2019 Rugby World Cup
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Gutted for DMac. He was playing really well again back at Fullback. I really admire the enthusiasm with which he plays the game.
Ben Smith will now be the ABs first-choice fullback. Jordie Barrett, David Havili and Will Jordan are the cover after that.
3rd Choice First Five is an issue. Stephen Perofeta's likelihood of makinf the RWC just went up significantly.
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There's a longer discussion of Dmac's injury in the 2019 Rugby Championship thread.
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Watched the All Blacks training at Kilbirnie Park a couple of hours back. Took my boots along just in case but quite frankly flatly refuse to play in anything other than Mizuno so when the trainers headed my way got them out of my bag and waved them in their direction only to see them do a quick about turn.
As an aside it was rather hilarious watching the ABs sharing the ingoal area in front of the swimming pool with a guy practicing what looked like some sort of Israel Folau sign language yoga. He paid them no attention whatsoever and defended his space magnificently!
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Interesting question as to how the ABs will re-configure their backs selection - given that DMac was going to take the 3rd first five spot, but probably play in the back three.
Assuming 14 backs and a couple of big assumptions....
Smith, Perenara, TTT
BBarrett, Mo'unga
Crotty, SBW, ALB, Goodhue
BSmith, Ioane, Naholo, JBarrett
Do you use the final pick to pick a third first five or another outside back - or maybe even both and prune another midfield back?
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Smith, Perenara, TTT,
BB, Mo'unga
Crotty, Laumape, ALB, Goodhue, Nonu or SBW (depending on fitness).
R Ioane, Jordan, J Barrett, B Smith.
In group play (Namibia or Canada), Crotty and J Barrett to give some cover at 10. Laumape and ALB to give some cover at Wing.
23 for South Africa and the Knock outs:
Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Owen Franks
Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick
Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Kieran Read
Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett
Reiko Ioane, Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Will Jordan
Ben SmithBench: Karl Tu'inukuafe, Dane Coles, Nepo Laulala, Scott Barrett, Akira Ioane, TJP, Richie Mo'unga, ALB
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The AB's will take a third #10.
Why?
because imagine the colletive shit-fit we would have if Beaudy or Richie got injured against a minnow.And also because we play two minnows is the very reason they will take a third #10, because these are the exact games that a third #10 should start in, because they're fucking minnows.
Should Beaudy or Richie go down, you'd want the third #10 having been in and around the AB environment and had some time in the saddle, and those two games v minnows and maybe the one v Tonga before we go is the best and most perfect opportunity.
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@sparky Not bad - but a few bits to critique.
I don't see the point in taking five midfielders. It is going to be tough on the guy who misses out, but that is why Hansen gets paid the big bucks. We're going to use a maximum of three in any game and then one spare as injury cover. We don't need yet another spare.
My man Will Jordan! @Nepia
I'm not sure Will's quite ready for test rugby - offensively great, but he's probably got a bit to learn still about defence and positional play on the wing. He's a shot though.
Actually, although I put Naholo in my group above because Hansen's stuck with him to date, I'd pick Bridge if he can show he's effective on the right wing. I might also pick him instead of Jordie.
I don't like the tandem of Ardie and Sam Cane. I would pick Frizell at 6.
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@westcoastie I think they will, too - but largely because there's not anyone else in the squad who otherwise makes any convincing claim to be able to play 10.
We don't have anyone of the ilk of Weepu, Leon or Lucky Luke who at least had some pedigree of playing there occasionally at lower levels.
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@Chris-B if we had to pick someone I'd chuck Ben Smith in there.
The compromise we'd have to make at 15 is better than the compromise we'd have to make at 10.
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I think Frizell will be in the RWC squad, especially as Liam Squire looks broken. But my God, he was poor against Crusaders last weekend. I would be worried about him going MIA in a World Cup knockout after that.
What I think is really special indeed about Will Jordan is his ability to accelerate and hit the line with the ball in two hand. This could be invaluable against the super organised defences we will see in RWC knock outs.
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Two implications already obvious of DMac being injured.
Jordie Barrett makes the squad. If not the first choice anywhere, he provide decent cover across the backline and is an excellent goalkicker.
Ben Smith if fit is the first-choice fullback for the knock outs. He is our best player under the high ball.
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@Kirwan said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Chris-B Jordie is nailed on for the squad, covers too many positions.
Now that DMac is injured, I think he'll make it. I wouldn't have picked him if DMac was fit.
To be honest, though, I don't think he covers many positions at all at elite test level. He can be chucked in the midfield or on the wing against the minnows, though. I don't want to see him anywhere except fullback in a big test.
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@Stargazer said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Chris-B Has David Havili ever played at 10? I know he can do the goal kicking (I still remember that huge kick in the clip below) and kicks in play, but don't know whether he'd have the required game management skills.
Maybe in club rugby. I don't recall him ever playing there for Mako or Crusaders - even as a fill in. His brother Willy plays first five, though!
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@westcoastie said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Chris-B if we had to pick someone I'd chuck Ben Smith in there.
The compromise we'd have to make at 15 is better than the compromise we'd have to make at 10.
I'd play one of the halfbacks there - if we HAD to. TJ, I guess.
