AB Positions up for grabs
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Wing
Ioane has the left wing locked down. Right wing is up for grabs, as are the back up positions.
Naholo is probably a certainty to be picked, but other than that the position is wide open. I would imagine than Ben Smith will be primarily a fullback this year.
A second fullback type would be desirable, and another power wing. Aso looked good in the "power wing" role last year, but there are questions about his defence and all-round game. Dagg is coming back from injury, will he still have it? Duffie, Nanai, Alaimalo, and Stevenson all provide the second fullback ability. Proctor got smoked by Duffie in the preseason game - should probably stay at centre. Is Duffie big enough for test rugby? He has all the other skills.
Ennor could be a bolter, but probably needs another year or so to bulk up.
There really are a lot of contenders for a couple of spots.
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@tim think Dagg will have inside running for that 14 spot, he was in good form when he last played and we know these coaches are loyal, Naholo is yet to show the game breaking form consistently he shows at super rugby, NMS is another who will be in the mix.
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@tim said in AB Positions up for grabs:
Dagg is coming back from injury, will he still have it?
Also, will the selectors start getting spooked by the age? Dagg will be 30 and Ben Smith 32 just before the first Test this year. Thats geriatric in AB outside back terms.
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@duluth said in AB Positions up for grabs:
@tim said in AB Positions up for grabs:
Dagg is coming back from injury, will he still have it?
Also, will the selectors start getting spooked by the age? Dagg will be 30 and Ben Smith 32 just before the first Test this year. Thats geriatric in AB outside back terms.
All good, move them to the midfield, they're the perfect age ;).
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Bird is horribly overrated. I just don’t get the love from some posters.
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@billy-tell said in AB Positions up for grabs:
Bird is horribly overrated. I just don’t get the love from some posters.
What has Romano got that he hasn't though?
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@bones said in AB Positions up for grabs:
I'm not sure if it's been raised, but it seems strange to me there's such a massive size difference between Gibson and poor old puny Todd. I mean, no stats bear it out but look at their respective teams, Gibson must be HUGE.
If you talk enough about a player they become massive by default bro. Have you not heard of Ardie Savea ?
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@tim said in AB Positions up for grabs:
@bones Todd is a better link player and better over the ball. Gibson is a better tackler.
Todd is never going to be a particularly good test player, and has been acceptable at best. The step down from Cane in terms of physical impact is huge.
Eh? Todd is already a particularly good test player.
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If Moody comes back Crockett should go. He's become a complete liability
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@mariner4life said in AB Positions up for grabs:
If Moody comes back Crockett should go. He's become a complete liability
I agree. Time to move on from a 35 yr old reserve and develop a player who will be there in 2019.
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I thought Hames really came right as an International prop by the end of last year. What I find interesting about him is that he shows the difference between Super Rugby and International rugby. I mean, from my point of view, the guy kind of sux for the Chiefs. Our scrum doesn't seem that good and he gets penalized ALL the bloody time.
I know the cupboard was bare and they desperately needed someone to fill a gap, but Cron must have seen something in his scrummaging that would translate better to International rugby than Super rugby. I'm sure they are asking him to develop his game around the park, so maybe we'll see signs of that this year.
I like his selection backstory though, and how he is an example of people not coming through the traditional pathways and getting rewarded for sticking around and working hard.