All Blacks 2024
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Happy new year Ferners.
Having just read through this thread I’m not sure what gave me more of a laugh, the midfield / fullback hoohah (@Punch_up remember Matt Burke from OZ played both centre and fullback) or @sparky naming Drummond.
I’m optimistic about the future but am under no illusion that replacing both Whitelock and Retallick at the same time is a massive hole to fill. They were set and forget and it didn’t matter which one you selected, they were reliable as and not to mention their influence around the team.
Same with Aaron Smith. Yes we have some good young talent but we could see some rocky paths ahead as these guys find their feet at test level. Which brings me to the 9/10 combination. DMac is a courageous player but for me he is a really good fullback that can play 10. Saw some signs in last year’s Super rugby but at this point he still needs to shore up a few things as a 1st 5.
There is a lot of developing to be done because whilst there might be 10 names you could pen into a starting XV and start to convince yourself that “hey that’s not a bad lineup”, trying to bring the rest of it together becomes a little harder. The makeup of the match day 23 and the other squaddies, there are still a lot of question marks on who has the right skillset and will fit whatever gameplan they have.
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Happy new year Ferners.
Having just read through this thread I’m not sure what gave me more of a laugh, the midfield / fullback hoohah (@Punch_up remember Matt Burke from OZ played both centre and fullback) or @sparky naming Drummond.
I’m optimistic about the future but am under no illusion that replacing both Whitelock and Retallick at the same time is a massive hole to fill. They were set and forget and it didn’t matter which one you selected, they were reliable as and not to mention their influence around the team.
Same with Aaron Smith. Yes we have some good young talent but we could see some rocky paths ahead as these guys find their feet at test level. Which brings me to the 9/10 combination. DMac is a courageous player but for me he is a really good fullback that can play 10. Saw some signs in last year’s Super rugby but at this point he still needs to shore up a few things as a 1st 5.
There is a lot of developing to be done because whilst there might be 10 names you could pen into a starting XV and start to convince yourself that “hey that’s not a bad lineup”, trying to bring the rest of it together becomes a little harder. The makeup of the match day 23 and the other squaddies, there are still a lot of question marks on who has the right skillset and will fit whatever gameplan they have.
@ACT-Crusader Happy New Year! I hope it's a great one for you and yours.
For the record, I didn't say I'd select Drummond for the ABs in 2024, I said 'how about this side?'
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Just for completeness I add Paddy Tuipolutu (given he's back at the Blues) to the argument as a place holding lock while Holland and whoever develop physically.
So we have 4 locks with test experience to start with.
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I'm a huge fan of Tuipolotu. He's never really asserted himself at test level though, and I can only hope under new management there is something which can make that happen.
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@MajorRage He was never the same after having double hip surgery early in his career (after 2014 end of year tour?). Never had the same intensity.
@Tim said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@MajorRage He was never the same after having double hip surgery early in his career (after 2014 end of year tour?). Never had the same intensity.
Yeah I think we may have seen his best. And that best for me was when he came off the bench for the ABs and added some starch. Loved it back in the day when him and Faumauina would come on in the last quarter.
Injuries, up and down form, the emergence of Scooter, and his place in the side has been precarious.
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@SBW1 don't think I saw him in NPC, so no idea how he's playing...but if he was back to his best in super rugby it wouldn't upset me.
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@SBW1 don't think I saw him in NPC, so no idea how he's playing...but if he was back to his best in super rugby it wouldn't upset me.
He just needs to ditch the fish and chips get back onto the Paua Fritters
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This is a real "fingers crossed" call, but Lord might be the most exciting player in Super Rugby this year.
@Tim yeah physically he seems to tick all the boxes, this year hopefully he gets his chance and takes it!
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This is a real "fingers crossed" call, but Lord might be the most exciting player in Super Rugby this year.
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Happy new year Ferners.
Having just read through this thread I’m not sure what gave me more of a laugh, the midfield / fullback hoohah (@Punch_up remember Matt Burke from OZ played both centre and fullback) or @sparky naming Drummond.
I’m optimistic about the future but am under no illusion that replacing both Whitelock and Retallick at the same time is a massive hole to fill. They were set and forget and it didn’t matter which one you selected, they were reliable as and not to mention their influence around the team.
Same with Aaron Smith. Yes we have some good young talent but we could see some rocky paths ahead as these guys find their feet at test level. Which brings me to the 9/10 combination. DMac is a courageous player but for me he is a really good fullback that can play 10. Saw some signs in last year’s Super rugby but at this point he still needs to shore up a few things as a 1st 5.
There is a lot of developing to be done because whilst there might be 10 names you could pen into a starting XV and start to convince yourself that “hey that’s not a bad lineup”, trying to bring the rest of it together becomes a little harder. The makeup of the match day 23 and the other squaddies, there are still a lot of question marks on who has the right skillset and will fit whatever gameplan they have.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
the midfield / fullback hoohah (@Punch_up remember Matt Burke from OZ played both centre
Kurtley Beale played all of the place as well. Can't remember him at 13 but pretty sure he had a go at 12 (that's centre to an Aussie, and midfield wherever you are from).
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
the midfield / fullback hoohah (@Punch_up remember Matt Burke from OZ played both centre
Kurtley Beale played all of the place as well. Can't remember him at 13 but pretty sure he had a go at 12 (that's centre to an Aussie, and midfield wherever you are from).
@Snowy said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
the midfield / fullback hoohah (@Punch_up remember Matt Burke from OZ played both centre
Kurtley Beale played all of the place as well. Can't remember him at 13 but pretty sure he had a go at 12 (that's centre to an Aussie, and midfield wherever you are from).
Emile Ntamack debuted as a wing (then featured in the try from the end of the world as a wing), then played there in the 1995 WC.
By 1999, he was a midfielder. From memory, he was at 12 when they beat us and I think played there in the final.
I'm sure he also played at FB for the French team (confirmed here where they state he played all three positions - FB, wing, and center in one game).
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Another example: Mike Catt started at FB in the 1995 WC semifinal when he was posterized by Lomu, and started at 12 in a WC final against SA in 2007.
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Another example: Mike Catt started at FB in the 1995 WC semifinal when he was posterized by Lomu, and started at 12 in a WC final against SA in 2007.
Fairly sure Australia might have had four fullbacks in the starting line up in Latham, Roff, Burke and Roger’s at one point
