Reshuffling the All Blacks backline

Canes4life

I would have:
 
9. Aaron Smith
10. Aaron Cruden
11. Julian Savea
12. Charlie Ngatai
13. Malakai Fekitoa
14. Ben Smith
15. Beauden Barrett
 
Reserves:
21. TJ Perenara
22. George Moala
23. Damian Mckenzie

Crucial

Couple of things about Cruden and goal kicking.
 
First, where does the rule book say that the 10 must be the goal kicker? Nowhere at all. Don't get too hung up about it as long as there is another option elsewhere. (reason I say this is I heard Telfer being an idiot the other day and declaring that the 10 MUST kick goals)
 
Second, don't count him out on goal kicking just yet. Remember that he is coming back from a bad knee injury and the call is probably to get his confidence back on running and kicking from hand first. When that is feeling 100% it will translate to more confidence propping off his leg for kicking as well.

Bones

Yeah I'm pretty sold on Ngatai Fekitoa now. Wonder if they'd have their eye on Ngatai being able to cover fullback too? Thompson and Laumape are shaping up nicely, I reckon Moala will start to show some form once given a consistent shot too.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="567711" data-time="1459112275">
Yeah I'm pretty sold on Ngatai Fekitoa now. Wonder if they'd have their eye on Ngatai being able to cover fullback too? Thompson and Laumape are shaping up nicely, I reckon Moala will start to show some form once given a consistent shot too.</blockquote>
 
I like fekitoa and ngatai 
Don't think laumape is anywhere near ab quality yet, moala is tho. Don't write off crotty too... He's only played 1 full game back from injury and he sounds hungry 
Regarding Mackenzie, I'm not so sure I'd rush him into starting fullback for the June tests. See how his body holds up to a whole super season. Hansen has always said he values those players who perform at playoff time

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="567710" data-time="1459112126">
<div>
Couple of things about Cruden and goal kicking.
 
First, where does the rule book say that the 10 must be the goal kicker? Nowhere at all. Don't get too hung up about it as long as there is another option elsewhere. (reason I say this is I heard Telfer being an idiot the other day and declaring that the 10 MUST kick goals)
 
Second, don't count him out on goal kicking just yet. Remember that he is coming back from a bad knee injury and the call is probably to get his confidence back on running and kicking from hand first. When that is feeling 100% it will translate to more confidence propping off his leg for kicking as well.
</div>
</blockquote>
Yeah, it looks like they were easing him back goal kicking wise, then when he had his first shot at it he was shit, then this week D Mack was shit.
 
We are in a period where all our 10 options have had bad runs with the boot at various stages of their careers, we just need them to get on a good run of kicks though I reckon.
 
It's a tough one though if Cruden's kicking doesn't improve and there is no other kicking option. But I don't think you sacrifice your best 10 (sorry 5 fluffers but it's true) and his game management for a better goal kicker at a particular time.
 
Canes4Life's team is the closest on this thread to the one I'd pick to start against Wales - I'd also like to get Lowe into the squad too. I've been a fan of his since his Ta$man (spit) days and think he's the kid of guy who rises to the level he's playing at (the Danes Coles effect).
 
It would be funny if we pick little wings against Wales, thrash them, and they spend the next 5 years looking for small wings.

taniwharugby

I reckon we play 
 
9 A Smith, 10 Cruden, 11 Lowe, 12 Sopoaga, 13 BB, 14 D-Mac, 15 B Smith
 
Plenty of playmakers there, book-ended by 2 of the Smiths, all good!

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rembrandt" data-cid="567706" data-time="1459111520">
<div>
Definitely see a Ngati/Fekitoa centre pairing. Dmac may get a chance at fullback and send Smith to the wing. Still anyones at first-five. Barretts kicking improved a lot last game, Cruden hasn't been kicking but general play has been great, Sopoanga may lose out just on experience but could see any of them start.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I personally think it us unlikely that the coaches would be bringing in too many inexperienced players into the backline early (Fekitoa isn't inexperienced but hasn't been a consistent starter, Ngatai hasn't started at all for the ABs and they may need to bring someone in for Savea). So I think they might but Barrett at fullback, at least for a bit for this reason. Similarly, I think Sopoaga will miss out.
 
However, eventually I think they will phase in a few more of these guys, and McKenzie will likely be one of the first on the list.

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="567718" data-time="1459113855">
<div>
I reckon we play 
 
9 A Smith, 10 Cruden, 11 Lowe, 12 Sopoaga, 13 BB, 14 D-Mac, 15 B Smith
 
Plenty of playmakers there, book-ended by 2 of the Smiths, all good! 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I think Stephen Donald would be a good addition in the midfield, as he will cart the ball up all day. So how about:
 
9.Smith
10.Cruden
11.Barrett
12.Sopoaga
13.Donald
14.MacKenzie
15.Smith

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="567720" data-time="1459114035">
<div>
I think Stephen Donald would be a good addition in the midfield, as he will cart the ball up all day. So how about:
 
9.Smith
10.Cruden
11.Barrett
12.Sopoaga
13.Donald
14.MacKenzie
15.Smith
</div>
</blockquote>
Maybe if Todd Blackadder was coach.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="567720" data-time="1459114035">
<div>
I think Stephen Donald would be a good addition in the midfield, as he will cart the ball up all day. So how about:
 
9.Smith
10.Cruden
11.Barrett
12.Sopoaga
13.Donald
14.MacKenzie
15.Smith
</div>
</blockquote>
 
If you gonna go that way, throw BB at FB, and West on the left wing, we only really need one Smith in the backline!

Unco

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="567677" data-time="1459088896">
<div>
Assuming none of the injured guys are back in time for Wales;
 
15. Barrett 14. Ben Smith 13. Fekitoa 12. Ngatai 11. Savea 10. A.Cruden 9 A.Smith
 
Bench: McKenzie, Sopoaga, TJP
</div>
</blockquote>
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="567709" data-time="1459112114">
<div>
I would have:
 
9. Aaron Smith
10. Aaron Cruden
11. Julian Savea
12. Charlie Ngatai
13. Malakai Fekitoa
14. Ben Smith
15. Beauden Barrett
 
Reserves:
21. TJ Perenara
22. George Moala
23. Damian Mckenzie
</div>
</blockquote>
 
TJP?! Have you guys been watching the Canes? Cause he shouldn't be within 5km of the squad based on his current form. Shit pass, shit decision making.

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="567724" data-time="1459114667">
<div>
TJP?! Have you guys been watching the Canes? Cause he shouldn't be within 5km of the squad based on his current form. Shit pass, shit decision making.
</div>
</blockquote>
Yep Kerr-Barlow easily the no.2 halfback in the country.

leytonandamanda

I actually prefer weber as 2nd choice 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Rembrandt

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="567725" data-time="1459114858">
Yep Kerr-Barlow easily the no.2 halfback in the country.</blockquote>
 
I think Weber is outplaying him at the moment, early days yet though

Rancid Schnitzel

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="567727" data-time="1459115309">
I actually prefer weber as 2nd choice 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk</blockquote>
 
Me too. NKB just isn't good enough. I was gunning for TJP last year, but admit now that he isn't an option. He has the size and skills but unfortunately lacks a brain. 
This will without doubt be our biggest test of depth since 1998. Hope Hanson manages that better than Hart. 
Barrett at 13 is certainly out of the box thinking. Don't really see the logic though. Reckon you have to go Ngatai and Fekitoa at this stage.

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="567724" data-time="1459114667">
<div>
TJP?! Have you guys been watching the Canes? Cause he shouldn't be within 5km of the squad based on his current form. Shit pass, shit decision making.
</div>
</blockquote>
When I said Canes4Life was closest I hadn't clicked he had TJP at 9, definitely TKB who just is good enough ... as last years performances from the reserves during the finals showed.

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="567718" data-time="1459113855">
<div>
I reckon we play 
 
9 A Smith, 10 Cruden, 11 Lowe, 12 Sopoaga, 13 BB, 14 D-Mac, 15 B Smith
 
Plenty of playmakers there, book-ended by 2 of the Smiths, all good! 
</div>
</blockquote>
Ngatai at 11 as he's more of a playmaker than Lowe. :)

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="567736" data-time="1459116806">
<div>
Ngatai at 11 as he's more of a playmaker than Lowe. :)
</div>
</blockquote>
 
good call, at least some of you are taking this re-shuffle seriously!

booboo

Cruden
Dagg
MacKenzie
Donald
Barrett
Black
Sopoaga 
Mounga, MacKenzie M, and McGahan on the bench. 
Good investment in the future there. Plenty goal kicking options.

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="567736" data-time="1459116806">
<div>
Ngatai at 11 as he's more of a playmaker than Lowe. :)
</div>
</blockquote>
 
There was also talk of Cruden at halfback at one stage, due to his weight. That could give us:
 
9.Cruden
10.West
11.Ngatai
12.Sopoaga
13.Donald
14.MacKenzie
15.Barrett

The Silver Fern

Reshuffling the All Blacks backline