Weakest position in the All Blacks squad

[dasNdanger]

In talking about Carter, et al, it has occurred to me that the 5/8 position is pretty strong, with many potential players who can step up in the role.

That being the case, which position appears to be the weakest, with the least amount of talent waiting in the wings if current ABs go on the DL? Is there any 'Achilles heel' position on the team?


das

 

[nickdnz]

Hooker and Centre.

It's been pretty unanimiously decided over 1000 recent threads.

 

[dasNdanger]

Hooker and Centre.

It's been pretty unanimiously decided over 1000 recent threads.

That's why we need one thread dedicated to the subject!


das

 

[Aspry]

I guess hookers.

 

[ABs2011]

Easily Centre. Conrad Smith is irreplaceable in NZ at the moment! Best option we seem to have right now is to switch an outside back in to centre to cover for him??

 

[William18]

Ben Smith would be a pretty handy centre if worst came to worst.

 

[ABs2011]

Ben Smith would be a pretty handy centre if worst came to worst.

Yeah, well that's what I was meaning. We don't appear to have a specialist back up centre, instead our best option outside of Conrad appears to be converting Ben?? Reminds me of the days of Leon MacDonald, Christian Cullen, Mils Muliaina all converting to centre (and all not that good....)

On a brighter note Crotty has been carving up for Canterbury and it has switched from 12 to 13! He looks bigger too...maybe its just the beard? I wonder if the ABs will give him a few runs at centre, outside of Francis Saili on the end of year tour? Seems like a good combination to me.

 

[Big Ewis]

looks weird talking about AB weaknesses....sooooo weird to read that they don't have depth at the center position

 

[Larksea]

yip, hooker then center

Hooker because Hore and Mealamu are old and not likely to be still major contributors at test level in a couple years time. Hore is still good at times but Mealamu has not really produced in quite a while other than being a solid experienced option. Lineout throwing in general has been a weakness for Kiwi hookers.

dont think anyone is convinced about Coles yet. Great in his first test against france but still a long way to go. A few really good young hookers around the NZ game, right now you would have to say Liam Coltman should be on the EoY tour and is maybe a better option long term than Coles.

Center because with Kahui and Ranger gone we've basically got no clear option behind Conrad Smith. I really like how Charlie Ngatai has come on, hes still very young as well even though hes been on the scene for a couple years and looks 30 hes only like 23 or something crazy like that - good signs for a position where players dont seem to peak till 26-28. For 2015 I think everyone will hope Kahui is back and injury free. He is a big game player, the higher the level and more important the game the better he is, got to be a shoe in for the AB's 2015 WC squad if available.

Next is Lock, retalick, whitelock and romano are an awesome Trio. but as you can see right now with Romano injured the next option is Thrush? Look for Bird to come back from injury and hopefully develop, looks pretty epic for a 20year old. Ive thought for a long time that James Broadhurst would develop into a test option. With Eaton not around next year he will get a real chance to play regular super rugby and hopefully improve. early on Moli looked like he could storm through the ranks but injuries and being prone to mistakes have kinda halted that momentum.

 

[dasNdanger]

looks weird talking about AB weaknesses....sooooo weird to read that they don't have depth at the center position

Pretty sad when a rugby team doesn't have any good hookers hanging about, too. You'd think those buff blokes would at least be able to attract a few decent prospects.


Anyone watching the ITM - are you seeing any young potential there? I have a big problem keeping players straight in my head (a bit because I watch too many different teams, and a bit because some of the names are just hard for me to remember ), but if a good player or two are pointed out to me then I tend to notice them and pay closer attention to how they perform. (EDIT - really appreciate your post, Larksea - thanks!)

das

 

[ABs2011]

Pretty sad when a rugby team doesn't have any good hookers hanging about, too. You'd think those buff blokes would at least be able to attract a few decent prospects.


Anyone watching the ITM - are you seeing any young potential there? I have a big problem keeping players straight in my head (a bit because I watch too many different teams, and a bit because some of the names are just hard for me to remember ), but if a good player or two are pointed out to me then I tend to notice them and pay closer attention to how they perform. (EDIT - really appreciate your post, Larksea - thanks!)

das

A couple names to get the ball rolling - would love to hear who others have been watching. Will have more of a think later....

Pulu (Counties half back). Ardie Savea (Wellington openside), Johnny McNicholl (Canterbruy 15 - just back from injury last night)

Three guys that have impressed me a lot - will not be new names for most but none are all blacks but I suspect all will be!

 

[j'nuh]

looks weird talking about AB weaknesses....sooooo weird to read that they don't have depth at the center position

Yeah, but a weakness to the All Blacks is not having like four world class players in one position.

 

[Jaguares]

Conrad is irreplaceable, he's one of the best centres I've seen in my life. He's smart, he organizes the defense, he can attack and he's very effective.

If Nonu is injured, there are many powerful centres that can take his place: SBW, Rene Ranger, Robbie Fruean, Saili and others but if Conrad is injured, there is nobody like him, for this reason is the most important player among the backs.

He has no marketing as other players but ABs will miss him when he retires

 

[Big Ewis]

Pretty sad when a rugby team doesn't have any good hookers hanging about, too. You'd think those buff blokes would at least be able to attract a few decent prospects.

well a hooker is a pretty scarce thing to find...nations don't just pour out a bunch of quality hookers like they may other positions, so it's no surprise to me.

Yeah, but a weakness to the All Blacks is not having like four world class players in one position.

yeh. And they're still such a small population...but the center position has been in discussion for AB circles for the past like year at least anyways...and they obviously need top class players at each position, other nations could get away with having a meh/mediocre guy or six on their starting XV !

 

[nickdnz]

Conrad is irreplaceable, he's one of the best centres I've seen in my life. He's smart, he organizes the defense, he can attack and he's very effective.

If Nonu is injured, there are many powerful centres that can take his place: SBW, Rene Ranger, Robbie Fruean, Saili and others but if Conrad is injured, there is nobody like him, for this reason is the most important player among the backs.

He has no marketing as other players but ABs will miss him when he retires

Except SBW hasn't yet signed with the NZRU. Ranger can't play for NZ as he's signed with a French club (and isn't an inside centre) and Fruean isn't a capable replacement and isn't an inside centre..

 

[Big Ewis]

how stupid is it (yes, I know I'm repeating myself an awful lot with this..) that NZ is without SBW, amongst others, just because of money issues ?!...
like, NZ as a Rugby nation has considerable problems because some guy likes more money elsewhere...

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

how stupid is it (yes, I know I'm repeating myself an awful lot with this..) that NZ is without SBW, amongst others, just because of money issues ?!...
like, NZ as a Rugby nation has considerable problems because some guy likes more money elsewhere...

You can add just about every nation that isn't France, England and Japan to that list though NZ and SA have it the hardest with NZ even more so because they- probably rightly- refuse to play players not playing in their own system.

 

[Big Ewis]

You can add just about every nation that isn't France, England and Japan to that list though NZ and SA have it the hardest with NZ even more so because they- probably rightly- refuse to play players not playing in their own system.

right.
Actually you can say the same even for England: surely guys like Andrew Sheridan, Jonny Wilko and Delon Armittage; if not also Simon Shaw and Steffon Armittage; still had when they signed with Toulon/have today the potential to help England.
I would absolutely make the case for the first 3 there at prop, FH and FB respectively being better choices than whtvr England's had in their stead the last few years. And possibly Shaw (unless he retired at int'l level) at lock and Armittage at loose forward had what it takes to put on the white n red jersey.

But this is totally off-topic.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

right.
Actually you can say the same even for england: Surely guys like andrew sheridan, jonny wilko and delon armittage; if not also simon shaw and steffon armittage; still had when they signed with toulon/have today the potential to help england.
I would absolutely make the case for the first 3 there at prop, fh and fb respectively being better choices than whtvr england's had in their stead the last few years. And possibly shaw (unless he retired at int'l level) at lock and armittage at loose forward had what it takes to put on the white n red jersey.

but this is totally off-topic.

Heaven forbid!! This is the All Blacks we should be talking about! My most profuse apologies!!!

 

[Jaguares]

Except SBW hasn't yet signed with the NZRU. Ranger can't play for NZ as he's signed with a French club (and isn't an inside centre) and Fruean isn't a capable replacement and isn't an inside centre..

Rene Ranger could play at 12, and also Robbie Fruean too, both have the size and ability to do so. I'm talking long term, for the next RWC, I know that Ranger has a contract in France and Robbie had a heart surgery recently. What I mean is that currently Nonu has replacement: Francis Saili and Charles Piutau, Conrad doesn't.

And you will say that Charles is not a centre. I know, but he can play there. Steve Hansen believes that Charles could play there, then he's in the bench, right? Suppose that the next game is injured Nonu, who will take his place? There are 2 players on the bench: Charles Piutau or Beauden Barrett

Cheers