Tadginator
Academy Player
Luke mcalister is amazing and he's a brilliant centre he is much better than Donald and everyone else except Carter but when mcalisters in form he's definitely pushing Dan carter
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Luke mCalister ab 2nd choice outhalf
- Thread starter Tadginator
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At the moment MacAlister certainly has the inside running to be Carters backup at the RWC. He has managed to play 4-5 games in a row without getting injured, and because of this has started to regain some form. His goal-kicking is generally very good, but it does worry me that he is primarily playing at 12 for the Blues - I'd like to see him get a few more starts at 10 for the Blues as the season goes on.
The major thing MacAlister has going for him at the moment is that all the other serious contenders are either injured or not in good form. Slade injury all but rules him out, which is disappointing as he was looking in good form the Highlanders. Cruden has generally struggled with the Canes, and is now injured, while Delany has not taken his chance with the Chiefs. Donald has been injured, though he will come into contention when he gets back to full fitness. Probably the best NZ 10 on display in Super Rugby at the moment (with Carter injured) is Steven Brett, which is pretty worrying as he is traditionally a pretty flaky player, and his goal-kicking is poor....
The major thing MacAlister has going for him at the moment is that all the other serious contenders are either injured or not in good form. Slade injury all but rules him out, which is disappointing as he was looking in good form the Highlanders. Cruden has generally struggled with the Canes, and is now injured, while Delany has not taken his chance with the Chiefs. Donald has been injured, though he will come into contention when he gets back to full fitness. Probably the best NZ 10 on display in Super Rugby at the moment (with Carter injured) is Steven Brett, which is pretty worrying as he is traditionally a pretty flaky player, and his goal-kicking is poor....
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Yeah currently McAlister would get the Job by some margin. Delany hasn't been great and is only kicking ~60% Brett has been good at times but isn't reliable on defence, doesn't kick for goal and is untested at test level. Donald will get a chance if he comes back well from injury, seemed to be building well before he was injured, last thing he did was make a nice line break.
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*Thinks back to last time McAllister played outhalf for the All Blacks*
Yes, please pick him. Please.
Yes, please pick him. Please.
dan the man
Bench Player
McAlistar will surely make the AB's squad this season... He's playing really well and is a third (after Carter and Weepu) goal-kicking option... Sure Dagg can kick but i wouldn't pick him to take the kicks at International level, (not yet anyway). But McAlistar is a no.12 who can be a backup no.10.
I still think that they will need a specialist no.10 as a backup... With Slade injured it makes for some pretty slim pickings, there is no way i'd pick Brett as his defense isn't good enough for test level, i like Delany but he's really not playing that well, Cruden is suffering from a poor Hurricanes team and a bit of poor form...
...That only leaves Donald!
I still think that they will need a specialist no.10 as a backup... With Slade injured it makes for some pretty slim pickings, there is no way i'd pick Brett as his defense isn't good enough for test level, i like Delany but he's really not playing that well, Cruden is suffering from a poor Hurricanes team and a bit of poor form...
...That only leaves Donald!
McAlistar will surely make the AB's squad this season... He's playing really well and is a third (after Carter and Weepu) goal-kicking option... Sure Dagg can kick but i wouldn't pick him to take the kicks at International level, (not yet anyway). But McAlistar is a no.12 who can be a backup no.10.
I still think that they will need a specialist no.10 as a backup... With Slade injured it makes for some pretty slim pickings, there is no way i'd pick Brett as his defense isn't good enough for test level, i like Delany but he's really not playing that well, Cruden is suffering from a poor Hurricanes team and a bit of poor form...
...That only leaves Donald!
The only way I can MacAlister getting into the squad is as a backup 10; the 12 jersey will be contested between Nonu and SBW. Unless he can prove he's the second best option at 10 in the country he won't make the squad, as there is no way he would make the squad as a midfield back in my opinion.
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Yeah agree with Darwin, it's first five or nothing - I don't expect him to get any game time outside of a pool match or two, providing Carter isn't injured.
It will basically be a straight up choice between Donald and McAlister.
It will basically be a straight up choice between Donald and McAlister.
FlukeArtist
Bench Player
Please not Donald.
Despite the reference I take to be in the QF against France, McAlister has played fly half three times since then, two of which were wins against France and Italy and one of which was a loss to South Africa...But when it comes to big game stuff ups, it must be nice to have a non choker like O'Gara...
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Black Heart
Bench Player
Where's the third option for suicide?
At least McAlistar has the flair needed to play flyhalf at this level despite that fact that he's a hot/cold play. Donald on the other hand just packs just packs up every time.
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Shaggy
First XV
McAlister will probably get in the squad as he is a good bench option, covering 10 and 12
TRF_RC
Bench Player
Apart from the fact that McAlister offers such a strong option for 2nd choice Number 10, given that he's defensively very strong, he's reliable from the boot and he can direct the field well - but there's one more key component to why he's a good back up should the resilient Dan Carter fall to injury again: He's been there before.
He's lived through THAT GAME. He knows what it's like with all that pressure and he felt it first hand to lose the game while being at the helm.
It's got to be McAllister.
He's lived through THAT GAME. He knows what it's like with all that pressure and he felt it first hand to lose the game while being at the helm.
It's got to be McAllister.
dan the man
Bench Player
Tony Brown wouldn't look too out of place in an AB's jersey!!! Haha, it seems a bit ridiculous but his kicking game is pretty good, he's pretty hardy and his vision and ability to direct his backline are very good 
Tony Brown wouldn't look too out of place in an AB's jersey!!! Haha, it seems a bit ridiculous but his kicking game is pretty good, he's pretty hardy and his vision and ability to direct his backline are very good
I was just thinking the same after the Crusaders game in the weekend. Tony Brown hasn't put a foot wrong, his general and place kicking is pretty solid. Sounds ridiculous but its something the AB coaches must be thinking of considering there isn't much good depth in that position.
It was interesting to see Wayne Smith at the game, he had a handheld camera was recording a particular player (or more than 1). I wonder who that could be?
Tony Brown wouldn't look too out of place in an AB's jersey!!! Haha, it seems a bit ridiculous but his kicking game is pretty good, he's pretty hardy and his vision and ability to direct his backline are very good
It'd be pretty interesting, but I can't see it happening. Imagine being picked for the AB's after a little over a decade since your last AB game.
Apart from the fact he hasn't actually played first-five... that is a major fault in my opinion. I'm not saying he won't make a good first-five, as he seems to have all the necessary skills, but he will actually have to play a season of provincial rugby at 10 before he is ever considered to play 10 at a higher level...
Brown will be nowhere near the AB's in my opinion. He had a solid game for the Highlanders, but had a very easy ride behind a dominant Highlanders pack. However in his other start of the season (also against the Crusaders) he had probably the worst game I've seen him play. He dropped the ball 2-3 times in the half he was on, missed numerous simple kicks, and his passing was poor. Overall his general play is still reasonably solid, but he is ridiculously slow... his complete lack of speed could be easily exposed. If he continues to play well he may manage to get a few more starts for the Highlanders, but he will have difficulty keeping Robinson out of the Highlanders 10 jersey.
dan the man
Bench Player
Yeah, as kool as it would be, i cant see Brown getting picked...
As for Dagg, I've never seen him play at no.10 and its extremely unlikely that i will this season, considering the competition he'd be facing (Carter and Berquist). Cory Jane would probably be capable of playing no.10 as he has a great skill set and the ability to read the game very well, but i doubt it would ever happen... especially at International level.
Do we know how long Slade is out for??? If he was available for the Highlanders last few games, and played well he could still very well be in the mix... Broken jaw, about 8-10 weeks???
As for Dagg, I've never seen him play at no.10 and its extremely unlikely that i will this season, considering the competition he'd be facing (Carter and Berquist). Cory Jane would probably be capable of playing no.10 as he has a great skill set and the ability to read the game very well, but i doubt it would ever happen... especially at International level.
Do we know how long Slade is out for??? If he was available for the Highlanders last few games, and played well he could still very well be in the mix... Broken jaw, about 8-10 weeks???
Even though Colin Slade's RWC chance have been diminished as a result from his 2nd major injury this season there is sill some hope. Chances of playing Super Rugby are slim however the ITM Cup this year starts on July 14 - more than one week before the Tri-Nations start, and more than two weeks before the All Blacks first game. He has more than enough time regain match fitness for the world cup which starts in September.
It all depends when the world cup squad needs to be announced. As far as I can recall once the official world cup squad of 30 is released there cannot be any changes apart from if there is an injury. Its a long shot but anything can happen down the line especially if no player puts their hand up during this Super Rugby season.
It all depends when the world cup squad needs to be announced. As far as I can recall once the official world cup squad of 30 is released there cannot be any changes apart from if there is an injury. Its a long shot but anything can happen down the line especially if no player puts their hand up during this Super Rugby season.
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Better than Stephen 'I'm **** and lost the Bledisloe cup game because I'm so ****' Donald. Or Luke 'I'm too much of a coward to take the DG' McAllister. And that's saying something considering I bloody hate ROG.
If I were a New Zealander I'd be bloody petrified every time Danny Carter plays up until the World Cup. Donald is muck, McAllister is a centre who hasn't progressed to anywhere near his potential and it seems that no one else is ready. Who else is there? Slade? Berquist? Emmm?
Luckily they do have the best 10 in the world and with any luck he'll stay fit and they'll win the World Cup.
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