Who's gonna partner Ma'a now...

First topic message reminder :

Now that Conrad Smith has been ruled out of the first two Bledisloe Cup matches?
Does Hansen choose SBW before he heads to japan or...
Next cab off the rank is Tamati Ellison.
He would be my pick.
Sayonnara Sonny!

I don't like Ben franks all that much either. Though I'm glad Ted picked him ahead of Afoa on the bench for the Cup.

I couldn't stand Thorne. Yeah he cleaned up some but was kind of a Blackadder for me, yet Todd was a much better skip. Didn't find Thorne inspiring at all. They were bad old days all right.

McAlister, Macdonald, Muliaina, Cullen, who else have we played out of position at 13? Those games were pretty important too. Just sucks Kahui is so injury prone. He's the natural successor to Smith and a world class player. Would have absolutely no qualms chucking him straight in at 13.

I hope not Laurie. I'm going for the Chiefs now. If the Sharks play as well as they did in Brisbane then they could find themselves on the way to NZ. Not that the trip itself is any reward.

This is Ma'as House?

In the middle of the street. Ma'as House.

When you take into account that both Umanga and Nonu were wings converted to centre as well, we really havent had a specialist like Smith.

aucklandlaurie wrote:

disneychilly wrote:When does SBW fly out to Japan? I'd assume it was soon after Super Rugby ended so he'd be a no go.

Ellison not available? To be honest Freuan would be next cab off that rank. Unless Hsnsen wants Nonu at 13 and either Bateman or Crotty. Moving Nonu out again doesn't fill me with confidence though.

I still curse Hogan's hamstring. We could have won that thing...

His contract finishes with the NZRFU when his team has completed all their Super xv committments, this weekend is probably his last game in New Zealand for quite some time.

So SBW is not likely to be available, laurie?

ASBO

My understanding is that the only way he can come back is if the Japs leased him back to the NZRFU, (similar to Thorns arrangement with Leinster), But if you were paying over a$1m USD for 12 games you sure wouldnt want to run the risk of him getting injured.

Why not just give Freuan a chance to see what he can do at that level?

MBTGOG
he's only got a small tool box.

aucklandlaurie wrote:
MBTGOG
he's only got a small tool box.

How would you know that?! Anyway it's all proportional!

Considering the damage that he could do, Rene Ranger would be good for a few tests before bugeurring off?

aucklandlaurie wrote:
When you take into account that both Umanga and Nonu were wings converted to centre as well, we really havent had a specialist like Smith.

[strike]

Ma'a and Tana were always gonna become midfield backs.
Drop a yard of pace and where u gonna go?
Both guys will be remembered as betta centres than wingers.
Class acts.
Would you guys have them in your team?
To be da man you gotta beat da man and SBW neva beat Ma'a! (or Tana at Toulon)

http://www.allblacks.com/news/19984/SBW-still-in-All-Blacks-frame

Food for thought.

I get that SBW is buggering off, but I think he'll be used alongside Nonu until Smith gets back.

theres no options really ready (and injury-free) who can step in to that sort of cauldron, and for all his faults, SBW is a very, very solid (sometimes exceptional) player.

Agree Comfort. He's a really solid player with an exceptional skill set. Just a shame he's leaving. If he mastered the game management side he could have been just ridiculous. I'll be floowing him in the NRL though. Hope he plays in the league world cup next year.

absolutely, i think he gets a bit of a tough ride, he's always been really open about his plans (from what I've seen up here anyway) and he seems to be a consumate professional in his chosen sport, excelling when given the opportunity.

Lets be honest, itll be a stop-gap until smith gets back anyway, no point in chucking in Fruen/Ellison and potentially ruining him if he gets the run around.

I see Ellison as the long term replacement for Smith at the moment though, someone mentioned Kahui, he's like Samuel L Jackson in unbreakable, such a talent ball in hand too, shame!

Yeah I think I was the one who mentioned Kahui. So frustrating. I'm really glad he was fit for the World Cup, that was some timing fluke I'm sure LOL. But it's almost like the perception of midfield depth in NZ was a fallacy with him being so injury prone and SBW always going to be here for a limited time.

SBW has grown up a lot from his league days, now he is definitely professional. Sydney will be a goldfish bowl but I think he'll handle it.

Though nothing's been signed yet. What price Nasser ends up in a huge fight over league contract negotiations and SBW says bugger you I'll go back to the ABs then?

haha, I did wonder where Kahui had been hiding up until the world cup, I was sure I hadnt seen him play in about 2 seasons and there he was, in full flight.

Yeah he needs to get rid of Nassar, hes not doing him any favours, but at least SBW is being pretty open about his motivations and not trying to take anyone for a ride. Still not an ideal situation.....

Do you think Hansen would possibly try 10. Cruden 12. Carter 13. Nonu?

Comfort wrote:
I see Ellison as the long term replacement for Smith at the moment though, someone mentioned Kahui, he's like Samuel L Jackson in unbreakable, such a talent ball in hand too, shame!

I don't really see it Comfort, Tamati is 29 now so no spring chicken in that regard. conrad is 31 this year so there's no huge difference. I can see Conrad continuing for another 4 years....

This is big bad news for us.
Ellison is the obvious choice if fit. I don't think there's any point going with Fruean. I'd rather try out Whitelock or even a Bateman/Nonu combo (that would be desperate)

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/7358192/SBW-may-yet-be-selected-for-All-Blacks-tests

chewed_mintie wrote:http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/7358192/SBW-may-yet-be-selected-for-All-Blacks-tests

“He is not definitely unavailable,”


"What’s happening to All Blacks, these days? There was a time when Colin Meads used to play with a detached spine. Now our current mob can’t even play through a detached retina. Sounds more like a detached heart to me. Wasn’t Conrad ever told there’s no eye in team?"

http://www.wait-of-a-nation.com/2012/07/25/conrad-smith-injury-stuffs-midfield/

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/7370153/Bledisloe-Cup-finale-for-Sonny-Bill-Williams

The plot thickens!

A long shot but what's the chances of Francis Saili getting involved?

He's looked one of the Blues few good players through their poor season. Solid defence, power and pace. Not as explosive as Fruen but seems to have a cooler head.

Nope...the AB's would never send a green, raw youngster into the Lion's den of Sydney first up.

Looks like, and this could be a major man sausage up or masterstroke, SBW at 12 and Maa at 13

Didn't you go 12. Nonu 13. SBW against Scotland??

But Pooly, with no disrespect to Scotland, this ain't Scotland we're up against!

The only team to trouble us on the outside of late has been Australia. In 2010, for the first time ever I saw someone get on the outside of Conrad. That was Kurtley Beale. He did it a few times that night. We never come up against teams who can threaten us or match us in the backs but Australia can on their day. I think having Maa at 13 will be a safer defensive option, plus he has amazing distribution skills to set up his outsides. We'll lack the cutting edge in terms of thinking that conrad gives us, but this is probably the next best option unless Tamati Ellison plays 13

Tend to agree mintee but something in me says Nonus fast becoming old school. He's now a 'safe' bet rather than an exciting prospect. He's not going to get any better. Just think he's turned the page and he'll see the year out at best.

Times right to look for real back ups for smith.

Dunno...something about nonu last 12 months that worries me-

Probably agree Taylorman, I think NZ is now in transition. cruden outplayed carter on Friday night, although it says alot about how good Cruden now is rather than Carter being a shadow of his former self.

The old guard are getting ready for a change methinks...

But I said in an post a few months ago....what an amazing position for us to be in with Carter and Cruden. Carter is the game's best player - still. If Cruden comes in and knocks him off that perch by next season then NZ rugby can only be stronger for it. Cruden starting and the world's highest points scorer on the bench for the last 20? Yes please

That 20min spell from Cruden against Ireland was one of the most complete FH performances I've seen in a long time. His link up with SBW was incredible, such a shame Sonny is off.

He'll be back Pooly. Him leaving is the result of a handshake agreement he made in 2008 as he didn't think he could make the AB's. The irony of that agreement is not lost on me. Apparently, those in the know reckon he's regretting that handshake as he would rather stay with the Chiefs and the AB's. The result of this? He'll be back in either 2013 or 2014 to resume his union career.

Taylorman wrote:Tend to agree mintee but something in me says Nonus fast becoming old school. He's now a 'safe' bet rather than an exciting prospect. He's not going to get any better. Just think he's turned the page and he'll see the year out at best.

Times right to look for real back ups for smith.

Dunno...something about nonu last 12 months that worries me-

Hmm.. have you forgotten how good Nonu was in the world cup? He was easily the best 12 there IMO.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:A long shot but what's the chances of Francis Saili getting involved?

He's looked one of the Blues few good players through their poor season. Solid defence, power and pace. Not as explosive as Fruen but seems to have a cooler head.

Sgt
You have a very good eye for rugby talent. even though it wasnt hard to spot amongst that Blues team this year, What Saili has to offer that others dont is his workload in general play and then when he has to do that little bit extra to create or put his outsides into a hole he reacts. but he does need to do a full ITM season before we know if he can do it consistently.

Good call Laurie..it became difficult spotting talent after I stopped watching them play...

I found it difficult before I stopped watching them play....hehe!

Ha, so Laurie, how about them chiefs huh? Salt/wound, ouch.

EBOP

Ive got a mate whos an ex Mooloo winger, hes in his 50s and hes bouncing round like a 6year old kid that cant wait for christmas.

Ha, that's awesome Laurie!

This could be it for the chiefs, they have a few things in their favour and more backbone than ever before. But it'll have to be a big final effort. Hope your mate gets what he wants

Nonu at 13 could be like seeing an even more modern Umaga imo! Especially if SBW can get those offloads floating around and Nonu's distribution will have the back 3 coming from all angles.

Potentially unstoppable...... potentially.

Wow, I didnt even realise Ellison was that old, my bad