NZ Backline Tinkering For November

Wyclef Jean is reportedly coming out with a new song Conrad Smith's Gone For November?

We play Japan, France, Ireland and England. The first match is perfect to try out some fringe players. Saili, Halai, Piutau, TJ Perenara, Crotty, Barrett could be names we see.

All eyes will be on Jane this weekend to see how his recovery is. He has been meticulous in his recovery and hasn't lost speed in his training. The big thing is match fitness. Does he have enough games to win back the jersey. Is it best to stick with Smith at 14 and try someone like Saili or Crotty at 13 or could Halai be introduced and let Jane recover and shift Ben Smith to 13?

If SBW were back the move to introduce a youngster would make sense. But Nonu and a rookie fills me with a sense of dread. Smith would lose his right wing mojo but he offers some stability in a key area. Halai would be my pick to see how he operates at test level. Does Savea take a rest one game though and we see how the balance looks like with Halai there instead? Could Piutau be a left field choice for centre or should he stick to being fullback cover?

Plenty of options but which mix would you go for and who plays England?

I think England look so good that you really need to select a World Cup final winning 10 to stand a chance

Do you see Ben Smith as more of a 13 or 14 kia?

A combination of SBW and Ben Smith could do quite well

I see him as a 15 actually but Dagg is keeping him from that. I'd prefer to see him stay at 14 but necessity is the mother of all invention and he should partner Nonu in the big games.

I'd go with

A. Smith, Barrett, Saili, B. Smith, Jane, Savea, Dagg

With Halai, Piatau  on the bench for impact later. Just terrifying for everyone else. 

Thing is that in attack Dagg can play at 10, smith or jane at 15 just as comfortably. So everyone can roam around everywhere and not lose anything. Just terrifying.

What kind of player is Halai? Piatau looks a real talent, can he play elsewhere or strictly a full back?

Halai is a giant Winger of Tongan descent and birth who was the too try scorer in super rugby this year and a star of the NZ 7's. 

He's like Savea but more direct and with better finishing skills. Strictly a wing, some defensive frailty positionally and not as robust under high ball attack as other All Blacks wings which is keeping him on the fringes currently. 

He'd destroy a team like Scotland or Wales single handedly.

Dont see how Ben Smith could be dropped as he has been NZs outstanding back this year. I reckon he is better than Jane who is a really good finisher but not as good all round as Smith.

B Smith will deputise for C Smith and Jane will resume the wing most likely. Terrifying, just terrifying.

Not least because Dagg/Jane form a symbiosis as potent as Nonu/Smith. Terrifying, just terrifying.

I'd like to see Saili get some game time. Who knows where Nonu will end up next year. SBW can't be relied on until we see it when it happens. TK is the one back I haven't been too keen on. Thankfully Aaron Smith looks a lot more comfortable and exposed this year.

I'll be interested to see who is picked for the tour. Does Conrad Smith's sabbatical start now or is after next weekend's game. Will we see Luatua back against Oz because he is able to range wider. We do have some exciting new faces to mix with the veterans. Will Romano be back in November? The only place where we look raw for cover is the front row if that's the case and that's more at hooker. Especially for the scrums.

If the ABs are planning on picking up norovirus again this November could they please do it before the Ireland game this time?

Thats all I ask. All all teams to play with norovirus does it really have to be England?

Yes thats why england beat them. Exactly that. Thanks for pointing that one out dude!!!

mystiroakey wrote:Yes thats why england beat them. Exactly that. Thanks for pointing that one out dude!!!

Jeez lighten up. No one will ever know if it had any bearing or not.

Guns, I think England fans are just a bit sick of hearing about the norovirus to be honest.

Dont be so silly 

Everyone knows thats why england won the game.. There isn't another valid explanation!

Sorry, my mistake

Sometimes I think we just played better but then realise how silly that sounds

pfft. Come on mate this is an adult forum!

Im not going to debate this one because dont have strong feelings on it either way. Its plausable that England won because they were very good on the day because they have been building into a good team and they would have won anyway. Just as its plausable that the ABs may have been wrecked from the bug. Having had it myself coincidently the last time I was in Twickenham I know how exhausting it is.

The point I was making gentlemen is that any advantage against the ABs might just be what Ireland needs to beat them once and for all.

I would take a norovirus anyday over reading that nonsense!!

Either way I'm sure we can all agree that it's gutting that Wales didn't capitalise in the same way.

Feel free to create your novo virus conspiracy thread but I'm interested in hearing about possible backlines for NZ this autumn / spring if you don't mind.  

Sorry Kia,,


Officially Underailed 

Sorry!

Blame Guns

I'm not blaming anyone. I'm just reminding you what the thread is about. It's Friday. Nothing can faze me!

Way to kill a thread hey kia!!




bring it on topic

 I shouldn't be so quick to kick off people from my threads. So few bother responding to my inane drivel.

If I had any clue about you options I would gladly talk about it. But i dont !!

I'd like to see Barrett start a game at 10, maybe with Nonu outside him for bulk and then B Smith at 13

Good chance of that happening CJ.

Havnt really much to add to this Kia as I'm happy that we have all positions covered. C Smith is the only one missing isnt he?

Ben Smith's the natural replacement for C Smith and we should have Savea Jane and Dagg back as the back 3- still a fairly formidable back four. Saili needs game time and at 9 and 10 we have riches.

Are there bolters from the NPC? None come to mind instantly but I wouldn be surprised if Hansen includes a rough diamond with his penchant for bringing players through.

What's Marty Banks like, anyone know? Signed for the canes next year.

Cory Flynn has some test experience,at Hooker is good for Crusaders and at 32 or so young as
front rows go.The Brothers Grimm,Crockett,Woodcock,all are top class props add Faumina no problems.The Scrum over the next year IRB will tinker around the edges and when Props have
relearn to scrummage,the WHOLE PACK shove in attack and defence,and nines to feed straight it will get sorted.Concentration is required at 12 and 13,get him fit and Fruen may even get a run at 13,Crotty/Taylor won`t let you down but think long term.Current 12 and 13
rate high as a pair in world rugby,13 is the best.BUT 2015 will be there exit if they last that long.RWC don`t care about,and the one game at a time approach works for me too but
long term needs looking at.In my opinion IF SBW was told you are the starting 12 from now on he`d have signed from 2014.BUT if Nonu is still there you won`t see anything of him
and frankly that is his loss.

Sbw in 15 for chiefs etc...
Wouldn't surprise me too much if oz manage to win Dunedin as we have a habit of losing these types of matches. We shouldn't lose it, but sometimes you just can't win them all.

I think Ben Smith needs to continue as long as his form dictates, he's been superb. If that's at 13 or 14 then so be it. What about moving him to FB with Dagg resting?

What are the centre options for you guys, particularly at 12? With Nonu going to France and SBW staying with league what's the long terms solution there?

Taylor at 12 maybe? I want to know if you think Big Ben Tameifuna will get fully capped for the ABs?

GloriousEmpire wrote:

He'd destroy a team like Scotland or Wales single handedly.

Do you think he'd destroy a team like England though? You should really concentrate on them. Looking at NZ's record and seeing 'England (L)' is a big blur TBH. If the All Blacks watch some footage of the last few England vs Wales games then they might just figure out how to beat England.

 

Taylor no way. Saili can be an option there. Nonu looks to have attracted interest from the Blues now that SBW is out of the picture for next year. Alan, Fruean's heart condition will not see him in black.

Piutau is an option for resting Dagg at fullback. We need Smith to take over his namesake as he's played there before and he can still do what's required of him.

I think Barrett coming on as supersub is still an option. Cruden seems to get punished when he's tackled by the big men but he's still the ideal man to start the game. Barrett coming on with his pace when the defences are tiring is the ideal man. Messam has stepped up in the physical stakes and Luatua provides a great replacement at lineout at lock or 6. He stole two throws off Etzebeth which has proved beyond specialist locks.

The Saint wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:

He'd destroy a team like Scotland or Wales single handedly.

Do you think he'd destroy a team like England though? You should really concentrate on them. Looking at NZ's record and seeing 'England (L)' is a big blur TBH. If the All Blacks watch some footage of the last few England vs Wales games then they might just figure out how to beat England.

 

Walsh can't referee that match though

ChequeredJersey wrote:

The Saint wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:

He'd destroy a team like Scotland or Wales single handedly.

Do you think he'd destroy a team like England though? You should really concentrate on them. Looking at NZ's record and seeing 'England (L)' is a big blur TBH. If the All Blacks watch some footage of the last few England vs Wales games then they might just figure out how to beat England.

 

Walsh can't referee that match though

Perhaps Wayne Barnes can?

The Saint wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:

He'd destroy a team like Scotland or Wales single handedly.

Do you think he'd destroy a team like England though? You should really concentrate on them. Looking at NZ's record and seeing 'England (L)' is a big blur TBH. If the All Blacks watch some footage of the last few England vs Wales games then they might just figure out how to beat England.

 

True- maybe england need to watch some aussie - wales games as well..

 

I think Ben Afeaki is ahead of Tameifuna.

Cory is not ready for the ABs yet next week he needs more time in the ITM cup. Note his only start for Wellington resulted in our only loss so far.

I reckon its pretty predictable against Aus really with A Smith, Barrett, Savea, Nonu, B Smith, Haili, Dagg reservce being Kerr Barlow, Taylor, Piatau.

For Japan I would like to see a few more changes and new faces - how's this

Crocket, Coles, Faumina, Luatua, Thrush, Messam(c), Cane,Vito, Kerr Barlow, Carter, Savea, Saili, B Smith, Jane, Piatau
Reserves Woodcock, Mealamu, O Franks, Read, McCaw, Weepu, Barrett, Nonu

Need the big names there to keep the sponsors happy otherwise I would just play a complete B team and give those fringe guys a run.
Carter and Franks coming back from injury need a little game time

Squad for 3rd Bledisloe on Planet Rugby fairly predictable Coryjane back,Nonu and Sailli only
dedicated centres,Taylor,Barrett ,Crudon ,Afeaki,included as is Weepu.Absent Carter,Owen Franks and Romano.Perenara still out of favour,whatever happened to Andre Taylor.?

TJ is injured and Andre Taylor was a flash in the pan and just because he scored a lot of tries in one S15 season doesn't make him worthy of being an AB. Taylor may struggle to lace the boots of Dagg, Jane, Smith and Piutau.

Taylor's success came largely from returning the ball from deep as everyone kicked to him. Then everyone stopped kicking to him for that reason and he's dropped back a little for his form in general- his other FB skills not standing out as much.

NZ should play a complete scratch 15 against Australia and blood some new talent en-masse. It'll also send a message to the money-men that the three test Bledisloe is a dead horse until Australia can muster a decent team. The boys need a rest before the trip north. I don't want to see a knackered, sick AB outfit playing one test too many again and having the Brits crowing on like they achieved something for another 12 months.

They need to let all the fringe players have 80 minutes to straighten out some kinks.

Heard Shag on the radio this morning. As expected, he's taking this test seriously, and rightly so.

GloriousEmpire wrote:NZ should play a complete scratch 15 against Australia and blood some new talent en-masse. It'll also send a message to the money-men that the three test Bledisloe is a dead horse until Australia can muster a decent team. The boys need a rest before the trip north. I don't want to see a knackered, sick AB outfit playing one test too many again and  having the Brits crowing on like they achieved something for another 12 months.

They need to let all the fringe players have 80 minutes to straighten out some kinks.

No way. We have to win it first. Let the fringe guys get 30 minutes in the 2nd half.

Shag will want the 17 tests record- This week gives him 10...

Then Japan, France England and Ireland takes it to 14

Then 3 vs England here will give him 17 making the first of the RC next year the record breaker...

Based on results this year this is very reachable.

Man England have it tough between now and the end of 2014...

England have it good - lots of opportunities to play against the best. Most people (like you Taylorman) wont expect another English win until 2022/23 so its all good for them.