NPR

Steve wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 12:17 am Shit or get off the pot time for Akira Ioane.

stemoc wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 12:31 am honestly only noticed akira once in last night's game when he made a break and gave a nice offload, thats about it...definitely not an AB starter, at the very worst an impact player in the last 10 minutes.

Jimmy Smallsteps wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 12:43 am Looks a good squad overall, and good to see a few deserving young blokes get the call up.

I agree with other posters in stating the first five set up is not as good as it could be. I suspect Bananas and co will not get the best out of either player if it's going to be a competition between Mo'unga and Barrett for the 10 jersey. That will limit the game time of one great player but I guess if Barrett doesn't want to play 15 then we are stuck with it.

Carter's Choice wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 12:46 am

Jimmy Smallsteps wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 12:43 am Looks a good squad overall, and good to see a few deserving young blokes get the call up.

I agree with other posters in stating the first five set up is not as good as it could be. I suspect Bananas and co will not get the best out of either player if it's going to be a competition between Mo'unga and Barrett for the 10 jersey. That will limit the game time of one great player but I guess if Barrett doesn't want to play 15 then we are stuck with it.

As a Highlanders fan you'd have to be disappointed with just two players in the squad, Smith and Frizell? Especially as you went 3-5 whilst the winless 0-8 Chiefs had 6 players selected?

Enzedder wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 12:59 am Crusader fan thinking. I look at a squad and see who I would have there in place of certain people - in this case there are one or two surprises but given the size of the squad, they have done well.

Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 11:45 pm Unlucky

Lachlan Boshier: Arguably the form loose forward in Super Rugby Aotearoa, but might be too small/light to play 6 at test level?
Joshua Ioane: I'm much more comfortable when we have three specialist 10's in our squad. We have 1.5 first-fives, and presumably McKenzie is the back-up if Mo'unga or BB get injured. The selection mistakes of the last RWC cycle are being repeated.
Peter Umaga-Jensen: I know it's competitive for midfield/outside back positions but PUJ finished Super Rugby Aotearoa very strong and looks custom built for test match Rugby. The Hurricanes had a very dangerous backline but only two of their backs made the squad. The Chiefs couldn't score any points and they have three backs (Weber, ALB and DMac).
Scott Scrafton: Does anyone actually think that Vaa'i and Strange played better during Super Rugby Aotearoa?
Marino Mika-ele-Tu'u: Was the best ball running loose forward in Super Rugby Aotearoa and should be in the squad over Lazy McFatso (Akira Ioane)
Tom Sanders: I'm not saying he should be an All Black, but he had a domestic season and can play 6 or 8.
Mitch Dunshea: Started most Crusaders matches this season, but is probably a little small for test Rugby. He's the same size as Vaa'i though.
Angus Ta'avao: i was never a fan of him, but Steve Hansen clearly was. He needs to concentrate less on his media work and being funny, and more on Rugby
Liam Coltman: He's been surpassed at the Highlanders by Ash Dixon and at the AB's by Aumua. I'd be looking for an easy rugby contract if I was him.


Lucky
Tupou Vaa'i: Does anyone else get the impression that the Foster era is going to be defined by undeserved Chiefs players being gifted test caps? This kid could be great, but he isn't an All Black lock's ring-piece right now.He needs to stop his moronic clapping when his team gets a penalty, he isn't playing 1st XV anymore.
Quentin Strange: A talented youngster but only played a couple of SRA games due to injury. His Crusaders teammate Mitch Dunshea outshone him this season.
Cullen Grace: Had a great Super Rugby tournament but post-covid was barely sighted due to injury. He does look promising though.
Brad Weber: Had an average SRA season and wouldn't be near this squad if he wasn't a Chiefs player. Was outplayed by Christie, Hall, Drummond and Booth during the domestic season.
Alex Hodgman: Not the worst selection, but I thought Ayden Johnstone was arguably the form LH in NZ this season and deserved a spot as the 3rd ranked LH.

FujiKiwi wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 12:57 am If, heaven forbid, Sam Cane is injured, how are the loose forwards configured? Assuming all other relevant players remain fit?

6: Frizell 7: Savea 8: Sotutu

or

6: Frizell 7: Papalii 8: Savea

?

Like many others, I'm not convinced Cane can or should be an automatic selection all the way through to 2023. I wonder what the selectors have in mind.

mrbrownstone wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 1:13 am Do we really need 6 outside backs + Reiko and Ennor who are very capable wingers + BB as a fullback? BB, Jordie, Jordan, and DMac as fullback options is surely overkill.

Wild Beef wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 2:03 am We don’t need to bed in combinations yet. This is the time for getting in new blood. Plenty of time until the next RWC.

I think Ioane is unlucky but he will get called up if BB or mo gets injured.

FujiKiwi wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 2:21 am The idea that we have plenty of time is ludicrous. It looks like we’re losing a whole year of truly robust, testing test rugby against a variety of opponents.

Time for some acceleration as far as blooding new players and giving them decent time on the pitch.

EDIT: And then giving them sustained time together to form those combos.

Gumboot wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 2:24 am

FujiKiwi wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 2:21 am The idea that we have plenty of time is ludicrous. It looks like we’re losing a whole year of truly robust, testing test rugby against a variety of opponents.

Time for some acceleration as far as blooding new players and giving them decent time on the pitch.

EDIT: And then giving them sustained time together to form those combos.

Yeah, but all of our test opponents are in the same boat.

Which new players do you think should be accelerated into the match day squad, and which established players would you drop?

FujiKiwi wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 2:41 am Fair question, although I think we've had some of these arguments before.

I think Papalii may be the future at 7, and for that reason am disappointed that Cane was made captain, ensuring his ongoing selection regardless of form. But we've had a fierce debate about that already. And that ship has sailed. I fear injuries may mean Cane sits out a lot of the cycle anyway. I take no pleasure in that thought.

I'd have MMT in the squad ahead of Akira Ioane. I know you think MMT has defensive weaknesses, but Akira has his own, well-publicized flaws that have been on display for years now and haven't been addressed.

Will Jordan should get lots of meaningful time at fullback. In my squad, BB would spend a lot of time on the bench and be an impact player.


Josh Ioane should be in the set up. If Mo'unga is injured, Ioane is the best replacement. With Josh Ioane in the squad, and BB fit, I don't see the need for D Mac in the team. That list of outside backs in the squad named is a silly logjam of unnecessary players. I'd drop Clarke and DMac and bring in Josh Ioane and Peter Umaga-Jensen.

Otherwise the squad isn't that bad.

FujiKiwi wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 2:41 am

Gumboot wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 2:24 amWhich new players do you think should be accelerated into the match day squad, and which established players would you drop?

Fair question, although I think we've had some of these arguments before.

I think Papalii may be the future at 7, and for that reason am disappointed that Cane was made captain, ensuring his ongoing selection regardless of form. But we've had a fierce debate about that already. And that ship has sailed. I fear injuries may mean Cane sits out a lot of the cycle anyway. I take no pleasure in that thought.

I'd have MMT in the squad ahead of Akira Ioane. I know you think MMT has defensive weaknesses, but Akira has his own, well-publicized flaws that have been on display for years now and haven't been addressed.

Will Jordan should get lots of meaningful time at fullback. In my squad, BB would spend a lot of time on the bench and be an impact player.


Josh Ioane should be in the set up. If Mo'unga is injured, Ioane is the best replacement. With Josh Ioane in the squad, and BB fit, I don't see the need for D Mac in the team. That list of outside backs in the squad named is a silly logjam of unnecessary players. I'd drop Clarke and DMac and bring in Josh Ioane and Peter Umaga-Jensen.

Otherwise the squad isn't that bad.

Kiwias wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 2:49 am Just watching it again and one thing I noticed was that when Reiko Ioane scored his try, JB made contact as he grounded the ball, the sort of stuff we see all the time. What concerned me was that Ioane looked as if he wanted to have a go at JB and one of his team mates grabbing him and pulling him away.

Has Reiko caught the Akira bug of constantly trying to start some bolshery?

FujiKiwi wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 2:47 am Oh, and the idea that other teams are "in the same boat" with restricted tests before 2023—and therefore we don't need to accelerate the process of rebuilding a new look squad—doesn't make sense to me. We don't know what those other teams will do. They might go the stuffy, conservative route that I fear Foster will go down*, or they might be more strategically astute.

*Foster will mix keeping with the same old players and combos he feels faithful to, but will also bring in some ludicrous approaches to selection and coaching he will represent as being innovative.

Gumboot wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 2:50 am
If you consistently start Jordan at fullback, where does that leave Jordie Barrett - who isn't as slow as a wet week and is in career-best form?

FujiKiwi wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 2:51 am

Kiwias wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 2:49 am Just watching it again and one thing I noticed was that when Reiko Ioane scored his try, JB made contact as he grounded the ball, the sort of stuff we see all the time. What concerned me was that Ioane looked as if he wanted to have a go at JB and one of his team mates grabbing him and pulling him away.

Has Reiko caught the Akira bug of constantly trying to start some bolshery?

It's a family trait. Rieko has always been a dickhead, only relatively less so than his brother.

I noticed that moment too. What a goon.

Good to see some form from him though. He works harder at his key roles than Akira.

Wild Beef wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 2:55 am Akira gets the flack but Rieko has been the bigger dick more recently from what I’ve seen.

Wild Beef wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 2:41 am I have no issue with BB being a ten. Far less happy with DMac.

Carter's Choice wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 12:46 am

Jimmy Smallsteps wrote: Sun Sep 06, 2020 12:43 am Looks a good squad overall, and good to see a few deserving young blokes get the call up.

I agree with other posters in stating the first five set up is not as good as it could be. I suspect Bananas and co will not get the best out of either player if it's going to be a competition between Mo'unga and Barrett for the 10 jersey. That will limit the game time of one great player but I guess if Barrett doesn't want to play 15 then we are stuck with it.

As a Highlanders fan you'd have to be disappointed with just two players in the squad, Smith and Frizell? Especially as you went 3-5 whilst the winless 0-8 Chiefs had 6 players selected?