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
All Black EOYT North named .....
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="gsv" data-source="post: 283784"><p>Guildford is a great call, no doubt. I'm looking forward to seeing him play. Sorry for Gear, he really should have make it. Anyway, that Ben Smith has surely got talent, he's got skills and he knows where he should be at any time, you often see him coming out of nowhere to pick that loose pass. Good aerial skills as well. That said, it is yet to see if he can prove himself at higher level. And if he can prove to deserve the nod ahead of Gear and Rocks.</p><p>For what concerns strong wingers, yes, that Smith is about 88 kg. Not that big, really...</p><p></p><p>I don't like the inclusion of Delany. If a third fly half was to be taken, I would have gone for Cruden or Robbie Robinson, who really are rising stars and could have learnt something out of the tour, even without taking the field too much. Delany is a kind of Andrew Mehrtens, but not as clinical. He has never had starring roles in the Super14, too, so no much more high-level experience than Cruden or Robinson. That's a strange decision, really.</p><p></p><p>Clearly they're looking for consistency rather than pure class, but they are risking to loose the aura of a true attacking power in world rugby. I think Henry & Co, which I always supported and still do, are a bit too scared, they've lost their confidence. They should risk more, I think, and try to really get things going, rather than be scared. 2008 was a good year for the All Blacks in terms of the silverware, but their play was often ugly, too often. This year has been even worse, but those hundred minutes played in the last one and a half matches seemed to turn things around. I hope to see them returning at their very best: attacking waves erasing the opposition off the field. Great to see. (Even though, as Italian, I fear we'll get the usual hiding)</p><p></p><p>Another strange selection I think is the lock. Apart from the evergreen Thorn, they haven't got experience there. Eaton has never convinced (and doesn't seem he will this time). After being injuried for ages, Boric has only played a few games with struggling North Harbour and I don't know if that is enough. I like hard-working Donnelly, but he's not like the bad-boy Keith Robinson, and definitely is not the flying type of Ross and likes. The decision to drop the Canterbury lock to make sure he bulks up for the future could be appropriate (they surely know those things better than I do), but what about Josh Bekhuis from Southland? He's a good grinder, does the basics well, he's aggressive and is good at set phases, good with ball in hand, young and has played well for both the Highlanders and in the ANZ Cup. I though they'd call him, really. I would have taken Thorn, Ross (apart from gym affairs), Donnelly, Bekhuis.</p><p></p><p>Finally, yeah, I don't like Andy Ellis very much. They say Weepu isn't fit enough and appearently he won't be fit for the upcoming weeks either. So, with Mathewson a bit out of tune this year, Ellis should be the obvious choice, since he's far the more experienced and probably the most reliable of the other contenders. Still, I don't like the call.</p><p></p><p>And there should have been space for Dagg somehow.</p><p></p><p>Anyway, that's a good team. I hope to see the All Blacks play their rugby with confidence and hammer the French, eh eh eh.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="gsv, post: 283784"] Guildford is a great call, no doubt. I'm looking forward to seeing him play. Sorry for Gear, he really should have make it. Anyway, that Ben Smith has surely got talent, he's got skills and he knows where he should be at any time, you often see him coming out of nowhere to pick that loose pass. Good aerial skills as well. That said, it is yet to see if he can prove himself at higher level. And if he can prove to deserve the nod ahead of Gear and Rocks. For what concerns strong wingers, yes, that Smith is about 88 kg. Not that big, really... I don't like the inclusion of Delany. If a third fly half was to be taken, I would have gone for Cruden or Robbie Robinson, who really are rising stars and could have learnt something out of the tour, even without taking the field too much. Delany is a kind of Andrew Mehrtens, but not as clinical. He has never had starring roles in the Super14, too, so no much more high-level experience than Cruden or Robinson. That's a strange decision, really. Clearly they're looking for consistency rather than pure class, but they are risking to loose the aura of a true attacking power in world rugby. I think Henry & Co, which I always supported and still do, are a bit too scared, they've lost their confidence. They should risk more, I think, and try to really get things going, rather than be scared. 2008 was a good year for the All Blacks in terms of the silverware, but their play was often ugly, too often. This year has been even worse, but those hundred minutes played in the last one and a half matches seemed to turn things around. I hope to see them returning at their very best: attacking waves erasing the opposition off the field. Great to see. (Even though, as Italian, I fear we'll get the usual hiding) Another strange selection I think is the lock. Apart from the evergreen Thorn, they haven't got experience there. Eaton has never convinced (and doesn't seem he will this time). After being injuried for ages, Boric has only played a few games with struggling North Harbour and I don't know if that is enough. I like hard-working Donnelly, but he's not like the bad-boy Keith Robinson, and definitely is not the flying type of Ross and likes. The decision to drop the Canterbury lock to make sure he bulks up for the future could be appropriate (they surely know those things better than I do), but what about Josh Bekhuis from Southland? He's a good grinder, does the basics well, he's aggressive and is good at set phases, good with ball in hand, young and has played well for both the Highlanders and in the ANZ Cup. I though they'd call him, really. I would have taken Thorn, Ross (apart from gym affairs), Donnelly, Bekhuis. Finally, yeah, I don't like Andy Ellis very much. They say Weepu isn't fit enough and appearently he won't be fit for the upcoming weeks either. So, with Mathewson a bit out of tune this year, Ellis should be the obvious choice, since he's far the more experienced and probably the most reliable of the other contenders. Still, I don't like the call. And there should have been space for Dagg somehow. Anyway, that's a good team. I hope to see the All Blacks play their rugby with confidence and hammer the French, eh eh eh. [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Rugby Union
International Test Matches
All Black EOYT North named .....
Top