New Zealand Rugby Team Watch

[Braveheart81]

gaaawwdd.he's like beer you love it even though you know its going to cause you the biggest headache ever.hope my kids grow up like him..s..t did i just say that....

Flying gliders is a very dangerous activity. I don't think I'd want my kids doing that.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

tests series with Eng coming up fast.

Imagine Hansen will back all his incumbents from EOYT, as usual. Although messrs Dagg & Jane perhaps fairly severely under the cosh from B.Smith and Piutau respectively

1 Woodcock but Crockett really doing the business on D.
2 Coles. by default. Mealamu must be fairly creaky by now
3 O. Franks. least discussed AB in living memory? He's just there. Like he's got bloody tenure. Wonder hwo close Faumuiana is...
4 Retallick
5 Whitelock. easy choices, not sure about Romano as back-up. Auckland's Tuipulotu as my bolter
6 Messam, Luatua, Kaino. You'd have to say Messam but i reckon all three will get a start in the 3 tests
7 R. H. McCaw (C). how many budding AB careers has this man seen off. Marty Holah, all the way back to Kupu Vanisi... have to wonder about Sam Cane. yes, he's done the business in black and he's already in the AB leadership group... so how come he just looks like a journeyman at S15 level?
8 Read
9 A.Smith. TKBogan usurped Perenara as backup?
10 Cruden with Barrett first choice utility back. Carter will be injured
11 J. Savea
12 Nonu
13 C.Smith
14 Piutau. Jane will have to pull finger
15 Ben Smith. Dagg can join the queue behind Piutau. And Barrett. And me.

 

[qwerty51]

Hooker and loosehead is a real weak area for NZ. England are going to target the scrum no doubt.

McCaw is past it, move on.

 

[USARugger]

The problem with that is that England's scrum is pretty shit without Coles AND Corbisiero. Even if Coles is back on time they will have a weak loose head.

Rowntree will be doing everything he can to get England 'appearing' to be the dominant scrum, just like this past 6N, usually by having the props try to walk around the corner or bore in.

Depending on who the referee is I wouldn't be surprised to see the English scrum get thoroughly molested by NZ a few times.

 

[qwerty51]

Seriously? The English scrum was all over them at Twickers last year. Should've got a penalty try. In fact their whole pack dominated the Kiwi one - they just had no good backs. With Tuilagi back they'll have more penetration / potential there. I'm expecting them to really test NZ in the 2nd and 3rd games. Don't forget they were only a 10 min lapse in Paris away from winning the 6N.

 

[USARugger]

How much of the 6N did you watch? Their scrum was borderline diabolical in the late stages of the tournament.

4 tighthead losses to Ireland and 1 against Wales. They should have had more against Wales and at least 1-2 against Italy but the referee was continually interpreting Wilson walking around the scrum or pulling his opposite down w/ an illegal bind as the English pack being dominant.

They're easily in the Top 2-3 right now for open play and their line out is very good but their scrum is not up to standard at all with Corbs and Coles injured.

They'll absolutely compete without a doubt but depending on who the referee is their scrum could implode on them.

 

[Muttonbird]

McCaw is past it, move on.

I've heard that one before.

 

[Dan54]

I've heard that one before.

Yep, and it usually from Gwerty, but I tend to think he'll be playing in tests, and as good as he ever does, but I have no doubt I'll still read here that Gwerty thinks he old-past it etc and Pocock, Gill and Hooper are the best 3 7s in world and would of done job twicw as good, even if Pocock hasn't played a test for 3 years

 

[Braveheart81]

At some point the comment that McCaw is past it will be true. It becomes more and more likely every time as he gets older.

McCaw struggled for impact in Super Rugby this year before injury and it did look like his time was getting closer to ending.

Kieran Read's improving ability as a leader will lessen the loss of McCaw's leadership so it will start to boil down more and more to his ability as a openside flanker rather than everything else he brings to the team.

 

[Dan54]

Um Read struggled to make an impact in first couple of game in super rugby this year (which is exactly how many games Mccaw has played), so I suppose he for the chop as well.
But you are correct in your point Braveheart, at some stage McCaw will be past it, but can I tell you a secret, at sometime every player that plays the game is past their best, it is just whether being past your best is judged by the coaches or internet experts is the point I suppose, and whether that still makes you better trhan your rivals for the spot. I do tend to think that McCaws biggest problem is that he is judged against McCaw and not other players.

 

[Braveheart81]

I agree that Read has had a very slow start to the season. At only 28 still and the best player in the world in 2013, I certainly don't think there is anything to be concerned about.

Is Cane still the heir apparent to McCaw? Could Luke Braid get a look in?

Are Tanerau Latimer or Jack Lam likely to enter the discussion at any point this year? I didn't realise Latimer was so young still. 100 games at 27 is impressive!

 

[Dan54]

Think Latimer has pulled the pin and heading north at end of season Brave, Jack Lam I believe has played for Samoa. Not sure why the cartel don't seem to be keen on Braid,but it sure seems he on the outer, Cane is definitley the heir to the 7 jersey, although Ardie Savea has toured with ABs for experience only. I like the look of Hardie and Christie, who both play for Highlanders, but not sure if either of those 2 will come on before another young un pokes his head out of U20s.

 

[Braveheart81]

They're all good players. I feel like Braid has probably the biggest impact at Super Rugby level but he could be a bit like Adam Thomson and not quite be up to it at the level above. Regardless, he probably deserves a crack.

Cane has been great for the All Blacks, but it must count for something that he isn't even starting for the Chiefs.

 

[Bullrush]

They're all good players. I feel like Braid has probably the biggest impact at Super Rugby level but he could be a bit like Adam Thomson and not quite be up to it at the level above. Regardless, he probably deserves a crack.

Cane has been great for the All Blacks, but it must count for something that he isn't even starting for the Chiefs.

Braid also has the 'C' next to his name at the Blues as well which surely counts for something especially given how well he's playing.

It will be a tragedy if he doesn't get a decent shot this year - I love how much work Braid gets thru every week. He's a machine.

 

[Dan54]

I suspect Braid maybe considered a little small for test rugby, just a guess.

 

[qwerty51]

Cane is such a myth, the Chiefs record with Latimer starting says it all.

 

[Bullrush]

I suspect Braid maybe considered a little small for test rugby, just a guess.

Really? From the numbers I've seen, he's taller than both Cane and Todd and only only slightly lighter.

He both taller and heavier than Michael Hooper, Liam Gill, Latimer and Ardie Savea.

I can't see size being the big issue.

 

[Dan54]

Just a guess Bullrush, I could well be wrong and there is something else he doing that coaches don't think translates to test rugby, I must admit I was just trying to work out why he doesn't seem to be getting look in. I actually don't think Todd has great body shape for a 7 in test rugby, once again guessing, but look at the build of McCaw and Cane, seem to be quite a bit more solid.
And Cane will be pleased Gwerty, the biggest compliment a NZ 7 can have is to get rubbished by you from what I have seen so far, so he looks like he maybe around for awhile.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Qwerty's comments on McCaw are just kiwi baiting but he has a point about our props & hookers. We're 18 months away from defending the RWC & still relying on guys who ideally should've played their last test at least a year ago & one of the worst technical scrummagers I've ever seen in Black. If we play Crockett & get a pedantic ref v the Poms, we're in big trouble.

Other areas that need addressing are lock: lose any of Retallick, Whitelock & Romano & suddenly things don't look quite so flash - Luatua's a handy cover from the bench but you wouldn't want him starting v top-5 opposition.

Likewise midfield as we saw during Conrad's layoff, the next generation isn't quite there yet although Crotty looks to have come a long way recently. And we can't expect SBW to just rock up next year & tear it up likes it's still 2012. He may well do it, but we can't rely on it.

Positives are that we have a heap of options in the loose, HB, 5/8 & back 3 but if we can't assemble quality starting & replacement front rows with a decent amount of grunt behind them we're going to struggle against the better packs e.g. Poms, Sethfrickens, Paddies.

To quote Nutta, " meat & potatoes first, then gravy"

 

[Dan54]

I not sure Crockett is as bad as some of us think Waiopehu, and not really sure we relying on players that should be finished, Hooker and midfield are the 2 that give me most concern, not absolutely convinced that Kevvy will make it, but am also just as convinced if Shag thinks not he will get a tap on the shoulder. Having 3 pretty good locks isn't too bad, and we could well see another like Tuilupotu from Blues come through. Not to worried whether Conrad, Goat etc last through until WC, you can play to your mid 30s generally if you managed alright. In front row Afekai, O Franks etc are all young and as good as most props going around.