All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship
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@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
Grace and Sotutu are No.8s and whichever starts will add to the loose trio.
The thing about Grace is that he is the go to guy to take up the ball after a kick, defend the tramlines near the ruck (he has a big shoulder, similar to Jacobson), is a lineout specialist, and reads the game well in support. His play screams test footy.
Sotutu is similar but a bit more dynamic in attack. Sotutu has the skills of a back and hasn't put a foot wrong in black so it is hard to fathom way he hasn't been used. Especially since in SR he has increased his physicality.
For me one should start in the SA tests and they can keep each other honest in the squad. Personally, I think Sotutu has earned the right for the first go.This post has got me thinking whether the best match day loose forward mix might be something like
6 Jacobson
7 Papalii
8 Grace20 Sotutu / Savea / Akira
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My feeling is the Grace’s game is much more likely to translate to the next level that PGS, especially as they don’t seem to see him (PGS) as a 6 - which to me looks like Grace’s best position. Honestly, I dint get why they didn’t put PGS at 6, considering him as the next best to Akira, but fucks knows what these selectors are thinking.
In particular I feel like our line out needs help and Grace is particularly good there.
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I like him, but he still has a lot to learn. I think he's caught between a 6 and an 8 at the moment.
Isn’t that the problem with this team. Players caught between being and 8 or 6, 8 or 7, 7 or 6, 4/5 or 6 and don’t even talk about the backs. Akira was an 8 then we went searching for the next Kaino and now he’s a 6. I think it’s about time someone settles on positions for these guys for stability.
And to me Jacobson isn’t in the equation.
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@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
Loose forwards seem self evident to me, but it means playing players in their best positions, which the brains trust won't even fucking entertain.
Start with Akira - Cane - Sotutu with Ardie off the bench to dominate the final 30. That's world class.
The others are in the mix and could well displace the above depending on form and opposition. But for fucks sakes play them in their best positions. For example both Sotutu and Grace are better 8s than Ardie.
Longer term I think Paps will replace Cane as the starting 7 and captain, but I it's a bit early for that yet. Needs to finds his feet at test level first.
Savea is NZ best player and the only forward that other sides currently respect.
So let’s put him on the bench…
Not sure he's generally our best player in first half.
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@pakman said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
Loose forwards seem self evident to me, but it means playing players in their best positions, which the brains trust won't even fucking entertain.
Start with Akira - Cane - Sotutu with Ardie off the bench to dominate the final 30. That's world class.
The others are in the mix and could well displace the above depending on form and opposition. But for fucks sakes play them in their best positions. For example both Sotutu and Grace are better 8s than Ardie.
Longer term I think Paps will replace Cane as the starting 7 and captain, but I it's a bit early for that yet. Needs to finds his feet at test level first.
Savea is NZ best player and the only forward that other sides currently respect.
So let’s put him on the bench…
Not sure he's generally our best player in first half.
And it is time the opposition respected the AB bench! Esp SA given their recent bench front row switcheroo on us!
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@pakman said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
Loose forwards seem self evident to me, but it means playing players in their best positions, which the brains trust won't even fucking entertain.
Start with Akira - Cane - Sotutu with Ardie off the bench to dominate the final 30. That's world class.
The others are in the mix and could well displace the above depending on form and opposition. But for fucks sakes play them in their best positions. For example both Sotutu and Grace are better 8s than Ardie.
Longer term I think Paps will replace Cane as the starting 7 and captain, but I it's a bit early for that yet. Needs to finds his feet at test level first.
Savea is NZ best player and the only forward that other sides currently respect.
So let’s put him on the bench…
Not sure he's generally our best player in first half.
This is becoming an accepted fact on this forum which doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. I might be wrong but it usually comes from blues fans trying to push the case for sotutu and/or papalii. Imo he is one the first names on the team sheet, but I would probably move him to 7. In any case if he’s named captain he won’t be on the bench.
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@Tim said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
@junior What has Jacobson shown at test level? He was dogshit against the Blues this year. Tom Robinson is a much better player, and has had the better of him over the last few seasons.
I was more going for a certain type in the 6 jersey and he was the first name that popped into mind. Definitely Robinson is also an option for this type of player. I think Grace is too, arguably, and IIRC he was first selected as a 6 for the ABs.
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@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
@pakman said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
Loose forwards seem self evident to me, but it means playing players in their best positions, which the brains trust won't even fucking entertain.
Start with Akira - Cane - Sotutu with Ardie off the bench to dominate the final 30. That's world class.
The others are in the mix and could well displace the above depending on form and opposition. But for fucks sakes play them in their best positions. For example both Sotutu and Grace are better 8s than Ardie.
Longer term I think Paps will replace Cane as the starting 7 and captain, but I it's a bit early for that yet. Needs to finds his feet at test level first.
Savea is NZ best player and the only forward that other sides currently respect.
So let’s put him on the bench…
Not sure he's generally our best player in first half.
This is becoming an accepted fact on this forum which doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. I might be wrong but it usually comes from blues fans trying to push the case for sotutu and/or papalii. Imo he is one the first names on the team sheet, but I would probably move him to 7. In any case if he’s named captain he won’t be on the bench.
I’m not a Blues fan but my concern with Ardie is that he drifts in and out of games - especially in the first half, and is usually at his best when he can give maximum effort for 30 minutes or one half.
I think his game doesn’t suit the first 20-30 minutes when we are trying to get established and he can be a weapon off the bench going full noise for 40 minutes as opposed to trying to stay in the game for 80.
That’s not a criticism as I want him doing that as a key weapon of our team.
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Possible names :
LHP : Ethan de Groot. Questions about his fitness but was Karl T fitter ? Brings physicality. Scrummaging Okayish.
Ollie Norris : Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Very good for the Maoris in the first test, poor in the second. Maybe one year too early for him.
Tamaiti Williams : can play on both sides of the scrum, which could be a bonus. He is the one with the highest ceiling. His scrummaging is head scratching as he can dominate his opponent in one scrum and then being monstered in the following one.
Hodgman : great workrate, scrummaging not so good.THP :
Tyrel Lomax : penalty magnet and tits for hands. Can scrum and good workrate.
Fletcher Newell : Good scrummager and dynamic in the loose, occasionally. Lacks experience.
Olli Jager : not outstanding but solid in most phases. Would not do worse than Nepo nor Ofa anyway.Hookers :
Asafo Aumua. Upside : his strength. Downside : tends to go missing.
George Bell : too young, of course. Could he be taken as an apprentice ?
Brodie McAllister : he is the type of player who won't let you down. Journeyman though.
Thompson : he has a very high ceiling IMO; he is the NZ Malcom Marx but his LO throwing has to improve drastically.Locks :
Josh Dickson. He could be the new Keith Robinson. Not brillant but solid in every facet of a lock play.
MSR : his criminal record does not favor him. Big man with good hands and mongrel. His showing for the Maoris against Ireland does not plead for him.
IWL : big and strong. I would prefer him over PT. Mobility questionable.
Goodhue : he's leaving so nah. Was part of a dominated front five in the SRP final.
Gallagher and Sangster : both need a watch for the future, but it's too early for them.
Quinten Strange : journeyman. Strengths : ? Won't let the side down though.Loose forwards :
Cullen Grace : the main favorite to get into the squad. Excellent LO jumper, mobile and hard hitter in defense. Ball carrying not so flashy.
Shannon Frizzel : good workrate but does not deliver at the highest level.
Luke Jacobson : defense good, ball carrying good, but goes missing occasionally.
Tom Robinson : great workrate, good LO jumper. Ball carrying in the tight not so good as he lacks sheer power.Halfbacks :
Brad Weber : has plenty of experience but passing sloppy at times.
TJP : plenty of experience too. Very good in defense but his passing is slow and very inaccurate most of the time.1st Five :
DMac : would displace Stephen Perofeta who did not have a single opportunity to show his worth.2nd Five :
Thomas Umaga-Jensen : big and strong but not very fast. Defense questionable. Would bring something different to the midfield.
Alex Nankivell : was brillant during the first rounds of the SRP then his form slipped down. Very poor outing for the Maoris.Centre :
Bailyn Sullivan : Outstanding with the Canes when given the opportunity. Poor display for the Maoris against Ireland. Does not look like an international centre, for the moment.Wings :
Mark Telea : is he considered as being a member of the current squad ? Can break tackles and be brillant. Tends to blunder badly as well.
Lam : big, strong and fast. Very dangerous with ball in hand. Defense ? Reliability under the high ball ?Full back :
Zarn Sullivan. This man can kick from hand and he can run too. Brillant future IMO. -
@cgrant said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
Possible names :
Hookers :
Asafo Aumua. Upside : his strength. Downside : tends to go missing.
Can’t scrum either any front row that he’s part of struggles . -
@Tim said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
@junior What has Jacobson shown at test level? He was dogshit against the Blues this year. Tom Robinson is a much better player, and has had the better of him over the last few seasons.
agree didnt have great super season but injured knee in queenstown looked like he returned to early from that . he also may have had covid as well .. end of season was better but never really hit top gear
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@cgrant said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
Zarn Sullivan. This man can kick from hand and he can run too. Brillant future IMO.
If ever there was a bolter, it's this bloke. Expect to see him on the EOYT.
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It's hard for anyone to show much at test level at loose forward when we have been dogshit for game after game. All of them have been less than awesome, so picking on the newbs seems unfair.
The result: Cane gets it in the neck.
We will only know how good guys like Jacobsen are when they get a good run, in a balanced line-up. I rate him, but he is made of glass, which lowers his value a lot when we need stability.
Likewise Akira needs to play for a coach that can get him fired up right. So not Foster.
I do have issues with Blackadder though, on defense. Mongrel is OK but won't help tackle a player if you're out of position.
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@Chester-Draws said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
Likewise Akira needs to play for a coach that can get him fired up right. So not Foster.
Absolutely. Why on earth should an incumbent All Black bother to get himself fired up for a game in the Black jersey when he has a coach to blame?
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@Chester-Draws said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
It's hard for anyone to show much at test level at loose forward when we have been dogshit for game after game. All of them have been less than awesome, so picking on the newbs seems unfair.
The result: Cane gets it in the neck.
We will only know how good guys like Jacobsen are when they get a good run, in a balanced line-up. I rate him, but he is made of glass, which lowers his value a lot when we need stability.
Likewise Akira needs to play for a coach that can get him fired up right. So not Foster.
I do have issues with Blackadder though, on defense. Mongrel is OK but won't help tackle a player if you're out of position.
Jacobsen is the type of player that, if he hadn't been capped, would turn up for another country and turn into another Aki type as he would get way more of a chance to play and get experience.
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@Crucial said in All Blacks squad - The Rugby Championship:
Jacobsen is the type of player that, if he hadn't been capped, would turn up for another country and turn into another Aki type as he would get way more of a chance to play and get experience.
He's also been victim of his own versatility, even for the Chiefs. When Cane got injured Jacobson went to 7. I think his best position is no.8, which he should play for Waikato in the NPC, and I would start him ahead of PGS for the Chiefs.
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