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AB Bolter : The Peoples Choice..
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11446730
Pro4,671 posts
11 May 2015, 08:41
#1
11 May 2015, 08:41#1
Who will bolt into the ABs..??
Started by Brycy13 REPLIES322 VIEWS· 11 May 2015, 08:41
Captain18,117 posts
11 May 2015, 08:50
#2
11 May 2015, 08:50#2
No question Akira Ioane has played himself into contention but the player they all seem to be overlooking is Nehe Milner-Skudder. If the AB selectors are prepared to pick a little guy at fullback then he might be the bolter.
Captain40,032 posts
11 May 2015, 08:51
#3
11 May 2015, 08:51#3
brycy I am going for mcaaaaw, carter, Woodcock, Mealamu, Conrad, Mother Nonu, Carol Jane and Dagisies.
Pro4,671 posts
11 May 2015, 09:18
#4
11 May 2015, 09:18#4
...Yea the Ioane brothers are players to watch , with brother Reiko scoring a hat trick in the Sevens on the weekend....Blues will have them both playing next year...
...Reggie Goodes has been scoring well also...obvious that the more Chiefs the better so Reid, Webber and Lowe is a good start.... to join Retallick ,Pulu , Cane, SBW and Messam
...Damien McKenzire would be playing in the NZ U20s team but needed for Chiefs duties as well so an AB of the future there..
Coach57,555 posts
11 May 2015, 10:37
#5
11 May 2015, 10:37#5
Brycy
As an avid follower of rugby the AB's should to my mind consider some changes asap and I would start with the following candidates I think should be considered even for this upcoming WC:-
Full Backs
Ben Smith, Charles Piutau, Israel Dagg, Nene Skudder-Milner
Wings
Julian Savea, Waisake Naholo, James Lowe, Nafi Tuitawake, Cory Jane
Centers
Here I have a problem. Conrad Smith is not what he used to be, but likely to be captain. Williams is playing on-and-off rugby and his defense was so-so in Super 15, while his off-loads were excellent. Nonu is in the same category as Conrad Smith. It is with some hesitation that I write down what I really think.
No 13
Malakai Fekitoa, Conrad Smith, Charlie Ngatai
No 12
S-B Williams, Ma'a Nonu, Ryan Crotty
Flyhalf
Colin Slade, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Cruden, Damian McKenzie, Dan Carter
Scrumhalfs
TJ Peranara, Aaron Smith, Brad Weber
No 8
Kieron Read, Jerome Kaino
No 7
Sam Cane, Michael Todd, Akira Ioane, Richie McCaw
No 6
Jordan Tuafua, Ardie Savea, Steven Luatua, Liam Messam
Locks
Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipolotu, Luke Romano, Dominic Bird
Props
A hopeless situation from my perspective. There is not a single prop standing out in all franchises - they are all iffy in scrumming (some outright poor) and I would not try and make a choice from the available average lot of props. Hansen can put their names in a hat and draw out the first four names and nominate them.
The names to put in the hat should be -
The Franks, Brothers, Charlie Famuina, Regges Goodes, Tony Woodc ock plus any other names you can think of. Please cut out Wyatt Crocket and Ben Tameifuna - they are penalty machines because of illegal/poor scrumming.
Hookers
Dane Coles, Hika Elliot, Kevin Mealamu
I have highlighted the players I am thinking should be the first choice in the various positions and put those I would not touch with a bargepole last on the list of players in each position.
Summary
To be quite frank my team would be as follows:
15. Ben Smith14. Waisake Naholo13. Malakai Fekitoa12. SB Williams11. Julian Savea10. Colin Slade 9. TJ Peranara 8. Kieron Read 7. Sam Cane 6. Jordan Taufua 5. Sam Whitelock 4. Brodie Retallick 3. 2. Dane Coles 1.
Make your own picks at prop - they are all poor to average scrummagers and looks good in open play, but not good in any format of Tight 5 play.
As an avid follower of rugby the AB's should to my mind consider some changes asap and I would start with the following candidates I think should be considered even for this upcoming WC:-
Full Backs
Ben Smith, Charles Piutau, Israel Dagg, Nene Skudder-Milner
Wings
Julian Savea, Waisake Naholo, James Lowe, Nafi Tuitawake, Cory Jane
Centers
Here I have a problem. Conrad Smith is not what he used to be, but likely to be captain. Williams is playing on-and-off rugby and his defense was so-so in Super 15, while his off-loads were excellent. Nonu is in the same category as Conrad Smith. It is with some hesitation that I write down what I really think.
No 13
Malakai Fekitoa, Conrad Smith, Charlie Ngatai
No 12
S-B Williams, Ma'a Nonu, Ryan Crotty
Flyhalf
Colin Slade, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Cruden, Damian McKenzie, Dan Carter
Scrumhalfs
TJ Peranara, Aaron Smith, Brad Weber
No 8
Kieron Read, Jerome Kaino
No 7
Sam Cane, Michael Todd, Akira Ioane, Richie McCaw
No 6
Jordan Tuafua, Ardie Savea, Steven Luatua, Liam Messam
Locks
Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipolotu, Luke Romano, Dominic Bird
Props
A hopeless situation from my perspective. There is not a single prop standing out in all franchises - they are all iffy in scrumming (some outright poor) and I would not try and make a choice from the available average lot of props. Hansen can put their names in a hat and draw out the first four names and nominate them.
The names to put in the hat should be -
The Franks, Brothers, Charlie Famuina, Regges Goodes, Tony Woodc ock plus any other names you can think of. Please cut out Wyatt Crocket and Ben Tameifuna - they are penalty machines because of illegal/poor scrumming.
Hookers
Dane Coles, Hika Elliot, Kevin Mealamu
I have highlighted the players I am thinking should be the first choice in the various positions and put those I would not touch with a bargepole last on the list of players in each position.
Summary
To be quite frank my team would be as follows:
15. Ben Smith14. Waisake Naholo13. Malakai Fekitoa12. SB Williams11. Julian Savea10. Colin Slade 9. TJ Peranara 8. Kieron Read 7. Sam Cane 6. Jordan Taufua 5. Sam Whitelock 4. Brodie Retallick 3. 2. Dane Coles 1.
Make your own picks at prop - they are all poor to average scrummagers and looks good in open play, but not good in any format of Tight 5 play.
Captain18,117 posts
11 May 2015, 10:56
#6
11 May 2015, 10:56#6
Nathan Coles would be a bolter of note . . . don't think anyone's ever even heard of him!
Pro2,580 posts
11 May 2015, 11:46
#7
11 May 2015, 11:46#7
Shows what mike knows about our "crap" tight forwards . Dane Coles for your record, currently the worlds best hooker. I disagree the canes tight five for example have been one of the best going around. Simply because they are a team of no names, working hard because they want to be in that world cup squad. Scrummaging isin't the only part of tight forward play. NZ are solid their. Goodes stands out for me, Chris Eves maybe a bolter. My team.
Props: T Woodcock, C Faumiaina
Hooker: Coles
Locks: S Whitelock, Retilluck
Backrow: Kaino, Mccaw (c) , Read
SH: Smith
FH: Carter
IB: Nonu, Smith
OB: Dagg, B Smith, Savea
Coach57,555 posts
11 May 2015, 11:47
#8
11 May 2015, 11:47#8
Rooinek
Thanks for showing up that I used the wrong first name for Coles - I corrected same.
Thanks for showing up that I used the wrong first name for Coles - I corrected same.
Pro4,671 posts
11 May 2015, 11:49
#9
11 May 2015, 11:49#9
...Naholo is off to Clermont so doubt wether he will be considered given the policy of selecting home based players...another one that got away
...Piutau another that will probably be disgarded by Hansen due to his signing with Ulster although i hear he will initially be playing for the Blues in 2016 as well...
...Tim Nanai Williams i would also put in that category of AB's missed opportunities...
...but one door closes and another is opened for players like Rene Ranger who is coming home next year and will be a great option in the centres...
...meanwhile plenty of options for dopey Hansen to mull over before October rolls around.. all in all we have great depth in every position so can't complain much..
Coach57,555 posts
11 May 2015, 12:03
#10
11 May 2015, 12:03#10
Brycy
First of all I corrected the first name of Coles - sorry about that. The best hooker in the world - I am going to send you an account. I was drinking coffee and spilled it all over my keyboard when I saw that classic and burst out laughing.
Scrumming and mauls are the MOST important functions of props. All the NZ props are ranging from average to poor and they are in fact a dead loss for the team. They are most noted for being in constant reverse gear and giving away penalties. Fun for a SA supporters to see how fast they reverse in Super 15 games.
First of all I corrected the first name of Coles - sorry about that. The best hooker in the world - I am going to send you an account. I was drinking coffee and spilled it all over my keyboard when I saw that classic and burst out laughing.
Scrumming and mauls are the MOST important functions of props. All the NZ props are ranging from average to poor and they are in fact a dead loss for the team. They are most noted for being in constant reverse gear and giving away penalties. Fun for a SA supporters to see how fast they reverse in Super 15 games.
Pro4,671 posts
11 May 2015, 12:48
#11
11 May 2015, 12:48#11
...not so clevermike i think you'll find the Chiefs and Hurricanes front rows scoring better than other teams in Fantasy rugby so that speaks highly of our talents...if what you say is true then why are they also the top two teams in Super XV Rugby...??..so yr argument is weak sorry to say...but should be like a final this weekend when these two teams clash..will be epic...
... and while we're on the subject of bolters we also could add Leitch to the list of potential AB bolters - he would not look out of place being the former captain of the Jap team...
Coach57,555 posts
11 May 2015, 13:14
#12
11 May 2015, 13:14#12
Brycy, Brycy, Brycy
The two weakest forward combinations in a final is not what would be a test fro NZ forwards - it is something like the blind leading the blind.
This is not fantasy rugby - it is real rugby and I still do not pick N Z props because they are so bloody hopeless.
The two weakest forward combinations in a final is not what would be a test fro NZ forwards - it is something like the blind leading the blind.
This is not fantasy rugby - it is real rugby and I still do not pick N Z props because they are so bloody hopeless.
Pro2,580 posts
11 May 2015, 13:21
#13
11 May 2015, 13:21#13
Really mike because some of the highest scoring props this weekend were all from nz. Everyone has been saying how the Canes have prob been the best performing tight five all year. But I know about your personal feelings haha.
Pro4,146 posts
16 May 2015, 13:30
#14
16 May 2015, 13:30#14
Sopoaga
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