2018 AB Depth Chart
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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!
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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.
Still very hopeful that Premiership player of the year Jimmy Gopperth can be lured back to don black.
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If you're going to name people that are not specialists 8s in that list then Ardie should be there too - has played there quite a bit for the Canes this year and also for the ABs vs Samoa.
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@No-Quarter There you go.
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@Tim said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
Time for number 7.
- Cane
- Todd
- Savea (not very good this year, more of an impact player)
- Gibson
- Dillon Hunt
- Pryors
- Lentjes
Probably a couple of others worth naming.
Up and comers: There's a couple in the U20 team - Luke Jacobson and Dalton Papali'i.
Boshier has fans
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Squire is clearly ahead of Ioane in the pecking order at both 6 and 8. Squire's three test starts have been at 6 and even injured Hansen has chosen him in the full squad instead of Akira.
In fact, the only thing we don't know is whether he might have surpassed Kainbo and should be at the top of the 6 list if fit..... that's just for you you Blues-loving bastard!
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@Chris-B. said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
Squire is clearly ahead of Ioane in the pecking order at both 6 and 8. Squire's three test starts have been at 6 and even injured Hansen has chosen him in the full squad instead of Akira.
In fact, the only thing we don't know is whether he might have surpassed Kainbo and should be at the top of the 6 list if fit..... that's just for you you Blues-loving bastard!
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@Tim said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:
There's a little troll in each list for the keen eyed reader.
Also, I feel a duty to prepare Chiefs fans for next year when they're without their 9, 10, and coaches. Some of them may even switch back to supporting the Hurricanes.
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