Reshuffling the All Blacks backline
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<p>I reckon we play </p>
<p> </p>
<p>9 A Smith, 10 Cruden, 11 Lowe, 12 Sopoaga, 13 BB, 14 D-Mac, 15 B Smith</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Plenty of playmakers there, book-ended by 2 of the Smiths, all good! </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rembrandt" data-cid="567706" data-time="1459111520">
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<p>Definitely see a Ngati/Fekitoa centre pairing. Dmac may get a chance at fullback and send Smith to the wing. Still anyones at first-five. Barretts kicking improved a lot last game, Cruden hasn't been kicking but general play has been great, Sopoanga may lose out just on experience but could see any of them start.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>I personally think it us unlikely that the coaches would be bringing in too many inexperienced players into the backline early (Fekitoa isn't inexperienced but hasn't been a consistent starter, Ngatai hasn't started at all for the ABs and they may need to bring someone in for Savea). So I think they might but Barrett at fullback, at least for a bit for this reason. Similarly, I think Sopoaga will miss out.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>However, eventually I think they will phase in a few more of these guys, and McKenzie will likely be one of the first on the list.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="567718" data-time="1459113855">
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<p>I reckon we play </p>
<p> </p>
<p>9 A Smith, 10 Cruden, 11 Lowe, 12 Sopoaga, 13 BB, 14 D-Mac, 15 B Smith</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Plenty of playmakers there, book-ended by 2 of the Smiths, all good! </p>
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<p> </p>
<p>I think Stephen Donald would be a good addition in the midfield, as he will cart the ball up all day. So how about:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>9.Smith</p>
<p>10.Cruden</p>
<p>11.Barrett</p>
<p>12.Sopoaga</p>
<p>13.Donald</p>
<p>14.MacKenzie</p>
<p>15.Smith</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="567720" data-time="1459114035">
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<p>I think Stephen Donald would be a good addition in the midfield, as he will cart the ball up all day. So how about:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>9.Smith</p>
<p>10.Cruden</p>
<p>11.Barrett</p>
<p>12.Sopoaga</p>
<p>13.Donald</p>
<p>14.MacKenzie</p>
<p>15.Smith</p>
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<p>Maybe if Todd Blackadder was coach.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="567720" data-time="1459114035">
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<p>I think Stephen Donald would be a good addition in the midfield, as he will cart the ball up all day. So how about:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>9.Smith</p>
<p>10.Cruden</p>
<p>11.Barrett</p>
<p>12.Sopoaga</p>
<p>13.Donald</p>
<p>14.MacKenzie</p>
<p>15.Smith</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>If you gonna go that way, throw BB at FB, and West on the left wing, we only really need one Smith in the backline! </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="567677" data-time="1459088896">
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<p>Assuming none of the injured guys are back in time for Wales;</p>
<p> </p>
<p>15. Barrett 14. Ben Smith 13. Fekitoa 12. Ngatai 11. Savea 10. A.Cruden 9 A.Smith</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Bench: McKenzie, Sopoaga, TJP</p>
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<p> </p>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="567709" data-time="1459112114">
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<p>I would have:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>9. Aaron Smith</p>
<p>10. Aaron Cruden</p>
<p>11. Julian Savea</p>
<p>12. Charlie Ngatai</p>
<p>13. Malakai Fekitoa</p>
<p>14. Ben Smith</p>
<p>15. Beauden Barrett</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Reserves:</p>
<p>21. TJ Perenara</p>
<p>22. George Moala</p>
<p>23. Damian Mckenzie</p>
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<p>TJP?! Have you guys been watching the Canes? Cause he shouldn't be within 5km of the squad based on his current form. Shit pass, shit decision making.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="567724" data-time="1459114667">
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<p>TJP?! Have you guys been watching the Canes? Cause he shouldn't be within 5km of the squad based on his current form. Shit pass, shit decision making.</p>
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<p>Yep Kerr-Barlow easily the no.2 halfback in the country. </p> -
I actually prefer weber as 2nd choice <br><br><br>
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="567725" data-time="1459114858"><p>
Yep Kerr-Barlow easily the no.2 halfback in the country.</p></blockquote>
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I think Weber is outplaying him at the moment, early days yet though -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="567727" data-time="1459115309"><p>
I actually prefer weber as 2nd choice <br><br><br>
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk</p></blockquote>
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Me too. NKB just isn't good enough. I was gunning for TJP last year, but admit now that he isn't an option. He has the size and skills but unfortunately lacks a brain. <br><br>
This will without doubt be our biggest test of depth since 1998. Hope Hanson manages that better than Hart.<br><br>
Barrett at 13 is certainly out of the box thinking. Don't really see the logic though. Reckon you have to go Ngatai and Fekitoa at this stage. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="567724" data-time="1459114667">
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<p>TJP?! Have you guys been watching the Canes? Cause he shouldn't be within 5km of the squad based on his current form. Shit pass, shit decision making.</p>
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<p>When I said Canes4Life was closest I hadn't clicked he had TJP at 9, definitely TKB who just is good enough ... as last years performances from the reserves during the finals showed.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="567718" data-time="1459113855">
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<p>I reckon we play </p>
<p> </p>
<p>9 A Smith, 10 Cruden, 11 Lowe, 12 Sopoaga, 13 BB, 14 D-Mac, 15 B Smith</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Plenty of playmakers there, book-ended by 2 of the Smiths, all good! </p>
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<p>Ngatai at 11 as he's more of a playmaker than Lowe. :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="567736" data-time="1459116806">
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<p>Ngatai at 11 as he's more of a playmaker than Lowe. :)</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>good call, at least some of you are taking this re-shuffle seriously! </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="567736" data-time="1459116806">
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<p>Ngatai at 11 as he's more of a playmaker than Lowe. :)</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>There was also talk of Cruden at halfback at one stage, due to his weight. That could give us:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>9.Cruden</p>
<p>10.West</p>
<p>11.Ngatai</p>
<p>12.Sopoaga</p>
<p>13.Donald</p>
<p>14.MacKenzie</p>
<p>15.Barrett</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="567741" data-time="1459118356">
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<p>9. Cruden<br>
10. Dagg<br>
11. MacKenzie<br>
12. Donald<br>
13. Barrett<br>
14. Black<br>
15. Sopoaga<br><br>
Mounga, MacKenzie M, and McGahan on the bench.<br><br>
Good investment in the future there. Plenty goal kicking options.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>I'm not sure about Black starting, but Dagg at 10 is a good call.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rembrandt" data-cid="567728" data-time="1459115416">
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<p>I think Weber is outplaying him at the moment, early days yet though</p>
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<p>Both good in their own right but I like what Kerr Barlow brings to the table personally with a more physical presence which is more suited to test rugby imo and he can close games out in the last 15-20 mins of test matches as he has shown in the past. Having said that, I do like Weber as third choice ahead of TJP.</p> -
Except for maybe one or two experimental games, I can't see the coaches shifting Ben from FB. He's well established as our number one 15 now. <br>
We have plenty of wing options, even if Savea is too fat, NMS & Naholo are injured; Jane, Ranger, Lowe, Osborne, Moala, and I'm sure there are one or two I'm missing. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="567736" data-time="1459116806">
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<p>Ngatai at 11 as he's more of a playmaker than Lowe. :)</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Ngatai did play 1st 5 for the Chiefs in a pre-season game. :think: :mocking:</p>