2018 AB Depth Chart

[Tim]

And number 6:

1. Kaino (old legs keep going, please!)
2. Big Gap
3. Ioane
4. Squire
5. Fifita
6. Mitchell Brown
7. Players at Highlanders/Crusaders better than Taufua/Dixon

[Tim]

Alright, I suppose I'm still doing this. Let's go at number 8.

1. Read
2. Big Gap (Kaino can fill in here)
3. Squire
4. Ioane
5. Whitelock
6. Shields/Messam
7. Savea

[No Quarter]

If you're going to name people that are not specialists 8s in that list then Ardie should be there too - has played there quite a bit for the Canes this year and also for the ABs vs Samoa.

[Tim]

@No-Quarter There you go.

[Rapido]

@Tim said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:

Time for number 7.

1. Cane
2. Todd
3. Savea (not very good this year, more of an impact player)
4. Gibson
5. Dillon Hunt
6. Pryors
7. Lentjes

Probably a couple of others worth naming.

Up and comers: There's a couple in the U20 team - Luke Jacobson and Dalton Papali'i.

Boshier has fans

[Chris B.]

Squire is clearly ahead of Ioane in the pecking order at both 6 and 8. Squire's three test starts have been at 6 and even injured Hansen has chosen him in the full squad instead of Akira.

In fact, the only thing we don't know is whether he might have surpassed Kainbo and should be at the top of the 6 list if fit..... that's just for you you Blues-loving bastard!

[No Quarter]

@Chris-B. said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:

Squire is clearly ahead of Ioane in the pecking order at both 6 and 8. Squire's three test starts have been at 6 and even injured Hansen has chosen him in the full squad instead of Akira.

In fact, the only thing we don't know is whether he might have surpassed Kainbo and should be at the top of the 6 list if fit..... that's just for you you Blues-loving bastard!

@Nepia

[Tim]

On to the glamour positions. The fucking backs.

Number 9:

1. Smith
2. TJP
3. Weber
4. Pulu (not a starting option, I hope)
5. Drummond
6. Hall
7. ??

Hoping for big seasons from Nock, Enari, and that U20s guy who came on for the Hurricanes.

[Bovidae]

@Rapido Yeah, I'm a fan of Boshier. Christie is another not listed.

@Tim Luke Jacobson is a 6/8. His brother Mitch is the no.7.

[Tim]

@Chris-B.

There's a little troll in each list for the keen eyed reader.

[Tim]

@Bovidae There's a lot of them!

[Tim]

@Bovidae Christie is pretty good but has played fuck all for two years and has a long-term concussion problem.

[Tim]

@Tim said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:

@Chris-B.

There's a little troll in each list for the keen eyed reader.

Also, I feel a duty to prepare Chiefs fans for next year when they're without their 9, 10, and coaches. Some of them may even switch back to supporting the Hurricanes.

[Tim]

Number 12:

1. SBW (unmatched physical ability)
2. Crotty (admit it, you thought that Mr. Gap was going in here)
3. Laumape
4. ALB
5. Moala
6. Buckman
7. Faiane
8. Ngatai (fingers crossed for a full season in 2018)
9. Aso
10. Faauli
11. Havili
12. Thompson

[Tim]

Centre:

1. ALB
2. Crotty
3. Goodhue
4. Fekitoa (still available at this stage)
5. Ioane
6. Moala
7. Aso
8. Procter
9. Vaega
10. Tamanivalu

[dogmeat]

Barrett J for 2nd 5?

[Tim]

@dogmeat He's coming in at 15. Who knows where he will be favoured next year. He's definitely ahead of Rob Thompson though.

[Tim]

Wing.

1. Dagg (wonder how his speed will hold up)
2. Ioane
3. Naholo
4. Smith (wonder how his speed will hold up)
5. Nanai
6. Aso
7. Savea
8. Duffie
9. Stevenson
10. NMS - without injuries he should be much higher up

[Tim]

Fullback:

1. Smith
2. Dagg
3. Jordie Barrett
4. DMac
5. Nanai
6. Havili
7. NMS
8. Stevenson

Looking forward to seeing Barrett, Trainor, Havili, Stevenson, and Nanai next year. U20 player looked handy too.

[Nepia]

@No-Quarter said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:

@Chris-B. said in 2018 AB Depth Chart:

Squire is clearly ahead of Ioane in the pecking order at both 6 and 8. Squire's three test starts have been at 6 and even injured Hansen has chosen him in the full squad instead of Akira.

In fact, the only thing we don't know is whether he might have surpassed Kainbo and should be at the top of the 6 list if fit..... that's just for you you Blues-loving bastard!

@Nepia

I was reading that first line and thinking that's all good, I agree with that, what's the issue!

Then I read the second! Clearly my alert system didn't go off because Chris B, who has clearly lost his marbles, can't spell properly.