Reshuffling the All Blacks backline

taniwharugby

I reckon we play 
 
9 A Smith, 10 Cruden, 11 Lowe, 12 Sopoaga, 13 BB, 14 D-Mac, 15 B Smith
 
Plenty of playmakers there, book-ended by 2 of the Smiths, all good!

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rembrandt" data-cid="567706" data-time="1459111520">
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Definitely see a Ngati/Fekitoa centre pairing. Dmac may get a chance at fullback and send Smith to the wing. Still anyones at first-five. Barretts kicking improved a lot last game, Cruden hasn't been kicking but general play has been great, Sopoanga may lose out just on experience but could see any of them start.
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I personally think it us unlikely that the coaches would be bringing in too many inexperienced players into the backline early (Fekitoa isn't inexperienced but hasn't been a consistent starter, Ngatai hasn't started at all for the ABs and they may need to bring someone in for Savea). So I think they might but Barrett at fullback, at least for a bit for this reason. Similarly, I think Sopoaga will miss out.
 
However, eventually I think they will phase in a few more of these guys, and McKenzie will likely be one of the first on the list.

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="567718" data-time="1459113855">
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I reckon we play 
 
9 A Smith, 10 Cruden, 11 Lowe, 12 Sopoaga, 13 BB, 14 D-Mac, 15 B Smith
 
Plenty of playmakers there, book-ended by 2 of the Smiths, all good! 
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I think Stephen Donald would be a good addition in the midfield, as he will cart the ball up all day. So how about:
 
9.Smith
10.Cruden
11.Barrett
12.Sopoaga
13.Donald
14.MacKenzie
15.Smith

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="567720" data-time="1459114035">
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I think Stephen Donald would be a good addition in the midfield, as he will cart the ball up all day. So how about:
 
9.Smith
10.Cruden
11.Barrett
12.Sopoaga
13.Donald
14.MacKenzie
15.Smith
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Maybe if Todd Blackadder was coach.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="567720" data-time="1459114035">
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I think Stephen Donald would be a good addition in the midfield, as he will cart the ball up all day. So how about:
 
9.Smith
10.Cruden
11.Barrett
12.Sopoaga
13.Donald
14.MacKenzie
15.Smith
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If you gonna go that way, throw BB at FB, and West on the left wing, we only really need one Smith in the backline!

Unco

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="567677" data-time="1459088896">
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Assuming none of the injured guys are back in time for Wales;
 
15. Barrett 14. Ben Smith 13. Fekitoa 12. Ngatai 11. Savea 10. A.Cruden 9 A.Smith
 
Bench: McKenzie, Sopoaga, TJP
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="567709" data-time="1459112114">
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I would have:
 
9. Aaron Smith
10. Aaron Cruden
11. Julian Savea
12. Charlie Ngatai
13. Malakai Fekitoa
14. Ben Smith
15. Beauden Barrett
 
Reserves:
21. TJ Perenara
22. George Moala
23. Damian Mckenzie
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TJP?! Have you guys been watching the Canes? Cause he shouldn't be within 5km of the squad based on his current form. Shit pass, shit decision making.

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="567724" data-time="1459114667">
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TJP?! Have you guys been watching the Canes? Cause he shouldn't be within 5km of the squad based on his current form. Shit pass, shit decision making.
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Yep Kerr-Barlow easily the no.2 halfback in the country.

leytonandamanda

I actually prefer weber as 2nd choice 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Rembrandt

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="567725" data-time="1459114858">
Yep Kerr-Barlow easily the no.2 halfback in the country.</blockquote>
 
I think Weber is outplaying him at the moment, early days yet though

Rancid Schnitzel

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="567727" data-time="1459115309">
I actually prefer weber as 2nd choice 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk</blockquote>
 
Me too. NKB just isn't good enough. I was gunning for TJP last year, but admit now that he isn't an option. He has the size and skills but unfortunately lacks a brain. 
This will without doubt be our biggest test of depth since 1998. Hope Hanson manages that better than Hart. 
Barrett at 13 is certainly out of the box thinking. Don't really see the logic though. Reckon you have to go Ngatai and Fekitoa at this stage.

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="567724" data-time="1459114667">
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TJP?! Have you guys been watching the Canes? Cause he shouldn't be within 5km of the squad based on his current form. Shit pass, shit decision making.
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When I said Canes4Life was closest I hadn't clicked he had TJP at 9, definitely TKB who just is good enough ... as last years performances from the reserves during the finals showed.

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="567718" data-time="1459113855">
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I reckon we play 
 
9 A Smith, 10 Cruden, 11 Lowe, 12 Sopoaga, 13 BB, 14 D-Mac, 15 B Smith
 
Plenty of playmakers there, book-ended by 2 of the Smiths, all good! 
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Ngatai at 11 as he's more of a playmaker than Lowe. :)

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="567736" data-time="1459116806">
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Ngatai at 11 as he's more of a playmaker than Lowe. :)
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good call, at least some of you are taking this re-shuffle seriously!

booboo

Cruden
Dagg
MacKenzie
Donald
Barrett
Black
Sopoaga 
Mounga, MacKenzie M, and McGahan on the bench. 
Good investment in the future there. Plenty goal kicking options.

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="567736" data-time="1459116806">
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Ngatai at 11 as he's more of a playmaker than Lowe. :)
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There was also talk of Cruden at halfback at one stage, due to his weight. That could give us:
 
9.Cruden
10.West
11.Ngatai
12.Sopoaga
13.Donald
14.MacKenzie
15.Barrett

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="567741" data-time="1459118356">
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9. Cruden 
10. Dagg 
11. MacKenzie 
12. Donald 
13. Barrett 
14. Black 
15. Sopoaga 
Mounga, MacKenzie M, and McGahan on the bench. 
Good investment in the future there. Plenty goal kicking options.
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I'm not sure about Black starting, but Dagg at 10 is a good call.

booboo

At least we've settled the halfback question bobily

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rembrandt" data-cid="567728" data-time="1459115416">
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I think Weber is outplaying him at the moment, early days yet though
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Both good in their own right but I like what Kerr Barlow brings to the table personally with a more physical presence which is more suited to test rugby imo and he can close games out in the last 15-20 mins of test matches as he has shown in the past. Having said that, I do like Weber as third choice ahead of TJP.

Gunner

Except for maybe one or two experimental games, I can't see the coaches shifting Ben from FB. He's well established as our number one 15 now. 
We have plenty of wing options, even if Savea is too fat, NMS & Naholo are injured; Jane, Ranger, Lowe, Osborne, Moala, and I'm sure there are one or two I'm missing.

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="567736" data-time="1459116806">
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Ngatai at 11 as he's more of a playmaker than Lowe. :)
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Ngatai did play 1st 5 for the Chiefs in a pre-season game. :think: :mocking:

The Silver Fern

Reshuffling the All Blacks backline