Reshuffling the All Blacks backline
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="568158" data-time="1459238682">
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<p>I can't see Cruden and Savea not running out as starters against Wales. Hansen isn't one for surprises.</p>
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<p>That's exactly why I think he'll send Savea off to fat camp during the June tests. Same thing happened last year when Savea was looking more like a prop than a winger.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="568134" data-time="1459234939">
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<p>Except that Cruden has played 37 tests and Sopoaga one test.</p>
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<p>It would be a bit concerning if Cruden doesn't resume the kicking duties a bit later in the season, but I'm pretty sure he will.</p>
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<p>Cruden is already the fifth highest points scorer of all time for the ABs and, despite him being injured, Sopoaga still didn't get the the RWC. Sopoaga will make the squad and his time as No.1 may come, but initially I can see this going only one way. </p>
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<p>Yeah your right , Cruden is the more senior player , has done nothing wrong and the clôsest thing we have to an incumbent , im tipping both of them to get starts this year though not just one </p> -
<p>2 things,</p>
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<p>one, the Welsh centre unit is huge & genuinely very very good. So I'd lean towards us picking a unit that doesn't fuck up too much as opposed to x factoring all over the place.</p>
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<p>two, the selectors have gone to guys they have used a lot religiously over the years. They are staggeringly unwilling to pick & drop randomly - especially on Super form, which has almost no bearing to tests at all. Most of the Fern had dropped Dagg 2 years before Hansen did for example. Ditto dropping Savea before the quarter final. Many had dropped Carter long before the WC even started. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="568158" data-time="1459238682"><p>I can't see Cruden and Savea not running out as starters against Wales. Hansen isn't one for surprises.</p></blockquote>
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Well Naholo was selected for the RWC squad off the back of a half of test rugby. That was pretty surprising given he was coming back from injury. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="568128" data-time="1459233947"><p>How did a Franks, and just the 'other' Franks get into this conversation? Did you have a mention of the other Franks too and then delete it? Are you pre-white knighting on the off chance someone says something negative about the Franks?<br><br>
Crotty did one awful flop at one ruck but he ran well and took the chance well. I do enjoy re-watching that over and over again though.</p></blockquote>
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Mate, you read waaay too much into posts. Mariner brought up the Ireland test. I posted the video of the final passage of play just for memories sake. Nothing more. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="568199" data-time="1459251024">
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<p>Well Naholo was selected for the RWC squad off the back of a half of test rugby. That was pretty surprising given he was coming back from injury.</p>
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<p>That was very much out of character yes, but if anything thats likely to make them even more gun shy given how piss awful he was.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="568201" data-time="1459251222">
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<p>Mate, you read waaay too much into posts. Mariner brought up the Ireland test. I posted the video of the final passage of play just for memories sake. Nothing more.</p>
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<p>I was merely asking a question, I'm still unsure how a Franks wound up in a discussion about a Crotty.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Milk" data-cid="568213" data-time="1459255789">
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<p>Quick note on Cruden's goal kicking. Rennie said part of the reason he hasn't been is that he's coming back from knee surgery. He expects Cruden will take back the responsibility soon.</p>
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<p>It's always bemused me that guys can be fit enough to play and therefore potentially get smashed by big scary loose forwards yet considered unfit for something is relatively leisurely as goal kicking.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="568247" data-time="1459283596">
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<p>It's always bemused me that guys can be fit enough to play and therefore potentially get smashed by big scary loose forwards yet considered unfit for something is relatively leisurely as goal kicking.</p>
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<p>Remember how a leisurely goal kick ruled DC out the world cup, and another one ruined Piri's ability to kick and that combined turned the Duck into the greatest story ever told.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="568247" data-time="1459283596">
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<p>It's always bemused me that guys can be fit enough to play and therefore potentially get smashed by big scary loose forwards yet considered unfit for something is relatively leisurely as goal kicking.</p>
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<p>Why bemusing? When you are goalkicking you are trying to go through a physical and mental process that works smoothly. If you have any minor doubts it will cause you to adjust as you kick. Not much different, I imagine, as hitting a golf ball.</p>
<p>A knee injury to your propping leg could cause major doubts or favouring.</p> -
And an injury to your kicking knee can be agitated by the flicking of your leg as you strike. At least I know mine always was.
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<p>when I injured my knee, my first game back (was playing 9) I was less keen to kick it (form base of scrum) cos my left knee was the injured one, and I am a right footer, so meant I was pivoting on the left one, but had no issues running and stepping, I just wasn't keen or confident</p>
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<p>I hear all of that but if there are any niggles do opponents think "hmmmmm better not tackle Cruden at that angle, might hurt his knee.....I'll let the cover get him from the other side...."</p>
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<p>I'm no sports statistician but I'd imagine that would be much more of a potential issue given that the knee tends to play a big part in running and side stepping.</p> -
<p>If you are Sopoaga you are thinking "tackle that bloody knee"</p>
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<p>As for the comment earlier in the thread regarding speed,</p>
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<p>Meet the fastest man in New Zealand rugby, Toni Pulu.</p>
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<p>It's a bold call to make, but Chiefs coach Dave Rennie has confidently labelled the winger as the quickest man going around. And Rennie has a few others in his squad to compare him too - think Glen Fisiiahi and Damian McKenzie for instance.</p>
<p>Pulu got his first taste of Super Rugby off the bench in the team's 53-10 thrashing of the Force in Hamilton on Saturday night, and remarkably scored with his first touch of the ball in his 25 minute cameo.</p>
<p>His pace is set to be a weapon in an already dangerous Chiefs backline, which has shot them to the top of the New Zealand conference.</p>
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<p>"Quicker than all our players, quicker than Damian [McKenzie] and Brad Weber," Rennie said of Pulu's red-hot speed.</p>
<p>"<strong>He ran a 4.78 [seconds] this year over 40 [metres]. Anything under five's quick. There'd be no-one quicker than that in the country</strong>."</p>
<p>Chiefs co-captain Sam Cane backed that observation up after Saturday's game, saying Pulu was ahead of the pack on the gadget in the gym which measures speed off the mark.</p>
<p>Pulu himself wasn't having much of Rennie's assessment, with the 1.84m, 93kg flyer modestly batting away those claims.</p>
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<p>"I've got no idea where he gets his stats from, to be honest," he laughed. "But Damian McKenzie's quick, man, he's probably the quickest guy in New Zealand rugby. I wouldn't say I'm the quickest."</p>
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