Yoshimitsu
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This kind of blindness for example
Now look before someone accuses me of some sort of Haskell bromance I actually think he's a class A knob jockey. That said it's pure mentalness to think that he's not reasonably capable at the highest level. There also appear to be some people that would condemn him for knob jockeyness rather than give the guy any credit at all. Name your top 10 international teams and I'll name probably 4 or 5 where he'd start and a few more where he'd make the bench (you did say 15 but that's a bit restrictive). Forget brand Haskell for a minute. Why do Wasps pay this guy the cash? Why does Jones think he's worth a shot?
for example reading this:
"If you look at rugby generally around the world and particularly at Test rugby, you need to have someone who is consistently good at slowing down opposition ball," Jones said. "A seven's primary job is to ensure that on your ball you get quick ball on that first ruck. On the opposition's ball, they have to slow it down. Then the really good sevens like Pocock, McCaw, Smith and Kane see other opportunities to slow ball down.
"We have to pick a bloke who, at the moment, can do that primary job of first phase work. There are a couple of blokes in the squad who we think can do it, not on a long-term basis, but short-term. Haskell might be one of them. Clifford's best position is definitely going to be eight, but he might have to start off as a seven."
Eddie seems to have given a "primary job" two parts but he's an Aussie..That "primary job" of slowing the ball up starts with the collision. Putting the offensive team on the back foot is a huge part of stopping quick ball. In my opinion to claim otherwise is to deny some pretty basic facts. Is it easier for a team to get front foot ball moving forwards or desperately try to do it at or behind the gain line? Haskell is mighty effective near the set piece, especially off first phase. Running at him leads to not much positive for the attacking team. He's capable of the big hit and the choke. He's proficient enough at the jackal that he can't be ignored. Not good enough mind as Jones himself hints at. But from what we have he's not utterly useless.
I honestly don't see why Haskell gets the opprobrium that Robshaw largely escaped for being equally ineffective. Apart from the fact that Christopher is obviously a nicer chap!
on edit "4 or 5" is a bit bold. Maybe 3. Including us!
Would Haskell be in ther XV for any other top 10 nation?
Now look before someone accuses me of some sort of Haskell bromance I actually think he's a class A knob jockey. That said it's pure mentalness to think that he's not reasonably capable at the highest level. There also appear to be some people that would condemn him for knob jockeyness rather than give the guy any credit at all. Name your top 10 international teams and I'll name probably 4 or 5 where he'd start and a few more where he'd make the bench (you did say 15 but that's a bit restrictive). Forget brand Haskell for a minute. Why do Wasps pay this guy the cash? Why does Jones think he's worth a shot?
for example reading this:
"If you look at rugby generally around the world and particularly at Test rugby, you need to have someone who is consistently good at slowing down opposition ball," Jones said. "A seven's primary job is to ensure that on your ball you get quick ball on that first ruck. On the opposition's ball, they have to slow it down. Then the really good sevens like Pocock, McCaw, Smith and Kane see other opportunities to slow ball down.
"We have to pick a bloke who, at the moment, can do that primary job of first phase work. There are a couple of blokes in the squad who we think can do it, not on a long-term basis, but short-term. Haskell might be one of them. Clifford's best position is definitely going to be eight, but he might have to start off as a seven."
Eddie seems to have given a "primary job" two parts but he's an Aussie..That "primary job" of slowing the ball up starts with the collision. Putting the offensive team on the back foot is a huge part of stopping quick ball. In my opinion to claim otherwise is to deny some pretty basic facts. Is it easier for a team to get front foot ball moving forwards or desperately try to do it at or behind the gain line? Haskell is mighty effective near the set piece, especially off first phase. Running at him leads to not much positive for the attacking team. He's capable of the big hit and the choke. He's proficient enough at the jackal that he can't be ignored. Not good enough mind as Jones himself hints at. But from what we have he's not utterly useless.
I honestly don't see why Haskell gets the opprobrium that Robshaw largely escaped for being equally ineffective. Apart from the fact that Christopher is obviously a nicer chap!
on edit "4 or 5" is a bit bold. Maybe 3. Including us!
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