Poll: ABs new First Five-Eighth
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I like JB, but I think it's 50/50 that he will cost us a game.
Even if his kick is a little slow, there is always a chance he would throw an intercept pass. I'd be fine if he was playing a game against a minnow, but I'd have no fingernails if used at 10 in a real test.
I would play for 3rd string whoever has the least chance to f it up. I'm thinking Black.
Just has to distribute without an intercept and kick ok. -
@Chester-Draws There is certainly some truth to that.
But, in a physical game like rugby, size is going to be an advantage in every position - everything else being equal. And yet these huge players don't emerge as elite halfbacks and first fives - when they've got that initial size advantage. So there must be other factors working against them.
I think there's probably a corollary with Jonah Lomu. Everyone saw the massive advantage that a 118kg wing could give a team - but, subsequently wings that size have been scarce as hens' teeth - because at the end of the day, there's very few 118 kg guys who can run fast enough to play on the wing.
Very few big guys with the deftness to play in the inside backs.
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@Chris-B said in Poll: ABs new First Five-Eighth:
@Chester-Draws There is certainly some truth to that.
But, in a physical game like rugby, size is going to be an advantage in every position - everything else being equal. And yet these huge players don't emerge as elite halfbacks and first fives - when they've got that initial size advantage. So there must be other factors working against them.
I think there's probably a corollary with Jonah Lomu. Everyone saw the massive advantage that a 118kg wing could give a team - but, subsequently wings that size have been scarce as hens' teeth - because at the end of the day, there's very few 118 kg guys who can run fast enough to play on the wing.
Very few big guys with the deftness to play in the inside backs.
These days there's heaps actually.
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@Chris-B said in Poll: ABs new First Five-Eighth:
@MN5 There's Nemani Nadolo. Remind me of some others.
What's the cut off ? Some of these guys are pretty close in weight......
George North, Tim Visser, English guy Joe whatever, Matt Banahan, Nikki Walker, Julian Savea, one or two of the Tuilagis.....
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@MN5 Honiball was the guy I thought of when I was trying to imagine the best case scenario for Jordie at 10. Henry Honiball was 1.85 tall, Jordie Barrett is 1.96.
I think you could have Jordie at 10 against Canada or Namibia, but you would probably have the half back doing all the clearance kicks.
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@sparky said in Poll: ABs new First Five-Eighth:
@MN5 Honiball was the guy I thought of when I was trying to imagine the best case scenario for Jordie at 10. Henry Honiball was 1.85 tall, Jordie Barrett is 1.96.
I think you could have Jordie at 10 against Canada or Namibia, but you would probably have the half back doing all the clearance kicks.
It's not boxing.
Rugby stats can be wildly inaccurate. Adam Thomson was heavier than Jerome Kaino apparently.
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@MN5 Guys like big Jules , George North etc are all around 108/109 kgs.
They're right in line with my theory that big is good in rugby. But, they're still 10kgs shy of Jonah - who was "bigger is better".
But, since Jonah's day - everyone has got a bit bigger. Guys like Bunce, Goldie and Cully would be smallish these days.
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@No-Quarter said in Poll: ABs new First Five-Eighth:
You guys are going to be kissing the boots of us Canes supporters when Jordie is awarded MOTM in the WC final.
They won't be able to. They'll be too busy eating crow.
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@sparky said in Poll: ABs new First Five-Eighth:
@MN5 Honiball here looks taller than Merts and Marshall, smaller than Jonah and Robin Brooke and about the same height as Michael Jones so I suspect 1.85 isn't far out.
You mean the same Michael Jones who wasn't even playing in this footage ?
great example.
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It's a shame the Boy Child (Black) barely played for the Canes and was injured last year. We really don't have much to go on. He looks solid enough but test rugby and especially a RWC are an enormous step up.
Based exclusively on the fact he has more experience, I think Banks should get the nod
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@Rancid-Schnitzel If it's about experience, I'd pick Mitch Hunt who has about the same number of NPC and SR caps as Banks. The only difference in experience between the two is Banks' overseas' stints for very average clubs. Hunt has played in two SR Finals (2017 & 2018), Banks in one (2015).
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if its about experience pick Grant Fox, he'll be on tour anyway, plus he already knows all the drills, patterns etc.
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@Stargazer said in Poll: ABs new First Five-Eighth:
@Rancid-Schnitzel If it's about experience, I'd pick Mitch Hunt who has about the same number of NPC and SR caps as Banks. The only difference in experience between the two is Banks' overseas' stints for very average clubs. Hunt has played in two SR Finals (2017 & 2018), Banks in one (2015).
Stargazer in fluffing Crusaders player shock.