New Zealand under 20
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<p>He looks pretty classy, but at this level it doesn't necessarily mean he will kick on (Bleyendaal carved up at this level, but apparently had issues with confidence and never kicked on. Kirkpatrick too had issues). I'd say he has the potential to be better, though.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="578505" data-time="1462849262">
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<p>No mason Emerson is a huge mistake! Best player in 1st test against aus yet can't make the squad.<br><br><br>
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk</p>
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<p>Scott Robertson placed a huge emphasis on versatility when talking about the backline selections. Perhaps Emerson was considered only a contender for the wing spot, and so was left out for this reason? Given he looks to be the best winger, I think it is a poor excuse, but I don't really rate Scott Robertson, and it wouldn't surprise me if he had some bizarre reason.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="578508" data-time="1462849433">
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<p>He looks pretty classy, but at this level it doesn't necessarily mean he will kick on (Bleyendaal carved up at this level, but apparently had issues with confidence and never kicked on. Kirkpatrick too had issues). I'd say he has the potential to be better, though.</p>
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<p>Bleyendaal had more issues than just confidence</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="578514" data-time="1462849978">
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<p>Bleyendaal had more issues than just confidence</p>
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<p>So did Cruden, but he worked on those. Bleyendaal definitely had talent, and could have been very good, too.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="578508" data-time="1462849433">
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<p>He looks pretty classy, but at this level it doesn't necessarily mean he will kick on (Bleyendaal carved up at this level, but apparently had issues with confidence and never kicked on. Kirkpatrick too had issues). I'd say he has the potential to be better, though.</p>
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<p>Li has looked a class above at this level....</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="578517" data-time="1462850411">
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<p>So did Cruden, but he worked on those. Bleyendaal definitely had talent, and could have been very good, too.</p>
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<p>Cruden has always had speed, Bleyendaal did not have that top end speed.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Also, Cruden has always been an extremely hard worker. I know that Bleyendaal was warned more than once by Crusaders management about his attitude.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I also know how hard it was to get him to play for his club at all, contrast that with Cody Taylor who plays at the same club and has to be told he's not allowed to play.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="578521" data-time="1462850710">
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<p>Cruden has always had speed, Bleyendaal did not have that top end speed.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Also, Cruden has always been an extremely hard worker. I know that Bleyendaal was warned more than once by Crusaders management about his attitude.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I also know how hard it was to get him to play for his club at all, contrast that with Cody Taylor who plays at the same club and has to be told he's not allowed to play.</p>
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<p>Perhaps he did lack speed, but you can still have slow first-fives playing well at SupeRugby level.</p>
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<p>I don't know much about him not wanting to play club rugby, all I know is that I had a chat with someone who worked closely with him who made reference to confidence issues being the reason he didn't kick on. It doesn't mean that other factors didn't play a part, though. Either way, he didnt reach his potential as he didn't play anywhere near as well as he did at U20 level. Which was the point of using him as an example. Perofeta may or may not have similar issues when making the step up, so we will have to see how he goes.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="578483" data-time="1462841987">
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<p>Id say the top team from the squad selected would look something like this:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1. Ayden Johnstone (Waikato)</p>
<p>2. Leni Apisai (Wellington)</p>
<p>3. Alex Fidow (Wellington)</p>
<p>4. Hamish Dalzell (Canterbury)</p>
<p>5. Isaia Walker-Leawere (Wellington)</p>
<p>6. Luke Jacobson (Waikato)</p>
<p>7. Mitchel Jacobson (Waikato)</p>
<p>8. Marino Mikaele Tu'u (Hawkes Bay)</p>
<p>9. Sam Nock (Northland)</p>
<p>10. TJ Va'a (Wellington)</p>
<p>11. Jonah Lowe (Hawkes Bay)</p>
<p>12. Scott Barrett (Canterbury)</p>
<p>13. Sio Tomkinson (Otago)</p>
<p>14. Shaun Stevenson (Waikato)</p>
<p>15. Jordan Trainor (Waikato)</p>
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<p>.</p>
<p>Whats the strengths and weaknesses of TJ Va'a</p> -
From what ive seen of him playing college rugby he has a very good passing game and he is excellent when he has a go at the line. <br><br>
Negatives would be that he doesnt have the biggest boot and his defense still needs to be proven at a higher level. <br><br>
Physically he is probably a similar size to Cruden and id say the way he plays is similar to Cruden in that he is cool, calm and collected. -
...Interesting u20s article<br> <br><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11636651'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11636651</a>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Ruthless1" data-cid="578550" data-time="1462860885">
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<p>...Interesting u20s article 'n' travelling gang cried</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11636651'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11636651</a></p>
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<p>Completely forgot Jarrod Hoeata somehow managed to get capped. Hopefully his little bro has a fair few more brain cells.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Ruthless1" data-cid="578550" data-time="1462860885">
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<p>...Interesting u20s article 'n' travelling gang cried</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11636651'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11636651</a></p>
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<p>They seem to have missed another family connection: Jonah Lowe is the younger brother of former Maori All Black and Hurricane Karl Lowe.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wurzel" data-cid="578775" data-time="1462944950">
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<p>Wasn't Karl Lowe an All Black?</p>
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<p>Oh that's right. It was just Magpies fan assuring us he ought to be.</p>
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<p>?? </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Brian9848" data-cid="578655" data-time="1462906090">
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<p>Surprised Leger was included. He did not impress at all in the 2nd game against Aus.</p>
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<p>I didn't see the game but I'm surprised Leger is listed as a midfielder in the squad. I saw him play a lot for HBHS and he usually played 1st 5. As someone else said earlier, they've picked a lot of utility players.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="578821" data-time="1462953147">
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<p>I didn't see the game but I'm surprised Leger is listed as a midfielder in the squad. I saw him play a lot for HBHS and he usually played 1st 5. As someone else said earlier, they've picked a lot of utility players.</p>
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<p>Surely Umaga Jensen is more worthy than Leger if he is picked as a Centre. Crazy selection.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="578839" data-time="1462961104">
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<p>Alex Fidow should convert to hooker as did Liam Coltman at the same age. He has too many issues with his scrummaging which could be inacceptable at a higher level.</p>
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<p>He is way too big for hooker. At college he weighed around 140kg.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="578844" data-time="1462962797">
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<p>Surely Umaga Jensen is more worthy than Leger if he is picked as a Centre. Crazy selection.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
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<p>Yep, given what someone has said before about Robertson (telling a player he needed to quit uni if he wanted to be selected, if I recall correctly), it wouldn't surprise me if he picked almost solely on versatility rather than ability or form.</p> -
Do they still have the policy of favouring the older player in u20 selections?<br><br>
These guys you guys are agonising over may have a chance next year?<br><br>
Although one of the Jacobsen's is at his 3rd JWC ... ??
