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Super Rugby 2012: Predictions
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<blockquote data-quote="Darwin" data-source="post: 473085" data-attributes="member: 24910"><p>Ranger certainly has <em>potential</em> at centre - he just has to make huge improvements in his decision making ability. He is capable of making these improvements: I think of the likes of Ma'a Nonu and Tana Umaga as players whose decision making improved remarkably as their careers progressed. These improvements won't happen over night though - the Blues may have to endure a couple of years of Rene Ranger blowing tries through poor decision making before he truly becomes a world class centre.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>You'd say that about any backline with Hosea Gear in it.... or comprised of almost 50% Wellington players <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite7" alt=":p" title="Stick Out Tongue :p" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":p" /></p><p>I'm actually quite intrigued at the prospect of Aaron Smith getting some starts at halfback for the Highlanders this season. Cowan's form at the RWC was shocking, and given the Highlanders actually have the very dangerous looking bakcline (for a change) it may make sense to have the best distributing halfback in the country there to give them quick ball.</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>I quite like the look of Sidey and Dellit, though for some reason I keep getting the two confused (so I might only like one of them?). At the start of the season I would go with a Sidey/Dellit midfield (with Stanley covering from the bench). Fairbanks is a good creative player as you say, but he is very small and struggles to contain bigger midfielders (he gives up over 20kg to the likes of Nonu, SBW, and de Villers). I think this will be particularly an issue if Stannard plays 10, as he too is a small player.</p><p></p><p> </p><p>I personally don't think that the forward pack is that strong, mainly as I don't consider Cowan and Ma'afu superb props - I actually think Ma'afu has improved in the last year but think the likes of the Blues, Crusaders, Waratahs, and Sharks scrum will dominate the Force scrum. Wykes and Sharpe are good at the lineout and in the loose, but both play a very loose-game (Sharpe in particular). Individually I think they are very good players, but I don't really rate them as a combo, as neither of them fill the traditional hard-working 'tight-head lock' role (e.g. Brad Thorn, Bakkies Botha) that I believe is vital. There is no doubt the loose-forward combination is class.</p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p>Interestingly I came up with almost the exactly the same starting lineup when I went through and picked what I thought would be the best Force 22. As mentioned above I have Sidey and Dellit paired in the centres, and I had McCalman at 8 with Richard Brown on the bench (though I'm sure they will rotate their 4 premier loosies throughout the season). My only main changes were on the bench, were I had Toby Lynn as specialist lock cover (largely because I've never heard of Angus Cottrell), Winston Stanley in the 22 jersey (as he can cover 13, 12 and wing), and was deciding which two of Turner, Ripia and Fairbanks to include as inside back cover. As you say it is a half decent team - my main issue is that to me it looks very similar to the Force team that got 12th last season, but without James O'Connor! I do hope that the Force have a good season though, as I was really enjoying the way they played at the end of last season with Stannard at 10.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Darwin, post: 473085, member: 24910"] Ranger certainly has [I]potential[/I] at centre - he just has to make huge improvements in his decision making ability. He is capable of making these improvements: I think of the likes of Ma'a Nonu and Tana Umaga as players whose decision making improved remarkably as their careers progressed. These improvements won't happen over night though - the Blues may have to endure a couple of years of Rene Ranger blowing tries through poor decision making before he truly becomes a world class centre. You'd say that about any backline with Hosea Gear in it.... or comprised of almost 50% Wellington players :p I'm actually quite intrigued at the prospect of Aaron Smith getting some starts at halfback for the Highlanders this season. Cowan's form at the RWC was shocking, and given the Highlanders actually have the very dangerous looking bakcline (for a change) it may make sense to have the best distributing halfback in the country there to give them quick ball. I quite like the look of Sidey and Dellit, though for some reason I keep getting the two confused (so I might only like one of them?). At the start of the season I would go with a Sidey/Dellit midfield (with Stanley covering from the bench). Fairbanks is a good creative player as you say, but he is very small and struggles to contain bigger midfielders (he gives up over 20kg to the likes of Nonu, SBW, and de Villers). I think this will be particularly an issue if Stannard plays 10, as he too is a small player. I personally don't think that the forward pack is that strong, mainly as I don't consider Cowan and Ma'afu superb props - I actually think Ma'afu has improved in the last year but think the likes of the Blues, Crusaders, Waratahs, and Sharks scrum will dominate the Force scrum. Wykes and Sharpe are good at the lineout and in the loose, but both play a very loose-game (Sharpe in particular). Individually I think they are very good players, but I don't really rate them as a combo, as neither of them fill the traditional hard-working 'tight-head lock' role (e.g. Brad Thorn, Bakkies Botha) that I believe is vital. There is no doubt the loose-forward combination is class. Interestingly I came up with almost the exactly the same starting lineup when I went through and picked what I thought would be the best Force 22. As mentioned above I have Sidey and Dellit paired in the centres, and I had McCalman at 8 with Richard Brown on the bench (though I'm sure they will rotate their 4 premier loosies throughout the season). My only main changes were on the bench, were I had Toby Lynn as specialist lock cover (largely because I've never heard of Angus Cottrell), Winston Stanley in the 22 jersey (as he can cover 13, 12 and wing), and was deciding which two of Turner, Ripia and Fairbanks to include as inside back cover. As you say it is a half decent team - my main issue is that to me it looks very similar to the Force team that got 12th last season, but without James O'Connor! I do hope that the Force have a good season though, as I was really enjoying the way they played at the end of last season with Stannard at 10. [/QUOTE]
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