All Black Squad for Rugby Championship
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Hansen talks to RS about the squad, in particular, Todd & Savea as well as Dmac, who is mentioned as cover at 10 and at a pinch....9
http://120.138.20.16/WeekOnDemand/radiosport/2017.08.07-17.00.00-S.mp3
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@taniwharugby said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
Hansen talks to RS about the squad, in particular, Todd & Savea as well as Dmac, who is mentioned as cover at 10 and at a pinch....9
http://120.138.20.16/WeekOnDemand/radiosport/2017.08.07-17.00.00-S.mp3
I thought I saw something about him at 9 in the weekend.
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@Kirwan said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
Annoying to have the press conference hijacked by the bugging crap. Wanted to hear about the players.
Yeah that was shit.
A few interesting comments from Hansen.
They don't see Fifita as lock cover so he is competing for 6. Not exactly sure what they see in him other than good height for the lineout. Don't think he has the physicality for a test 6.NMS brings a point of difference from the other wingers and isn't seen as a Fullback.
Dmac seen as 3rd 1st5 as a utility. Has anyone seen if he will actually join the squad ? Or just be on standby?
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@pukunui someone mentioned the other day when discussing Luatua...but this is where I see possible similarities between young Kaino and Fifita. Kaino was a rangy young fella who could do something like a back on the odd occasion on attack iirc, he wasn't rip, shit n bust for a few years.
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@Bones said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@pukunui someone mentioned the other day when discussing Luatua...but this is where I see possible similarities between young Kaino and Fifita. Kaino was a rangy young fella who could do something like a back on the odd occasion on attack iirc, he wasn't rip, shit n bust for a few years.
Yeah fair enough. He definitely has potential.
Interesting that they see him ahead of Akira in that developing 6 role though.I wonder who they see as the backup 8. All of Squire, Cane, Ardie and Ioane are possibles for that role.
Elliot Dixon seems to have dropped off the face of the earth.
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@pukunui in the interview I posted above,Shag mentions that Ardie covers 7/8 while Cane covers 7/6/8 as a reason that Todd who plays 7 didnt make it.
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@pukunui said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@Bones said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@pukunui someone mentioned the other day when discussing Luatua...but this is where I see possible similarities between young Kaino and Fifita. Kaino was a rangy young fella who could do something like a back on the odd occasion on attack iirc, he wasn't rip, shit n bust for a few years.
Yeah fair enough. He definitely has potential.
Interesting that they see him ahead of Akira in that developing 6 role though.I wonder who they see as the backup 8. All of Squire, Cane, Ardie and Ioane are possibles for that role.
Elliot Dixon seems to have dropped off the face of the earth.
I reckon the clue to the back-up No. 8 is in that team announcement graphic that KiwiMurph posted.
The loosies are named in order as Cane, Savea, Kaino, Fifita, Read, Squire.
While he's doubtless equally comfortable at 6 and 8 these days - Squire started his provincial career as a specialist No. 8 who can play 6.
I'd be pretty surprised if he's not the second choice No. 8 - he's just not going to get much time playing there while Read is captain.
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@taniwharugby Although I can understand it for some positions, I'm not sure I agree with - what seems to be increasing the last few years - selections based on versatility/utility rather than necessarily being the best in a particular position. It's almost encouraging young players not to specialise in a specific position and just play anywhere in the backs, or anywhere in the backrow. Not sure whether that's a good thing.
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@pukunui said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@Bones said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@pukunui someone mentioned the other day when discussing Luatua...but this is where I see possible similarities between young Kaino and Fifita. Kaino was a rangy young fella who could do something like a back on the odd occasion on attack iirc, he wasn't rip, shit n bust for a few years.
Yeah fair enough. He definitely has potential.
Interesting that they see him ahead of Akira in that developing 6 role though.Yep. I had Akira in my list as I thought they would back themselves to get him ready for test footy as an enforcer 6. Maybe in the long term planning they have a style that suits an athletic skilled handler like Fifita over a powerful harder hitting Ioane.
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@pukunui said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@Bones said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@pukunui someone mentioned the other day when discussing Luatua...but this is where I see possible similarities between young Kaino and Fifita. Kaino was a rangy young fella who could do something like a back on the odd occasion on attack iirc, he wasn't rip, shit n bust for a few years.
Yeah fair enough. He definitely has potential.
Interesting that they see him ahead of Akira in that developing 6 role though.I wonder who they see as the backup 8. All of Squire, Cane, Ardie and Ioane are possibles for that role.
Elliot Dixon seems to have dropped off the face of the earth.
Dixon was not even the starter for the Landers this season. Squire and Evans were in front of him. So no way he could be named for the AB.
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@Crucial said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@pukunui said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@Bones said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@pukunui someone mentioned the other day when discussing Luatua...but this is where I see possible similarities between young Kaino and Fifita. Kaino was a rangy young fella who could do something like a back on the odd occasion on attack iirc, he wasn't rip, shit n bust for a few years.
Yeah fair enough. He definitely has potential.
Interesting that they see him ahead of Akira in that developing 6 role though.Yep. I had Akira in my list as I thought they would back themselves to get him ready for test footy as an enforcer 6. Maybe in the long term planning they have a style that suits an athletic skilled handler like Fifita over a powerful harder hitting Ioane.
Maybe due to age, they're taking a look at Fifita first before Akira? They might think they have to bring Fifita in now because he's already 25. If they see something in him, they probably need to try develop him sooner than later, because the older he gets, the harder it becomes to bring him in with the long term 6 position in mind.
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@Dice said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@Crucial said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@pukunui said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@Bones said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
@pukunui someone mentioned the other day when discussing Luatua...but this is where I see possible similarities between young Kaino and Fifita. Kaino was a rangy young fella who could do something like a back on the odd occasion on attack iirc, he wasn't rip, shit n bust for a few years.
Yeah fair enough. He definitely has potential.
Interesting that they see him ahead of Akira in that developing 6 role though.Yep. I had Akira in my list as I thought they would back themselves to get him ready for test footy as an enforcer 6. Maybe in the long term planning they have a style that suits an athletic skilled handler like Fifita over a powerful harder hitting Ioane.
Maybe due to age, they're taking a look at Fifita first before Akira? They might think they have to bring Fifita in now because he's already 25. If they see something in him, they probably need to try develop him sooner than later, because the older he gets, the harder it becomes to bring him in with the long term 6 position in mind.
Good point. I guess if Fifita works out for them now they can work on Ioane in the next wave.
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One thing about assessing/growing fringe players is that they need game time. So I imagine that with a view to the EOYT they'd rather see the contenders for third 10 playing Mitre 10 than only get training runs, even in the ABs.
And gives the Bus a chance to show what he's made of. -
With Fatialifa and Seu both to come back, there is still plenty of young talent coming through in the loose lock/6 jumper. I agree with Bones - I guess they want to see if they can make a Kaino-esque player out of Fifita. With a bit more weight and a stronger focus on aggressive defense, he could be a good international 6. He seems to have the tools, but lacks a bit in the physical stuff right now. Cane looks the most obvious Kaino enforcer right now.
When Squire is fit, I think he plays a nice 8 role, so we are fine when people are fit. I can't help thinking that hurt is during the Lions more than anything.
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@Billy-Tell said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
Happiest player out there has got to be Doug Howlett.
There will be some gleeful Irish jigs danced on car bonnets in Limerick tonight.
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Jordie goooorn
Havili in? jesus christ. Our team is starting to look a bit shit, especially when Smith goes on holiday.
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@mariner4life said in All Black Squad for Rugby Championship:
Jordie goooorn
Havili in? jesus christ. Our team is starting to look a bit shit, especially when Smith goes on holiday.
Havili had an awesome season at fullback. His only down-side is that he has never been in the AB environment, but otherwise a great selection. I assume if they don't play Dagg at fullback, Dmac might actually be the one in the 15 jersey. Havili will be mostly there as injury cover and it's good to bring him in fast to get him up to speed and let him train with the big boys.
Nanai isn't screwed over by the AB selectors. He just hasn't played enough in the 15 jersey this season. If his non-selection by the Ab coaches were the result of being screwed over (I doubt it), the only one responsible for that is Tana. AB selectors can't select someone who hasn't proven himself enough during the season (unless they have already proven themselves in the AB environment before).
