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Auge Team of the Tournament 2018

Started by Augenöffner2 REPLIES566 VIEWS· 07 Oct 2018, 11:13
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AU
Augenöffner
Pro6,974 posts
AU
AugenöffnerPro6,974 posts
07 Oct 2018, 11:13
#1
07 Oct 2018, 11:13#1

  1. Steven Kitshoff (SA) 
  2. Codie Taylor (NZ) 
  3. Owen Franks (NZ) 
  4. Eben Etzebeth (SA) 
  5. Tomas Lavanini (ARG) 
  6. Sam Cane (NZ) 
  7. Lukhan Tui (AUS) 
  8. Kieren Read (NZ)
  9. Faf de Klerk (SA) 
  10. Nicolas Sanchez (ARG) 
  11. Reiko Ioane (NZ) 
  12. Ngani Laumape (NZ) 
  13. Reece Hodge (AUS) 
  14. Bautista Delguy (ARG) 
  15. Willie Le Roux (SA)

Notable Mentions:This was not a great tournament for inside centres, my next option at 12 was André Esterhuizen. Hooker was close, but I felt the errors by Marx took some of the gloss off his good work, particularly that try off an overthrow in Brisbane which was a game changer. Ben Smith was almost my 14, it was very close. 11 was also close, as Moyano had an exceptional campaign. Tui might raise some eyebrows, but for me, he was a wrecking ball. He ran over many players and was one of the few players to step up for the Wallabies. I thought Malherbe was close at 3, he had a very solid campaign. I thought Hodge was far and away the best 13 in the RC, nobody came close to him. Moroni would be my second choice. Haylett-Petty deserves a mention at 15, my second choice fullback. Ousted Folau to wing, much to my surprise. 
What's your team? 

CL
clevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CL
clevermikeCoach57,555 posts
07 Oct 2018, 12:01
#2
07 Oct 2018, 12:01#2

You have some real weirdos in the team of the Tournament.   The fact is Laumape had virtually one test played and he was not very decisive in that game either,   So how you arrive at him is weird.

As to the Tui issue - find it weird too,  I watched all tests and he never stood out as a contender of anything.       

Then we have Hodge - but the better player is in fact Goodhue.   

What about Pocock at 8 - Read is not the player he sued to be.   

Franks - what did h contribute outside of scrumming?  

I w ould rather see what unbiased website come up with before looking at the situation again.   

AU
Augenöffner
Pro6,974 posts
AU
AugenöffnerPro6,974 posts
07 Oct 2018, 12:14
#3
07 Oct 2018, 12:14#3

Goodhue is very good. Hodge was excellent. Laumape or Crotty for New Zealand. However, neither Crotty or Sonny really got it together. Made a big mistake in the Wellington test. Laumape was very good. 

Tui ran over Steph, Whiteley and Mostert. Do be sure, I mean right over. If you saw any of these games, you should have seen that. He was sorely missed. 

Pocock was good at the breakdown, but was nowhere for the time he played against New Zealand. He saved his best breakdown performance for the test in South Africa, but much of that work was merely the result of sloppy play by certain Boks in cleaning the ruck.  Overall, he contributed too little to make my team. It wasn't a fetcher's tournament.

Read and Cane formed a deadly duo, both worked very well in various All Black setups. Great awareness and decision making. Great hands and interplay. Both read the game so well from defence and pick out runners ahead of play. Very intelligent players who contributed significantly to the All Black championship run. Read is very tough. A more complete 8 than Pocock, who was kept out of the no. 7 Jersey for the lesser Hooper - a gripe shared by many Wallaby supporters.

The entire All Black front row can play well around the field. I thought Franks and Malherbe was very close. Much closer than you are inclined to believe. I'd have no problems with Malherbe at 3, it always that close. Denigrating one of the better 3s in the game for a pet favourite is not how one makes unbiased selections.

Furthermore, I left the door open for you to express your own XV. 

— END OF THREAD —

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