@gt12 said in What new players would you like to see in all blacks next year:
I like the idea of him at 12.
However, if they plan to go back to Mo’unga and those loop plays to give him space, we’ll need distribution at 12. Given the actual innovation shown so far, I imagine that back to the future Crusaders style is the golden ticket they are clinging on to….
And what a golden ticket it is.
I recently watched a few replays from the 06 to 09 period. If we take the 06 and 07 seasons it was a really interesting time for the ABs in terms of how we played. Specific to the backs, we were in that post Umaga phase where in the midfield we went through a lot of different players and combos. In 25 matches we used 4 different 2nd 5s and 6 different centres resulting in 12 different midfield combos tried. The combo that played the RWC QF had only played twice previously in tests, once on 06 against the Boks and then in a pool match of the 07 Cup against Italy.
And of those 12 different combos, not once did Nonu and Conrad feature as the 12 and 13 - which became the main combo of the 08 and 09 seasons (18 of the 29 tests). And it wasn’t clear at the end of 07 that the future lied in Nonu and Conrad. But they were selected in 08 and allowed to build test experience together - so much so Nonu only missed one test at 2nd 5 in 2008 (and DC started there). And Nonu only played with Conrad and Kahui.
We’ve tried a few different combos over the last 2 seasons (9 in 27 tests). What the next 2 seasons hold for our midfield, who knows. We have some players there that may or may not feature by the end of it.
If it were me I do like QT in there in either position. There’s some work ons but if Jordie is our 12 then QT would be a good option at 13. LF as a bench option pending improved positioning and reads.
