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AB future centres

Icemn

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King Conrad and Ma'a Nonu are entering their last few years at top level and will probably retire after a few more seasons...

now my question is, who will be replacing them on 12 and 13 respectively...

so was thinking, how will a centre pair combination of Tim Na-Nai Williams and Ben Smith be?

Tim on 2nd 5-8 and Ben on centre...

Tim for some reason reminds me a lot of Pita Alitini and Ben Smith reminds me of Conrad Smith

what other option are there as I feel this combination will be world class...
 
I like both individual players but I feel Nanai-Williams is best suited to fullback (despite never getting time there).

I think Nanai-Williams and Ben Smith as a combination may be a tad lightweight.
 
TNW is not a centre and never will be. His best chance of success at the highest level is by specialising as a wing.

Ben Smith is definitely a possibility, but I think his best position is easily fullback.

Of the other guys coming through, Francis Saili will be a long term All Black, I think. He has a few work ons, but has a nice tidy game and a bit of X factor.

Jason Emery has shown promise for the Highlanders, and I think is the next in line after Saili. If Andrew Horrell can get some good game time at centre then he too is a possibility.

Other players who I think will be handy Super Rugby players but I can't see going anywhere beyond that are Bundee Aki, Ray Le-Lo and the older brigade such as Ryan Crotty and Jackson Willison.
 
I like both individual players but I feel Nanai-Williams is best suited to fullback (despite never getting time there).

I think Nanai-Williams and Ben Smith as a combination may be a tad lightweight.

Nick, why you referring to weight? Pita Alitini was also a small guy and could have weighed more or less the same Tim

I would definitely give him a shot on 12.. then again Pita had a huge centre to cover for him in Alama Ieremia... where Tim will not have in Ben if they opt that way...

Is Tamati leaving NZ rugby?
 
I made a similar thread earlier this year, look:

http://www.therugbyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?30304-Robbie-Fruean-deserves-to-play-in-the-All-Blacks


:D

Robbie Fruean maybe????

It's a problem in the future...
Robbie Fruean is a tad one dimensional, if he can develop his game like Nonu did I can see him being a good replacement. I feel like Ben Smith has been earmarked to replace his namesake which would be a shame because I feel like they're wasting some of his skill set there. Tim Na-Nai can't defend well enough for inside, size none-withstanding, you can't put him up against the Tuilagi, Roberts, de Villiers of the world and expect him to front up.

I don't think it's going to be a problem for the AB's at all but it will be interesting to see how it develops. It might be a problem for all of half a season after the initial transition, but I doubt it's a long term problem.
 
Rene Ranger would have to be a possibility for me. He would make a great ball running Outside Centre. He can defend well enough to play at No. 12 but I believe he'd be wasted in too close to the Fly-Half. To me he's the sort of player that off a set piece or turnover he will severely punish anyone who isn't on the ball. So to speak.
 
And we can ignore all that considering he's going to play for Montpellier! Doh!
 
i honestly don't think the Nonu/Smith combo is going to make the next world cup, Nonu is lucky to have a spot right now. Smith has had a long run of head injuries and has a break from rugby coming up and in a couple months he will be 32

Renee Ranger was a clear and obvious choice, it's crazy how he matured this year. But hes gone for now, you can bet that Hansen & Co. will keep in close contact with Ranger and bring him back first chance he gets.

Pretty gutted Ellison has left as well, very very classy player. Would have been a more than solid test performer if needed.

Other options Currently:

Saili - very good player, Lets face it he just needs a bit more experience at the top level otherwise he could take over from Nonu Tomorrow. Done more good stuff in some games than Nonu has done all season in Super Rugby.
Jackson Willison - Doesn't have all out x-factor but has a slick passing and running game and is arguably one of if not the best defensive 12 around. I think he even made 20 tackles in a game recently. That's a McCaw/Cane like workload on defense for a 12?
Aki - Been a very good defender and impact player for the chiefs, probably has not quite done enough but he is also very young.
TNW - awesome skills and attacking threat. shows heart on defense but not really the type of player that will help win us a world cup. As good as he is I don't think he will be an All Black. He has a halfbacks build, with his build and skill set he would be better off and could go further playing 9 or even 10.
Charlie Ngatai - I think he's starting to Mature, seemed to make the 13 jersey his own at the chiefs later in the season and actually did very well. I'd like to see him be a bit more physical on defense and work on an offload game, hit the gym a bit more.
Horrell - This guy is one of those Naturally gifted players, I honestly think he could play for the All Blacks tomorrow and he would not look out of place. If he keeps developing it will get to the point where he will demand selection.
Ryan Crotty - unlucky not to be i the current squad, fact is if he did not throw that intercept pass against the chiefs then he probably would be in the squad right now.
Robbie Fruen - Much respect to this guy, he's a battler. But I dont think he is All Black Material. hard to imagine him coming back from his 2nd heart operation better than ever sadly. His best option now would be to Cash out in Japan for a few seasons and bank.
Ben Smith - could play 12 or 13 for the All Blacks tomorrow and probably be better than Nonu or Smith. But he's also our best option at 14 right now so I'd rather see someone else - a young player used/developed.
Sean Treeby - not a serious option right now but showed some spark this year and a few passes that suggest his game is developing. Will see a lot of him in ITM cup and Next year for the highlanders with Nonu Gone.
Phil Burleigh - Bit of a surprise package, went from a training squad member of the chiefs to a key man for the highlanders. Probably under utilized by them this year with Nonu and Ellison ahead of him - not really in the frame yet.
Jason Emery - very skilled young player to watch for next year.

Wildcard players
SBW - chances are he will be back in NZ rugby before the next world cup. Renee seems convinced that he will be at the chiefs next year. Tew is also very +ve about it.
Richard Kahui - I think he's the best center or winger in the world when he's not injured. He is in a rare group of players like McCaw and Carter that perform consistently well and stand out at test level, sadly he has had one of the worst injury runs ever full stop. If he comes through two seasons in Japan injury free he will be a huge asset when he comes back.
Renee Ranger - ranger wants to be here, he made a mistake signing for France and I expect him to be back as soon as his two seasons are up.
Dan Carter - with the rise of Cruden, Carter is going to come under more pressure. An option is to have Cruden at 10 and Carter at 12 and in the current squad Carter is the main backup for 12 if Nonu is injured and the fact Barrett is in the squad as a 3rd 10 also suggests Carters future may have the 12 jersey in it more often.
 
TNW - awesome skills and attacking threat. shows heart on defense but not really the type of player that will help win us a world cup. As good as he is I don't think he will be an All Black. He has a halfbacks build, with his build and skill set he would be better off and could go further playing 9 or even 10.

I think Gio Aplon is even smaller and slimmer, yet he plays test rugby for the Springboks as a fullback/wing (and is one of my favourite SA players by the way). I don't see any reason why Nanai-Williams couldn't do the same with the All Blacks. I do agree that he is too small for a centre though.
 

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