Reshuffling the All Blacks backline
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="567718" data-time="1459113855">
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<p>I reckon we play </p>
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<p>9 A Smith, 10 Cruden, 11 Lowe, 12 Sopoaga, 13 BB, 14 D-Mac, 15 B Smith</p>
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<p>Plenty of playmakers there, book-ended by 2 of the Smiths, all good! </p>
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<p>Ngatai at 11 as he's more of a playmaker than Lowe. :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="567736" data-time="1459116806">
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<p>Ngatai at 11 as he's more of a playmaker than Lowe. :)</p>
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<p>good call, at least some of you are taking this re-shuffle seriously! </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="567736" data-time="1459116806">
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<p>Ngatai at 11 as he's more of a playmaker than Lowe. :)</p>
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<p>There was also talk of Cruden at halfback at one stage, due to his weight. That could give us:</p>
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<p>9.Cruden</p>
<p>10.West</p>
<p>11.Ngatai</p>
<p>12.Sopoaga</p>
<p>13.Donald</p>
<p>14.MacKenzie</p>
<p>15.Barrett</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="567741" data-time="1459118356">
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<p>9. Cruden<br>
10. Dagg<br>
11. MacKenzie<br>
12. Donald<br>
13. Barrett<br>
14. Black<br>
15. Sopoaga<br><br>
Mounga, MacKenzie M, and McGahan on the bench.<br><br>
Good investment in the future there. Plenty goal kicking options.</p>
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<p>I'm not sure about Black starting, but Dagg at 10 is a good call.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rembrandt" data-cid="567728" data-time="1459115416">
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<p>I think Weber is outplaying him at the moment, early days yet though</p>
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<p>Both good in their own right but I like what Kerr Barlow brings to the table personally with a more physical presence which is more suited to test rugby imo and he can close games out in the last 15-20 mins of test matches as he has shown in the past. Having said that, I do like Weber as third choice ahead of TJP.</p> -
Except for maybe one or two experimental games, I can't see the coaches shifting Ben from FB. He's well established as our number one 15 now. <br>
We have plenty of wing options, even if Savea is too fat, NMS & Naholo are injured; Jane, Ranger, Lowe, Osborne, Moala, and I'm sure there are one or two I'm missing. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="567736" data-time="1459116806">
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<p>Ngatai at 11 as he's more of a playmaker than Lowe. :)</p>
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<p>Ngatai did play 1st 5 for the Chiefs in a pre-season game. :think: :mocking:</p> -
<p>Just a couple of reactions to the OP.</p>
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<p>My understanding is that Waisake Naholo will be back well and truly in time for the RC. So I would consider him the logical choice for right wing, form and fitness permitting. I think Barrett at centre is a strange idea, just because he's palagi, has brown hair and is above average height doesn't mean that he's the logical replacement for Conrad Smith. Malakai Fekitoa has been playing well for the last two Super Rugby seasons and IMO is the man for the job.</p>
<p>Also you mentioned that Crotty is more of a centre than a no.12 but he's played 95% of his professional Rugby at second five. I'm not saying he's a better option than Ngatai, but just taking issue with your comment that he was more of a centre.</p>
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<p>I just think people need to take a chill pill. We're five weeks into Super Rugby and suddenly Damian McKenzie just has to be in the All Black 23 and Aaron Cruden has been all but written off because he isn't kicking for goal. IMO that's delusional. Given that Steve Hansen will be forced to make some changes to his match day 23 due to retirements and players heading North, I don't expect him to be bringing in any more new players than he absolutely has to. And dropping proven All Blacks like Aaron Cruden because some people think he's forgotten how to kick for goal is just crazy talk. Damian McKenzie is a rare talent, but there is no way that Steve Hansen is completely rejigging his entire backline to accommodate him. I've heard people talking about moving Ben Smith to 14 so that McKenzie can play fullback. WTF?! And moving Barrett to is even more bizarre.</p> -
<p>If Cruden is in the AB squad for the Welsh series, as expected, McKenzie will have the opportunity to play for the Chiefs vs Wales - probably at 1st 5. That will be a step up from Super rugby and provide Hansen and co with more information about his temperament and ability.</p>
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<p>IMO Ryan Crotty is the nailed on 1st shot at centre. Not sure why others don't see this. I think you can sketch these names in now with a fair bit of certainty</p>
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<p>15. B Smith</p>
<p>14. Fekitoa</p>
<p>13. Crotty</p>
<p>12. ?? </p>
<p>11. Savea</p>
<p>10. Cruden</p>
<p>9. A Smith</p>
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<p>21. Kerr Barlow</p>
<p>22. B Barrett</p>
<p>23. ???</p>
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<p>Julian Savea is a worry but I would say that Hansen has stepped in hence him being removed from the hurricanes and he is working with the All Blacks trainers to get back into proper shape.</p>
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<p>MacKenzie will probably get a shot but not as a first test starter. Likewise Sopango.</p>
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<p>2nd 5 is up for grabs with Ngatai probably having the inside running at the moment over Moala. But alot can happen over the remainder of the tournament Ranger maybe a longshot and Rob Thompson as a longshot bolter. What counts against Ngatai is both him and Crotty are not percieved as impact runners in the way Nonu was.</p>
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<p>Thompson new to this level has looked impressive so far after a NPC for Canterbury last seaon. Him and Crotty were a good partnership and hard to contain. Big selection mistake IMO from Blackadder (yet again) to stick with Fonotia but in fairness contracts were probably already signed.</p> -
<p>If Naholo or Milner-Skudder are available they will start. Fekitoa is a good player but not sure they will trust him yet in the organising and defensive roles at centre. He has already started tests on the wing and come on as a replacement there so obviously you have the same questions of seriousness about Hansen as you do me. </p>
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<p>The Crusaders couldn't come close to matching the money Rob Thompson was offered at the Highlanders. And given he was more than likely going to ride pine behind Crotty and Havili/Fruean, I thinking attacking Todd Blackadder for another "big selection mistake" is being slightly unfair. Also, Thompson has been part of the Canterbury backline which has fired consistently for many years. You don't win seven titles in eight seasons, scoring more points than any other province over this period, with a toothless backline.</p>
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<p>Well alot of Canterbury fans were bemused at him going to the Highlanders when he seemed to have a watershed seaosn with Canterbury last season and only 2 appearances in for the Hihglanders and it looks justified. Crusaders could have matched the money and I am sure he would have preferred the Crusaders but as you say they saw others as higher priority which is the definition of a 'selection mistake'. I did acknowledge that they had probably signed a multi season contract with Fonotia but who was responsible for that?</p>
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<p>8 out of 7 titles yes but in 2013 their backline was not their standout feature and in 2014 their backline looked poor when they didn't even come close to winning the title. 2015 they actually looked the best backline in the competition with a pretty green 10 who without being harsh is only of middling ability compared to their previous ones..</p> -
<p>Blackadder would have loved to have kept Laulala, Thompson, Luke Whitelock (who also had a watershed year in 2015) and Bird. The reality is that you can't keep good players when they are being offered better money elsewhere and have more opportunities to start games..</p>
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<p>Anyway, back on topic, why is Fekitoa suddenly on the nose with posters? I think he's done everything that has been asked of him at AB level and is the form centre in NZ at Super Rugby level. Why would he suddenly be pushed aside? I think he's locked in at 13 and then its up to Crotty and Ngatai to fight for the no.12 jersey.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="tubbyj" data-cid="567764" data-time="1459123701">
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<p>IMO Ryan Crotty is the nailed on 1st shot at centre. Not sure why others don't see this. I think you can sketch these names in now with a fair bit of certainty</p>
<br><p>2nd 5 is up for grabs with Ngatai probably having the inside running at the moment over Moala. But alot can happen over the remainder of the tournament Ranger maybe a longshot and Rob Thompson as a longshot bolter. What counts against Ngatai is both him and Crotty are not percieved as impact runners in the way Nonu was.</p>
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<p>I think the reason that others don't also see Crotty as the nailed on centre is that it is far from true. Fekitoa put in some good performances last year to help us beat SA, whereas Crotty looked average against Samoa. The selectors then brought Fekitoa, not Crotty to the world cup. They already had SBW to use as a bench option, so it is unlikely that it was due to Fekitoa being a better supersub. Fekitoa also actually plays centre, whereas Crotty is usually playing at 12.</p>
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<p>Also, Ranger isn't really an option at 2nd 5. I don't think he has ever played there at SupeRugby or test level? Moala is an option, but Ngatai has actually been much more dynamic than him, while also tackling better, having better distribution and a better kicking game. On a similar number of carries, Ngatai has offloaded just as much as Moala, beaten three times as many tacklers and almost run twice as many metres. If anyone is nailed on, barring a drop in form of cataclysmic proportions, I would think it is Ngatai.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="tubbyj" data-cid="567764" data-time="1459123701">
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<p>IMO Ryan Crotty is the nailed on 1st shot at centre. Not sure why others don't see this. I think you can sketch these names in now with a fair bit of certainty</p>
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<p>We talking about the same Crotty who missed out on the RWC squad while Fekitoa made it? How has he suddenly leap frogged over Fekitoa in his one game this season? Crazy talk.</p>
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<p>Not to completely disregard Crotty, I've got him on my bench because I think he'll be a reliable backup for either 2nd 5 or centre but Ngatai and Fekitoa are head and shoulders above everyone else at the moment IMO.</p>