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Post-RWC All Blacks Team?
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<blockquote data-quote="Mcfadden" data-source="post: 739473" data-attributes="member: 72865"><p>I agree that ideally Lima's tackling could be a lot better. But the stats swing in roundabouts. In Super Rugby, proportionate to the time spent playing, SBW's and Sopoaga's accuracy in tackling is very close. We probably do need a tackling aficionado there though. Fekitoa is a very aggressive guy who can absolutely fly out of the line and batter you, but I think we need a safe option like Conrad Smith who'll tackle a guy around the bootlaces each time to compliment Fekitoa's raw power. My other concern would be the size of our backline. If we were to play Cruden, Sopoaga and Skudder together that feels very small to me, and too heavy on the twinkle-toes aspect.</p><p></p><p>The advantage would be rather than persist with SBW, Sopoaga is going to be in it for the long term. You're not going to wake up to a headline about what he's doing next and have to worry about all the crap that comes with it. He's less injury prone than Ngatai. So out of both players theres more potential to build him up, give him experience and work on him. He'd be a great playmaker figure, do wonders for our territorial game and probably has a better step + more speed than SBW. </p><p></p><p>He'd have to make a lot of adjustments to his game to fit the mold of a center, but there are definitely benefits he could bring to the role. With 10 try assists this season, he definitely can make things happen for other people. He also may not have a wicked offload game, but he has beaten many defenders with his speed. Nonu is Nonu, and it will take awhile to reach that quality. And even when the stats are improved on, he would be a different type of 12. But there are some advantages for sure.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mcfadden, post: 739473, member: 72865"] I agree that ideally Lima's tackling could be a lot better. But the stats swing in roundabouts. In Super Rugby, proportionate to the time spent playing, SBW's and Sopoaga's accuracy in tackling is very close. We probably do need a tackling aficionado there though. Fekitoa is a very aggressive guy who can absolutely fly out of the line and batter you, but I think we need a safe option like Conrad Smith who'll tackle a guy around the bootlaces each time to compliment Fekitoa's raw power. My other concern would be the size of our backline. If we were to play Cruden, Sopoaga and Skudder together that feels very small to me, and too heavy on the twinkle-toes aspect. The advantage would be rather than persist with SBW, Sopoaga is going to be in it for the long term. You're not going to wake up to a headline about what he's doing next and have to worry about all the crap that comes with it. He's less injury prone than Ngatai. So out of both players theres more potential to build him up, give him experience and work on him. He'd be a great playmaker figure, do wonders for our territorial game and probably has a better step + more speed than SBW. He'd have to make a lot of adjustments to his game to fit the mold of a center, but there are definitely benefits he could bring to the role. With 10 try assists this season, he definitely can make things happen for other people. He also may not have a wicked offload game, but he has beaten many defenders with his speed. Nonu is Nonu, and it will take awhile to reach that quality. And even when the stats are improved on, he would be a different type of 12. But there are some advantages for sure. [/QUOTE]
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