Based on the 23 named this week, I'd say:
15. Jack Maddocks
14. Sefa Naivalu
13. Mitch Inman
12. Reece Hodge
11. Tom English
10. Jack Debreczeni
9. Ben Meehan (Stirzaker concussed)
8. Amanaki Mafi
7. Colby Fainga'a
6. Lopeti Timani (they had Mafi at 8 and Timani at 6 in the trials)
5. Steve Cummins
4. Sam Jefferies
3. Laurie Weeks
2. James Hanson
1. Cruze Ah-Nau
16. Pat Leafa
17. Tom Moloney
18. Tyrel Lomax
19. Culum Retallick
20. Jake Schatz
21. Mick Snowden
22. Sione Tuipulotu
23. Marika Koroibete
Things that could and will change this are:
- Injuries, obviously.
- If they decide to start Marika over English, or even push English back to 15? There's a lot of iterations they could go for, and some involve Debreczeni defending at 15 and attack at 10, which is fine.
- If they decide to continue that disdain for lineouts and put Reid on the bench instead of Shatz.
Koroibete will be starting very soon after coming back.
Think it will be a battle between English and Inman for the 13 jersey with the other on the bench.
I don't think I can explain this enough times to make it make sense, but I will one last time.
JACK D CAN ATTACK AS THE 10 AND DEFEND AS A 15! This is not considered a complex or unusual strategy at a professional level.
Is this to hide him in defence?
It's because people were talking about Jack D's excellent work under the high ball, which is fair I guess. His chat was also of a high standard.
Jack's a big man and while he doesn't dominate tackles he doesn't miss them.
The REAL value in having your 10 defend in the back 3 is
- He is in an excellent position to insert himself into first receiver off turn-over ball. Far better than if he was defending in the line.
- He avoids wear and tear of contact (a 15 or winger makes probably half the tackles). You want this guy to run your team, and he avoids a lot of fatigue through not having to mark up on the 12 (who is often very big).
Volavola was woeful i thought. Should not be anywhere near the 23 IMO
Agree. I remember a year ago people saying the Tahs were stupid letting him go and New Zealand knows how to do things better when the Crusaders signed him. Clearly he wasn't up to scratch there and was barely sighted before being let go again.Volavola was woeful i thought. Should not be anywhere near the 23 IMO
physically he's not up to it. at his weight he simply cant compete, just got blown away at one breakdown. if you play him anywhere its at 10 in attack and hide him on a wing in defence
On the bright side we no longer have the biggest losing margin of Round 1 after the Hurricanes smashed the Sunwolves.
On the not so bright side we play the Hurricanes next week.
Yeah, but they'll be rooted from all the travel!
#glasshalffull