Reshuffling the All Blacks backline

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="568011" data-time="1459212110">
<div>
I think at present, Osborne is superior to both of those guys.
 
Lowe has some good games, but also some shockers (Dunedin last year) 
 
As far as I can see, Li has only one positive attribute - Pace.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Agree with the last comment.
 
He can develop further but he isn't offering an all round game at the moment.

mariner4life

where's the cliche thread? Because one of my favourites has always been "you can't coach pace".
 
Be nice to have some mad wheels in the team again. Have we had any since Joey Roks and Dougie were our boys?
 
 
Just to be that guy, i don't think Barrett is a great starting fullback either. I like him as the impact player he has become, but i find his positional play and all-round fullback skills to be a bit south of what you expect from an AB 15.

Siam

Nobody notice the link between Dagg and Savea's form <strike>dropping off</strike> turning to shit?
 
Same happened when DC got injured all the time...
 
Once again McCaw shows the way.....
 
DON'T GET FUCKING MARRIED!!!! :mad1:

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="568025" data-time="1459213585">
<div>
where's the cliche thread? Because one of my favourites has always been "you can't coach pace".
 
Be nice to have some mad wheels in the team again. Have we had any since Joey Roks and Dougie were our boys?
 
 
Just to be that guy, i don't think Barrett is a great starting fullback either. I like him as the impact player he has become, but i find his positional play and all-round fullback skills to be a bit south of what you expect from an AB 15. 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
It's a dumb clichÃ© because pace can be coached, well, trained is a better word.
 
But good point none of Savea, Kahui, Jane, Dagg, Smith etc strike me as having the kind of pace of those guys mentioned above. I think H Gear did in his brief career, Naholo probably does but is it racist for me to think that just because he is Fijian ?

ACT Crusader

9. A. Smith
10. L. Sopoaga
11. G. Moala
12. M. Fekitoa
13. R. Crotty
14. B. Smith
15. B. Barrett
 
21. T. Kerr-Barlow
22. A. Cruden
23. C. Ngatai

mariner4life

sickening bias

Crucial

I think we are likely to see this..
 
9. A. Smith 
10. A. Cruden 
11. J Savea 
12. C. Ngatai 
13. M. Fekitoa 
14. W. Naholo 
15. B. Smith 
21. T. Kerr-Barlow 
22. R. Crotty 
23. B. Barrett
 
With extra squad members
 
L. Sopoaga
D. McKenzie
G Moala
TJP

Siam

So we're going to move the best Fullback in the world from the team pattern of the best team in the world because?
 
Oh yeah because we don't have another winger in all of NZ
 
strewth
 
Should we just bring back Caleb Ralph then
 
Rather an underdone wing than an underdone fullback

Siam

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="568035" data-time="1459216209">
<div>
I think we are likely to see this..
 
9. A. Smith 
10. A. Cruden 
11. J Savea 
12. C. Ngatai 
13. M. Fekitoa 
14. W. Naholo 
15. B. Smith 
21. T. Kerr-Barlow 
22. R. Crotty 
23. B. Barrett
 
With extra squad members
 
L. Sopoaga
D. McKenzie
G Moala
TJP
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Yeah maybe swap Crotty for Charlie because the Zoo seem to place a lot of emphasis on experience and leadership.
 
Crotty has been in the AB environment a fair bit and another "experienced" voice in the backline would be a sound move.
 
Especially for the first test where we have had a habit of playing very much under par

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="568037" data-time="1459216506">
<div>
So we're going to move the best Fullback in the world from the team pattern of the best team in the world because?
 
Oh yeah because we don't have another winger in all of NZ
 
strewth
 
Should we just bring back Caleb Ralph then
 
Rather an underdone wing than an underdone fullback
</div>
</blockquote>
 
The ABs have basically been doing that for the last 12-18 months....

mariner4life

obvious troll is obvious
 
 
This "Crotty has more leadership" is some fucking bullshit you racist fucks. It's pretty clear from watching the Chiefs Ngatai has a huge say in how their game plays, and is often the one settling it down when a few of our more excitable players take it too far. While i expect Crotty to also be in the, i don't see him taking in too much more collateral than Ngatai given their last 18 months of rugby.

Siam

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="568039" data-time="1459216909">
<div>
The ABs have basically been doing that for the last 12-18 months....
</div>
</blockquote>
 
No they haven't
 
Ben Smith has been the starting 15. Sure tactical changes later in the game have been applied but not to the 1stXV

Siam

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="568041" data-time="1459217130">
<div>
obvious troll is obvious
 
 
This "Crotty has more leadership" is some fucking bullshit you racist fucks. It's pretty clear from watching the Chiefs Ngatai has a huge say in how their game plays, and is often the one settling it down when a few of our more excitable players take it too far. While i expect Crotty to also be in the, i don't see him taking in too much more collateral than Ngatai given their last 18 months of rugby. 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Fair enough but Crotty has far more AB experience than Ngatai- it's not unreasonable to assume that this could be a deciding factor when selecting the run on team for the first game of a season

leytonandamanda

I'm going to throw Macilai 's name into the hat. I think he has looked very good so far this season 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="568046" data-time="1459217375">
<div>
I'm going to throw Macilai 's name into the hat. I think he has looked very good so far this season 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
</div>
</blockquote>
 
He's been OK. far from All Black standard though.

KiwiMurph

Moala played right wing against Samoa and went pretty well considering it was his first test and a bit of wacky test (first test of the year, a lot of regulars unavailable due to Super rugby final etc) - I think he'll be an option.

Siam

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="568041" data-time="1459217130">
<div>
obvious troll is obvious
 
 
This "Crotty has more leadership" is some fucking bullshit you racist fucks. It's pretty clear from watching the Chiefs Ngatai has a huge say in how their game plays, and is often the one settling it down when a few of our more excitable players take it too far. While i expect Crotty to also be in the, i don't see him taking in too much more collateral than Ngatai given their last 18 months of rugby. 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Ahh fuck it, I'm on holiday, I'm going in
 
"Hey Mariner, it's Shag here. Look I've got all this performance data and a fair bit of experience working with Crotty, but to tell you truth, we're still undecided about him or Ngatai. Have you seen anything on your TV 4000 miles away that will convince us to pick Ngatai. We need some lip reading or all those times when he's the one settling down the more excitable players. It's pretty clear he does this often, but we need that verified. We need to come up with something else we be branded racists. NZ rugby needs you Mariner....Please call me back when you get this message"
 
call me racialist...;)

ACT Crusader

The Fekitoa/Crotty starting combination has looked the goods when they've started and finished tests. If both are fit I think they may give it more time. 
No doubt Ngatai is playing well and should be there or thereabouts as well. 
Siam - it's a deliberate tactic by the coaches to have Barrett at fullback Smith at wing for at least the last 25 minutes. They seem to do alright so while there are injuries it's hardly extraordinary to think they could start together. 
But I see some picking Naholo, is he going to be available?

No Quarter

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="568048" data-time="1459217627">
<div>
Moala played right wing against Samoa and went pretty well considering it was his first test and a bit of wacky test (first test of the year, a lot of regulars unavailable due to Super rugby final etc) - I think he'll be an option. 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Yep, as I mentioned in my post earlier in the thread I think he has the inside running if NMS and Naholo are both out.

leytonandamanda

Hopefully Tony pulu can get a run of games for Chiefs as I've always really rated him. 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The Silver Fern

Reshuffling the All Blacks backline