Reshuffling the All Blacks backline
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="568045" data-time="1459217352"><p>Fair enough but Crotty has far more AB experience than Ngatai- it's not unreasonable to assume that this could be a deciding factor when selecting the run on team for the first game of a season</p></blockquote>
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Yep, but Ngatai has been captaining the AB Maori team (and Taranaki?)<br><br>
Having said that, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ngatai start from the bench. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="568050" data-time="1459218400">
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<p>Ahh fuck it, I'm on holiday, I'm going in</p>
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<p>"Hey Mariner, it's Shag here. Look I've got all this performance data and a fair bit of experience working with Crotty, but to tell you truth, we're still undecided about him or Ngatai. Have you seen anything on your TV 4000 miles away that will convince us to pick Ngatai. We need some lip reading or all those times when he's the one settling down the more excitable players. It's pretty clear he does this often, but we need that verified. We need to come up with something else we be branded racists. NZ rugby needs you Mariner....Please call me back when you get this message"</p>
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<p>call me racialist... ;)</p>
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<p>It's about fucking time Shag.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="568061" data-time="1459219869">
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<p>It's not unreasonable to point out the All Blacks haven't been shy in giving newbies an opportunity.</p>
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<p>Sure, as individuals. I'd say the pattern is to surround debutants with experienced players</p> -
<p>Which is why pairing the Chiefs 10 and 12 with the back-up 13 of the past 2 years makes perfect sense.</p>
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<p>Why put in a Crusader with not all that much test experience when none of his provincial mates will be there? Unless we're planning him running off short balls from the props....</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="568048" data-time="1459217627">
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<p>Moala played right wing against Samoa and went pretty well considering it was his first test and a bit of wacky test (first test of the year, a lot of regulars unavailable due to Super rugby final etc) - I think he'll be an option. </p>
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<p>Yeah I'm a fan of Moala. Even with the one specialist winger out (NMS) I think he's in with a real show to play out wide. And might be handy to be in the squad should the AB selectors want to experiment in the midfield.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gt12" data-cid="568067" data-time="1459220463">
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<p>Yep, but Ngatai has been captaining the AB Maori team (and Taranaki?)<br><br>
Having said that, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ngatai start from the bench.</p>
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<p>The only thing Crotty has in his favour is that he has been in the All Black environment longer. That's literally the only thing.</p> -
<p>leaving the tongue-in-cheek stuff aside for the moment, i think Moala at 14 is a distinct possibility for June. I would expect him to be in the squad anyway, and once our right wings come back, to be looking at an impact sub role (until SBW is back of course). </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="568074" data-time="1459221544">
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<p>The only thing Crotty has in his favour is that he has been in the All Black environment longer. That's literally the only thing.</p>
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<p>Interesting use of the word literally...</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="568071" data-time="1459221427">
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<p>Which is why pairing the Chiefs 10 and 12 with the back-up 13 of the past 2 years makes perfect sense.</p>
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<p>Why put in a Crusader with not all that much test experience when none of his provincial mates will be there? Unless we're planning him running off short balls from the props....</p>
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<p>Eh? Crotty's played in 15 tests. That's 2 more than Fekitoa. The fact that he's paired up with Fekitoa a few times probably counts for something in this transition period too.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="568078" data-time="1459222023">
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<p>Eh? Crotty's played in 15 tests. That's 2 more than Fekitoa. The fact that he's paired up with Fekitoa a few times probably counts for something in this transition period too.</p>
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<p>4 starts.</p>
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<p>Including Samoa, Scotland, USA.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="568078" data-time="1459222023">
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<p>Eh? Crotty's played in 15 tests. That's 2 more than Fekitoa. The fact that he's paired up with Fekitoa a few times probably counts for something in this transition period too.</p>
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<p>i remember like, one of those. and that one where he caught the ball and fell over the line v Ireland. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="568041" data-time="1459217130">
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<p>obvious troll is obvious</p>
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<p>This "Crotty has more leadership" is some fucking bullshit you racist fucks. It's pretty clear from watching the Chiefs Ngatai has a huge say in how their game plays, and is often the one settling it down when a few of our more excitable players take it too far. While i expect Crotty to also be in the, i don't see him taking in too much more collateral than Ngatai given their last 18 months of rugby. </p>
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<p>What's Crotty even led anyway? The Crusaders backline? Not really something to show off about.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="568096" data-time="1459227100">
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<p>Neither is the Blues backline for that matter. Guess that will count Moala out as well.</p>
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<p>No-one's talking up Moala's leadership, so why would it matter?</p> -
<p>great thrêad ,when was the last time we could debate an allblack backline (apart from dagg vs smith)and selection time is still 3 months away </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="568057" data-time="1459219366">
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<p>Hopefully Tony pulu can get a run of games for Chiefs as I've always really rated him.<br><br><br>
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk</p>
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<p>Always liked Toni Pulu's game, but he's ineligible for NZ as he's played 7s for Niue.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="568105" data-time="1459228049"><p>Always liked Toni Pulu's game, but he's ineligible for NZ as he's played 7s for Niue.</p></blockquote>
I did wonder that but could not find any info on him being ineligible -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="568088" data-time="1459224023">
'> </a></p>
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<p>i remember like, one of those. and that one where he caught the ball and fell over the line v Ireland. </p>
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<p>Right place, right time. A simple but significant play like that has for some players prolonged their rugby careers </p>
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<p>Never gets old. He with the other Franks were heavily involved at the ruck and also running the ball in that sequence.</p>
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<p>Probably his best tests were vs OZ at Eden Park and the second half he played vs England.</p>
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<p>Think Sopoaga has to start (while Cruds has run the Chiefs backline superbly during the last handful of games, shying away from kicking duties doesn't help his cause)</p>
<p>Ngatai good for 12, Fekitoa the inside track at centre, Moala and B Smith to the wings (while J Savea visits boot camp) and DMac to FB .</p>