All Blacks vs Fiji 2

sparky

@victor-meldrew I feel a bit bad leaving out Hoskins Sotutu, so much talent, what a prospect, great for the Blues.

But thoroughly mediocre at international level so far......

Victor Meldrew

@victor-meldrew I feel a bit bad leaving out Hoskins Sotutu, so much talent, what a prospect, great for the Blues.

But thoroughly mediocre at international level so far......

Give him time - might come right. Took Akira a good few years. I think we're blessed for talent at 6/7/8 and the hard bit for Foster is to get his combinations right.

Hope he picks a DH/ALB combination as think they could compliment each other really well and DH def. deserves/needs another outing at 12

family man

@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@sparky said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@victor-meldrew I feel a bit bad leaving out Hoskins Sotutu, so much talent, what a prospect, great for the Blues.

But thoroughly mediocre at international level so far......

Give him time - might come right. Took Akira a good few years. I think we're blessed for talent at 6/7/8 and the hard bit for Foster is to get his combinations right.

Hope he picks a DH/ALB combination as think they could compliment each other really well and DH def. deserves/needs another outing at 12

According to plumtree alb,savea,tuuinukuafe and popoali’i are doubtful for the game

Victor Meldrew

@family-man

Hope ALB is fit - he's our one really experienced player in midfield.

Crucial

@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@family-man

Hope ALB is fit - he's our one really experienced player in midfield.

If h isn’t we get Roane again. Great for his development but if he isn’t the answer in 13 then it’s another lost opportunity.
I know he sees himself as a centre now but under this gameplan so is Bridge. Roane brings the wing/centre role a bit more wing and centre.

nzzp

@crucial said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@family-man

Hope ALB is fit - he's our one really experienced player in midfield.

If h isn’t we get Roane again. Great for his development but if he isn’t the answer in 13 then it’s another lost opportunity.
I know he sees himself as a centre now but under this gameplan so is Bridge. Roane brings the wing/centre role a bit more wing and centre.

One key question for me is who are your centres likely to be in two years time at the RWC? For me, that's likely to be ALB, RIoane, and probably JG. Havili if he stays there. Savea (or Messam) if we want to make a joke Tupaea a real possibility. This far out though, aside from ALB, you're lookign at the attributes to see who could build to a higher level.

Rieko has potential because of his pace. Tana managed the shift, and became seriously good there. Rieko could get there, and is stepping up year on year. Can't see Bridge in tha tmix unless he starts playing there consistently

Crucial

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@crucial said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@family-man

Hope ALB is fit - he's our one really experienced player in midfield.

If h isn’t we get Roane again. Great for his development but if he isn’t the answer in 13 then it’s another lost opportunity.
I know he sees himself as a centre now but under this gameplan so is Bridge. Roane brings the wing/centre role a bit more wing and centre.

One key question for me is who are your centres likely to be in two years time at the RWC? For me, that's likely to be ALB, RIoane, and probably JG. Havili if he stays there. Savea (or Messam) if we want to make a joke Tupaea a real possibility. This far out though, aside from ALB, you're lookign at the attributes to see who could build to a higher level.

Rieko has potential because of his pace. Tana managed the shift, and became seriously good there. Rieko could get there, and is stepping up year on year. Can't see Bridge in tha tmix unless he starts playing there consistently

Sorry if I confused you. I don’t see Bridge In the centre mix at all. Just saying that under this structure he appears as much (if not more) in a distribution role midfield as he does as a winger.
Therefore if they want to continue with having the winger add to the midfield during a game then surely Roane does that better? At least he has the ability to beat a defender.

Crazy Horse

Numbers on backs/positions are becoming blurred. I don't think it matters as much any more what 'position' a player is. How often do we see the backs lined up in the traditional 9,10, 12,13,15,11 or 14 way? Foster and co seem to be taking the mixing of roles up another level.

No Quarter

@crazy-horse said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

Numbers on backs/positions are becoming blurred. I don't think it matters as much any more what 'position' a player is. How often do we see the backs lined up in the traditional 9,10, 12,13,15,11 or 14 way? Foster and co seem to be taking the mixing of roles up another level.

Which is why the ABs have no fucking structure. They're trying to be too clever for their own good and it puts the players under pressure.

Victor Meldrew

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@crucial said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@family-man

Hope ALB is fit - he's our one really experienced player in midfield.

If h isn’t we get Roane again. Great for his development but if he isn’t the answer in 13 then it’s another lost opportunity.
I know he sees himself as a centre now but under this gameplan so is Bridge. Roane brings the wing/centre role a bit more wing and centre.

One key question for me is who are your centres likely to be in two years time at the RWC? For me, that's likely to be ALB, RIoane, and probably JG. Havili if he stays there. Savea (or Messam) if we want to make a joke Tupaea a real possibility. This far out though, aside from ALB, you're lookign at the attributes to see who could build to a higher level.

Rieko has potential because of his pace. Tana managed the shift, and became seriously good there. Rieko could get there, and is stepping up year on year. Can't see Bridge in tha tmix unless he starts playing there consistently

Of all the midfielders, the most experienced, consistent and, well, just bloody good, is ALB so it makes sense to build your pairings around him. Problem is they've had 5 years and haven't figured out his best position yet...

FWIW, I think he's best at 13 so my top pairing could be DH/ALB with the second pairing being ALB/RI or DH/RI and if JG gets back into the groove, ALB/JG.

Havili has only had one Test, hence the use of the word "could". I just think his skillset compliments ALB well.

Victor Meldrew

@crazy-horse said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

Numbers on backs/positions are becoming blurred. I don't think it matters as much any more what 'position' a player is. How often do we see the backs lined up in the traditional 9,10, 12,13,15,11 or 14 way? Foster and co seem to be taking the mixing of roles up another level.

Or down a level, depending on your point of view....

Crucial

@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@crazy-horse said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

Numbers on backs/positions are becoming blurred. I don't think it matters as much any more what 'position' a player is. How often do we see the backs lined up in the traditional 9,10, 12,13,15,11 or 14 way? Foster and co seem to be taking the mixing of roles up another level.

Or down a level, depending on your point of view....

Thing is that they talk about physicality and being dominant around the tackle then come up with a system that needs ball running loose forwards positioned out wide.
Muddled thinking from what I can see.

Bovidae

@family-man said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

According to plumtree alb,savea,tuuinukuafe and popoali’i are doubtful for the game

I read his comments as ALB and Savea have been training so are a good chance to play. Big Karl and Dalton are definitely out.

Regarding the midfield selection, ALB is more likely to continue playing at centre for the Chiefs so it would make sense he is used there for the ABs too.

gt12

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@crucial said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@family-man

Hope ALB is fit - he's our one really experienced player in midfield.

If h isn’t we get Roane again. Great for his development but if he isn’t the answer in 13 then it’s another lost opportunity.
I know he sees himself as a centre now but under this gameplan so is Bridge. Roane brings the wing/centre role a bit more wing and centre.

One key question for me is who are your centres likely to be in two years time at the RWC? For me, that's likely to be ALB, RIoane, and probably JG. Havili if he stays there. Savea (or Messam) if we want to make a joke Tupaea a real possibility. This far out though, aside from ALB, you're lookign at the attributes to see who could build to a higher level.

Rieko has potential because of his pace. Tana managed the shift, and became seriously good there. Rieko could get there, and is stepping up year on year. Can't see Bridge in tha tmix unless he starts playing there consistently

Interesting post, because I think there is an important point here. Our most successful teams have been relatively settled, so I wonder where a player like PUJ fits in? The next WC is not that far away, so this could indicate that he’s got a heap of work to do to get another look.

I’m surprised that they having had another look at him, and would at least like to know what they told him to work on (move franchises?). I also wonder how things might have turned out if TUJ didn’t get injured, as he looks like a traditional 12 in the Tupaea style.

Regarding the current mix, I’m tempted to say that they should try Havili with ALB and Roane and then make a decision and given that combo the rest of the season (with one off the bench [ALB or Havili] or moved to the wing [Roane]).

Crucial

@gt12 said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@crucial said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@family-man

Hope ALB is fit - he's our one really experienced player in midfield.

If h isn’t we get Roane again. Great for his development but if he isn’t the answer in 13 then it’s another lost opportunity.
I know he sees himself as a centre now but under this gameplan so is Bridge. Roane brings the wing/centre role a bit more wing and centre.

One key question for me is who are your centres likely to be in two years time at the RWC? For me, that's likely to be ALB, RIoane, and probably JG. Havili if he stays there. Savea (or Messam) if we want to make a joke Tupaea a real possibility. This far out though, aside from ALB, you're lookign at the attributes to see who could build to a higher level.

Rieko has potential because of his pace. Tana managed the shift, and became seriously good there. Rieko could get there, and is stepping up year on year. Can't see Bridge in tha tmix unless he starts playing there consistently

Interesting post, because I think there is an important point here. Our most successful teams have been relatively settled, so I wonder where a player like PUJ fits in? The next WC is not that far away, so this could indicate that he’s got a heap of work to do to get another look.

I’m surprised that they having had another look at him, and would at least like to know what they told him to work on (move franchises?). I also wonder how things might have turned out if TUJ didn’t get injured, as he looks like a traditional 12 in the Tupaea style.

Regarding the current mix, I’m tempted to say that they should try Havili with ALB and Roane and then make a decision and given that combo the rest of the season (with one off the bench [ALB or Havili] or moved to the wing [Roane]).

Havili starts or is left right out. We don’t need midfield/fullback cover.

If we go Havili/ALB are we really establishing a partnership that will continue though?

nzzp

@crucial said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

If we go Havili/ALB are we really establishing a partnership that will continue though?

Injury permitting.

Havili has been impressive. I'd have no issues with either a Havili/ALB or ALB/RIoane midfield. I just want a preferred option, with a preferred style please, and start playing together.

gt12

@crucial said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@gt12 said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@crucial said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@family-man

Hope ALB is fit - he's our one really experienced player in midfield.

If h isn’t we get Roane again. Great for his development but if he isn’t the answer in 13 then it’s another lost opportunity.
I know he sees himself as a centre now but under this gameplan so is Bridge. Roane brings the wing/centre role a bit more wing and centre.

One key question for me is who are your centres likely to be in two years time at the RWC? For me, that's likely to be ALB, RIoane, and probably JG. Havili if he stays there. Savea (or Messam) if we want to make a joke Tupaea a real possibility. This far out though, aside from ALB, you're lookign at the attributes to see who could build to a higher level.

Rieko has potential because of his pace. Tana managed the shift, and became seriously good there. Rieko could get there, and is stepping up year on year. Can't see Bridge in tha tmix unless he starts playing there consistently

Interesting post, because I think there is an important point here. Our most successful teams have been relatively settled, so I wonder where a player like PUJ fits in? The next WC is not that far away, so this could indicate that he’s got a heap of work to do to get another look.

I’m surprised that they having had another look at him, and would at least like to know what they told him to work on (move franchises?). I also wonder how things might have turned out if TUJ didn’t get injured, as he looks like a traditional 12 in the Tupaea style.

Regarding the current mix, I’m tempted to say that they should try Havili with ALB and Roane and then make a decision and given that combo the rest of the season (with one off the bench [ALB or Havili] or moved to the wing [Roane]).

Havili starts or is left right out. We don’t need midfield/fullback cover.

If we go Havili/ALB are we really establishing a partnership that will continue though?

I dunno but I would assume that the combination should be looked at.

I dont understand your other comment - if we only have ALB and Roane in the team we need midfield cover somewhere else. Havili is pretty useful given that he can cover a few positions - he’s probably more useful that Jordie as he has at least played midfield and center consistently at Super level.

gt12

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@crucial said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

If we go Havili/ALB are we really establishing a partnership that will continue though?

Injury permitting.

Havili has been impressive. I'd have no issues with either a Havili/ALB or ALB/RIoane midfield. I just want a preferred option, with a preferred style please, and start playing together.

If we have Jordie at FB I’d like Havili there to give another playmaker, but if it is Dmac (or BB) at 15 then ALB and Roane might be a better fit.

pakman

Pakman team prediction:

Bower/Taylor/Ta'avao
BBBR/Whitelock
Savea/Aioane/Jacobson
Smith/Mo'unga
Havili/ALB
Rioane/Barrett (B)/Jordan

Bench:
de Groot/Coles/Laulala/Barrett (S)/Blackadder
Weber/Tupaea/Reece

Want Tupaea to get a run, although would make bench tricky.

Chris

@crucial said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@crazy-horse said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

Numbers on backs/positions are becoming blurred. I don't think it matters as much any more what 'position' a player is. How often do we see the backs lined up in the traditional 9,10, 12,13,15,11 or 14 way? Foster and co seem to be taking the mixing of roles up another level.

Or down a level, depending on your point of view....

Thing is that they talk about physicality and being dominant around the tackle then come up with a system that needs ball running loose forwards positioned out wide.
Muddled thinking from what I can see.

The reason Fiji smashed us at the breakdown.
Muddled thinking is 100% right.

The Silver Fern

All Blacks vs Fiji 2