Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Help Support The Rugby Forum :
Forums
Rugby Union
International Test Matches
[2014 Mid-Year Tests] New Zealand
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Darwin" data-source="post: 633204" data-attributes="member: 24910"><p>I think that's a fair enough. I do agree Hartley is a solid international hooker, but I don't think there is that much different between him and the likes of Coles and Mealamu. If feel Coles and Mealamu offer a bit more with ball in hand than Hartley, which is important in the current NZ side (as neither Woodcock or Franks offer much with ball in hand). Both are solid lineout throwers too, and the NZ lineout has been going very well over the last few years (4-5 years ago it used to be our biggest weakness). A quick look at the stats (from scrum.com) shows that the All Blacks lineout functioned at 85% last season. I didn't break that down into individual players (as we rotated our 3 hookers a lot last season), but I think our top 3 hookers all had similar accuracy. So you are right that they aren't quite at the 90% level, but they aren't too far off (and there are many more factors to lineout success apart from the hooker...).</p><p></p><p>Coltman is an exciting prospect, but the biggest issue is his lineout throwing. He was a specialist TH prop up until 3-4 years (and still plays there at times for Otago), so throwing is a relatively new skill for him. He has certainly made big improvements in his throwing from when he started - he was pretty atrocious for a couple of seasons - but he still has a lot of work to do. If he sorts that out I think he will end up being an excellent test player - he is renowned for his scrummaging, is a strong ball runner, has a massive work-rate, and is good at the breakdown. However sorting out lineout throwing is easier said than done, and can take a lot of time...</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Darwin, post: 633204, member: 24910"] I think that's a fair enough. I do agree Hartley is a solid international hooker, but I don't think there is that much different between him and the likes of Coles and Mealamu. If feel Coles and Mealamu offer a bit more with ball in hand than Hartley, which is important in the current NZ side (as neither Woodcock or Franks offer much with ball in hand). Both are solid lineout throwers too, and the NZ lineout has been going very well over the last few years (4-5 years ago it used to be our biggest weakness). A quick look at the stats (from scrum.com) shows that the All Blacks lineout functioned at 85% last season. I didn't break that down into individual players (as we rotated our 3 hookers a lot last season), but I think our top 3 hookers all had similar accuracy. So you are right that they aren't quite at the 90% level, but they aren't too far off (and there are many more factors to lineout success apart from the hooker...). Coltman is an exciting prospect, but the biggest issue is his lineout throwing. He was a specialist TH prop up until 3-4 years (and still plays there at times for Otago), so throwing is a relatively new skill for him. He has certainly made big improvements in his throwing from when he started - he was pretty atrocious for a couple of seasons - but he still has a lot of work to do. If he sorts that out I think he will end up being an excellent test player - he is renowned for his scrummaging, is a strong ball runner, has a massive work-rate, and is good at the breakdown. However sorting out lineout throwing is easier said than done, and can take a lot of time... [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Rugby Union
International Test Matches
[2014 Mid-Year Tests] New Zealand
Top