All Blacks 10 after BB & RM finish?
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After watching DMac play for the All Blacks XV & the following Barbarian's games he is head and shoulders our best option. He's always had the potential to thrive as a pivot & it's clear that his game maturity has really skyrocketed in the last 3 seasons.
I've long insisted that 10 was the position to unlock his potential (he doesn't have the size & necessary attributes for an elite fullback) and his recent performances for ABs XV & Barbarians at 10 have confirmed that. His passing selection is unreal & his kicking out of hand looks to have improved considerably. His game management is arguably better than Mo'unga & Barrett at the moment.
Add that to his broken field running, consistent goal kicking & his no fear approach to defense, I reckon he'll be our 10 for the next cycle.
He's coming into his prime tactically, he's now a really intelligent player at 10, I'm excited to see how it plays out.
@kiwi_expat think the main issue is that he is unlikely to get regular starts at 10 in super to really bed in, he's likely to start at 15, maybe move in some plays or finish a game at 10.
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I not sure if I should mention his name ,(haven't checked thread), but I actually was a real Zarn Sullivan fan a couple of years back, and could see him at 10. Has that door closed do you think, like his booming left foot etc, and wouldn't mind seeing him get a few runs for Blues this year.
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@kiwi_expat said in All Blacks 10 after BB & RM finish?:
After watching DMac play for the All Blacks XV & the following Barbarian's games he is head and shoulders our best option. He's always had the potential to thrive as a pivot & it's clear that his game maturity has really skyrocketed in the last 3 seasons.
I've long insisted that 10 was the position to unlock his potential (he doesn't have the size & necessary attributes for an elite fullback) and his recent performances for ABs XV & Barbarians at 10 have confirmed that. His passing selection is unreal & his kicking out of hand looks to have improved considerably. His game management is arguably better than Mo'unga & Barrett at the moment.
Add that to his broken field running, consistent goal kicking & his no fear approach to defense, I reckon he'll be our 10 for the next cycle.
He's coming into his prime tactically, he's now a really intelligent player at 10, I'm excited to see how it plays out.
Out of interest, with DMac at first five, isn't it a bit concerning Waikato didn't win the NPC?
Richie the Mo started 8 tests this season for 6 wins a draw and a loss - probably not his fault we didn't win 8 straight.
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 10 after BB & RM finish?:
Out of interest, with DMac at first five, isn't it a bit concerning Waikato didn't win the NPC?
Richie the Mo started 8 tests this season for 6 wins a draw and a loss - probably not his fault we didn't win 8 straight.
You think any one player can make Waikato champions? It is a 15 man game, and Waikato have some serious deficiencies in that regard.
Given that Waikato did rather better than usual, I don't see how DMac can be at fault there.
(I would note that it wasn't RM's brilliance where they won the test where the opposition failed to kick the ball out in time, nor the one where the opposition were happy to accept a draw. We played to much closer to 5-3.)
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The SR coaches will have a big say in whether the other options outside of Barrett and Mo'unga get enough time at 10 to advance their claims. I am hoping that common sense prevails at the Chiefs and McMillan has finally realised the best positions for DMac and Stevenson (based on the AB XV games). But as @taniwharugby says, I can see DMac playing a lot at fullback too.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 10 after BB & RM finish?:
Out of interest, with DMac at first five, isn't it a bit concerning Waikato didn't win the NPC?
Richie the Mo started 8 tests this season for 6 wins a draw and a loss - probably not his fault we didn't win 8 straight.
You think any one player can make Waikato champions? It is a 15 man game, and Waikato have some serious deficiencies in that regard.
Given that Waikato did rather better than usual, I don't see how DMac can be at fault there.
(I would note that it wasn't RM's brilliance where they won the test where the opposition failed to kick the ball out in time, nor the one where the opposition were happy to accept a draw. We played to much closer to 5-3.)
@Chester-Draws said in All Blacks 10 after BB & RM finish?:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 10 after BB & RM finish?:
Out of interest, with DMac at first five, isn't it a bit concerning Waikato didn't win the NPC?
Richie the Mo started 8 tests this season for 6 wins a draw and a loss - probably not his fault we didn't win 8 straight.
You think any one player can make Waikato champions? It is a 15 man game, and Waikato have some serious deficiencies in that regard.
Given that Waikato did rather better than usual, I don't see how DMac can be at fault there.
(I would note that it wasn't RM's brilliance where they won the test where the opposition failed to kick the ball out in time, nor the one where the opposition were happy to accept a draw. We played to much closer to 5-3.)
Waikato also had one eye on the future and gave a bit of time at 10 to Kemara.
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The SR coaches will have a big say in whether the other options outside of Barrett and Mo'unga get enough time at 10 to advance their claims. I am hoping that common sense prevails at the Chiefs and McMillan has finally realised the best positions for DMac and Stevenson (based on the AB XV games). But as @taniwharugby says, I can see DMac playing a lot at fullback too.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 10 after BB & RM finish?:
The SR coaches will have a big say in whether the other options outside of Barrett and Mo'unga get enough time at 10 to advance their claims. I am hoping that common sense prevails at the Chiefs and McMillan has finally realised the best positions for DMac and Stevenson (based on the AB XV games). But as @taniwharugby says, I can see DMac playing a lot at fullback too.
I'd be very surprised if DMac plays another game at 15, if ever. Especially with Mo'unga's confirmed departure.
He played most of 2021 Super Rugby either starting at 10 or shifting there after HT, since then he's played exclusively at 10 in 2022 for Suntory and Waikato and then McMillan co-coached NZ XV at 10. Also I thought I'd read that McMillan more or less guaranteed Stevenson the 15 jersey was his this year, as he was considering other opportunities?
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 10 after BB & RM finish?:
The SR coaches will have a big say in whether the other options outside of Barrett and Mo'unga get enough time at 10 to advance their claims. I am hoping that common sense prevails at the Chiefs and McMillan has finally realised the best positions for DMac and Stevenson (based on the AB XV games). But as @taniwharugby says, I can see DMac playing a lot at fullback too.
I'd be very surprised if DMac plays another game at 15, if ever. Especially with Mo'unga's confirmed departure.
He played most of 2021 Super Rugby either starting at 10 or shifting there after HT, since then he's played exclusively at 10 in 2022 for Suntory and Waikato and then McMillan co-coached NZ XV at 10. Also I thought I'd read that McMillan more or less guaranteed Stevenson the 15 jersey was his this year, as he was considering other opportunities?
@kiwi_expat I've been banging the "Stevenson at fullback" drum for a while but I'm not 100% convinced they will play him there. It will also depend on what role McMillan and co have for Gatland.
DMac did play a few times at fullback for Waikato, e.g., against Otago when Kemara started at 1st 5. That was due to injuries.
DMac is only contracted for 2023 so if they want him to stay beyond this year, there is a very obvious solution.
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We should be looking at players who can take the pressure off of whoever the new ten is.
Jordie at 12 has potential to be very useful. Experienced and comfortable being the second play maker. I also think Zarn Sullivan could be used at fullback and do a similar role to Dagg (his kicking game, his attack is not there yet)
I think the support that Dagg offered to Cruden etc has been underrated
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@Duluth yeah, I remember DC talking about how much he liked having Nonu outside him as a bail out option. I don't think we got that with Havili last year, which put too much pressure on the 10. Also agree re: Jordie, I think he's key to our chances this year.
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@Duluth yeah, I remember DC talking about how much he liked having Nonu outside him as a bail out option. I don't think we got that with Havili last year, which put too much pressure on the 10. Also agree re: Jordie, I think he's key to our chances this year.
@No-Quarter I wouldn't knock Havili too much, he plays very much a 2nd 5 game, where he act as first receiver a lot, but as you say, Jordie could be key, he can play first receiver as well as strong on the crash when needed.
Exciting times ahead I reckon. -
After watching DMac play for the All Blacks XV & the following Barbarian's games he is head and shoulders our best option. He's always had the potential to thrive as a pivot & it's clear that his game maturity has really skyrocketed in the last 3 seasons.
I've long insisted that 10 was the position to unlock his potential (he doesn't have the size & necessary attributes for an elite fullback) and his recent performances for ABs XV & Barbarians at 10 have confirmed that. His passing selection is unreal & his kicking out of hand looks to have improved considerably. His game management is arguably better than Mo'unga & Barrett at the moment.
Add that to his broken field running, consistent goal kicking & his no fear approach to defense, I reckon he'll be our 10 for the next cycle.
He's coming into his prime tactically, he's now a really intelligent player at 10, I'm excited to see how it plays out.
@kiwi_expat Even though he has had his moments at fullback, I have often thought he got ragdolled there and may have been questionable under the highball. Jordan or Beaudy at fullback offers a more secure option and Jordan in particular has pace to burn from the back. Also wonder if Havili could be another 10 option, as he has played there for the Crusaders.
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I want to see DMac tried at 10. He sees more options than anyone else seems to and has the skillset from pass run or kick to stretch most opponents. Wonder if Gatland could play 15 at all for Chiefs?
I also want to see more of Aiden Morgan.@ARHS fullbacks are Nanai-Seturo, Narawa, Stevenson, Ioane. Reihana Jr could get minutes at 15.
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We should be looking at players who can take the pressure off of whoever the new ten is.
Jordie at 12 has potential to be very useful. Experienced and comfortable being the second play maker. I also think Zarn Sullivan could be used at fullback and do a similar role to Dagg (his kicking game, his attack is not there yet)
I think the support that Dagg offered to Cruden etc has been underrated
@Duluth and the fact we had a very good fullback like Dagg allowed Ben Smith to settle into test footy on the wing, build experience and then move to fullback where under the AB gameplan you have more playmaking responsibility.
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@kiwi_expat Even though he has had his moments at fullback, I have often thought he got ragdolled there and may have been questionable under the highball. Jordan or Beaudy at fullback offers a more secure option and Jordan in particular has pace to burn from the back. Also wonder if Havili could be another 10 option, as he has played there for the Crusaders.
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 10 after BB & RM finish?:
@kiwi_expat Even though he has had his moments at fullback, I have often thought he got ragdolled there and may have been questionable under the highball. Jordan or Beaudy at fullback offers a more secure option and Jordan in particular has pace to burn from the back. Also wonder if Havili could be another 10 option, as he has played there for the Crusaders.
There's no way havili is even remotely good enough to be a staring 10 for the abs
