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2018 AB Depth Chart

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allblacks
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2018 AB Depth Chart
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  • mariner4lifeM Offline
    mariner4lifeM Offline
    mariner4life
    replied to Stargazer on last edited by
    #54

    @Stargazer said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:

    @Duluth Did I say that anywhere?

    yea, you pretty much did

    StargazerS 1 Reply Last reply
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  • StargazerS Offline
    StargazerS Offline
    Stargazer
    replied to mariner4life on last edited by
    #55

    @mariner4life Why would I? Everyone responds in their own way.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • NepiaN Offline
    NepiaN Offline
    Nepia
    replied to Duluth on last edited by
    #56

    @Duluth said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:

    Haha

    So everybody but West is responsible for Wests form

    Because Hawkes Bay

    Great analysis!

    Fucking Dorklanders! Half the country's population and you still can't find a 10 better than a ginga from Havelock North. 😉

    StargazerS MN5M 2 Replies Last reply
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  • StargazerS Offline
    StargazerS Offline
    Stargazer
    replied to mariner4life on last edited by
    #57

    @mariner4life No, I didn't. I just said I blamed a lot of it on the Blues environment. I didn't say I blamed everything that didn't go well on the Blues environment (or anyone else), nor did I say West was faultless. I didn't bring his province into this either. Some of you guys just try to read things into it that I didn't say.

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  • Chris B.C Online
    Chris B.C Online
    Chris B.
    wrote on last edited by
    #58

    Jesus!

    Mitch Hunt might be a good Ta$man boy, but if he's our 4th best first five, we'd better not get any injuries! 🙂

    Personally I'd have Beaver, West, Black and probably DMac ahead of him.

    TimT ACT CrusaderA 2 Replies Last reply
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  • StargazerS Offline
    StargazerS Offline
    Stargazer
    replied to Nepia on last edited by
    #59

    @Nepia And now they got one from the Poo of all places. 😆

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • KiwiMurphK Online
    KiwiMurphK Online
    KiwiMurph
    replied to Stargazer on last edited by KiwiMurph
    #60

    @Stargazer I think you raise a lot of valid points - the fact the Blues haven't had a proper midfield in forever certainly doesnt help (that seems to be changing finally with the likes of SBW and Faiane) and some pretty average 9s in recent years.

    However, there are some issues with West's game that are entirely his doing.

    How I would put it is that with the Blues in recent years his weaknesses have been exposed whereas at the Canes these are more likely to be hidden - however i'd suggest they'll still be there.

    He doesn't take over games but rather tends to play a supplementary role as a 10 - I've seen this for years including way back when Hawke's Bay would play off Alby at 9 - he has moments of magic but doesn't direct play. His challenging of the line is a lot more effective off the bench - when he starts he tends to stand deep and passive. His kicking game is also poor - the length and quality of his clearing kicks is not great, the Blues have often been burnt by this. He also isnt a great decision maker under pressure and can get monstered early in games. When the heat really has come on in recent years when he's been starting 10 for the Blues he has been consistently found wanting.

    StargazerS 1 Reply Last reply
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  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    replied to Chris B. on last edited by
    #61

    @Chris-B. Well, losing Cruden and Banks in one year is a lot!

    Chris B.C 1 Reply Last reply
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  • StargazerS Offline
    StargazerS Offline
    Stargazer
    replied to KiwiMurph on last edited by
    #62

    @KiwiMurph I agree with most of that, but I'd like to know (and we'll probably never find out) what they have done at the Blues to actually address those weaknesses? The backline hasn't functioned well in years, where lies the backs coach's responsibility in this? People have also frequently questioned the Blues' game plan over the years; there may be some of the answer in there as well. For what it's worth, my impression is that West's biggest problem is lack of confidence.

    KiwiMurphK 1 Reply Last reply
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  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    wrote on last edited by
    #63

    Well, 1st 5s are definitely a lot more controversial than props.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • KiwiMurphK Online
    KiwiMurphK Online
    KiwiMurph
    replied to Stargazer on last edited by
    #64

    @Stargazer Yep I think that's fair. I think originally under Kirwan it was all a complete shambles, especially in the final year when Ted and Mick Byrne were not around. Tana had has a heck of a job to do to rebuild the whole franchise and to me has done a fine job. He has turned the Blues into a playoff calibre team (the only reason the Blues aren't in the playoffs is the conference system). But along the way Tana has had some learnings. His first backs coach was Paul Feeney, a man who cost Auckland an ITM Cup title because he wouldn't drop Simon Hickey for Mitch Hunt.

    Some things are up to the individual though, e.g. kicking. He should putting in extras day in and day out to try and maximise that skill. Of course not everyone can reach the same heights and perhaps he has done and he has maximised the distance on his clearning kicks for example.

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  • Chris B.C Online
    Chris B.C Online
    Chris B.
    replied to Tim on last edited by
    #65

    @Tim Yeah, but I'm still at the stage of hoping Mitch Hunt might go alright for the Mako$. 🙂

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • BovidaeB Offline
    BovidaeB Offline
    Bovidae
    replied to Tim on last edited by
    #66

    @Tim Beaver will be a useful squad member but there is no way Cooper will relying on him to be the starting 1st 5. That would be a step backwards, even for a local legend.

    Maybe Cooper has other ideas (or rocks in his head) but I'd say there is only a very slim chance that DMac isn't wearing the no.10 jersey. He wants to play there but has been happy to bide his time at FB.

    As a recent example, I thought DMac played well in the 2nd half vs the Canes after Cruden left the field.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • MN5M Offline
    MN5M Offline
    MN5
    replied to Nepia on last edited by
    #67

    @Nepia said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:

    @Duluth said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:

    Haha

    So everybody but West is responsible for Wests form

    Because Hawkes Bay

    Great analysis!

    Fucking Dorklanders! Half the country's population and you still can't find a 10 better than a ginga from Havelock North. 😉

    Maori Rangas. So aggressive.

    That explains why Paul Tito had such a good career.

    1 Reply Last reply
    1
  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    wrote on last edited by Tim
    #68

    OK, onwards. Let's talk locks. A little tricky here are some are better of the bench that starting, and some better lineout or scrum exponents, while others are favoured for work around the pitch.

    1. Retallick
    2. Whitelock
    3. Big gap
    4. S Barrett
    5. Romano
    6. Scrafton
    7. Franklin
    8. Fatialofa
    9. Bird
    10. Tuipulotu (I do hope he has an injury free run next year)
    StargazerS Billy TellB 2 Replies Last reply
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  • StargazerS Offline
    StargazerS Offline
    Stargazer
    replied to Tim on last edited by
    #69

    @Tim Hmm, I think I'd put Bird at 5 or 6. Also, after last night's performance, I'm inclined to add Sam Lousi to the list . Quinten Strange looks promising.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • CrucialC Offline
    CrucialC Offline
    Crucial
    wrote on last edited by
    #70

    Bird definitely up that list, probably to 6.

    No love for Fifita? Admittedly more a lock/6 but has to register somewhere and it won't be as a genuine 6 either.

    Lock/6s that prove themselves are a good RWC squad selection.

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  • CrucialC Offline
    CrucialC Offline
    Crucial
    replied to Tim on last edited by
    #71

    @Tim said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:

    @Bovidae Is Dmac going to play there? Or will Donald? I haven't seen Dmac play a good game at 10 yet, even if he does have a lot of potential.

    I'm pretty sure that the plan is to give DMac a whole season at 10.
    He shouldn't have been thrown in there for the Maori. It was a silly idea that also disrupted a potential great back three on counterattack for them.

    I have seen him play some really good games at 10 (waikato and a couple at the start of the season when Cruden was injured) but he needs some longer term experience to learn how to handle scenarios that aren't going his way like when his pack are getting mullered.

    ACT CrusaderA 1 Reply Last reply
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  • ACT CrusaderA Offline
    ACT CrusaderA Offline
    ACT Crusader
    replied to Chris B. on last edited by
    #72

    @Chris-B. said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:

    Mitch Hunt might be a good Ta$man boy, but if he's our 4th best first five, we'd better not get any injuries! 🙂

    Bro, he's a Crusader now. His AB chances have now skyrocketed up the pecking order

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • C Offline
    C Offline
    cgrant
    replied to booboo on last edited by
    #73

    @booboo said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:

    @Tim said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:

    Right, on to Hooker.

    1. Coles (hopefully back for the RC)
    2. Taylor
    3. Harris (not sure about this guy, at all - outplayed by Parsons and Taylor this year)
    4. Coltman
    5. Parsons
    6. Funnell (always liked the look of him, would love to watch him starting against quality opposition)
    7. GPT (FFS Blues)
    8. Riccitelli (young but promising)
    9. Dixon (exposed by the Lions, journeyman at best)
    10. Adrian Smith (deadset Harbour legend)

    Asafo Aumua is the obvious young player to look for.

    Other names that spring to mind ...
    ...

    Faiva

    Apisai (? NZQ'ed?)
    Anderson-Heather
    Moulds

    Andrew Makalio ( Ta$man & Crusaders) is one to watch. He is very strong and hard to stop ball in hand. I don't know much about his abilities in terms of throwing though.

    1 Reply Last reply
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2018 AB Depth Chart
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