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Positions of concern for NZ
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<blockquote data-quote="Larksea" data-source="post: 948417" data-attributes="member: 43875"><p>biggest concerns for me are</p><p></p><p>12,13 what will the makeup of our midfield actually be? We simply don't have an established combination, mostly because of injuries and again Crotty is injured. I will say ALB deserves more credit than he gets. He has gotten better and better every season, when he gets on the park for the AB's he always delivers. He's had a standout season again leading the comp in offloads. I like SBW its hard to wade through all the hate he gets, sure hes had a rough season and has been injured. Watching that last blues game which was the first we got to see of him in some time to me it looked promising. He constantly creates opportunities with either his offloads or when hes a decoy attracting multiple defenders. He's an excellent defender. I hope he stays fit he will surely keep getting better. Often injury breaks do players a lot of good, just have to wait and see.</p><p></p><p>14, NMS is out of the picture and Naholo has been deemed not good enough despite showing some positive signs. He has been a bit hit and miss at test level at the same time when he's good he is so good. and he has generally been more consistent than Julian Savea was in his last 3-4 years as an AB. Reece is an exciting prospect but is he what we are looking for going into WC finals? is he doing enough without the ball? No way. He's small, its hard to really know how good he is under the high ball under pressure the crusaders games Ive seen this year he never really got tested. Going into a WC that area of the game becomes critical. I would sooner run Bridge or Jordie at 14 for their more proven credentials under the high ball. I really think the makeup of the back 3 should contain 2 players considered world class under the high ball. I would consider Ioane to be solid without being world class like Dagg, Beauden, Ben, Jane, Kahui... Jordie has a massive bonus with his height. Solomana Alaimalo is also a guy who should have been considered blistering speed over like 195cm tall and superb under the high ball.</p><p></p><p>6, so squire is currently out of the picture but could come back for the WC. but signs still suggest we have an issue at 6. NZ always has a wealth of talent at 6 we produce a ton of players with the size and skills for 6 while we generally struggle to produce lots of guys who fit the ideal mold for an international lock. We just happen to be lucky right now having the two best locks we have ever had. Then I look at Scott Barrett and I see a guy ideally suited to playing 6. Looking at the options. Robinson, Fifita, Shannon, Dalton Papalii, Luke Jacobson, Douglas, Taufua, Luke Whitelock so many very good players and no obvious standout. OK three of those guys are not in the squad and likely two more will drop out before the WC. If squire does not come back in we are going to end up fielding a rookie 6. I would give both Frizell and Jacobson a couple of good test to see what they can do and if that fails I would use Scott Barrett at 6 going into the business end of the WC. I'm not sold on He has had chances and not nailed it down. His error rate and defense is a bit back from where Jacobson and Frizell are stats wise. I also think Luke Whitelock is unlucky. He's a solid option and an excellent defender with a high workrate.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Larksea, post: 948417, member: 43875"] biggest concerns for me are 12,13 what will the makeup of our midfield actually be? We simply don't have an established combination, mostly because of injuries and again Crotty is injured. I will say ALB deserves more credit than he gets. He has gotten better and better every season, when he gets on the park for the AB's he always delivers. He's had a standout season again leading the comp in offloads. I like SBW its hard to wade through all the hate he gets, sure hes had a rough season and has been injured. Watching that last blues game which was the first we got to see of him in some time to me it looked promising. He constantly creates opportunities with either his offloads or when hes a decoy attracting multiple defenders. He's an excellent defender. I hope he stays fit he will surely keep getting better. Often injury breaks do players a lot of good, just have to wait and see. 14, NMS is out of the picture and Naholo has been deemed not good enough despite showing some positive signs. He has been a bit hit and miss at test level at the same time when he's good he is so good. and he has generally been more consistent than Julian Savea was in his last 3-4 years as an AB. Reece is an exciting prospect but is he what we are looking for going into WC finals? is he doing enough without the ball? No way. He's small, its hard to really know how good he is under the high ball under pressure the crusaders games Ive seen this year he never really got tested. Going into a WC that area of the game becomes critical. I would sooner run Bridge or Jordie at 14 for their more proven credentials under the high ball. I really think the makeup of the back 3 should contain 2 players considered world class under the high ball. I would consider Ioane to be solid without being world class like Dagg, Beauden, Ben, Jane, Kahui... Jordie has a massive bonus with his height. Solomana Alaimalo is also a guy who should have been considered blistering speed over like 195cm tall and superb under the high ball. 6, so squire is currently out of the picture but could come back for the WC. but signs still suggest we have an issue at 6. NZ always has a wealth of talent at 6 we produce a ton of players with the size and skills for 6 while we generally struggle to produce lots of guys who fit the ideal mold for an international lock. We just happen to be lucky right now having the two best locks we have ever had. Then I look at Scott Barrett and I see a guy ideally suited to playing 6. Looking at the options. Robinson, Fifita, Shannon, Dalton Papalii, Luke Jacobson, Douglas, Taufua, Luke Whitelock so many very good players and no obvious standout. OK three of those guys are not in the squad and likely two more will drop out before the WC. If squire does not come back in we are going to end up fielding a rookie 6. I would give both Frizell and Jacobson a couple of good test to see what they can do and if that fails I would use Scott Barrett at 6 going into the business end of the WC. I'm not sold on He has had chances and not nailed it down. His error rate and defense is a bit back from where Jacobson and Frizell are stats wise. I also think Luke Whitelock is unlucky. He's a solid option and an excellent defender with a high workrate. [/QUOTE]
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