a possible scenario? Don't give it any more air, please. Ennor is a wing/centre.

I would however like to see J Barrett at 12.

Jordie has the goods to make a fine 12. Problem is, he's finally found his feet at 15 and is looking like he will be world class in that position now, so I'd be loathe to move him again and make him start over learning a new position at the top level.

The best I've ever seen him play remains his debut first class season at 12 for Canterbury and I think this is his best position, which we just so happen to be light in right now. And much Iike James Franklin's 100 vs SA in SA and good bowling average at the time meaning he could have been a long term all-rounder at test level, I'm sticking with the assertion that Barrett could translate that form to test level. Plus it largely keeps him away from fucking up deluxe in the wide open spaces at the back.

[No Quarter]

My backline from that squad would be:

9. A Smith
10. R Mo'unga
11. C Clarke
12. ALB
13. R Ioane
14. J Barrett
15. B Barrett

Plenty of size, power and pace with three play-makers / blokes that can kick the ball.

[mariner4life]

@No-Quarter said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

My backline from that squad would be:

9. A Smith
10. R Mo'unga
11. C Clarke
12. ALB
13. R Ioane
14. J Barrett
15. B Barrett

Plenty of size, power and pace with three play-makers / blokes that can kick the ball.

mine too

[Snowy]

@ACT-Crusader said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

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

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

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

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

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

Braydon Ennor has an ACL rip. Out for 9 months.

Pooh.

There goes my proposal to test a future 12 ...

He doesn't look like a test 12 to me ... why do you think he does?

Dunno.

Just a thunk.

Just get this impression he could straighten a line and create some space for a 13 outside him.

But frankly ignore me. I know nothing about back play ... rugby ... anything much.

Overly self deprecating there.

He does have some skills.

Does the 13 have to be a white boy? Apparently that is an issue

Is it?

Not for me, but an all white back line was bought up. Fuck knows why.

[No Quarter]

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

@No-Quarter said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

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

@Nepia Didn't someone mention that as a piss-take and then someone else picked it up and ran with it as if it was a possible scenario? Don't give it any more air, please. Ennor is a wing/centre.

I would however like to see J Barrett at 12.

Jordie has the goods to make a fine 12. Problem is, he's finally found his feet at 15 and is looking like he will be world class in that position now, so I'd be loathe to move him again and make him start over learning a new position at the top level.

The best I've ever seen him play remains his debut first class season at 12 for Canterbury and I think this is his best position, which we just so happen to be light in right now. And much Iike James Franklin's 100 vs SA in SA and good bowling average at the time meaning he could have been a long term all-rounder at test level, I'm sticking with the assertion that Barrett could translate that form to test level. Plus it largely keeps him away from fucking up deluxe in the wide open spaces at the back.

His best game in black was on debut vs the Lions at 15. I actually do agree that he could solve some problems for us at 12 and have called for him to play there in the past, but he was so damn good at 15 this year now I'm not so sure.

[Snowy]

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

'skinny white boy'

That was the thing. All bollocks.

[junior]

@akan004 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@voodoo Are we overrating SA a tad? I mean we beat them last year and really should have done it twice with an equally uninspiring team and coaching setup. I would give us a decent chance of winning again this year.

Who really knows about them given their change in coaching and the fact that most of their best players now play in Europe and therefore are likely to turn up exhausted to play here (if they turn up at all).

[Machpants]

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

@ACT-Crusader said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

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

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

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

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

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

Braydon Ennor has an ACL rip. Out for 9 months.

Pooh.

There goes my proposal to test a future 12 ...

He doesn't look like a test 12 to me ... why do you think he does?

Dunno.

Just a thunk.

Just get this impression he could straighten a line and create some space for a 13 outside him.

But frankly ignore me. I know nothing about back play ... rugby ... anything much.

Overly self deprecating there.

He does have some skills.

Does the 13 have to be a white boy? Apparently that is an issue

Is it?

Not for me, but an all white back line was bought up. Fuck knows why.

Yeah everyone knows the All Whites play soccer

[junior]

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

@No-Quarter said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

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

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

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

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

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

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

@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

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

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

I'm almost thankful that we have no games this year, or at most, a couple against the Aussies. Because this team is pretty uninspiring to me. Not for a lack of talent, but for how "messy" it feels. So few guys picking themselves as automatic selections, too many being touted to play out of position, and a new captain that is injury prone and probably not world class even at full fitness.

How can we have gone through another season and still have no idea what our midfield should look like? How is it that we have no natural 12's any more? We are touting Jordie Barret or Ennor (pre-injury) as great options, WTF?

We are still debating who to play at 10, who our best wings are, who to play at 15. We have no standout at 6, even 8 (maybe Sotutu), and arguably our best 7 will need to come off the bench.

And what we absolutely don't have is an cohesiveness in the combinations across the park. Tight 5? Nah. Loosie combination? No. Number 8/9 combo? Nope. Midfield? Maybe of they go back to ALB/Goodhue, but people seem to think this is unlikely. Back 3? Nuh uh.

I could see this team getting toasted by SA if we played them tomorrow.

You said it Homer.

I don't share the negativity.

I'm also trying to ignore the Cane trolling.

Trolling? Why do say that? Is any criticism of him disallowed?

I like Cane, I was amongst those calling for Hansons immediate sacking when he was omitted from the SF team. He hits like a rock, and in that backdrop in particular, he was absolutely necessary.

But in a balanced back row, with a traditional big 6 and a more powerful 8 (say Frizell and Sotutu), I don't think Cane is a world class 7 and I'd rather see Ardie in there.

Hardly trolling

Of course it's trolling. What did Ardie do as an openside in the NvS game apart from watch a number 8 go flying by at a scrum?

Ummmmmm - you accuse me of trolling, I give you a few valid reasons for my opinion, and you come back with a single incident in a single game as some sort of evidence that I am trolling???

That you think they're valid doesn't make them so. I simply can't take anyone seriously who posits that Cane isn't a world class openside flanker.

Well not too many world class guys get left out of their national side for a RWC SF do they? Seriously, where would you rank him internationally as a 7? World class to me means you're one of the first guys to be picked in your national team. Guess we just have different measures of greatness.

Cane being left out of the RWC SF was an absolutely ridiculous decision. It was literally leaving a world class player out of the starting lineup for the most important game. I still shake my head in disbelief at that.

I n 2019 Ardie might have been the most consistent forward we had and he was definitely in much better form than Cane. If you think Cane should have played its basically saying Hansen was correct in his original decision to play without a number 6 which was not completely obvious at the time he first chose the combo. That said I think Cane should have played because the combo had already worked quite effectively but for my reasons above it doesn't change the result.

One has to remember that we were beaten by a team playing with two 7s and we also beat the team that played a more traditionally balanced back row when we played two 7s.

What this means, in short, is that Hansen & Co completely fucked it.

[kiwiinmelb]

@No-Quarter said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

My backline from that squad would be:

9. A Smith
10. R Mo'unga
11. C Clarke
12. ALB
13. R Ioane
14. J Barrett
15. B Barrett

Plenty of size, power and pace with three play-makers / blokes that can kick the ball.

I like it but cant help but think they want Mounga and Beaudie both training and playing more as specialist 10s, listening to the coaches on selection day , unless ive misunderstood ,

and if right, im guessing they are going to start one and have one on the bench with Jordie 15 and perhaps jorden at 14

[ACT Crusader]

What I think they’ll go with

9 Smith
10 B Barrett
11 Reece
12 ALB
13 Goodhue
14 Ioane
15 J Barrett

21 Perenara
22 Mo’unga
23 doesn’t matter anyone of Clarke, Jordan, DMac, Bridge etc

That starting lineup has specialists with versatility.