And if Jack Goodhue ...
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Fingers crossed it won't happen, but who would be your choice for the 13 jersey if Jack Goodhue was injured before or during the RWC ?
- Ryan Crotty ? He has played there before but he is primarily a second five.
- ALB ? Same thing.
- Jordie ? Was far from convincing when Plumtree set him there this year.
- Rieko ? Has not played there for a while and most people see him as an exclusive left wing.
- Matt Proctor ? Has played one test with the ABs but is untested against big oppositions.
- Ben Smith ? Has not played there for a while either but his natural qualities and technical attributes make him look like Conrad.
- SBW ? Definitively nooooo.
- TJ Faiane ? Too green.
- Braydon Ennor ? Untested at the highest level.
- Rob Thompson ? Not in great form this year.
- Ma'a Nonu ? His defence was cruelly exposed when he played there for the Blues.
Did I forget another option ?
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Can Ardie play 2nd five and center or just second five?
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Based on the form book this season
Crotty at 12, ALB at 13
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ALB because Crotty will probably be injured himself.
As an aside how farking good is Goodhue though? Horn inducing that bloke.
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Conrad Smith
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Crotty for 13 by miles with ALB staying at 12. We're a bit thin at 13 - I wouldn't want SBW or Nonu there due to a lack of pace, and I'd be worried about Laumape's defense in that position too.
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Without wanting to appear to be advocating for him to be in the RWC squad, but in the spirit of this thread we could do worse than including Brayden Ennor in the squad. He's a quality young centre, a position where we lack depth, and can cover either wing or fullback as a utility squad member.
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In terms of the World Cup squad for the midfield, if they are fit, Goodhue, Crotty, ALB. All three can play 12 or 13 and are menance in attack and defence.
SBW, Nonu and Laumape are all competing for one spot. None would be able to play 13 or wing in a RWC knockout. Laumape hasn't really kicked on this year.
JB and Reiko Ioane will be picked in the squad for their ability in the Back Three. They might do some game time in the midfield in pool play or in games after a couple of injuries.
Brayden Ennor is the potential bolter for the midfield. Doing really well for the Crusaders this season. Can play wing and fullback too. But how would he go behind a less dominant pack? Are we happy taking a guy with so little international experience to RWC World Cup?
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@Stargazer said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
Has everyone already forgotten 2016? The year that the ABs played better than in 2017 and 2018? The midfield combo was Crotty at 12, and ALB at 13.
This should be allowed to be upvoted more than once per person.
I'm hoping SBW isn't good to go. Because I think Crotty outside Beaudy is the answer. Maybe Hansen already knows this, but has put it away because let the rest of the world think SBW is the answer and plan for that, and then fuck them at RWC when we don't select him.
I also think how we played the Lions in Test #1 is our template, and we've just shelved it since.We've got the 3-peat easy as pie.
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Tony woodcock can play center? Clutches up in World Cup finals too
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Johnny Fauli can be thrown in the mix too
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Am not losing sleep about our mid-field.
Seriously 12 and 13 are not that different.
Crotty, ALB, Nonu would all play 13 with distinction.
Edit: not sure why I quoted @Yeahtheboys ... originally
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@Stargazer said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
Has everyone already forgotten 2016? The year that the ABs played better than in 2017 and 2018? The midfield combo was Crotty at 12, and ALB at 13.
That was fucking years ago, of course we have.
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@westcoastie said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
@Stargazer said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
Has everyone already forgotten 2016? The year that the ABs played better than in 2017 and 2018? The midfield combo was Crotty at 12, and ALB at 13.
This should be allowed to be upvoted more than once per person.
I'm hoping SBW isn't good to go. Because I think Crotty outside Beaudy is the answer. Maybe Hansen already knows this, but has put it away because let the rest of the world think SBW is the answer and plan for that, and then fuck them at RWC when we don't select him.
I also think how we played the Lions in Test #1 is our template, and we've just shelved it since.We've got the 3-peat easy as pie.
Do you think that game plan works as well without SBW in the 12 jersey trucking it up? Is Crotty a bit too lightweight to be playing the battering ram role? Can he offload in the tackle well enough to play that game plan? If that role goes to whomever wears the 13 jersey (ALB in your scenario or Goodhue in most other people's), is that person going to be big and strong enough to play that role well?
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@booboo said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
Am not losing sleep about our mid-field.
Seriously 12 and 13 are not that different.
Crotty, ALB, Nonu would all play 13 with distinction.
Edit: not sure why I quoted @Yeahtheboys ... originally
Spoken like a true fatty who has no idea. There can be vast differences in areas, most notably defence. Ever wonder why Laumape, Nonu, SBW can often look lost, or even slow? Defending at 13 is a whole different kettle of fish than 12. Would you be happy for Todd at blindside or Squire at 7?
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@Bones said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
@booboo said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
Am not losing sleep about our mid-field.
Seriously 12 and 13 are not that different.
Crotty, ALB, Nonu would all play 13 with distinction.
Edit: not sure why I quoted @Yeahtheboys ... originally
Spoken like a true fatty who has no idea. There can be vast differences in areas, most notably defence. Ever wonder why Laumape, Nonu, SBW can often look lost, or even slow? Defending at 13 is a whole different kettle of fish than 12. Would you be happy for Todd at blindside or Squire at 7?
I thought @Crucial would be first to react to that ...
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Probably ALB for me , just looks more like what you want from your 13 than the rest with his line running and distribution
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@kiwiinmelb said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
Probably ALB for me , just looks more like what you want from your 13 than the rest with his line running and distribution
I like him there on attack, but he's too slow to turn on defence, his vision isn't good enough.
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you need a degree of pace to defend at centre if the opposite is quick. experience and positioning can cover most of this, but if you are talking about inexperienced centres like nonu, sbw, ngani... nope.
crotty is the best defensive centre outside of jack. I like ennor too. -
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@westcoastie said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
m hoping SBW isn't good to go. Because I think Crotty outside Beaudy is the answer. Maybe Hansen already knows this, but has put it away because let the rest of the world think SBW is the answer and plan for that, and then fuck them at RWC when we don't select him.
I also think how we played the Lions in Test #1 is our template, and we've just shelved it since.Shag will just name SBW to start every game, but he wont even be in Japan, Lions showed us the way!
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@taniwharugby said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
@westcoastie said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
m hoping SBW isn't good to go. Because I think Crotty outside Beaudy is the answer. Maybe Hansen already knows this, but has put it away because let the rest of the world think SBW is the answer and plan for that, and then fuck them at RWC when we don't select him.
I also think how we played the Lions in Test #1 is our template, and we've just shelved it since.Shag will just name SBW to start every game, but he wont even be in Japan, Lions showed us the way!
SBW could be crocked all tournament but as long as there's a slim chance he'd be fit for the final he gets in.
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@MN5 said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
@taniwharugby said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
@westcoastie said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
m hoping SBW isn't good to go. Because I think Crotty outside Beaudy is the answer. Maybe Hansen already knows this, but has put it away because let the rest of the world think SBW is the answer and plan for that, and then fuck them at RWC when we don't select him.
I also think how we played the Lions in Test #1 is our template, and we've just shelved it since.Shag will just name SBW to start every game, but he wont even be in Japan, Lions showed us the way!
SBW could be crocked all tournament but as long as there's a slim chance he'd be fit for the final he gets in.
Yeah - SBW has been nailed into the squad, whenever available, since he arrived. I can't see him being left out at this point - provided he's fit. Though he needs to show something when he returns for the Blues. All joking aside, I will be far from surprised if he is at the forefront of Shag's mind as the starting 12, because as far as I can recall, he's been the starting 12 whenever fit for the past two years.
Laumape brings more power than anyone else, but otherwise I don't think he's quite got the defensive and distributional package that Crotty, ALB and Goodhue bring.
Nonu has been surprisingly good, but I think I'll wait to see how he goes vs the Canes and the Crusaders before I ramp him anywhere above 6th in the pecking order. A wildcard.
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@MN5 yeah you mighta missed what I was getting at (see thread about Lions naming a team, then changing it)..I've stated elsewhere, if fit, SBW is on the plane.
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And to answer the original question - centre is one of the least concerning positions. Crotty and ALB have both both played there regularly for the ABs - ALB has significantly more starts at centre than at second five.
Either could play there with aplomb.
I'd be much more concerned about "If Ben Smith..." or "If Reiko Ioane...", let alone, "If Brodie Retallick...".
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@Chris-B said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
@MN5 said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
@taniwharugby said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
@westcoastie said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
m hoping SBW isn't good to go. Because I think Crotty outside Beaudy is the answer. Maybe Hansen already knows this, but has put it away because let the rest of the world think SBW is the answer and plan for that, and then fuck them at RWC when we don't select him.
I also think how we played the Lions in Test #1 is our template, and we've just shelved it since.Shag will just name SBW to start every game, but he wont even be in Japan, Lions showed us the way!
SBW could be crocked all tournament but as long as there's a slim chance he'd be fit for the final he gets in.
Yeah - SBW has been nailed into the squad, whenever available, since he arrived. I can't see him being left out at this point - provided he's fit. Though he needs to show something when he returns for the Blues. All joking aside, I will be far from surprised if he is at the forefront of Shag's mind as the starting 12, because as far as I can recall, he's been the starting 12 whenever fit for the past two years.
Laumape brings more power than anyone else, but otherwise I don't think he's quite got the defensive and distributional package that Crotty, ALB and Goodhue bring.
Nonu has been surprisingly good, but I think I'll wait to see how he goes vs the Canes and the Crusaders before I ramp him anywhere above 6th in the pecking order. A wildcard.
SBW has looked great in his very limited time for the Blues this year - was running hard and direct, drawing lots of defenders. Think you might be right - ALBs versatility will probably count against him starting, as much as that will trigger @mariner4life, he's a great man to have on the bench covering both positions.
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@No-Quarter M4L needs to look at the midfield selections vs England and Ireland (with Goodhue returning from injury) and steel himself for disappointment.
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@Chris-B said in And if Jack Goodhue ...:
And to answer the original question - centre is one of the least concerning positions. Crotty and ALB have both both played there regularly for the ABs - ALB has significantly more starts at centre than at second five.
Either could play there with aplomb.
I'd be much more concerned about "If Ben Smith..." or "If Reiko Ioane...", let alone, "If Brodie Retallick...".
shuddupshuddupshuddupshuddup ... !
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I love our "depth" threads, fans from other countries must think we are such pussies
oh no our 3rd choice 10 got injured, now what do we do?
If our starting centre goes down, which of the other 2 proven international centres that we have do we play there?
It's a massive issue we don't ahve anyone to play right wing who is in the conversation for the best in the world in his position
it really has been a blessed 15-odd years
