Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play
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its another of those catch 22 situations isn't it...BBBR & SW are crucial cogs in the AB machine, so you want them out there as much as possible, you don't wanna throw someone out there just to try and develop them.
I think they are pretty good right now, new ones always will and will continue to pop up, aside form the blip in Chicago last year I think our locking over the past few seasons has been managed well and expect going forward they will integrate new faces into the fold.
The fact that numerous players are used shows they are looking at options, with Romano & Barrett the best of those right now, unfortunately Tuipulotu hasn't quite kicked on as many would have expected, but then he's had a tough run the past year or so, so hopefully 2018 will be the year he establishes himself as #3, and if good enough, pressure BBBR & SW into playing better
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@pakman said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
I thought Hemopo was excellent for Clan and Maori. But at 1.93m more the size of a 'tight' 6 than a test lock. Scratton was good for Blues at 5 if one is looking for an aerial as opposed to power lock.
Would love to see Hemopo at 6 as well.There's no doubting his physicality in the tackle and at the rucks, which is something the two current blindsides lack.
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@akan004 said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@pakman said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
I thought Hemopo was excellent for Clan and Maori. But at 1.93m more the size of a 'tight' 6 than a test lock. Scratton was good for Blues at 5 if one is looking for an aerial as opposed to power lock.
Would love to see Hemopo at 6 as well.There's no doubting his physicality in the tackle and at the rucks, which is something the two current blindsides lack.
At 1.93, Hemopo is shorter than Kaino which would make a him a very undertall lock. Anyway, he shares some physical traits with Jerome. Get him in the 6 jumper pronto. He'd make a decent lineout target in the post Kieran era.
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I'd be very surprised if, baring injury, guys like Whitelock, Coles, both Smiths and Read aren't at the world cup. Kaino is in danger of not making it and it will depend on the way the cone back from injury for guys like Dagg and Franks.
While there are plenty of tests between now and the cup it still isn't "that" long given it is only one more full season then it's a RWC year where other than a few bolters and a few outsiders falling away they will have a pretty good idea of who will be there.
Third 9, third hooker and the order of the 6s and backup 10s are the only things i really see changing significantly.
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@pukunui said in [Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play]> Third 9, third hooker and the order of the 6s and backup 10s are the only things i really see changing significantly.
and possibly another outside back - NMS in 2015, Ioane this year show it can be done (coming from a super season)
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@pakman said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@no-quarter said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
Our top back three is 11. R Ioane 14. B Smith 15. J Barrett - that has the best balance to it.
I can see Rieko moving to centre down the track but while he has his pace he's best suited to the wing at test level, he can break tight tests apart if he gets half a yard of space.
The average age of your best three is just under 24, which is ideal!
What about the average height and weight?
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@crucial said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@pakman said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@no-quarter said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
Our top back three is 11. R Ioane 14. B Smith 15. J Barrett - that has the best balance to it.
I can see Rieko moving to centre down the track but while he has his pace he's best suited to the wing at test level, he can break tight tests apart if he gets half a yard of space.
The average age of your best three is just under 24, which is ideal!
What about the average height and weight?
By average height do you mean somewhere in no mans land, between undertall and overshort?
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@crucial said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@pakman said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@no-quarter said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
Our top back three is 11. R Ioane 14. B Smith 15. J Barrett - that has the best balance to it.
I can see Rieko moving to centre down the track but while he has his pace he's best suited to the wing at test level, he can break tight tests apart if he gets half a yard of space.
The average age of your best three is just under 24, which is ideal!
What about the average height and weight?
Just observing that the extreme youth of Ioane (R) and Barrett (J) is balanced by Smith (B) being four years past the usual cut off for AB wings!
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@pakman said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@crucial said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@pakman said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@no-quarter said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
Our top back three is 11. R Ioane 14. B Smith 15. J Barrett - that has the best balance to it.
I can see Rieko moving to centre down the track but while he has his pace he's best suited to the wing at test level, he can break tight tests apart if he gets half a yard of space.
The average age of your best three is just under 24, which is ideal!
What about the average height and weight?
Just observing that the extreme youth of Ioane (R) and Barrett (J) is balanced by Smith (B) being four years past the usual cut off for AB wings!
But would three 23.5 year olds be the same?
- just taking the piss. Not sure if you were around here in the old 'Carl Hayman fits the ideal height to weight ratio for a Number 8' days
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@pakman said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@crucial Been around a while, but must have missed that one!
It's TSF history stuff that one. We had a poster who argued his point constantly about positions having ideal height/weight ratios and how certain existing players should look at moving positions.
If you see references to Hayman being an ideal 8, that is the origin.NB: this is not the basis of the Ardie at 12 or Dagg at 10 theories
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@taniwharugby said in Countdown to RWC 2019 - ABs state of the play:
@crucial Dagg to 10 had different origins I believe.
Reading comprehension not so good in the morning TR?
