New Zealand's 3rd Choice Backline could compete with any NH side's?

[William18]

I remember that it was only two years ago when our depth was being panned.

 

[ranger]

Haha, Stephen Donald and Jimmy Cowan. Next please.

Donald yes, but its a bit harsh on Cowan.. Hes not worldclass but hes definitely a top test standard player.

 

[nickdnz]

Threads like this are starting to scare me. We seem even more confident than 2007, so I don't wan't to imagine how stupid we'll look if we lose.

 

[monkeypigeon]

Threads like this are starting to scare me. We seem even more confident than 2007, so I don't wan't to imagine how stupid we'll look if we lose.

Hey! What could possibly go wrong?

...one Dan Carter sking accident later...

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Seriously, I don't see how NZ could fail to win this WC. The only thing I could imagine happening is having their way too easy to the final and facing a team that has more momentum at the moment.
I really think that the 3rd choice AB would be the third or fourth best international team. Way over France, Wales and Ireland, probably below Australia and at the level of Englans and South Africa.
I'll give you tha lack of depth at 10, that's all (although think of the fuzz that Cruden, Slade or even Bleyendaal would cause in any country in the NH, without even considering that Luke McAlister could probably play 10 better than many NH incumbents).

 

[cyRil]

Where/how is Bleyendaal doing? He had a stonking u20s World Cup - how's he progressing?

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Where/how is Bleyendaal doing? He had a stonking u20s World Cup - how's he progressing?

No idea. Just know him from the juniors.

 

[Aedaphon]

Where/how is Bleyendaal doing? He had a stonking u20s World Cup - how's he progressing?

He's in the Crusaders squad and therefore (under Carter's phenomenal tutelage) he should be lining up to take up the 10 shirt in a couple of years. Having said that he's gonna have a tough time up against Cruden.

 

[ranger]

Where/how is Bleyendaal doing? He had a stonking u20s World Cup - how's he progressing?

Hes in the Crusaders Squad but hes behind Carter and Berquist in the pecking order and will spend the year holding tackle bags.

The real one to watch out for is Beauden Barrett, Bleyendaal was good but Barrett looks like hes on another level already.

 

[cyRil]

Hes in the Crusaders Squad but hes behind Carter and Berquist in the pecking order and will spend the year holding tackle bags.

The real one to watch out for is Beauden Barrett, Bleyendaal was good but Barrett looks like hes on another level already.

Is he the blonde guy who plays for the Highlanders? I think I saw him play a bit last year, or it may have been with Otago, I get confused...

EDIT: Ah it was for Taranaki against Otago, there ya go.

 

[Charles]

Threads like this are starting to scare me. We seem even more confident than 2007, so I don't wan't to imagine how stupid we'll look if we lose.

I was watching the rugby this afternoon and the chat was full one-eyed kiwis feeling that the cup was in the bag already. You lot never seem to learn aye...:lol:

I wonder how many time it'll need to sink in...

 

[dan the man]

Threads like this are starting to scare me. We seem even more confident than 2007, so I don't wan't to imagine how stupid we'll look if we lose.

Couldn't agree more, sure we have great depth but most International sides have pretty good depth these days...

Although I am quietly confident, you'd think that after 5 World Cups we'd all learn to shut up until after the final whistle...

 

[Shaggy]

Threads like this are starting to scare me. We seem even more confident than 2007, so I don't wan't to imagine how stupid we'll look if we lose.

Yep, get your point, and the Canes and Chiefs back lines aren't exactly setting the world on fire at the moment either, and look how much talent are in those ... I guess we can take heart that Graham Henry and the players themselves aren't taking the winning of the World Cup as a foregone conclusion, and that they'll prepare as best they can.

... I think from a fan prospective, how we react, regardless of what the result is, will be a real indication of our maturity as fans

 

[ArtDecade]

I feel confident that the US can beat the All Blacks this World Cup... as long as we are talking about the eleventh or twelth line... maybe! New Zealand is the team to beat. I agree with one of the above posts about momentum. The best chance anyone is going to have will be if the ABs coast their way to final and find a team that has been on the proving grounds the whole way.

 

[Teh Mite]

Woah... Deja Vue.

I suddenly had this thought it's still October and I was discussing the Heineken Cup with a Munster fan...

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I feel confident that the US can beat the All Blacks this World Cup... as long as we are talking about the eleventh or twelth line... maybe! New Zealand is the team to beat. I agree with one of the above posts about momentum. The best chance anyone is going to have will be if the ABs coast their way to final and find a team that has been on the proving grounds the whole way.

C'mon the mighty Eagles!!!

 

[TVH11]

Their Depth is un-******* believable

couldn't agree more on that

I'm sure most nations would swap their 1st choice players for some of those "3rd choices". Is Rokokokokokokoko really that far down in the pecking order these days???

 

[Draggs]

Haha, Stephen Donald and Jimmy Cowan. Next please.

I'd prefer them over Stringer and Sexton.

Rokocoko is pretty much done, with Hosea Gear scoring tries for fun for the All Blacks. (Much like Josevata when he burst onto the scene)

 

[nickdnz]

Rokocoko would still make my RWC team. People wan't him to score a length of the field try everytime he gets the ball, so every time he doesn't, people hate him. I personally want him to score five more tries, and then he is allowed to leave.

 

[Darwin]

Rokocoko would still make my RWC team. People wan't him to score a length of the field try everytime he gets the ball, so every time he doesn't, people hate him. I personally want him to score five more tries, and then he is allowed to leave.

Let's be honest though, you love Rokocoko almost as much as you love Hosea Gear - you would pick him no matter what sort of form he was in. Indeed if they ever perfected human cloning you would probably pick a squad with 15 Hosea Gear's and 15 Joe Rokocoko's