Bledisloe I (All Blacks team room bugged)
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="606015" data-time="1471412559"><p>The thing about Snakey was that from what I recall of him in 2004 when he first made the ABs was that he solid defensively and ran well off the shoulder of Umaga. These are both attributes Crotty has IMO. Snakey was in and out of the side throughout 2004-07 (only played 12 tests in 4 season) but then took on a more prominent role with ball in hand and as a distributor from 2008 and beyond. So for the next 7 seasons he was the main man and developed into a world class all round player. <br>
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From my perspective the early signs from Crotty is that he can build to be that sort of player.</p></blockquote>
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Over that period I think we had something like 25 or so tests without fielding the same pairing in consecutive tests. -
<p>But in saying that , although conrad was a noted defender , I think crotty may end up being a better defensive player , with similar accuracy but a bit more robust </p>
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<p>Conrad was an awesome player, one of my favourites because he was fearless in defence and was a key man in helping to ignite our wingers and fullback with soft deft passing. But we really only saw that consistently from 2008 onwards IMO which coincided with him getting regular test playing time.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>All the rotating that saw Mils, Toeava, McAllister, Nonu, Umaga also play centre in that period suggests that the cartel weren't ready to settle on Conrad. Who knows why, but part of the reason could be is that he needed more time to develop his game (just like Nonu)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="606021" data-time="1471413781">
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<p>Conrad was an awesome player, one of my favourites because he was fearless in defence and was a key man in helping to ignite our wingers and fullback with soft deft passing. But we really only saw that consistently from 2008 onwards IMO which coincided with him getting regular test playing time.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>All the rotating that saw Mils, Toeava, McAllister, Nonu, Umaga also play centre in that period suggests that the cartel weren't ready to settle on Conrad. <strong>Who knows why,</strong> but part of the reason could be is that he needed more time to develop his game (just like Nonu)</p>
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<p>Because he kept getting injured so he never had a chance to settle into the role. His injury troubles subsided and he became a regular from then on. Mils and McAlister only really played centre in matches where Smith was injured or they felt he was too underdone fitnesswise (RWC 2007).</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="606019" data-time="1471413472">
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<p>But in saying that , although conrad was a noted defender , I think crotty may end up being a better defensive player , with similar accuracy but a bit more robust </p>
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<p> </p>
<p>I was with you up until this statement. You just blew your wad on that one. I'm hoping that Crotty is not around in a year.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="606019" data-time="1471413472"><p>But in saying that , although conrad was a noted defender , I think crotty may end up being a better defensive player , with similar accuracy but a bit more robust</p></blockquote>
See although Smith gets his dues on here I often think he's underrated in areas of his game due to perception. He wasn't small and was actually very robust IMO. Great at fronting up and making dominant, smothering tackles as well as hitting a weak shoulder on a straight line. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="broughie" data-cid="606033" data-time="1471416408"><p>
I was with you up until this statement. You just blew your wad on that one. I'm hoping that Crotty is not around in a year.</p></blockquote>
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Same here. I really struggle to see what Crofty brings to the table -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="606070" data-time="1471425197"><p>If the team is named Thursday morning does that mean I have to wait an extra 13 hours because I'm in a different time zone?</p></blockquote>
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No matter where you are in the world it magically comes out on Thursday morning regardless of time zone. Part of the aura -
<p>I think they'll go with:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Crockett, Coles, Franks, Whitelock, Retallick, Kaino, Cane, Read, Smith, Cruden, Crotty, Fekitoa, Naholo, B. Smith, Dagg</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Moody/Hames, Harris, Faumuina, Tuipolotu, Savea, TKB, Barrett, ALB</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Barrett pushing Cruden hard, but I think they'll give this game to Cruden.</p> -
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="akan004" data-cid="606086" data-time="1471428059"><p>Am picking a Wallaby win unfortunately. Too many question marks in our backline especially our midfield, and am not won over by Dagg and Noholo yet. Moody will also be a big loss if he can't be ready in time. Am really nervous about this game.</p></blockquote>
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Sure there may be question marks with our backline, but a reality check on where the Wallaby backline is at might be needed for you akan. <br><br>
Talk of Quade Cooper???<br>
Is Giteau, Toomua or Kerevi at 2nd 5<br>
Kurindrani has been pants at centre. They don't have a replacement other than moving their best player from fullback. <br>
Rob Horne still starts on the wing.... -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="606088" data-time="1471429406">
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<p>Sure there may be question marks with our backline, but a reality check on where the Wallaby backline is at might be needed for you akan.<br><br>
Talk of Quade Cooper???<br>
Is Giteau, Toomua or Kerevi at 2nd 5<br>
Kurindrani has been pants at centre. They don't have a replacement other than moving their best player from fullback.<br>
Rob Horne still starts on the wing....</p>
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<p>Exactly. The team doesn't have to be perfect to still be great.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="606021" data-time="1471413781">
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<p>Conrad was an awesome player, one of my favourites because he was fearless in defence and was a key man in helping to ignite our wingers and fullback with soft deft passing. But we really only saw that consistently from 2008 onwards IMO which coincided with him getting regular test playing time.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>All the rotating that saw Mils, Toeava, McAllister, Nonu, Umaga also play centre in that period suggests that the cartel weren't ready to settle on Conrad. Who knows why, but part of the reason could be is that he needed more time to develop his game (just like Nonu)</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Nepia pretty much nailed it but it was a tough sell to get him in before 2008. Those first four years kind of explain why he blossomed the way he did given the chance.</p>
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<p>I don't predict Crotty blossoms like Smith. Unless you sit down and look at Conrad's career you don't realise how little top level high performance rugby he played. He came in unconventionally (for an AB) out of Universities and the club scene:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>2003: Debuts ITM Cup.</p>
<p>2004: Full season.</p>
<p>2005: Full Super Season, spends rest of the year training with ABs and coming off the bench in dead rubbers. Released for a handful of ITM Cup games.</p>
<p>2006: Miss full Super Season. Handful of ITM games coming back from broken leg. 2 games on EOYT.</p>
<p>2007: 3/4 of a Super Season. Out until the last 3N game. Suitcase on RWC.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It wasn't a matter of him not having enough time/experience at test level - it was that he hadn't had enough top flight rugby at any level. So once he started stringing together normal seasons and racking up the games at Super as well as AB level he really blossomed.</p>
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<p>Crotty has been in high performance environments since he was a schoolboy, played under 20s and has been largely uninjured his entire career. It would be difficult to find a soon-to-be 28 year old back in the world with more training miles under great tutelage, more first class fixtures and with exposure more exposure to quality coaching. Conrad I don't believe was in the NZRU set up proper until he was a 21/22 year old. The incremental value of finally getting a sustained, stable shot just isn't the same for Crotty in the way it was for Smith.</p>
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<p>They are both white midfielders though.</p> -
<p>I have often reflected that we lost in Cardiff in 2007 with a squad including Mauger, Nonu and Conrad, but went for Luke and Mils in midfield. Made more upsetting by fact Conrad played in 2006 Lyon test where ABs tore Frogs a new one. Water and bridges...</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pakman" data-cid="606121" data-time="1471448440">
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<p>I have often reflected that we lost in Cardiff in 2007 with a squad including Mauger, Nonu and Conrad, but went for Luke and Mils in midfield. Made more upsetting by fact Conrad played in 2006 Lyon test where ABs tore Frogs a new one. Water and bridges...</p>
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Smith was so undercooked he was a last resort option.</p>
<p>Nonu wasn't in the squad.</p>
<p>Agree they clearly needed Mauger's ship steadying abilities that he displayed so well in 2003.</p> -
<p>No Paddy Tuipolotou...</p>
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<p>Otherwise seems the A team as far as possible. Don't mind seeing Squire get a shot.</p> -
ALL BLACKS: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Malakai Fekitoa, Ryan Crotty, Waisake Naholo, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (c), Sam Cane, Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Nathan Harris, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Codie Taylor, Kane Hames, Charlie Faumuina, Liam Squire, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Aaron Cruden, Julian Savea.<br><br>
Happy to see Beaudan starting but I can't say I am that thrilled with the bench. Still some unknown element with Hames and Squire, Cruden does not seem like a great impact player, TJ seems to struggle when he comes on off the bench but the worst is Savea J. I see absolutely no point in having him off the bench or him being in the 23 man squad when he is so off form.
