Papalii is taller than both Messam and Jerry Collins (and Jacobson for that matter) so i'm not sure how he stuffs up the AB lineout. Saying Luatua was always going is pure conjecture - he only left after being constantly overlooked for the very average Elliot Dixon. Shields turned it down after years and years of being snubbed for the likes of Luke Whitelock (another who has been tried and discarded by the way!). As for Akira - I have no issue with them not picking him in 2019 - however in 2017 he put out 2 class performances at 6 vs the British and Irish Lions and they never picked him - which is fine - but in the meantime the 6 jersey still didn't get solved. As for Scott Barrett - if he was the answer at 6 he would be a starter rather than riding the pine for Retallick and Whitelock constantly and we wouldn't have this issue at 6 we currently have.
Ok kiwi, I think it better if we just agree that perhaps we disagree on a few of your points, I mean Papalii I really like , but because he taller than Collins and Messam who were neither lineout targets , same as Shields always liked him, but he decided to take easy route to NH, Luatua was same ( he wasn't overlooked by the way, was an AB and got dropped) only Aucklanders thought he should be played when he lost form badly over year or 2 (suspect he had Blues flu) and I was at Lions/Blues game, if you thought Akira had a class performance that day, we obviously watch different games, I had been a huge fan of his until I saw hos much he disappeared from game. He did get into AB squad and by all reports disappointed both times with fitness/attitude.
Look I realise it automatic that Shag is wrong for most Aucklanders , but see I come from middle of NZ and country area where we like our players to work hard, and don't care where they or coaches come from. just generally think coaching team who are currently running at about highest percentage of wins etc while not being perfect(because no coach is), but suspect they have a fair bit more idea about players , and how they want the game played than I do!
By the way it not new mate, when Hart etc was coach and weren't picking South Island players, by geez they all copped shit too, by all the experts from down south. I have been around for a couple of years and seen it all.