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FORUM / RUGBY /  Rugby World Cup: Smith, Milner-Skudder injury dilemma; Wynne Gray - NZ Herlad

Rugby World Cup: Smith, Milner-Skudder injury dilemma; Wynne Gray - NZ Herlad

Started by Just_win7 REPLIES482 VIEWS· 25 Oct 2015, 20:37
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JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
25 Oct 2015, 20:37
#1
25 Oct 2015, 20:37#1

Let's say Nehe Milner-Skudder doesn't scrub up from his left calf injury and the All Blacks need to find a replacement for the World Cup final.

Simple, most would say. Do as in the semifinal victory and shift Ben Smith to the right wing and start with Beauden Barrett at fullback.

That change brought some extra zip to the backline and a try which tipped the gruelling contest back in the All Blacks' favour.

It might not be as simple as that.

After the match, Smith was puffy, bruised and cut around his right eye while the side of his face was also swollen. They were the wounds of the All Blacks' aerial magician who was superbly safe under the high ball and even scuttled into the middle of the park from the wing to defuse another attacking kick from the Boks.

Smith's positional surety and safety under the high ball barred the Springboks attacking methods and reinforced the All Blacks assurance on an awkward afternoon at Twickenham as drizzly conditions hit the second half of the semifinal.

Smith is the side's premier fullback and where the selectors like him.

But if Milner-Skudder is out injured, has the other specialist wing Waisake Naholo recovered from his leg issues and is he ready for the pressure of the tournament decider?

The selectors could retain Smith at fullback and use Naholo, Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams, Malakai Fekitoa or Colin Slade on the wing.

Another option would be to begin with both Smith and Barrett - in whichever roles they felt best - and pick someone else on the bench.

The other possibility is a grim consideration but one the All Black selectors will have thought about in their "what if" scenarios.

Should Smith's facial injury count him out of the final and Milner-Skudder also fail a fitness test, the selectors would have to dig deep.


JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
25 Oct 2015, 20:39
#2
25 Oct 2015, 20:39#2
 I have not read an injury report but if these two players are out of the final things will get tricky. Wobblies have their problems also though to we will see how things develop.
CA
carpetmuncherPro1,667 posts
25 Oct 2015, 20:50
#3
25 Oct 2015, 20:50#3
 mate you lose one winger and you have 100 others that is as good if not better.....i really liked the look of Naholo but lets see how it develops obviously smith is more of a technical rounded player than naholo so maybe having him on wing might be a better defensive ploy. that being said you guys are spoiled for choice
BE
Beeno1Captain40,032 posts
25 Oct 2015, 20:57
#4
25 Oct 2015, 20:57#4
 No excuses please JW. The skud didnt do much against us and poor Julian Savea remains tryless against the Boks. Maybe its a good thing to try somebody else. Ben caught a few god balls but was easily contained.Lets not exagerate all this JW. 
JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
25 Oct 2015, 21:09
#5
25 Oct 2015, 21:09#5
Carpetmuncher, I won't comment on the other wee chaps post, I will wait for his recovery, one has to be optimistic
We have other wings but so far Nahalo has not been convincing at test level other than as a ball carrier. Plus, he is not a naturally confident person so throwing him in the final might be too much for him. 
Anyway, no worries the AB coaches will make the right decision, I was just passing on the news on possible injuries.
BE
Beeno1Captain40,032 posts
25 Oct 2015, 23:15
#6
25 Oct 2015, 23:15#6
JW YOU SOUND LIKE A DEMENTED OAK HAVING A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
25 Oct 2015, 23:20
#7
25 Oct 2015, 23:20#7
 Thanks for your insights Beeno, I will treat them with the same level of respect I always do
MO
moolaaPro2,380 posts
26 Oct 2015, 00:13
#8
26 Oct 2015, 00:13#8
 Hasbeeno, you are allowed to be nervous if you have a team in the Final...
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