AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?
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We're debating back selections, but if we can get metres up front, it won't matter whether it is Jordie, Dmac, Jordan, or Havili at 15.
At prop, lock, and in the loose forwards, we need at least one player who can consistently get metres, and do their core roles. We've been missing that for a while with Moody/Laulala and Savea/Cane/Read.
If BBBR and Taylor/Coles don't make metres, we get stuck. IMO, that's the biggest area to address and bringing in Scott Barrett to replace BBBr won't help.
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@Chris-B said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@gt12 ....and Lomax at least as an apprentice.
Needs to head back down South and start looking like an AB again...
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One thing in Lomax's favour is the ABs forwards coach has plenty of knowledge about him.
@KiwiMurph said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
One thing in Lomax's favour is the ABs forwards coach has plenty of knowledge about him.
I quite like him - definitely doesn't go backwards. Solid in contact (like Moli), just needs to knuckle down and play rugby.
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@KiwiMurph said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
One thing in Lomax's favour is the ABs forwards coach has plenty of knowledge about him.
I quite like him - definitely doesn't go backwards. Solid in contact (like Moli), just needs to knuckle down and play rugby.
@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@KiwiMurph said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
One thing in Lomax's favour is the ABs forwards coach has plenty of knowledge about him.
I quite like him - definitely doesn't go backwards. Solid in contact (like Moli), just needs to knuckle down and play rugby.
He's the way of the future (Howard Hughes).
If he's not our tighthead prop at 2023 RWC we will have a fucking good one.
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@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@KiwiMurph said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
One thing in Lomax's favour is the ABs forwards coach has plenty of knowledge about him.
I quite like him - definitely doesn't go backwards. Solid in contact (like Moli), just needs to knuckle down and play rugby.
He's the way of the future (Howard Hughes).
If he's not our tighthead prop at 2023 RWC we will have a fucking good one.
@Chris-B said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@KiwiMurph said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
One thing in Lomax's favour is the ABs forwards coach has plenty of knowledge about him.
I quite like him - definitely doesn't go backwards. Solid in contact (like Moli), just needs to knuckle down and play rugby.
He's the way of the future (Howard Hughes).
If he's not our tighthead prop at 2023 RWC we will have a fucking good one.
Maybe Mitch Hunt.
Or Sotutu.
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@Chris-B said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@KiwiMurph said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
One thing in Lomax's favour is the ABs forwards coach has plenty of knowledge about him.
I quite like him - definitely doesn't go backwards. Solid in contact (like Moli), just needs to knuckle down and play rugby.
He's the way of the future (Howard Hughes).
If he's not our tighthead prop at 2023 RWC we will have a fucking good one.
Maybe Mitch Hunt.
Or Sotutu.
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@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@canefan said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bovidae said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
We don't have a Nonu available. Laumape isn't that either as his distribution is more like Nonu c2003.
You need to have all 3 on the field so that's (11) Ioane, (12) ALB and (13) Goodhue.
How did Nonu turn out? Nani may end up being another Sam Tuitupou, or maybe he'll expand his game like Ma'a. He does bring toughness and the ability to break the line
Laumape is 27. Ma'a Nonu was already polished product 2011 Ma'a Nonu by that point. I think it's time to accept current Laumape is the finished product.
He's also not very big, so more punchy than anything at test level.
He's not the next Nonu, and agree with @Bones he's not even really Tuitupou
Well, for the 2007 RWC, when Nonu was a contender, the only people who were still supporting him as an AB contender on this board were me and that guy from Wellington who used to have Andy from Little Britain as his avatar. I distinctly recall someone writing "Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out, Nonu"!
He must have been 25 at that time.
@Chris-B 23
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One hopes. I think the bench is crucial too.
Allowing me to pick some injured players, I think we would be very dangerous if we can get the following players in form:
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Moody 17. Big Karl /Moli
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Taylor 16. Coles/Aumua
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Ofa 18. Ta'avao/ Lomax
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Patty T 19. Robinson/Barrett
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Whitelock
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Ioane /Robinson 20. Savea
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Cane
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Sotutu
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Smith 21. TJP
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Barrett 22. Mo'unga
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Ioane
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ALB
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Goodhue
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Clarke / Bridge (I really really want Alaimalo to stand up for this spot, but he's miles away right now)
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Dmac / Jordan 23 Barrett
@gt12 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
One hopes. I think the bench is crucial too.
Allowing me to pick some injured players, I think we would be very dangerous if we can get the following players in form:
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Moody 17. Big Karl /Moli
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Taylor 16. Coles/Aumua
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Ofa 18. Ta'avao/ Lomax
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Patty T 19. Robinson/Barrett
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Whitelock
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Ioane /Robinson 20. Savea
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Cane
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Sotutu
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Smith 21. TJP
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Barrett 22. Mo'unga
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Ioane
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ALB
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Goodhue
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Clarke / Bridge (I really really want Alaimalo to stand up for this spot, but he's miles away right now)
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Dmac / Jordan 23 Barrett
Uggh, just uggghhh. I don't have any massive issues with selections (Dmac aside) , but this team just looks ripe to get pumped by all-comers.
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@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Tim said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones ALB/Goodhue, ALB/Ioane, Goodhue/Ioane, and Goodhue/ALB all lack a dominant midfield ball carrier, and rely on a player who looks to take the outside break.
we don't really have one in the country because we are at that point in our cycle where we abhor "bashers" and think skill and fitness is absolutely everything
which it absolutely is for Super Rugby if I'm being fair.
I agree totally with that philosophy. Size is important - you need some big guys in the backs to get you over the gain line, you need a big blindside in the forwards to take lineout ball and to provide bulk on defence, and if you have too many small guys in the backs the opposition will get over the gain line too frequently and easily.
@Chris-B said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Tim said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones ALB/Goodhue, ALB/Ioane, Goodhue/Ioane, and Goodhue/ALB all lack a dominant midfield ball carrier, and rely on a player who looks to take the outside break.
we don't really have one in the country because we are at that point in our cycle where we abhor "bashers" and think skill and fitness is absolutely everything
which it absolutely is for Super Rugby if I'm being fair.
I agree totally with that philosophy. Size is important - you need some big guys in the backs to get you over the gain line, you need a big blindside in the forwards to take lineout ball and to provide bulk on defence, and if you have too many small guys in the backs the opposition will get over the gain line too frequently and easily.
I'm confused, are you agreeing with me or disagreeing with me?
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@Chris-B said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Tim said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones ALB/Goodhue, ALB/Ioane, Goodhue/Ioane, and Goodhue/ALB all lack a dominant midfield ball carrier, and rely on a player who looks to take the outside break.
we don't really have one in the country because we are at that point in our cycle where we abhor "bashers" and think skill and fitness is absolutely everything
which it absolutely is for Super Rugby if I'm being fair.
I agree totally with that philosophy. Size is important - you need some big guys in the backs to get you over the gain line, you need a big blindside in the forwards to take lineout ball and to provide bulk on defence, and if you have too many small guys in the backs the opposition will get over the gain line too frequently and easily.
I'm confused, are you agreeing with me or disagreeing with me?
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@mariner4life Basic English mofo - I'm agreeing with you.
If you'd paid some attention to my brilliant posts over the years, I always favour a bit of size.
And I'm not meaning Debbie does Dallas!
Mofo!!!
@Chris-B said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@mariner4life Basic English mofo - I'm agreeing with you.
If you'd paid some attention to my brilliant posts over the years, I always favour a bit of size.
And I'm not meaning Debbie does Dallas!
Mofo!!!
My bad bruss
When in doubt pick the bigger harder guy
Yeah yeah bones it writes itself.
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@Chris-B said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@mariner4life Basic English mofo - I'm agreeing with you.
If you'd paid some attention to my brilliant posts over the years, I always favour a bit of size.
And I'm not meaning Debbie does Dallas!
Mofo!!!
My bad bruss
When in doubt pick the bigger harder guy
Yeah yeah bones it writes itself.
@mariner4life Yeah bones!
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One hopes. I think the bench is crucial too.
Allowing me to pick some injured players, I think we would be very dangerous if we can get the following players in form:
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Moody 17. Big Karl /Moli
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Taylor 16. Coles/Aumua
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Ofa 18. Ta'avao/ Lomax
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Patty T 19. Robinson/Barrett
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Whitelock
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Ioane /Robinson 20. Savea
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Cane
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Sotutu
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Smith 21. TJP
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Barrett 22. Mo'unga
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Ioane
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ALB
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Goodhue
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Clarke / Bridge (I really really want Alaimalo to stand up for this spot, but he's miles away right now)
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Dmac / Jordan 23 Barrett
@gt12 Lomax was schooled last weekend and DMac should be nowhere near a black jersey on form.
ALB hasn't been covering himself in glory either.
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@Chris-B said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@mariner4life Basic English mofo - I'm agreeing with you.
If you'd paid some attention to my brilliant posts over the years, I always favour a bit of size.
And I'm not meaning Debbie does Dallas!
Mofo!!!
My bad bruss
When in doubt pick the bigger harder guy
Yeah yeah bones it writes itself.
@mariner4life My bad bro, my irony meter was switched off - or set on alanis or something.
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@Chris-B said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@mariner4life Basic English mofo - I'm agreeing with you.
If you'd paid some attention to my brilliant posts over the years, I always favour a bit of size.
And I'm not meaning Debbie does Dallas!
Mofo!!!
My bad bruss
When in doubt pick the bigger harder guy
Yeah yeah bones it writes itself.
@mariner4life don't try and get me involved in your circle jerk you filthy bastard.
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We don't have a Nonu available. Laumape isn't that either as his distribution is more like Nonu c2003.
You need to have all 3 on the field so that's (11) Ioane, (12) ALB and (13) Goodhue.
@Bovidae said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
We don't have a Nonu available. Laumape isn't that either as his distribution is more like Nonu c2003.
You need to have all 3 on the field so that's (11) Ioane, (12) ALB and (13) Goodhue.
ALB is not an outstanding 12, but he's much better there than Goodhue. I don't mind that combination with Rieko at 11. It also allows us to move Rieko into 13 later in the game where his running game may be more useful.
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@junior said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bovidae said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Word. Clarke had to be in, he is a real weapon with all the extra skills.
Needs a touch more experience and he looks like he could be Bridge with a bit more power.
Clarke is young, but needs to get himself more involved if the ball isn't going his way.
how many games had our starting wingers in a RWC semi final played? combined? If you are good enough...
I'm pretty over the "safe" wing spot. I think the trench warfare of test rugby needs a couple of game breakers out wide.
Agree with this. Look at the Pom and Safe wings at the 2019 RWC and every one of them had that "extra" ability to beat a man, which can be a crucial outlet in a tight test match. Look at the value the Poms got out of their wings in that semi as compared to the 3/5 of fuck all we got from ours. It was almost like they'd swapped jerseys before the match. Similarly, the Saffa wings were absolutely terrific in the final, especially late on when defenders are fatigues and there to be beaten by someone capable of using a bit of footwork.
Maybe apart from Jonny May who was a cripple that got run down by Scott Barrett.
@Chris-B said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@junior said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bovidae said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Crucial said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
Word. Clarke had to be in, he is a real weapon with all the extra skills.
Needs a touch more experience and he looks like he could be Bridge with a bit more power.
Clarke is young, but needs to get himself more involved if the ball isn't going his way.
how many games had our starting wingers in a RWC semi final played? combined? If you are good enough...
I'm pretty over the "safe" wing spot. I think the trench warfare of test rugby needs a couple of game breakers out wide.
Agree with this. Look at the Pom and Safe wings at the 2019 RWC and every one of them had that "extra" ability to beat a man, which can be a crucial outlet in a tight test match. Look at the value the Poms got out of their wings in that semi as compared to the 3/5 of fuck all we got from ours. It was almost like they'd swapped jerseys before the match. Similarly, the Saffa wings were absolutely terrific in the final, especially late on when defenders are fatigues and there to be beaten by someone capable of using a bit of footwork.
Maybe apart from Jonny May who was a cripple that got run down by Scott Barrett.
Granted, in that match, yes. But, he's generally got that very express pace that allows him to beat a man consistently and turn a kick chase into a real weapon. For all George's ability to run really fast in a straight line, I'm not sure we have have that (although in fairness to George this may have more to do with a shit kicking game).
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@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Tim said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones ALB/Goodhue, ALB/Ioane, Goodhue/Ioane, and Goodhue/ALB all lack a dominant midfield ball carrier, and rely on a player who looks to take the outside break.
we don't really have one in the country because we are at that point in our cycle where we abhor "bashers" and think skill and fitness is absolutely everything
which it absolutely is for Super Rugby if I'm being fair.
I agree totally with that philosophy. Size is important - you need some big guys in the backs to get you over the gain line, you need a big blindside in the forwards to take lineout ball and to provide bulk on defence, and if you have too many small guys in the backs the opposition will get over the gain line too frequently and easily.
@Chris-B said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Tim said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@Bones ALB/Goodhue, ALB/Ioane, Goodhue/Ioane, and Goodhue/ALB all lack a dominant midfield ball carrier, and rely on a player who looks to take the outside break.
we don't really have one in the country because we are at that point in our cycle where we abhor "bashers" and think skill and fitness is absolutely everything
which it absolutely is for Super Rugby if I'm being fair.
I agree totally with that philosophy. Size is important - you need some big guys in the backs to get you over the gain line, you need a big blindside in the forwards to take lineout ball and to provide bulk on defence, and if you have too many small guys in the backs the opposition will get over the gain line too frequently and easily.
Yes and with certified midgets playing at 9 and 10 (and possibly also 11), we need a decent amount of size in the backrow and midfield to balance that out.
