Tom Taylor : Latest Legend to be Unleashed

First topic message reminder :

With both of the worlds best first five eighths injured and unavailable for the All Blacks (I'll leave you to your opinion on whether Carter or Cruden is the #1 or #2) and with All Black development project and age group world champion Beauden Barrett also out with injury; the All Blacks will unleash Tom Taylor this weekend. 

The latest Canterbury production line superstar is already rated ahead of all three Ozzy options, and with a starring roll in Super Rugby this year, yet another versatile star will be added to the All Blacks armoury to gain experience in the All Blacks set up ready for the World Cup.

This kind of depth, where a fourth string option is still likely to be the star turn in a matchup between the two best teams in the worlds top rugby competition underlines the staggering depth developed in New Zealand  currently and I believe it's about time for the IRB to investigate this phenomenon so that a similar structure can be franchised out into developing and second tier nations to bolster the game. Surely countries that suffer from high player attrition to overseas clubs such as Samoa, Fiji and Wales could sorely use some assistance from HQ? 

We need to keep the game competitive globally and simply installing Kiwi bred coaches into the majority of international roles is only one piece in the jigsaw in my opinion.

And especially for Disney, and anyone else thats interested heres James Maconie some help from Adam Ashley Cooper and Major Tom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU06BzToMBE

James was possibly the dude who I met in Dublin that gave me two tickets to an All Black test for 30 seconds of Irish dancing. Good times. Nice vid cheers Laurie

Oops my bad it wasn't that salad dodger-was another James.

I remember a comment you made months ago, but Maconie from "crowd goes wild" is hilarious.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

alanmackie6 wrote:
Sgt.Pooley not get anywhere the current England Squad?debatable I`d start him before Manu Tualagi,or Owen Farrell any day,

I'm glad you're not picking the England side Alan!

Farrell is limited but a steely eyed killer in front of goal(proven), he's 10x the player Taylor is imo, an IRB world player backs him up a bit (although I don't agree with it).

Tuilagi plays 13 so not a comparison.

Farrell, Flood, Burns, Hodgson are superior FH's imo

10x?...
trouble is pooly you cant really say things like that when Farrel aint come through the AB environment. Even if Farrell actually is the better player he'll end up looking worse because of the way AB's bring players through.

just the way it is...but point taken...we'll see if he plays a tenth of farrell tomorrow...i'll bet he's at least 50%...

I was probably pushing it with 10x but I'd stand by he's a much better player and I'm by no means a big fan of Farrell.

I imagine Taylor will do ok as he'll be playing in an outstanding team, he's still average though.

Nah. Taylor is a legend and the NH media will typically go Lala about him an exhausting but typical number of years late.

Will he attack the line GE? What will replace the 10 pressure on the W's that Cruden has built up so well? For me it gives them breathing space we cant afford. They say they're not concerned about who's at 10 but they should be, and someone will be doing their homework on him.

His lack of gameplay concerns as well...saders bench to a desperate oz return test match...its a big ask and a test of the AB environment to absorb his deficiencies and enhance his talents. Interesting conundrum this selection...

Good point Tman, Tom must surely have to attack the line sometimes otherwise Oz will be all over us like we were with them last week with Toomua.

The ABs are predicting the Wallabies to kick, kick and kick. Oz won't want the ball in their own half this week. So will be interesting to see how Tom and the ABs hold their nerve with our own kicking game.

yes ebop and thats exactly what brought the brumbies down- not wanting the ball in their own half. Its a flawed policy I think. Was a day when it was no problem for Beale and co to run it at us from anywhere. If theyre not replacing that with a better pack...what does it leave them with?
A punishing defence is all I can think of...?? percentages wont win them this...

Told you so.

Average.....

He was good. He had fantastic support around him, particularly Aaron Smith. Good solid debut and the type of player you would want in the 2011 scenario as the 10's dropped like flies. Good to see we now have up to 5 that can play at the level though Slade needs to have more time.

He played as well as Slade did.

Absolute carbon copy of DCs first international. Check the history books ladies and keep a few pages spare...

He's probably going to be a one test wonder actually. Not because he's no good he was good. But because he was there because Carter, Cruden and Barrett were injured. So unless he moves ahead of Barrett .... Of course may be he will get called up to kick the winning penalty at the next world cup when all the others get injured again.

He could be an option at 2nd 5. We are currently playing a big 2nd 5 in Nonu or SBW if he comes back. But there is an option to play 2 smaller playmakers with more power at 13 after 2015.

But the back up 13 is Smith who isn't that big so hmmm. Maybe we are heralding the return of skillful players over the big basher, mind you I really would love to see SBW at 12 again.

nganboy wrote:He's probably going to be a one test wonder actually. Not because he's no good he was good. But because he was there because Carter, Cruden and Barrett were injured. So unless he moves ahead of Barrett .... Of course may be he will get called up to kick the winning penalty at the next world cup when all the others get injured again.

DC will be gone soon and Cruden is injury prone, so I think we will see the legend of Tom Taylor live on.

Cant fault his pedigree, Warrick and Murray very good All Blacks. He'll be around and we'll at east never return to that white bairing debacle of '11.

Not my type of player at the top level but hey, who's complaining with the lineup we have in the pos...its ridiculous...

Taylorman wrote:Cant fault his pedigree, Warrick and Murray very good All Blacks. He'll be around and we'll at east never return to that white bairing debacle of '11.

Not my type of player at the top level but hey, who's complaining with the lineup we have in the pos...its ridiculous...

Yep, Wayne Smith, Warrick and Murray Taylor are all good Waikato boys. Not sure what the fuss about Fox and Smith was all about they're both from Putaruru.

GloriousEmpire wrote:

nganboy wrote:He's probably going to be a one test wonder actually. Not because he's no good he was good. But because he was there because Carter, Cruden and Barrett were injured. So unless he moves ahead of Barrett .... Of course may be he will get called up to kick the winning penalty at the next world cup when all the others get injured again.

DC will be gone soon and Cruden is injury prone, so I think we will see the legend of Tom Taylor live on.

Dunno GE look at Taylor's AB test injury rate pretty up there.

GloriousEmpire wrote:

nganboy wrote:He's probably going to be a one test wonder actually. Not because he's no good he was good. But because he was there because Carter, Cruden and Barrett were injured. So unless he moves ahead of Barrett .... Of course may be he will get called up to kick the winning penalty at the next world cup when all the others get injured again.

DC will be gone soon and Cruden is injury prone, so I think we will see the legend of Tom Taylor live on.

Where is DC going? To Wellington? To Auckland? Who the heck is Taylor? Very confused here.

Didn't really notice Taylor on Saturday, the All Blacks could play a sea lion at 10 and they'd still function

DC is not playing Super rugby next year. He won't be going elsewhere. I think it's a perfect opportunity to give his calves and other niggly injuries that have hampered him a proper rest. Return him to light duties in the 2015 Super tournament and build him towards match fitness for October of that year.

Taylor will become the flyhalf for the Crusaders next year as Fruean should be recovered and Crotty can fit into 12. There's talk of Savea heading to Crusaders which is exactly the type of player the Crusaders need.

Then we build that depth further at flyhalf and for once we have also options at halfback. The next challenge is to think of possible replacements for Nonu. All eyes will be on Benji Marshall for the Blues next year and SBW is still in the picture and hopefully players like Saili and Halai will get game time this RC and against Japan.

Giving him a sabbatical makes sense. He owns the 10 jersey though, Taylor won't be keeping it from him. Who's decision is it to move Savea to the saders?

Savea's as Crusaders have made the offer. His reason may be personal. He might want to escape the Wellington envirnoment after the unsavoury incident earlier this year with his wife.

Married already? Poor lad. I thought the NZRU had the most say in players moving around. It seems that when a franchise is struggling the Crusaders come in and snatch their best players.

We lost Marshall to the Chiefs who looked sharp for the Crusaders. We need another wing and preferably one with size and power.

He was involved in a domestic violence incident and his case is yet to be heard. His younger brother Ardie is in the Hurricanes and Wellington side but he may feel a new start is needed.

I don't know if there's been any reconciliation from his wife but I could see how the move might be tempting.

The NZRU have an input but the Nonu case shows that they can't impose their will on the franchises. There is communication but ultimately it's the franchises and players who decide.

Just can't see Taylor figuring at 10 a lot for the ABs. He played well for debut but not necessarily for a good AB 10. Hes less x factor than all our other options and we need our 10's on edge more. Rewatched the match a couple of times and other than the early run or two it was pretty basic stuff- just what we needed but for me served a purpose more than anything. DC will be back next match provided he doesnt have another injury training so we're starting a few 10's this year thats for sure...

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:We lost Marshall to the Chiefs who looked sharp for the Crusaders. We need another wing and preferably one with size and power.

He was involved in a domestic violence incident and his case is yet to be heard. His younger brother Ardie is in the Hurricanes and Wellington side but he may feel a new start is needed.

I don't know if there's been any reconciliation from his wife but I could see how the move might be tempting.

The NZRU have an input but the Nonu case shows that they can't impose their will on the franchises. There is communication but ultimately it's the franchises and players who decide.

He's just returning to his paternal roots. Warwick and Murray were Waikato boys (Matamata). Probably helps that Wayne Smith is there (another Waikato product (Putaruru))

blackcanelion wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:We lost Marshall to the Chiefs who looked sharp for the Crusaders. We need another wing and preferably one with size and power.

He was involved in a domestic violence incident and his case is yet to be heard. His younger brother Ardie is in the Hurricanes and Wellington side but he may feel a new start is needed.

I don't know if there's been any reconciliation from his wife but I could see how the move might be tempting.

The NZRU have an input but the Nonu case shows that they can't impose their will on the franchises. There is communication but ultimately it's the franchises and players who decide.

He's just returning to his paternal roots. Warwick and Murray were Waikato boys (Matamata). Probably helps that Wayne Smith is there (another Waikato product (Putaruru))

-back home waitng for lone wolfe Quade from Tokoroa I suppose...played the black and white Pirates several times with Otahuhu...they were our 'sister' club for preseason matches back in the day...great memories of those trips...

aucklandlaurie wrote:And especially for Disney, and anyone else thats interested heres James Maconie some help from Adam Ashley Cooper and Major Tom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU06BzToMBE

Brilliant. Good on em! You guys do the rugby though, we'll do the music.

Yes I saw that...loved the bowie guitar version turning into George Michaels Faith...thats what I thought just before he said it- crackup...

Anyone catch Tom Taylor's imperious presence shepherd the crusaders to the first win of the season? (Now Carter is out) by kicking the points away in South Africa as the Stormers went down? I certainly spot them early.

GloriousEmpire wrote:Anyone catch Tom Taylor's imperious presence shepherd the crusaders to the first win of the season? (Now Carter is out) by kicking the points away in South Africa as the Stormers went down? I certainly spot them early.

In S Africa was it???

No, it was in Christchurch, no idea how GE thought it was SA?!

Taylor kicks horribly, relatively effective but it is the ugliest kicking style I've seen since Stephen Jones.

Hood83 wrote:No, it was in Christchurch, no idea how GE thought it was SA?!

Taylor kicks horribly, relatively effective but it is the ugliest kicking style I've seen since Stephen Jones.

I guessing he didn't watch the game. Taylor put in a decent shift buy he's no Carter

Ok I didn't watch the game at all.

But fairs fair he brought home the bacon.

Even if he only brought it home from the local stadium.

Haha, fair play for admitting it GE, many wouldn't.

I do like Taylor, very solid.

I saw the three second highlights on the NZ herald. Although I was distracted by the Malaysian airplane disappearance this morning. That kind of thing puts everything in perspective.

GloriousEmpire wrote:Ok I didn't watch the game at all.

But fairs fair he brought home the bacon.

Even if he only brought it home from the local stadium.

  

It's OK, nor did I. Still think he's a distance behind Cruden and Barrett - where are they playing Barrett now? There's a ginger haired 10 who plays at ITM level who looks a better prospect to me

Just glad to see the win after the horrific flooding in Chch. We had a fourth choice flyhalf score the winning points in the last RWC. I don't want to see a scenario where Taylor would be called up in the next one but that's probably the player Shag would pick.