At this point I really cant see why To'omua is getting a shot? Not sure what the problem is, he's still solid on defence but when the ball is in his hands... i dont think even his teammates have any clue where it's going. That might give us a fluke try because the opposition have no idea either but that doesn't seem like something you can plan around.
Paisami is 12, that's it. For me anyway.
13 - unless someone can conjure up at a test level 12 better than Paisami, he's not playing there, which leaves Ikitau, Petaia, or Kuridrani, in that order. Perese..maybe, but one swallow doesn't make a summer.
Petaia i'd be more than happy with, and they could be a hell of a combo going forward, but until Petaia puts the junior-freak stuff out of his mind and focusses on setting up players around him like a 13 should, he get's a wing/bench spot.
Watching the first test against NZ last year right now- we had no chance of being close to winning that game without Paisami/Banks/White (obviously, unless the forwards did their job). Even in this game, To'omua did well in defence but was a liability in attack, which has sadly become more obvious this year. Passes to no one, passes behind the shoulder of the receiver, or just......who the hell was supposed to take that?
The last few weeks have put him out of contention, IMHO.
White is 9, JOC (James O'Connor) is 10, Paisami is 12. MK and Wright are the wings, and if you watch that 16-16 first test last year.....we'd have had no chance without Banks and his high ball takes/kicks for the line, and no one else is a better option atm.
Not sure who gets 13 yet, i'll leave that up to Rennie, but it ain't Paisami (too eager to rush out and smash plums) which NZ will exploit ruthlessly.
