All Blacks World Cup bolters
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@Stargazer said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@cgrant I assume you mean Stevenson? I wasn't. I was talking about Sowakula.
If Stevenson can stay in this form until the final rounds, he's a possible bolter. The main question is who'll they leave out if they pick him. For the RWC, the squad will be reduced, too. So possibly more than one outside back. It won't be an easy call.
Fitting all of BB, RM, DMac, SP in could happen if one is added to a list of SS, SR, CC, WJ
CC could be swapped out on form with another winger (eg MT)I think last time it was
3 Halfbacks
3 first fives
3 midfielders
5 outside backs@Crucial said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
I think last time it was
3 Halfbacks
3 first fives
3 midfielders
5 outside backsWith 33 slots available, I'd guess we will go:
9 front row
4 locks (including SBarrett floating)
5 loosies
3 halfbacks
3 first fives (including two of BBarrett, DMac and Perofeta)
4 midfielders (including Jordie)
5 outside backsWith Newell's injury it might open a slot at tighthead given how unimpressive Nepo has been in recent times (and Fletch really needed to get this season under his belt). If Ollie Jager gets back to full fitness for some time in Super, he wouldn't be the worst - there's my bolter.
I reckon they'll pick three of Smith, Perenara, Weber and Christie at halfback. They won't want to risk a repeat of 2007 with Leonard and Ellis as rookie options in a knockout match.
Outside backs - well, Jordan, Clarke, Reece, Telea, Perofeta, Faingaanuku, Stevenson - I'd lock in the first three, with a possibility that they take another loose forward and only four of these guys.
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@Crucial said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
I think last time it was
3 Halfbacks
3 first fives
3 midfielders
5 outside backsWith 33 slots available, I'd guess we will go:
9 front row
4 locks (including SBarrett floating)
5 loosies
3 halfbacks
3 first fives (including two of BBarrett, DMac and Perofeta)
4 midfielders (including Jordie)
5 outside backsWith Newell's injury it might open a slot at tighthead given how unimpressive Nepo has been in recent times (and Fletch really needed to get this season under his belt). If Ollie Jager gets back to full fitness for some time in Super, he wouldn't be the worst - there's my bolter.
I reckon they'll pick three of Smith, Perenara, Weber and Christie at halfback. They won't want to risk a repeat of 2007 with Leonard and Ellis as rookie options in a knockout match.
Outside backs - well, Jordan, Clarke, Reece, Telea, Perofeta, Faingaanuku, Stevenson - I'd lock in the first three, with a possibility that they take another loose forward and only four of these guys.
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Steve said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
Stevenson
Gotta love the non news articles of coach A think his player B is great. A real article would beat coach saying nah they're not good enough
@Machpants said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Steve said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
Stevenson
Gotta love the non news articles of coach A think his player B is great. A real article would beat coach saying nah they're not good enough
I don't see many of those.
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@Crucial said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
I think last time it was
3 Halfbacks
3 first fives
3 midfielders
5 outside backsWith 33 slots available, I'd guess we will go:
9 front row
4 locks (including SBarrett floating)
5 loosies
3 halfbacks
3 first fives (including two of BBarrett, DMac and Perofeta)
4 midfielders (including Jordie)
5 outside backsWith Newell's injury it might open a slot at tighthead given how unimpressive Nepo has been in recent times (and Fletch really needed to get this season under his belt). If Ollie Jager gets back to full fitness for some time in Super, he wouldn't be the worst - there's my bolter.
I reckon they'll pick three of Smith, Perenara, Weber and Christie at halfback. They won't want to risk a repeat of 2007 with Leonard and Ellis as rookie options in a knockout match.
Outside backs - well, Jordan, Clarke, Reece, Telea, Perofeta, Faingaanuku, Stevenson - I'd lock in the first three, with a possibility that they take another loose forward and only four of these guys.
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@Chris-B
LF I'm not so sure on and CC needs to shake out the errors or he wont be going.
A back three of WJ, SS and SR has appeal. It means no 'power winger' but finishing ability is probably more important.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
3 halfbacks
3 first fives (including two of BBarrett, DMac and Perofeta)
4 midfielders (including Jordie)
5 outside backsTry this
AS, FC, BW
RM, BB, DMac
JB, RI, ALB, LF
WJ, SS, CC/SP, MT, SR -
I'm not sure Reece is a certainty either. He was a peripheral player on the EOYT, but in his favour he offers something different from the other wingers and can play on the left or right.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
I'm not sure Reece is a certainty either. He was a peripheral player on the EOYT, but in his favour he offers something different from the other wingers and can play on the left or right.
..and Telea came in and did a decent job
I think it’s worth considering what the selectors actually did when talking about people possibly being discarded.
For instance Clarke started 10 tests last year, basically he started when fit. His possible like for like replacement barely got a game. He seems to be firmly in the selectors plans
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
I'm not sure Reece is a certainty either. He was a peripheral player on the EOYT, but in his favour he offers something different from the other wingers and can play on the left or right.
..and Telea came in and did a decent job
I think it’s worth considering what the selectors actually did when talking about people possibly being discarded.
For instance Clarke started 10 tests last year, basically he started when fit. His possible like for like replacement barely got a game. He seems to be firmly in the selectors plans
@Duluth said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
I'm not sure Reece is a certainty either. He was a peripheral player on the EOYT, but in his favour he offers something different from the other wingers and can play on the left or right.
..and Telea came in and did a decent job
I think it’s worth considering what the selectors actually did when talking about people possibly being discarded.
For instance Clarke started 10 tests last year, basically he started when fit. His possible like for like replacement barely got a game. He seems to be firmly in the selectors plans
I know they’re not exactly apples for apples comparisons but I remember in 2010 that Joe started and played in quite a few games but then was left out of the ABs in 2011. We had Hosea start all the EOYT games in 2010 a dress rehearsal of sorts for our RWC prep but then he didn’t make the RWC squad.
I don’t doubt Clarke is in their plans, given his physical attributes, but whether that is Plan A B or C, we may not have that answer until selection time. My take is that unless an outside back is absolutely playing the house down, they do seem the most dispensable (based on past squad selections at least).
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@Duluth said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
I'm not sure Reece is a certainty either. He was a peripheral player on the EOYT, but in his favour he offers something different from the other wingers and can play on the left or right.
..and Telea came in and did a decent job
I think it’s worth considering what the selectors actually did when talking about people possibly being discarded.
For instance Clarke started 10 tests last year, basically he started when fit. His possible like for like replacement barely got a game. He seems to be firmly in the selectors plans
I know they’re not exactly apples for apples comparisons but I remember in 2010 that Joe started and played in quite a few games but then was left out of the ABs in 2011. We had Hosea start all the EOYT games in 2010 a dress rehearsal of sorts for our RWC prep but then he didn’t make the RWC squad.
I don’t doubt Clarke is in their plans, given his physical attributes, but whether that is Plan A B or C, we may not have that answer until selection time. My take is that unless an outside back is absolutely playing the house down, they do seem the most dispensable (based on past squad selections at least).
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Duluth said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
I'm not sure Reece is a certainty either. He was a peripheral player on the EOYT, but in his favour he offers something different from the other wingers and can play on the left or right.
..and Telea came in and did a decent job
I think it’s worth considering what the selectors actually did when talking about people possibly being discarded.
For instance Clarke started 10 tests last year, basically he started when fit. His possible like for like replacement barely got a game. He seems to be firmly in the selectors plans
I know they’re not exactly apples for apples comparisons but I remember in 2010 that Joe started and played in quite a few games but then was left out of the ABs in 2011. We had Hosea start all the EOYT games in 2010 a dress rehearsal of sorts for our RWC prep but then he didn’t make the RWC squad.
I don’t doubt Clarke is in their plans, given his physical attributes, but whether that is Plan A B or C, we may not have that answer until selection time. My take is that unless an outside back is absolutely playing the house down, they do seem the most dispensable (based on past squad selections at least).
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Duluth said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
I'm not sure Reece is a certainty either. He was a peripheral player on the EOYT, but in his favour he offers something different from the other wingers and can play on the left or right.
..and Telea came in and did a decent job
I think it’s worth considering what the selectors actually did when talking about people possibly being discarded.
For instance Clarke started 10 tests last year, basically he started when fit. His possible like for like replacement barely got a game. He seems to be firmly in the selectors plans
I know they’re not exactly apples for apples comparisons but I remember in 2010 that Joe started and played in quite a few games but then was left out of the ABs in 2011. We had Hosea start all the EOYT games in 2010 a dress rehearsal of sorts for our RWC prep but then he didn’t make the RWC squad.
I don’t doubt Clarke is in their plans, given his physical attributes, but whether that is Plan A B or C, we may not have that answer until selection time. My take is that unless an outside back is absolutely playing the house down, they do seem the most dispensable (based on past squad selections at least).
and also that most likely spot for 'bolters'.
(just bringing the discussion around to the thread title to keep the powers happy)
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@Duluth said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
I'm not sure Reece is a certainty either. He was a peripheral player on the EOYT, but in his favour he offers something different from the other wingers and can play on the left or right.
..and Telea came in and did a decent job
I think it’s worth considering what the selectors actually did when talking about people possibly being discarded.
For instance Clarke started 10 tests last year, basically he started when fit. His possible like for like replacement barely got a game. He seems to be firmly in the selectors plans
I know they’re not exactly apples for apples comparisons but I remember in 2010 that Joe started and played in quite a few games but then was left out of the ABs in 2011. We had Hosea start all the EOYT games in 2010 a dress rehearsal of sorts for our RWC prep but then he didn’t make the RWC squad.
I don’t doubt Clarke is in their plans, given his physical attributes, but whether that is Plan A B or C, we may not have that answer until selection time. My take is that unless an outside back is absolutely playing the house down, they do seem the most dispensable (based on past squad selections at least).
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Duluth said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
I'm not sure Reece is a certainty either. He was a peripheral player on the EOYT, but in his favour he offers something different from the other wingers and can play on the left or right.
..and Telea came in and did a decent job
I think it’s worth considering what the selectors actually did when talking about people possibly being discarded.
For instance Clarke started 10 tests last year, basically he started when fit. His possible like for like replacement barely got a game. He seems to be firmly in the selectors plans
I know they’re not exactly apples for apples comparisons but I remember in 2010 that Joe started and played in quite a few games but then was left out of the ABs in 2011. We had Hosea start all the EOYT games in 2010 a dress rehearsal of sorts for our RWC prep but then he didn’t make the RWC squad.
I don’t doubt Clarke is in their plans, given his physical attributes, but whether that is Plan A B or C, we may not have that answer until selection time. My take is that unless an outside back is absolutely playing the house down, they do seem the most dispensable (based on past squad selections at least).
Yeah, I would never claim he was undroppable. Just that there are players who are much more at risk based on the revealed preferences of the selectors. Some people get confused between the preferences of the selectors and what they want to see happen
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So I think we can put to bed the idea of a prop who gets ragdolled by Hanigan and Harris, being a bolter for the ABs. Numia should move to hooker and be loosehead cover, he'd be a shoe in if he can throw.
@Bones said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
So I think we can put to bed the idea of a prop who gets ragdolled by Hanigan and Harris, being a bolter for the ABs. Numia should move to hooker and be loosehead cover, he'd be a shoe in if he can throw.
I thought the Canes scrum went well
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@Bones said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
So I think we can put to bed the idea of a prop who gets ragdolled by Hanigan and Harris, being a bolter for the ABs. Numia should move to hooker and be loosehead cover, he'd be a shoe in if he can throw.
I thought the Canes scrum went well
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@Winger I've only seen up to the first ten minutes after half time, so the one scrum where the canes crushed it, but then another one with Numia hitting the deck are my standouts at the scrum.
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@Bones Cam Roigard has to be in the reckoning, one of the form halfbacks if not the form halfback of the competition.
@SBW1 said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Bones Cam Roigard has to be in the reckoning, one of the form halfbacks if not the form halfback of the competition.
Better than Fakatava so far, think with the selectors preference for Christie, Roigard is going to be fighting it out with Weber.
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@Nepia said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Steve said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
Turning up with the likes of Perenara, ALB, Goodhue, Havili et al won't cut the mustard anyway.
They weren't the answer 4 years ago.
He doesn't belong in that group.
I hear you, but vanilla won't win this World Cup. We need to put his brain in Ioanes body.
ALB is a decent defender, but Ringrose, Danty, Fickou, Henshaw, Aki etc will eat him without salt on attack.
We need a scalpel or a wrecking ball. He is neither.
We tried all this in 2019. It didn't work.
@Steve said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Nepia said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
@Steve said in All Blacks World Cup bolters:
Turning up with the likes of Perenara, ALB, Goodhue, Havili et al won't cut the mustard anyway.
They weren't the answer 4 years ago.
He doesn't belong in that group.
I hear you, but vanilla won't win this World Cup. We need to put his brain in Ioanes body.
ALB is a decent defender, but Ringrose, Danty, Fickou, Henshaw, Aki etc will eat him without salt on attack.
We need a scalpel or a wrecking ball. He is neither.
We tried all this in 2019. It didn't work.
IMHO, ALB has one of the most important qualities in a midfielder than any other AB contender in that he is consistently rock-solid. He may not set the world on fire (TBF neither did Conrad) but it's hard to remember a game where he has played badly - apart from when he came back from nearly a year off last year.
I think he could have been the player a new midfield was built around but Foster & co. screwing about position-wise since 2019 and his injuries contributed to the sticking plaster approach we've had since.
As for bolters, I've always liked Nankivell. There's a big opportunity for someone to step up in the next few months and Pohipi looks really promising.
