Exodus 2018
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The two sevens called into camps last year were Gibson and Hunt, so look out for that Battle of the Bridge baby!
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@stargazer said in Exodus 2018:
@canefan He'll be back for the 2019 SR season.
Must have been given the green light by Shag
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I guess Todd signing overseas was to be expected. Clearly being the 2nd best openside flanker in the country for years and consistently being snubbed by the ABs, I guess he expected the same thing to happen for the RC and end-of-year tour.
Can't blame him; one of NZR's most loyan servants. Good luck to him.
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@stargazer said in Exodus 2018:
I guess Todd signing overseas was to be expected. Clearly being the 2nd best openside flanker in the country for years and consistently being snubbed by the ABs, I guess he expected the same thing to happen for the RC and end-of-year tour.
Can't blame him; one of NZR's most loyan servants. Good luck to him.
It's only been 2 and a half years that he's been the 2nd best openside flanker in the country.
Weird for him to go now - he was probably looking at decent game time in the RC.
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@nepia I think it's quite predictable that he was going to be snubbed again. Only 33 men in the squad for the RC and EOYT. I don't think they're going to drop Ardie (it took them years to drop his brother) and also don't expect 3 opensides in the squad.
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@tim While I'm not a fan, that would be a bit shit if they then go ahead and drop him. I really don't see a need for him in the squad, even if they think he's versatile - I doubt anyone is going to be comfortable with him at 8 if he can't even tough it out at 7. I'd much prefer Cane to go to 6/8 with Todd on the bench.
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@tim said in Exodus 2018:
Scotty Stevenson, on the Short Ball podcast, insinuated that Savea was picked this series to stop him signing with a French club who had offered him big money.
In other news, reports are emerging that Lee Harvey Oswald may not, in fact, have pulled the trigger in Dallas.
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@tim said in Exodus 2018:
Scotty Stevenson, on the Short Ball podcast, insinuated that Savea was picked this series to stop him signing with a French club who had offered him big money.
I'm dubious about this. Ardie just doesn't seem like he's a starter, more a finisher. Not sure if game plans of 2016 are relevant anymore, but you can't deny that when he came on for the last 20 in a lot of games, he was bloody awesome.
Cane or Todd to start, Ardie on the bench.
Reckon the coaches were just giving him a crack to see if he's now got the ability to change that typecast. An injury prevented answering that unfortunately. With the emergence of Barrett over the last 3 games, you now have him & Savea as outstanding bench options to cover the lock and back row.
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@arhs well had Cane not been injured (or was he rested?) and subsequently Ardie injured, Todd would have played a very limited role; while it seems clear to many here Todd is clear #2 and TBF, pushing Cane very hard for #1, the selectors seem to see Ardie as #2.
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@taniwharugby I don't think they pick Ardie because he is better than Todd, though. Hansen explained last year that Todd and Cane are very similar and that Ardie brought something else (not sure what after watching him play this year). That "something else" was the reason why they picked Ardie instead of Todd.
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@stargazer said in Exodus 2018:
@taniwharugby I don't think they pick Ardie because he is better than Todd, though. Hansen explained last year that Todd and Cane are very similar and that Ardie brought something else (not sure what after watching him play this year). That "something else" was the reason why they picked Ardie instead of Todd.
But then you have to wonder why they picked Ardie in the final match and not Todd. If Todd is the number 2 to Canes style then you'd expect him to slot in to start, which I think most of us thought would happen, but that didn't happen.
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@nepia Give him an opportunity?
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@antipodean @Stargazer That may be what we're all thinking, but Hansen may see it different. After all we'd expect that Todd would have spoken with the coaches to see where he sits in the pecking order before signing his Japan contract (unless of course it has an AB selection out-clause). Because an injury to Cane and/or Savea may see Hunt of Fern favourite Gibson come in and seal up that 2/3 no. 7 spot before the RWC.
