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Paekakboyz

@Yeahtheboys he couldn't displace Reiko at the blues so he's unlikely to do that for the ABs. He's def a 12 imo. Great footwork in traffic and a good defender. He didnt play centre in the NRL, and if he had schoolboy exp at 13 that's a long time ago.

If they see him as a 13 then something has to happen at SR and domestic level.

Yeahtheboys

@Paekakboyz they already had

Christie
Beauden
Clarke
tumbleweed
Rieko
Talea
Perofeta / Sullivan

So they started the “RTS is a 12” rumour.

RTS is an amazing athlete and would definitely be a class 12 but I think his best position is further out

MN5

@antipodean said in All Black backline:

@Stag said in All Black backline:

Anton

The one yet to come back from shoulder surgery?

Goodhue

The same Goodhue that hasn't played Test rugby in two years and is getting knee surgery?

These two get more ridiculous fern fluffing than Charlie Ngatai got

Grooter

@Yeahtheboys said in All Black backline:

My Power rankings

Smith / Christie / Weber / Fakatava / TJ

Beauden / McKenzie / Mounga / Perofeta

Ioane / Reece / RTS / Clarke / Faingaanuku

ALB / Jordie / Tupaea / Goodhue / Havili

ALB / Rieko / Tupaea / RTS / Faingaanuku

Jordan / Reece / RTS / Reiko / Jordie

Jordan / Jordie / McKenzie / Beauden

What id love to see

Smith

Beauden

Ioane

Jordie

ALB

Reece

Jordan

While ALB injured, rotate RTS and Tupaea at 13

Christie / Weber

McKenzie

RTS

Fakatava 4th in your power rankings and no TUJ to be seen

Yeahtheboys

@FakatavaAllBlack fuck good point

Smith / Christie / Weber / TJ / Fakatava

Chris B.

@Yeahtheboys said in All Black backline:

My Power rankings

Are you going to do the forwards as well? I'm interested in openside flanker!

nostrildamus

@Yeahtheboys said in All Black backline:

@Crucial I don’t think RTS is a 12 and I don’t think the all blacks think that either. If you watched his debut he went on at 13.

He'd be a very small 13 at international level.

Mackerzzzz

My power rakings:

E De Groot, G Bower, A Hodgman, O Norris, F Brewis
S Taukei'aho, A Aumua, K Ekland, D Coles, C Taylor
T Lomax, F Newell, O Tu'ungafasi, N Laulala, O Jager
S Whitelock, T Vaii, J Lord, J Goodhue, S Barrett
S Barrett, S Whitelock, B Retallick, J Lord, T Vaii
E Blackadder, A Ioane,L Jacobson, T Robinson, S Frizzell
A Savea, D Papalii, S Cane, E Blackadder, T Christie
A Savea, C Grace, H Sotutu, L Jacobson, M MT
Smith, Christie, Fakatava, Weber, TJ
B Barrett, R Mo'unga, D Mckenzie, S Perofeta, J Ioane
C Clarke, R Ioane, L Fainga'anuku, S Reece, S Rayasi
Q Tupaea, J Barrett, TUJ, RTS, D Havili
ALB, R Ioane, J Goodhue, B Sullivan, L Aumua
S Reece, W Jordan, A Lam, M Telea
W Jordan, J Barrett, D Mckenzie, S Perofeta, J Moorby

Bones

@nostrildamus said in All Black backline:

@Yeahtheboys said in All Black backline:

@Crucial I don’t think RTS is a 12 and I don’t think the all blacks think that either. If you watched his debut he went on at 13.

He'd be a very small 13 at international level.

Compared to....who?

nostrildamus

@Bones said in All Black backline:

@nostrildamus said in All Black backline:

@Yeahtheboys said in All Black backline:

@Crucial I don’t think RTS is a 12 and I don’t think the all blacks think that either. If you watched his debut he went on at 13.

He'd be a very small 13 at international level.

Compared to....who?

I read RTS was 1.82m 99kg
Smaller than
ALB, Goodhue, Rieko, Ennor (RTS may be heavier), PUJ
Ireland: Ringrose (maybe same weight but RTS shorter), McCloskey
The French team may have smaller outside centres but I have not seen them play recently, Vakatawa is big, Vili is taller.
Australia: Petaia (maybe the same weight but RTS shorter), Foketi
England: Dingwall taller, maybe lighter, Marchant about same size
Wales: Watkin is bigger (not sure 2nd centre?)
SA: de Allende, Am (taller but RTS may be heavier), Porter, Tuilagi (enough said)
Argentina: Cinti (RTS may be heavier), Mensa same height, Moroni (taller, lighter), Orlando

It's not a showstopper but he is shorter and usually lighter than the great majority of top teams' players (apart from Argentina) at 13 than I have seen recently.. and with Havili at 12 we don't have a big midfield..

Bones

@nostrildamus yeah so very small is overstating it a tad.

nostrildamus

@Bones said in All Black backline:

@nostrildamus yeah so very small is overstating it a tad.

fair enough.

broughie

@MN5 Agree. Can we just say that Goodhue’s train has left the station.

MN5

@broughie said in All Black backline:

@MN5 Agree. Can we just say that Goodhue’s train has left the station.

Toot toot

Machpants

@broughie said in All Black backline:

@MN5 Agree. Can we just say that Goodhue’s train has left the station.

Sadly it's broken down

Paekakboyz

@Machpants but we have a fat controller!! oh wait, just the former, not so much the latter.

I feel a bit ashamed about that comment but I couldn't help myself!

Machpants

@Paekakboyz said in All Black backline:

@Machpants but we have a fat controller!! oh wait, just the former, not so much the latter.

I feel a bit ashamed about that comment but I couldn't help myself!

nzzp

@Paekakboyz great Ferning

nostrildamus

@Paekakboyz said in All Black backline:

@Machpants but we have a fat controller!! oh wait, just the former, not so much the latter.

I feel a bit ashamed about that comment but I couldn't help myself!

To be more politically correct, the controller who isn't Peregrine Percival.

RoninWC

@MiketheSnow said in All Black backline:

@BartMan said in All Black backline:

Never before have I seen an AB backline so lacking in ideas on attack. Not just this test, but the last 18 months. Havilli is not the answer at 12, Ioane at 13, maybe. But who to come in. We've had nothing world class since Nonu and Smith.

ALB and Goodhue would fix things overnight if you could get both of them on the pitch at the same time

As someone who played in the centres and on the wing most of my playing career, I'm going to disagree here. ALB yes, Goodhue, no.

In my opinion, I think Goodhue was part of the problem before he got injured as he just doesn't have the pace needed and frankly I don't think he distrubutes well and he makes few metres with the ball in hand. Yes, he is a good but not great 13 but a poor 12.

Havili is even worse at 12 and is not the answer to any question with respect to the ABs, 12 or otherwise.

I find it absolutely mind numbingly bonkers that for the past couple/few games, Foster takes off Ioane and leaves on Havili and we end up with QT and Havili in the centres.
It just leaves me going WTF and wanting to throw things at the TV.

QT and RTS need to get more time at 12 and leave RI at 13 to partner with them.

I also agree with those who suggest either of the Umaga-Jensen brothers, if and it's a big if... they can just stay fit and healthy, could be a long term answer. PUJ looked at home in the Black jersey in that one match.

The Silver Fern

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