2018 AB Depth Chart
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@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.
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@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.
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@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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@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.
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@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.
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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.
- Retallick
- Whitelock
- Big gap
- S Barrett
- Romano
- Scrafton
- Franklin
- Fatialofa
- Bird
- Tuipulotu (I do hope he has an injury free run next year)
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@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.
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@Chris-B. said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
Mitch Hunt might be a good Ta$man boy, but if he's our 4th best first five, we'd better not get any injuries!
Bro, he's a Crusader now. His AB chances have now skyrocketed up the pecking order
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@booboo said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
@Tim said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
Right, on to Hooker.
- Coles (hopefully back for the RC)
- Taylor
- Harris (not sure about this guy, at all - outplayed by Parsons and Taylor this year)
- Coltman
- Parsons
- Funnell (always liked the look of him, would love to watch him starting against quality opposition)
- GPT (FFS Blues)
- Riccitelli (young but promising)
- Dixon (exposed by the Lions, journeyman at best)
- Adrian Smith (deadset Harbour legend)
Asafo Aumua is the obvious young player to look for.
Other names that spring to mind ...
...Faiva
Apisai (? NZQ'ed?)
Anderson-Heather
MouldsAndrew Makalio ( Ta$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.
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@Crucial said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
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.
I watched him live against the Rebels early in the season and thought he really struggled at 10. The Rebels did a good job in crowding him (Colby Fa'ainga mainly) and that wasn't even because the Rebels were dominating the forward battle. It was pretty even for most of the game and then late in the 2nd half Chiefs got some dominance.
He drifted in and out of the contest and then Donald was taking a bit of 1st receiver ball. When DMac had space he as always looked good.
Excellent fullback, but I think without the space to build up acceleration which you don't get at 10, his main assets are nullified.
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mo'unga is an interesting one. vastly improved this year, but genuinely horrible against the highlanders and the lions when the pressure came on, which suggests he shouldn't be near the ABs just yet to me. lima is a very good back-up, but beyond him i don't see anyone i'd be comfortable with.
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@reprobate said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
mo'unga is an interesting one. vastly improved this year, but genuinely horrible against the highlanders and the lions when the pressure came on, which suggests he shouldn't be near the ABs just yet to me. lima is a very good back-up, but beyond him i don't see anyone i'd be comfortable with.
I'd agree with that and think he looked 'more ready' at times this year because his team afforded him time and space. Give him time to learn from those games, just as some of the others need time as well (DMac, Black)
The only other 10 I think I'd be comfortable with today if there was an injury crisis is Banks but even then I'd be tempted to use Dagg or Crotty as a stop gap.
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@Tim said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
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.
- Retallick
- Whitelock
- Big gap
- S Barrett
- Romano
- Scrafton
- Franklin
- Fatialofa
- Bird
- Tuipulotu (I do hope he has an injury free run next year)
Good call at 3 there. Been very impressed. Possible bolster for EOYT?
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@Crucial Would be an interesting call what they'd do for the third test if they lost both Barrett and Cruden on Saturday. Especially if the series was on the line.
I'm inclined to think they'd call up Mo'unga to sit on the bench and hope not to have to use him, but I think cases could also be made for all of Banks, DMac and Beaver!
I think the lack of space that causes the trouble for the rookie first fives would cause similar problems and maybe worse for guys like Dagg and Crotty who don't play there. I guess there's a reason that good first fives command the big bucks!
