All Blacks squad named

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Does Vaea Fififta really deserve his place? I'm not challenging, just curious on a Kiwi's point if view. He is clearly a very impressive player but I'm not really sure what he's done to displace Todd or to earn the call over Shields or Taufua who have both been very impressive for a few seasons now. I guess Fifita has more X Factor which Hansen is clearly a fan of but I'd have thought when looking for a Kaino back-up/replacement you'd look more for physicality which Shields and Taufua bring in spades. It's nit-picky in what is otherwise a very well selected squad but Fifita's inclusion seems off to me. At 25 it's not like he's got an age advantage either (Taufua 25, Shields 26).

He hasn't displaced Todd, they're gunning for different positions.

But I do agree that his favoritism over Shields and Taufua is a bit suspect. Hansen said that what he likes about Fifita is that he is very athletic so brings a bit of x-factor and is a good line-out option... so I guess he sees him as maybe a bench option down the line....? Not sure. I think Squire has already been groomed as Kaino's replacement, but imo Shields is just as (if not more) worthy. Taufua was great a couple years ago but like Dixon hasn't hit those heights again (though his drop off hasn't been as profound as Dixon's).

IMO Shields should be there ahead of Fifita... he has been a consistently better performer for some time now and is of a similar age... he is basically a replica of Kaino so I think deserves to be the next 6 in line. He has also played a lot more 6 than Fifita...... Fifita played by far his best rugby for the Canes at lock. So yea, considering Shag has said that he only considers Fifita a 6 for the ABs, his selection is a bit puzzling to me. IMO Shields is even more unlucky than Todd, as I believe that there is more reason to pick Shields over Fifita than there is to pick Todd over Cane or Savea.

 

[Icemn]

0:36

say what ?

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

0:36

say what ?

Lol I remember watching that live, it was awesome... technically illegal though...

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Jordie Barrett has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

David Havili has replaced him in the squad.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Jordie Barrett has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

David Havili has replaced him in the squad.

Massive news! Wonder what happened to him...
Rapt for Havili, he completely deserves it after the season he's had.
Will also give Dmac even more of a chance to press his claim for that 15 jersey after Bender takes his break. It looks like it'll either be Dmac at 15 with Dagg at 14, or NMS at 14 with Dagg at 15.

*edit* So the injury was sustained in the semi vs the Lions... damn!

 

[The Jones Boy]

Lol I remember watching that live, it was awesome... technically illegal though...

Bloody hell, he hurdled the tackler and went clean over him?
Hahahahahah, thats humourous.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Jordie Barrett has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

Thats tragic news for the young man.
He's a skinny bugger, he will need all the rest of the year? to recuperate.

 

[nzlizard]

Selectors see both Dagg and Skudder on the wing as their preferred positions in an article I read a little while ago, obviously injury may change this.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Selectors see both Dagg and Skudder on the wing as their preferred positions in an article I read a little while ago, obviously injury may change this.

Yea Shag said at the presser recently that he sees NMS as a winger only, so I'm sure he'll stay there. Obviously Dagg's different though, he's still a FB by trade and has performed well there for the ABs, so I reckon he'll get a run there at some stage in the RC.

 

[The Jones Boy]

I don't think we have anyone who is a touch on Ben Smith at fullback.
He is head and shoulders above everyone else, we really missed him against the Lions.
It's great to have him back.
I would like to see Buckman get a chance to get on the bench. That guy has a cool head but we need to see what he can do when the speed of the game doubles.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

I don't think we have anyone who is a touch on Ben Smith at fullback.
He is head and shoulders above everyone else, we really missed him against the Lions.
It's great to have him back.

Absolutely! Ben Smith right now is the best FB we've seen since Cullen was in his prime. IMO he's been the best back in the world over the last couple years. It's a shame we're only gonna get 2 tests out of him this year, but hopefully it's worthwhile and he's still firing come the World Cup. Such is the class of the man that I'm very confident he will be.

 

[Penne Rara]

After Smith takes his sabbatical, I think Dagg will be positioned at fullback, Milner-Skudder at 14 and Naholo at 11. It leaves three places on the bench for the backs:

21: Perenara is the incumbent impact halfback, it is logical to have him there
22: Sopoaga. Mckenzie would be my preferred option to cover first five and as a utility back he can also cover 15, but the All Blacks need a specialist first five more than some expect. Even though he's a more than proficient 15, he still doesn't know how to manage a game, sit back and distribute the ball with precision. He runs the ball a bit too much which is sweet as if he's not caught by the opposition. But when he's tackled and has left his support runners 10 meters behind him, the turnover threat will loom over the All Blacks.
23: Havili. This is the role that should have been attributed to Jordie under normal circumstances and it is arguably not very safe to debut a freshly named All Black who's had so little time with the squad. But Havili is a utility back, can cover the midfield and the outside backs positions as well. He has a great boot (à la Dagg) and has proven that he is as elusive and hard-working as Ben Smith.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

After Smith takes his sabbatical, I think Dagg will be positioned at fullback, Milner-Skudder at 14 and Naholo at 11. It leaves three places on the bench for the backs:

Yea that's exactly what I think'll happen too.

23: Havili.

I reckon it'll be whoever misses out on 11 out of Naholo and Ioane... when you look at the utility of the starting guys we don't really need a utility on the bench, and these guys would provide more impact I think.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Yea that's exactly what I think'll happen too.

I reckon it'll be whoever misses out on 11 out of Naholo and Ioane... when you look at the utility of the starting guys we don't really need a utility on the bench, and these guys would provide more impact I think.

I'd be very surprised if it's not a centre considering how much Hansen loves moving Barrett into the back three and given the quality of the options there. I'd like to see 12. Crotty 13. ALB 23. SBW, but seeing how desperate the ABs were to get SBW back in time for the first game I doubt he won't start.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

I'd be very surprised if it's not a centre considering how much Hansen loves moving Barrett into the back three and given the quality of the options there. I'd like to see 12. Crotty 13. ALB 23. SBW, but seeing how desperate the ABs were to get SBW back in time for the first game I doubt he won't start.

How would having Naholo or Ioane on the bench stop Barrett from going to FB? Sopoaga would still come on for Dagg or whoever and **** Beaudy back there. I just feel like Ioane or Naholo could provide more impact coming off the bench as a winger than Havili could coming off the bench as a center (considering Beaudy always shifts back to FB, this is what he'd be doing). In fact considering Havili has hardly played in the midfield I don't think he'd be a great bench option.
Ideally I'd go with the same options as you.... Crotty and ALB to start with SBW off the bench for impact, I think that provides the best balance. SBW is sure to be a starter though... ALB on the bench wouldn't be a bad option, he can definitely add something. I reckon it'll be him or one of the left wingers (remember too that Ioane can play center).

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

How would having Naholo or Ioane on the bench stop Barrett from going to FB? Sopoaga would still come on for Dagg or whoever and **** Beaudy back there. I just feel like Ioane or Naholo could provide more impact coming off the bench as a winger than Havili could coming off the bench as a center (considering Beaudy always shifts back to FB, this is what he'd be doing). In fact considering Havili has hardly played in the midfield I don't think he'd be a great bench option.
Ideally I'd go with the same options as you.... Crotty and ALB to start with SBW off the bench for impact, I think that provides the best balance. SBW is sure to be a starter though... ALB on the bench wouldn't be a bad option, he can definitely add something. I reckon it'll be him or one of the left wingers (remember too that Ioane can play center).

Well I just mean that you've got Barrett covering the back three so why would you then have a specialist back three on the bench (ok, Ioane can cover 13) whereas you have no real Centre cover. To me it would just make a lot more sense to have a centre on the bench when the back three is already covered.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

Well I just mean that you've got Barrett covering the back three so why would you then have a specialist back three on the bench (ok, Ioane can cover 13) whereas you have no real Centre cover. To me it would just make a lot more sense to have a centre on the bench when the back three is already covered.

Fair call, but with Bender on the field we kinda do have center cover. My thinking was that our starting midfield would play through as imo we have more impact to bring on out wide than we do in the centers. In the unlikely scenario that a midfielder went down we could move bender or Ioane into center where they are more than capable, so it's not like we're leaving ourselves exposed... that's just my thoughts anyway

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Fair call, but with Bender on the field we kinda do have center cover. My thinking was that our starting midfield would play through as imo we have more impact to bring on out wide than we do in the centers. In the unlikely scenario that a midfielder went down we could move bender or Ioane into center where they are more than capable, so it's not like we're leaving ourselves exposed... that's just my thoughts anyway

Ahhh sorry I was thinking about a more long term for this year, so when Bender's not with you. Yes in your first couple of game centre cover probably isn't needed but after that you don't really want Ioane being your only centre cover, has he ever started there regularly for the Blues? I know it was his primary position in the Mitre 10 but it's a big leap to go from there to being the ABs only centre cover. Really shame that Jordie's out, he could've been the solution to just about every problem.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

has he ever started there regularly for the Blues?

Yea he played about the first half of super rugby this year there. Started with a hiss and a roar but his shortcomings as a midfielder sorta started coming through and he was shifted to the wing where he excelled. He actually got a bit of game time there for the ABs vs France I think last year and was handy.
Agree he's not the ideal cover, but given it'd only be in the unlikely scenario that one of the midfielders went down that he'd actually play there, I don't think it's really much of a risk.

Really shame that Jordie's out, he could've been the solution to just about every problem.

yup............

 

[Larksea]

its not like we dont have ability to cover 15 with Bender gone. McKenzie was the best fullback in super rugby.
What we do miss is Ben's experience and composure.

I'm not sold on Dagg at 15 for the AB's. Moving to 14 revived his test career but pretty much every time since when he has had to shift back to 15 to cover he hasn't really been up to scratch.

It completely sucks losing jordie just before bender goes on leave. you would have to say that long term Jordie may be the guy to take over the 15 jersey from Ben. As Mckenzies long term future almost certainly lies at 10 or as a 10 who can cover 15.