Gear weighing up his options

[ranger]

the key things he (atiga) has shown for otago this year (IMO) is the ability to stand in the tackle and draw more than one tackler, if he can get a good offload going those could be great skills to put smith or gear into a hole and like any of these outside back AB's you give them half a sniff and they're off

I would take a punt on him in the squad...i just dont know at whos expense....

He could take Robbie Robinsons spot?

 

[Kiwiwomble]

I guess I was thinking Gear would have Robinsons spot

 

[Darwin]

I guess I was thinking Gear would have Robinsons spot

It is probably hard to say who is taking who's spot. With Robinson gone they actually need both another fullback (to backup Smith) and a third first-five (to backup Slade and Sopoaga). Given Kurt Baker is back from injury he's probably the fullback cover now, though I expect Buxton Popoali'i might get a contract too (if no-one else grabs him first). Not sure whether Paterson or Piutau are signed for this year, but if they are we would have a good selection of outside backs: Gear, Poki, Veainu, Paterson/Piutau/Popoali'i (1-2 of), Baker, Smith.

If Atiga does get signed I imagine it will be as a midfielder. At the moment I think Treeby and Lynn are signed, but I'm not sure about Piutau or Saunders. Assuming they manage to get Piutau, I think Atiga and Saunders could well be competing for one spot (or they could take both if they take one less outside back).

No idea who the third first-five will be: Dickson is ok, but plays his best rugby for Otago at 15 or 12, and Hayden Parker hasn't really developed as much as they would have wanted this year.... They may well go to the draft and target some like James Marshall or Ben Botica.

 

[donmcdazzle]

James Marshall and Botica would both be better bets than Parker, they might opt for James Wilson from Southland? He gives fullback cover too I guess. Although that's kind of what Dickson does and Dickson is a better goal kicker.

I'm adament Tikoirotuma deserves a spot in someone's team. He is better than Atiga and Saunders. A little birdie told me Doug Tietjens and Ma'afu Fia are likely on their way to the highlanders too.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

yeah, dont really think of Ben as an outside back, mid field to be sure.

Last i heard Lynn still hadn't been signed

I would go with Parker, he hasn't progressed because tony has been on fire, for the 3rd choice you may as well go for youth, cheaper and get the exposted to the environment

I was thinking the same thing about saunders and atiga competeing for the same spot and with signing someone like gear (and maybe buxton) suanders ability to play wing seems less important...

so in conclusion...i have no idea

would be very happy with a backline of

Cowen/smith, slade/lima, Gear/Buxton, treeby/?, Lynn/Atiga, Poki/? and smith/baker

Paterson plays on the left?

 

[Darwin]

yeah, dont really think of Ben as an outside back, mid field to be sure. Last i heard Lynn still hadn't been signed I would go with Parker, he hasn't progressed because tony has been on fire, for the 3rd choice you may as well go for youth, cheaper and get the exposted to the environment I was thinking the same thing about saunders and atiga competeing for the same spot and with signing someone like gear (and maybe buxton) suanders ability to play wing seems less important... so in conclusion...i have no idea would be very happy with a backline of Cowen/smith, slade/lima, Gear/Buxton, treeby/?, Lynn/Atiga, Poki/? and smith/baker Paterson plays on the left?

Yeah Paterson plays mainly on the left, but he can play on the right. I hope we manage to get Piutau back - I'd even consider starting him at centre ahead of Lynn, as I felt we really lacked some physicality in the backs last season.

James Marshall and Botica would both be better bets than Parker, they might opt for James Wilson from Southland? He gives fullback cover too I guess. Although that's kind of what Dickson does and Dickson is a better goal kicker. I'm adament Tikoirotuma deserves a spot in someone's team. He is better than Atiga and Saunders. A little birdie told me Doug Tietjens and Ma'afu Fia are likely on their way to the highlanders too.

James Wilson has signed overseas (can't remember where), and he's not that good in any case (especially when he gets put under any pressure). I'd be really happy if Fia comes down to the Highlanders (though I'd imagine the Canes would be pretty keen on him), but I'm not sure about Tiejtens - he's a good player, but the Highlanders are already stacked with loose-forwards (Thomson, Crosswell, Hardie, Manu, Dixon, with Hoeata also able to cover there). There probably is room for another openside flanker, but they do have plenty of options within their own region such as Eben Joubert (who was great before injury) and TJ Ioane (who was one of the standouts for Otago this season), or Tim Boys (whose been part of the team before, and was in the wider training squad last season).

 

[Kiwiwomble]

I would have Eben or TJ any day of the week, Grant and Evans have also been pretty good this year but too many ahead of them

 

[donmcdazzle]

Yeah Paterson plays mainly on the left, but he can play on the right. I hope we manage to get Piutau back - I'd even consider starting him at centre ahead of Lynn, as I felt we really lacked some physicality in the backs last season. James Wilson has signed overseas (can't remember where), and he's not that good in any case (especially when he gets put under any pressure). I'd be really happy if Fia comes down to the Highlanders (though I'd imagine the Canes would be pretty keen on him), but I'm not sure about Tiejtens - he's a good player, but the Highlanders are already stacked with loose-forwards (Thomson, Crosswell, Hardie, Manu, Dixon, with Hoeata also able to cover there). There probably is room for another openside flanker, but they do have plenty of options within their own region such as Eben Joubert (who was great before injury) and TJ Ioane (who was one of the standouts for Otago this season), or Tim Boys (whose been part of the team before, and was in the wider training squad last season).

Tietjens is strictly a 7 so he would be competing against Joubert and not Ioane, Grant or Evans. Tietjens is more reliable than Joubert, he seems to be injured more often than not. The 'canes coaches are idiots, they haven't signed a single Manawatu player despite the majority of our squad being better than Wellingtons. Their loss with Ma'afu Fia is the Highlanders gain. Hurricanes have the likes of Bent and the other Wellington pretenders ahead of Ma'afu which is plainly and simply a joke.

 

[Darwin]

Tietjens is strictly a 7 so he would be competing against Joubert and not Ioane, Grant or Evans. Tietjens is more reliable than Joubert, he seems to be injured more often than not. The 'canes coaches are idiots, they haven't signed a single Manawatu player despite the majority of our squad being better than Wellingtons. Their loss with Ma'afu Fia is the Highlanders gain. Hurricanes have the likes of Bent and the other Wellington pretenders ahead of Ma'afu which is plainly and simply a joke.

Otago played dual opensides for most of the season (with the flankers simply playing left/right rather than openside/blindside) - despite often wearing the 6 jersey TJ Ioane is an openside flanker. I'm still not convinced about him yet though - he's got incredible speed for a flanker, and is a powerful ball runner, however his ball security in contact is pretty poor at times. I think the Highlanders will pick him up though, as he has a lot of potential.

 

[donmcdazzle]

Otago played dual opensides for most of the season (with the flankers simply playing left/right rather than openside/blindside) - despite often wearing the 6 jersey TJ Ioane is an openside flanker. I'm still not convinced about him yet though - he's got incredible speed for a flanker, and is a powerful ball runner, however his ball security in contact is pretty poor at times. I think the Highlanders will pick him up though, as he has a lot of potential.

I've played a season or two with TJ, and I can tell you he is definitely not, and has never been, an openside. He is either an 8 or 6, he doesn't play at all like a 7. He is the sort of loosie Joseph likes too, good strong carrier, strong in the tackle.

 

[Darwin]

I've played a season or two with TJ, and I can tell you he is definitely not, and has never been, an openside. He is either an 8 or 6, he doesn't play at all like a 7. He is the sort of loosie Joseph likes too, good strong carrier, strong in the tackle.

You should probably tell his coaches then, as they seem to disagree with you Ioane played the entire club season with Southern exclusively as an openside, and as I've already mentioned, Otago played generally used left/right flankers throughout the season as they considered most of their flankers opensides (Hill, Joubert, Tamihere, and Ioane).

 

[donmcdazzle]

You should probably tell his coaches then, as they seem to disagree with you Ioane played the entire club season with Southern exclusively as an openside, and as I've already mentioned, Otago played generally used left/right flankers throughout the season as they considered most of their flankers opensides (Hill, Joubert, Tamihere, and Ioane).

That is so weird, he doesn't play at all like a 'traditional' 7 at all. Way more of a Nasi Manu type player than a 7. He hardly does the job of a fetcher. Guess they're trying to convert him! I stand corrected. Do you rate him in that role? Not being a smart arse just interested to know if he has gone well playing openside in club footy.

 

[Darwin]

That is so weird, he doesn't play at all like a 'traditional' 7 at all. Way more of a Nasi Manu type player than a 7. He hardly does the job of a fetcher. Guess they're trying to convert him! I stand corrected. Do you rate him in that role? Not being a smart arse just interested to know if he has gone well playing openside in club footy.

Quite frankly, no I don't rate him as a 7. I agree that he doesn't play the role of a 'fetcher' well - I can only assume they are trying to turn him into a 7. He was very impressive in the few club games I saw him play - he is incredibly fast so was always able to get to the breakdown first, and was reasonably effective at the breakdown at club level (more due to his shear power than great technique). I think his lack of height means it would be far more difficult for him to play 6/8 at a high level, as most teams want lineout jumpers in these positions, and he's not really a lineout option (he's listed at 1.82m on the Otago website - looks bigger on the field, though that may be due to his afro ). Not sure whether I would pick him for the Highlanders - I would prefer Joubert if he was fit, but given Joubert will probably be injured Ioane could be the next best option.