Super Rugby AB Watch 2022
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An attempt to gather comments specifically about current ABs and how they are tracking. Please keep match or ref type comments in the match threads.
Watching those that either were in last years squad or would have been barring injury etc
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Moody - showing no signs that a summer off has rejuvenated him. Looks well past it.
Jordan - in form and has lifted his Super level play to where it should be for a star AB. Looks to be using more tools than being in the right place at the right time.
Jordie - looking good and should hold his place. Only other option for ABs is if by some chance the Canes give him a run at 12 and Jordan can move to 15
Frizzel - just as hot and cold as always
Cane - might need to add more to his (excellent) standard game.
Whitelock - looks like he is pacing himself for the season.
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Reece work rate is excellent, although he can get over excited. As much as I don't like the soccer diving, wife bearing, Island poach, he is good
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@crucial said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
Moody - showing no signs that a summer off has rejuvenated him. Looks well past it.
The difference in watching Moody around the field to Bell in the next game, was obvious. I didn't think that de Groot did much either when he had the ball.
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Thought DeGroot was looking OK until injured.
Havili didn't look like an international 12 (confirming what we already knew)
Ennor was pants.
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@crucial I personally thought Frizell had a bloody good game, was in the thick of it most of time on field. Agree De Groot was good. Fakatava looks to have picked up where he left off last year, which is pleasing.
I think Scott Barrett ahd had a couple of good games too.
Last week I had been inpressed with Cane, Retallick for Chiefs as well.
I haven't mentioned some others that impressed me to keep with brief of being ABs which is good. -
Frizell was great. The problem is his style doesn't suit test match rugby which is far more confrontational than February Super under a roof.
I thought Sam Cane looked useful last week for a week 1 game.
Retallick showed some signs too.
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@kiwimurph said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
Frizell was great
always looks the business at super though.
I like De Groot, alot of potential, especially if guided properly, even more so that I know a local club prop that reached out to him on Social Media for some advice, and he responded with a numerous messages, training stuff, advice, encouragement and chat....top bloke!
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@taniwharugby said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
@kiwimurph said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
Frizell was great
always looks the business at super though.
I like De Groot, alot of potential, especially if guided properly, even more so that I know a local club prop that reached out to him on Social Media for some advice, and he responded with a numerous messages, training stuff, advice, encouragement and chat....top bloke!
This is the same conversation every year, definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly expecting different results, use to be frizells biggest fan…happy to look for someone else now
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@kiwiwomble said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
@taniwharugby said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
@kiwimurph said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
Frizell was great
always looks the business at super though.
I like De Groot, alot of potential, especially if guided properly, even more so that I know a local club prop that reached out to him on Social Media for some advice, and he responded with a numerous messages, training stuff, advice, encouragement and chat....top bloke!
This is the same conversation every year, definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly expecting different results, use to be frizells biggest fan…happy to look for someone else now
Can I ask why? You must have been the only one other than the AB coaches to see his ability from the Highlanders bench.
I thought he had a fairly busy game last night, but to go all buzz phrase he doesn't really bend the line that much for a guy his size and reputation.
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George Bower
was very good last night,
Gave Honeck a dust up in the scrums and carried well.
Luke Jacobsen
I thought until he got injured was busy last week he looks in good nick.
Tyler Lomax
Pretty good last week scrum went well while he was in for the Canes.Adding a few who haven’t been mentioned.
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@nepia I didn’t think it was a surprised he is often talked up a few years ago after super rugby, I mean his first game he scored three tries and walked all over the blues, I also didn’t think he was as bad for the abs as some did, I think he was given a different game plan…but, can’t argue ioane (and even Blackadder) often makes a much bigger impact in the black jersey, finally with his drama last year he just doesn’t seems like even a good bloke
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@kiwiwomble said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
@nepia I didn’t think it was a surprised he is often talked up a few years ago after super rugby, I mean his first game he scored two tries and walked all over the blues, I also didn’t think he was as bad for the abs as some did, I think he was given a different game plan…but, can’t argue ioane (and even Blackadder) often makes a much bigger impact in the black jersey, finally with his drama last year he just doesn’t seems like even a good bloke
I think lots of people were surprised when he made the ABs from the bench. Maybe he was more noticeable to you as he was a Highlander so you were more knowledgable about him. You, @Chris-B , and TJ were probably the only 3 who knew who he was.
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@nepia If I’m honest my memory is he was very much starting a playing well for the highlanders when he got picked for the abs, don’t really remember thinking he was picked “from the bench”
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@taniwharugby said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
always looks the business at super though.
that's exactly my point.
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RTS is the best player in NZ
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@mariner4life said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
RTS is the best player in NZ
Lol. Apart from giving away a shit load of stupid penalties. Jordan does all the RTSv stuff, and can kick
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Luke Romano's new house in Auckland is next door to a KFC.
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@kruse said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
Luke Romano's new house in Auckland is next door to a KFC.
And a maccas, and a dominoes...
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Add Finlay Christie to the started really well AB list.
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Alex Hodgman played well for the Blues, active around the paddock, solid at scrum time, worked hard at the breakdown with some nice touches with the ball.
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@number9 said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
Alex Hodgman played well for the Blues, active around the paddock, solid at scrum time, worked hard at the breakdown with some nice touches with the ball.
And he can ran and catch a ball unlike Moody
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@machpants said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
@mariner4life said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
RTS is the best player in NZ
Lol. Apart from giving away a shit load of stupid penalties. Jordan does all the RTSv stuff, and can kick
I was absolutely 100% serious
Go continue your thrashwank over NZs best luxury player
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@mariner4life said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
@machpants said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
@mariner4life said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
RTS is the best player in NZ
Lol. Apart from giving away a shit load of stupid penalties. Jordan does all the RTSv stuff, and can kick
I was absolutely 100% serious
Go continue your thrashwank over NZs best luxury player
He could be by the end of SR, but he's not yet
BTW I don't know what a thrashwank is nor whom you consider "NZs best luxury player"? WTF is a luxury player?
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@machpants said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
@kruse said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
Luke Romano's new house in Auckland is next door to a KFC.
And a maccas, and a dominoes...
I did wonder if maybe he discovered Wendy's, or some shit that isn't in ChCh, but is in Auckland.
Is there a Wendy's in ChCh?
I don't care. Luke got fat, and WTF? -
Comments from Tom Robinson on Romano:
“I call him the Tyson Fury. He’s not a chiselled athlete but when he gets in there, man, he just goes and goes."
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@bovidae haha that is quality
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Caleb Clarke looked much more like the 2020 version than the 2021 version.
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@kruse said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
@machpants said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
@kruse said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
Luke Romano's new house in Auckland is next door to a KFC.
And a maccas, and a dominoes...
I did wonder if maybe he discovered Wendy's, or some shit that isn't in ChCh, but is in Auckland.
Is there a Wendy's in ChCh?
I don't care. Luke got fat, and WTF?Didn't see the game tonight so no idea what he looks like now, but Luke was carrying extra weight in Chch the last couple of years.
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@kiwimurph said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
Caleb Clarke looked much more like the 2020 version than the 2021 version.
I was coming here to post exactly that comment.
The 7s last year was a strategic error - he should have tried to hold his AB spot.
Another problem is that someone like Rayasi will eventually also be too hard to ignore, if he can cut out the silly errors.
If Brudge gets selected in the ABs ahead of Leicester, Clarke, or even Rayasi, I going to lose my shit.
Watching the highlights of Inga and Viduri in the last few days has really hammered home that we need more weapons on the flanks.
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@kruse Yea there is Wendy's in Chch, and he's been that fat for about 6 years now lol.
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Finlay definitely has kicked on from last years chances. On this weekends form I would take him over Fakatava.
RIoane looking in good nick.
Sotutu busy but totally outshone by Ardie.
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@african-monkey said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
@kruse Yea there is Wendy's in Chch, and he's been that fat for about 6 years now lol.
Yeah, I find it weird people are commenting on Romano's fatness, he's clearly been hitting the pasta and pizza for years now. Put him in a Blue jersey and everyone notices.
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@nepia said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
@african-monkey said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
@kruse Yea there is Wendy's in Chch, and he's been that fat for about 6 years now lol.
Yeah, I find it weird people are commenting on Romano's fatness, he's clearly been hitting the pasta and pizza for years now. Put him in a Blue jersey and everyone notices.
Red and black is slimming
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@nepia Yeah funny how there was no mention of it when he played for the Crusaders/Canterbury.
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@nepia funny. He looks like he is wearing some rib protection but maybe I’m being kind. Are we really that short of locks that he is starting for the Blues?
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@broughie said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
Are we really that short of locks that he is starting for the Blues?
It’s a specific situation. The Blues lost 3 locks in the off season (including the 2 most experienced)
Selecting an experienced, off contract, lock was importantI think he’ll drift out of the 23 during the season. When he is in the 23 he needs to start so he plays until he runs out of puff
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@nepia said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
@african-monkey said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
@kruse Yea there is Wendy's in Chch, and he's been that fat for about 6 years now lol.
Yeah, I find it weird people are commenting on Romano's fatness, he's clearly been hitting the pasta and pizza for years now. Put him in a Blue jersey and everyone notices.
He’s been fat for ages. Basically since he first made the ABs
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FABLF
Mitch Hunt might be a smokey to make the squad this year.
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@act-crusader said in Super Rugby AB Watch 2022:
FABLF
Mitch Hunt might be a smokey to make the squad this year.
any chance we can find someone who can kick the ball more than 25 metres?
LF seems an absolute certainty doesn't he? If the ABs are wedded to a gameplan of beating defense with individual brilliance, we better start picking guys who are actually dynamic. Can't think of many more than him at the moment.
The back 3 is ridiculous at the moment. How do we fit all of Jordie, Jordan, Reiko, Reece, Clarke, and LF all in? No wonder we are desperate to make one in to a 13.
