Posts made by cgrant

Folau and not Cullen ? Hmmm.
Zinzan Brooke was heads and shoulders above the rest during the nineties. Best Nr.8 IMO.
Carter was the best 10 ever but not in Super Rugby. The most brilliant was Carlos Spencer. He gets my vote with Stephen Larkham bubbling under.

I don't know whether this poll reflects the NZ general opinion since NPC is played in front of empty seats.

@Canes4life said in All time Super Rugby XV (all teams):

Post your ultimate Super Rugby XV, can be any player, any year, any club.

1. Os Du Randt (Cheetahs/Cats/Bulls)
2. John Smit (Sharks)
3. Owen Franks (Crusaders)
4. Brodie Rettalick (Chiefs)
5. Victor Matfield (Bulls/Cats)
6. Jerry Collins (Hurricanes)
7. Richie McCaw (Crusaders)
8. Pierres Spies (Bulls)
9. Joost van der Westhuizen (Bulls)
10. Daniel Carter (Crusaders)
11. Jonah Lomu (Hurricanes/Blues/Chiefs)
12. Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes/Blues/Highlanders)
13. Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies/Rebels)
14. Rupeni Caucaunibuca (Blues)
15. Christian Cullen (Hurricanes)

Reserves:
16. Dane Coles (Hurricanes)
17. Tony Woodcock (Blues)
18. Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)
19. Brad Thorn (Crusaders)
20. George Smith (Brumbies/Reds)
21. Will Genia (Reds/Rebels)
22. Stephen Larkham (Brumbies)
23. Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes)

Two LHP on the bench is questionable.
Olo Brown was a much more impressive THP than Owen Franks IMO.
I'd go with Bakkies Botha on the bench : did Brad Thorn left an indelible mark for the Crusaders ?

Boshier must be in the squad. He is the standout loose forward (I don't know if he is a pure openside or a 6.5) so far. I'll go with Sotutu at Nr.8 and Mark Telea on the left wing.
They would be the only newcomers in the ABs (+ a lock but who ?).

@Bovidae said in Chiefs v Hurricanes:

@cgrant If you read some of Gatland's recent comments his plan is to give everyone in the squad opportunities to impress so I wouldn't read too much into that selection just yet.

"The experience I've had before in club rugby is that you have to make sure you keep the players motivated and interested and feeling like they've got an opportunity, particularly at the start of the year. "We're aware that we can't keep picking the same team week-in, week-out. "Because all of a sudden three or four of them pick up injuries and people will say: 'Why haven't you given others an opportunity early on just in case you did pick up injuries?"

The same article says 38 players have been used so far but that does include some injury replacements. Only McWhannell (coming back from injury), Sullivan and Naholo haven't had any game time yet.

I know but this Chiefs lineup looks like the strongest available XV, that's why I made this remark.

So Manu is rated higher than Tupaea, which is surprising as the latter is far more promising and has an X-factor that Manu doesn't have.

If Rieko Ioane is now considered as a centre, then Telea and Alaimalo must come into consideration for the All Blacks (and maybe Bridge though his performances during the WC let me think he want make the AB squad) for the left wing spot. This leaves Nareki for the All Blacks XV.

I have been impressed by Jacob Pierce. He has a great work rate and looks good in the aerial area. However, I have some doubts about his scrummaging as the Blues left side of the scrum was a bit shaky at times against the Stormers.

@Nepia said in Best Maori & Polynesian Super Rugby XV's:

@cgrant said in Best Maori & Polynesian Super Rugby XV's:

@Canes4life said in Best Maori & Polynesian Super Rugby XV's:

The Canes are celebrating their Māori & Pacific players and fans with Mana Moana week at Sky Stadium on Saturday.

It got me thinking, who would make an all-time Mana Moana Canes XV - feel free to add a Blues one in here aswell.

Considering the likes of Cullen and Coles count, here is my stab at an all time XV: * I feel like I've missed someone obvious in the locking department.

1. Schwalger 2. Coles 3. Tialata (but would probably have Lomax over him already) 4. Tito 5. Fatialofa 6. Collins 7. Savea 8. So'oialo 9. Perenara 10. Weepu 11. Lomu 12. Nonu 13. Umaga 14. Milner Skudder 15. Cullen

Has Weepu ever played 10 for the Canes ? If not, R. Flutey then.

Surely you'd take Cruden before Flutey?

Ooops ! I forgot about Cruden playing for the Canes.

@Kirwan said in Hurricanes v Blues:

@Bovidae said in Hurricanes v Blues:

Akira needs to make this opportunity count.

Not really. He needs to play well for the team, but in terms of minutes, he's going to get more opportunities. We can't play Sotutu and Robinson in every game.

I'd like to see a back row of Dalton at 7, Akira at 8 and Sotutu at 6, with Robinson playing lock again. Akira's particularly good at cleaning up messy scrums (not that we have had many this year).

Robinson is a better 6 than 5, IMO.

@Canes4life said in Best Maori & Polynesian Super Rugby XV's:

The Canes are celebrating their Māori & Pacific players and fans with Mana Moana week at Sky Stadium on Saturday.

It got me thinking, who would make an all-time Mana Moana Canes XV - feel free to add a Blues one in here aswell.

Considering the likes of Cullen and Coles count, here is my stab at an all time XV: * I feel like I've missed someone obvious in the locking department.

1. Schwalger 2. Coles 3. Tialata (but would probably have Lomax over him already) 4. Tito 5. Fatialofa 6. Collins 7. Savea 8. So'oialo 9. Perenara 10. Weepu 11. Lomu 12. Nonu 13. Umaga 14. Milner Skudder 15. Cullen

Has Weepu ever played 10 for the Canes ? If not, R. Flutey then.

I was impressed by Selby-Rickit when he came in. He's a bit skinny so I wonder if he can scrum effectively. But he is super strong in the air and not a bad ball carrier.

@Stargazer said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

12 only: Laumape
12-13: ALB, Goodhue
13-wing: Ennor
12-13-15(-10): Havili, J Barrett

I assume, in case of injuries, they can all cover wing.

13-wing : Ioane ? Not yet the best option but he has already played a good number of minutes as a centre for the ABs.

Ennor ? Aso ?

This Blues backrow has a perfect balance. Pierce and Carroll have shown they are competitive so please, keep Robinson on the blindside and don't give him the Nr.5 jersey anymore. Moreover, Papali'i is a better openside than blinside.

Maybe but right now, there aren't many LHP of international quality in NZ behind Moody. Moli hasn't shown he is up to it. So who else ? Hodgman looked promising against the Chiefs before his injury. He is big and strong, while his scrummaging seemed to have improved. Ross has a big workrate but his scrummaging is suspect. Johnstone is a good scrummager but his mobility is far from being top notch. Armstrong is playing better these days than he has ever done but I don't know how he is rated by Foster. Numia is promising but still too green. So, IMO, big Karl will probably be selected for the AB squad.

@Bones

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/119886693/mark-reason-magician-jack-goodhue-makes-you-believe-rugby-can-be-beautiful-again

France deserved its win. The two South African locks made a nuisance of themselves in the rucks, while Dupont continually disturbed the Welsh attacks with his rush defence. Wales just could not cope against these tactics.

@Bones
Because he's still very young and has shown nothing yet at professional level.

@cgrant said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

Josh Dickson ? He has added a lot of kgs to his frame. Everybody was expecting great things from PPP but Dickson is the best Highlanders lock, and probably one of the best in NZ so far.

Well, his performance against the Crusaders has been very disappointing.

Josh Dickson ? He has added a lot of kgs to his frame. Everybody was expecting great things from PPP but Dickson is the best Highlanders lock, and probably one of the best in NZ so far.

The Chiefs are going to be tested upfront, especially in the rolling mauls, and I hope Slater will throw adequately. But this lineup has too much firepower for the Brumbies.
Chiefs by +15 or more.

Nico Jones' selection is interesting.

Only 3 rounds of SR so far, so it is hard to determine what will be the AB team for the June - July series. But these players could be bolters : Taukeiaho, IWL, Boshier, Sotutu (or MMT or both) and Havili. I might be wrong but I don't see Will Jordan nor Leicester Fainganuuku making the squad. Too early for them I fear and because there are already a lot of options for the back three.

Thanks a lot for the quick (and detailed) answer.

@Chris-B said in Blues v Crusaders:

@Crazy-Horse said in Blues v Crusaders:

• Mo'unga is irreplaceable. He goes down long term the Crusaders are poked. Havili was ok last week, but he isn't a championship winning 10, and we can all see Cameron is not up to it yet.

The Crusaders have only lost three times during Razor's tenure when Mo'unga has played.

To the Canes and to the B&I Lions in 2017.

And to the Chiefs in the Fiji heat last year.

The Crusaders are one thing, the All Blacks another one. RM has yet to show that he is a world class 1st 5/8. He has been playing beyond expectations for the ABs so far.

Stunning result as the Crusaders Development XV looked stronger (on paper).

Shalfoon ? Isn't he from Waikato ?

Can the Brumbies score tries other than from mauls ?

I could not watch the game. How did Trask fare ? I think he was overwhelmed by the occasion against the Blues, he is a better player than what we saw in Eden Park.

More likely than Havili or J. Barrett anyway.

[edit - split from the Crusaders v Blues match thread]

@Crazy-Horse said in Blues v Crusaders:

Some thoughts from last night

• Mo'unga is irreplaceable. He goes down long term the Crusaders are poked. Havili was ok last week, but he isn't a championship winning 10, and we can all see Cameron is not up to it yet.

• Goodhue is doing well at 12. Still undecided if he has the long range kicking instincts to really nail the position. Might come in time. Big year for him. I think we find out if he is the real deal or not this year after a disappointing season from him last year.

• First time I saw why some people from Canterbury have been banging on about Grace. Looks a natural lineout option and there were a couple of thumping ruck clean outs that made me take notice. I was a bit meh about him during the NPC, but the boy did good last night.

• this is not a vintage Crusader forward pack, but the team is still looking well coached.

• don't see Bridge as a long term AB. He cannot beat a man.

• Havali is showing he may be NZ's best fullback (although I would still have Barrett there for the ABs). The perfect bench option?

McKenzie will be the ABs fullback, with Havili or J. Barrett on the bench, for their versatility.

Boshier has been very good as a blindside flanker so far but openside is his best position IMO. Who will play where when Jacobson comes back ?

Who do you prefer : Sotutu or Mikaele-Tuu ? Both are hard running 8s.

Stu Cruden : Aaron's brother ?

What NZ U20s need is big forwards with plenty of grunt. They were demolished up front during the last two championships. From what I have seen from the Six Nations so far, France, England and Italy all have a very big pack. In the backs, the French right wing and fullback are superstars in the making (Dridi and Tiberghien).

This Italian team has a bunch of very good players (Canonne, Steyn, Polledri, Minozzi) but a majority of very bad ones who are not even M10 level. Hopefully some of their U20 promising players could join the national squad soon (halfback, 1st Five, centre, Nr.8, one of their locks, hooker, both props).

Any news about the "foreigners", Kapeli and Kuridrani ? They could be welcome additions to the team after the poor performance vs the Sharks.

Odd the Chiefs did not select Tucker for their squad.

This one is more contextual ...