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
Other Stuff
Archived
Tri Nations 2009-2011
All Blacks Tri-nations squad 2011
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: 418333" data-attributes="member: 24910"><p>It does seem a bit excessive, but Toeava generally plays his best rugby at fullback/wing, so I don't think the selectors want him to play in the midfield. From a NZ perspective I'm more than happy to have as many midfield options in the squad as possible - the last three world cup matches we have ended up playing a fullback at centre in the crucial matches, so having extra cover for centre is fine by me!</p><p></p><p>Maitland has had a good season, but I don't think he has been as impressive as Guildford (incidentally Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder recently suggested Guildford has been the Crusaders <a href="http://tvnz.co.nz/all-blacks/blackadder-nominates-guildford-4246498" target="_blank">best back this season</a>). What may count against Maitland is that the RWC will be played in NZ in spring, which is typically wet, and not that warm. Maitland always performs his best on a dry hard ground; when the Crusaders have played in NZ on a damp field he has been completely anonymous. In contrast Guildford's phenomenal work-rate has meant he has excelled in these game; several times he has been the difference between the Crusaders winning and losing these games (one of the Chiefs matches and the recent Hurricanes match comes to mind).</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I too am disappointed not to see a specialist back-up 7 selected. Can't agree at all on Toeava though. After an average start to his career he has been outstanding for the AB's over the last couple of years (the recent Hong Kong test aside). He was also in phenomenal form over the Super Rugby season before injury; he made very few of the basic errors that plagued his early career, was devastating with the ball in hand, exceptional under the high ball, and very strong in defence. In contrast Jane has been horribly out of form this season - he himself has gone as far as to describe his personal Super Rugby form as "<a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/5264359/Wing-Cory-Jane-grateful-for-half-a-chance" target="_blank">shocking</a>"! I really hope that Jane takes his chances (if he gets a go in early tests), as Cory Jane in 2009 form is as good as any wing in world rugby. Like some others I wouldn't have picked Dagg, but instead would have gone for Ben Smith; Dagg may provide a slightly better attacking threat but Smith himself is very dangerous, and makes a fraction of the errors that Dagg makes (and he comes from the Highlanders, which likely explains my bias towards him <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big Grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /> ).</p><p></p><p>I'm not surprised Crockett didn't make the initial 30-man squad, as despite having a strong Super Rugby season he is unproven at test level. I know next to nothing about scrummaging myself, but I've been reliably informed that scrummaging at test match level is very different than at Super Rugby level. Northern Hemisphere referees have different interpretations in the scrum - how Crockett will go under their interpretations is yet to be seen. I'm not saying Crockett will struggle (as I honestly have no idea), but I'm not surprised that the selectors have gone for the tried and true (Woodcock) rather than the unknown (Crockett). In any case Crockett may get a go in the early tri-nations tests; if he can prove his dominance there he may force his way into the final 30-man RWC squad.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Darwin, post: 418333, member: 24910"] It does seem a bit excessive, but Toeava generally plays his best rugby at fullback/wing, so I don't think the selectors want him to play in the midfield. From a NZ perspective I'm more than happy to have as many midfield options in the squad as possible - the last three world cup matches we have ended up playing a fullback at centre in the crucial matches, so having extra cover for centre is fine by me! Maitland has had a good season, but I don't think he has been as impressive as Guildford (incidentally Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder recently suggested Guildford has been the Crusaders [URL="http://tvnz.co.nz/all-blacks/blackadder-nominates-guildford-4246498"]best back this season[/URL]). What may count against Maitland is that the RWC will be played in NZ in spring, which is typically wet, and not that warm. Maitland always performs his best on a dry hard ground; when the Crusaders have played in NZ on a damp field he has been completely anonymous. In contrast Guildford's phenomenal work-rate has meant he has excelled in these game; several times he has been the difference between the Crusaders winning and losing these games (one of the Chiefs matches and the recent Hurricanes match comes to mind). I too am disappointed not to see a specialist back-up 7 selected. Can't agree at all on Toeava though. After an average start to his career he has been outstanding for the AB's over the last couple of years (the recent Hong Kong test aside). He was also in phenomenal form over the Super Rugby season before injury; he made very few of the basic errors that plagued his early career, was devastating with the ball in hand, exceptional under the high ball, and very strong in defence. In contrast Jane has been horribly out of form this season - he himself has gone as far as to describe his personal Super Rugby form as "[URL="http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/5264359/Wing-Cory-Jane-grateful-for-half-a-chance"]shocking[/URL]"! I really hope that Jane takes his chances (if he gets a go in early tests), as Cory Jane in 2009 form is as good as any wing in world rugby. Like some others I wouldn't have picked Dagg, but instead would have gone for Ben Smith; Dagg may provide a slightly better attacking threat but Smith himself is very dangerous, and makes a fraction of the errors that Dagg makes (and he comes from the Highlanders, which likely explains my bias towards him :D ). I'm not surprised Crockett didn't make the initial 30-man squad, as despite having a strong Super Rugby season he is unproven at test level. I know next to nothing about scrummaging myself, but I've been reliably informed that scrummaging at test match level is very different than at Super Rugby level. Northern Hemisphere referees have different interpretations in the scrum - how Crockett will go under their interpretations is yet to be seen. I'm not saying Crockett will struggle (as I honestly have no idea), but I'm not surprised that the selectors have gone for the tried and true (Woodcock) rather than the unknown (Crockett). In any case Crockett may get a go in the early tri-nations tests; if he can prove his dominance there he may force his way into the final 30-man RWC squad. [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Other Stuff
Archived
Tri Nations 2009-2011
All Blacks Tri-nations squad 2011
Top