Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Help Support The Rugby Forum :
Forums
Rugby Union
Super Rugby
Super Rugby Squads for 2011 (New Zealand)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Darwin" data-source="post: 356444" data-attributes="member: 24910"><p>I think managing these young players carefully is important. Neither Anscombe (nor Barrett) are particularly big guys, so it may have been considered that they were unsuited to the rigors of Super Rugby at this stage. Both will be included in wider training squads, where there development (both physical and in rugby terms) can be monitored carefully. I'm not at all surprised Blyendaal was selected - he was outstanding in the under 20 tournament, though I wouldn't expect him to get huge amounts of game time this season. I think people are writing off Kirkpatrick far too quickly - he is only 21 (turns 22 in a few days), and was the player of the tournament at the inaugural under 20 world champs (so he was obviously pretty good for that team!). He clearly has a lot of talent, he just hasn't seemed to have adjusted to playing professional rugby yet - I think this could be a big season for him.</p><p></p><p>Having a look through the squads, I found abundance of abundance of locks and loose-forwards in the Blues squad interesting. Most NZ teams have 10 locks/loosies, the Canes picked 11, while the Blues picked 12 - it seemed a big excessive to me. How they will use all these players will be interesting - I'd assume Boric and Williams will be the locks, with Kaino at 6, and Dan Braid at 7, the selection of the number 8 will be interesting. They have four players who are genuine options for number 8 - Peter Saili, Chris Lowery, Matt Luamanu, and Brad Mika. Brad Mika played possibly his best rugby for the Blues in his last season for them at number 8, but he is a really an unknown as he's been away for a few years. Saili, Lowery, and Luamanu are three of the most promising young loosies in the country - Saili and Lowery are probably more complete players than Luamanu, but Lowery has really struggled with injury, while Saili has yet to really realize his potential. Luamanu is clearly a devastating ball runner - if he can continue to work on his fitness levels (as well as other aspects of his game) he could potentially be the ideal starting 8 for the Blues.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Darwin, post: 356444, member: 24910"] I think managing these young players carefully is important. Neither Anscombe (nor Barrett) are particularly big guys, so it may have been considered that they were unsuited to the rigors of Super Rugby at this stage. Both will be included in wider training squads, where there development (both physical and in rugby terms) can be monitored carefully. I'm not at all surprised Blyendaal was selected - he was outstanding in the under 20 tournament, though I wouldn't expect him to get huge amounts of game time this season. I think people are writing off Kirkpatrick far too quickly - he is only 21 (turns 22 in a few days), and was the player of the tournament at the inaugural under 20 world champs (so he was obviously pretty good for that team!). He clearly has a lot of talent, he just hasn't seemed to have adjusted to playing professional rugby yet - I think this could be a big season for him. Having a look through the squads, I found abundance of abundance of locks and loose-forwards in the Blues squad interesting. Most NZ teams have 10 locks/loosies, the Canes picked 11, while the Blues picked 12 - it seemed a big excessive to me. How they will use all these players will be interesting - I'd assume Boric and Williams will be the locks, with Kaino at 6, and Dan Braid at 7, the selection of the number 8 will be interesting. They have four players who are genuine options for number 8 - Peter Saili, Chris Lowery, Matt Luamanu, and Brad Mika. Brad Mika played possibly his best rugby for the Blues in his last season for them at number 8, but he is a really an unknown as he's been away for a few years. Saili, Lowery, and Luamanu are three of the most promising young loosies in the country - Saili and Lowery are probably more complete players than Luamanu, but Lowery has really struggled with injury, while Saili has yet to really realize his potential. Luamanu is clearly a devastating ball runner - if he can continue to work on his fitness levels (as well as other aspects of his game) he could potentially be the ideal starting 8 for the Blues. [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Rugby Union
Super Rugby
Super Rugby Squads for 2011 (New Zealand)
Top