Your 4 midfielders for the Lions
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="westcoastie" data-cid="610249" data-time="1472383794">
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<p>Second test in Wellington, 21st minute, #10 Beauden Barrett, with the wide pass to #12 Jordie Barrett who scythes past Jamie Roberts to score, he had #13 Charlie Ngatai there in support also...</p>
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<p>Good Taranaki backline there...</p>
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<p>Jordie Barrett</p>
<p>Anton Leinart-Brown</p>
<p>Charlie Ngatai</p>
<p>Ryan Crotty.</p>
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<p>SBW cooked. Fekitoa found to be cooking Meth - hence the erratic performances. Tumanivula - also cooked. Bacon mostly. Gets fat.</p>
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<p>So a guy who's playing fullback for Canterbury at provincial level and has yet to play Super Rugby is gonna get a look in for the Lions tour ? you'll forgive me if I don't bet the house on that happening.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="610266" data-time="1472385923">
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<p>Even though I don't think they have the most upside, I think you've got to write Crotty and Fekitoa's names down first.</p>
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<p>Aren't we picking the 4 midfielders that <strong>we </strong>want for the Lions series not who Hansen and co will choose? If it's the latter, I expect Fekitoa will be there and there is probably only one place up for grabs. But a good Super season could change their minds and some of the contenders have the advantage of playing together to form combinations.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="610261" data-time="1472385662">
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<p>On the subject of the Lions tour, the Premiership club owners are already whining about the schedule:</p>
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<p>Gatland has voiced his concerns too. So who actually agreed to this itinerary?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="610308" data-time="1472418760"><p>Gatland has voiced his concerns too. So who actually agreed to this itinerary?</p></blockquote>
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No one with any genuine interest in player welfare -
<p>If the clubs are that concerned about the tour and the injury / short offseason, why don't they just give the Lions players August and September off? There are how many clubs who will supply players to the tour - 12 or 15? Even if you're taking 46 players (I'm not sure what the squad size is going to be but it needs to be huge) then that's only 3-4 players per supplying club. Perhaps Saracens or other top English clubs will be disproportionately badly hit.</p>
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<p>The Lions tour is the biggest rugby event outside the RWC, and who cares if it disrupts the start of a club season once every four years (yes, I know RWC also disrupts the start of the club season once every four years).</p> -
<p>Still a lot of love for Ngatai on here.</p>
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<p>Can someone tell me what a guy with a test career of a few minutes does so much better than those who have done the business this year ? ( Taminuvula excepted in my opinion )</p>
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<p>and if you're gonna reply with "Fucken go and watch more Chiefs games fluffybunny" at least try and be creative about it......</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="610895" data-time="1472591287">
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<p>Still a lot of love for Ngatai on here.</p>
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<p>Can someone tell me what a guy with a test career of a few minutes does so much better than those who have done the business this year ? ( Taminuvula excepted in my opinion )</p>
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<p>and if you're gonna reply with "Fucken go and watch more Chiefs games fluffybunny" at least try and be creative about it......</p>
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<p>Totally agree. He has almost reached fern 'all time great' status despite hardly ever playing!</p> -
<p>You only have to see how the Chiefs backline performed with Ngatai, and then without him, to realise the influence he has. Hansen talked him up too when the AB squad was selected. I think he can assume the role of C Smith as the ABs backline general.</p>
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<p>But he needs to get back on the field first. The Maori tour is also an option for him.</p> -
<p>It's weird becuase right now I have abosolutely no idea who the midfield will be, but I'm also not concerned about it at all. I think we have a host of players that would do a good job. Settling on a final combination will be the challenge for the selectors.</p>
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<p>I really like Moala, him paired with Crotty is my preference at this stage. If Ngatai can get fit and make the step up to international footy then he will be in the mix, but he is completely unproven at this stage. Plenty of guys have looked the goods at Super level.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="610895" data-time="1472591287">
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<p>Still a lot of love for Ngatai on here.</p>
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<p>Can someone tell me what a guy with a test career of a few minutes does so much better than those who have done the business this year ? ( Taminuvula excepted in my opinion )</p>
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<p>and if you're gonna reply with "Fucken go and watch more Chiefs games fluffybunny" at least try and be creative about it......</p>
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<p>Similar to Crotty in my opinion - but, bigger and probably faster. I thought he was the most impressive NZ midfielder in Super rugby this year, until he got injured.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="610922" data-time="1472597614">
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<p>It's weird becuase right now I have abosolutely no idea who the midfield will be, but I'm also not concerned about it at all. I think we have a host of players that would do a good job. Settling on a final combination will be the challenge for the selectors.</p>
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<p>I really like Moala, him paired with Crotty is my preference at this stage. If Ngatai can get fit and make the step up to international footy then he will be in the mix, but he is completely unproven at this stage. Plenty of guys have looked the goods at Super level.</p>
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<p>That combo looks a bit short on physicality to me. Would definitely benefit having a Fekitoa/Moala in there.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="610940" data-time="1472599903">
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<p>That combo looks a bit short on physicality to me. Would definitely benefit having a Fekitoa/Moala in there.</p>
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<p>I do have Moala in there...</p>
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<p>We will most likely end up with SBW/Crotty and Moala on the bench.</p> -
<p>People seem to be picking three second fives. Moala, ALB, SBW and Ngatai are all primarily 12's. Crotty, Fekitoa and Tamanivalu are all primarily 13's. Someone of them can play both positions and some of them can only really play one. I genuinely cannot see SBW, Crotty or Fekitoa missing out so I think we have ALB, Moala and Ngatai playing for one spot.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="610965" data-time="1472604271">
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<p>People seem to be picking three second fives. Moala, ALB, SBW and Ngatai are all primarily 12's. Crotty, Fekitoa and Tamanivalu are all primarily 13's. Someone of them can play both positions and some of them can only really play one. I genuinely cannot see SBW, Crotty or Fekitoa missing out so I think we have ALB, Moala and Ngatai playing for one spot.</p>
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<p>Crotty's a 12 for the ABs. I think the only times he's ever played at 13 for the AB was when Nonu or SBW were at 12. And I'd argue Moala is probably a 13, since that's where he played against Wales and the Blues 12 jersey will be SBW's next year.</p>
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<p>But instead of pinning players down as 12's or 13's, I'd split them by "type" because you want that Nonu/Conrad balance.</p>
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<p>Regardless, I agree that SBW, Crotty and Fekitoa pretty much have their spots on lock and I'd probably go with Ngatai as the fourth, assuming he's playing as well as he was earlier this year. I am wondering if ALB could do a Kahui and sneak in as a centre/wing though.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="610922" data-time="1472597614">
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<p>It's weird becuase right now I have abosolutely no idea who the midfield will be, but I'm also not concerned about it at all. I think we have a host of players that would do a good job. Settling on a final combination will be the challenge for the selectors.</p>
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<p>I really like Moala, him paired with Crotty is my preference at this stage. If Ngatai can get fit and make the step up to international footy then he will be in the mix, but he is completely unproven at this stage. <strong>Plenty of guys have looked the goods at Super level.</strong></p>
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<p>Ngatai looked excellent at Super Rugby level. Maybe he would at international level. Maybe he wouldn't. I don't see how he's becomes a guaranteed AB selection for some people.</p>
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<p>Hansen and co have invested the most time in SBW, Crotty & Fekitoa. Leaving one of those out would be a bit tantamount to failure on their part.</p>
