What is the best AB Midfield?

@bovidae said in WHAT IS THE BEST AB MIDFIELD COMBINATION:

The best performed AB midfield combo in the last 2 years has been Crotty (12) and ALB (13).

Agree. And the Crotty/Fekitoa one wasn’t far behind either.

SBW was always going to come back into the fray once fit. Hansen and co see more upside than what he may not be doing that grated on some fans.

At this point it appears they see SBW/Crotty as the first choice combo. But they are only in their first season of playing together as a combo, so as should be expected there have been ups and downs. I think there are question marks about what the will be for this combo.

Prior to 2008 we had the veritable revolving door for a good 6 years. And even after the cartel settled on Nonu/Smith, they were trying others in there at various points e.g. Kahui, Toeava, Stanley, Ranger, SBW, Bender. So Hansen at least is not afraid to try some things out and I think this tour we’ll see a few different things. I wouldn’t mind seeing a SBW/Laumape combo for instance. That could be SBW/Fruean circa 2011 Crusaders mark II.

My only problem with Crotty is that while he has the goods, he seldom lasts more than a couple of tests before he is injured. He just doesn't seem durable .
Laumape/Goodhue is one I would like to see operate for a few games....maybe we may see that over the coming weeks or next year.
Whatever happens, my concern is that we need a settled combination pretty soon as time is running out before the RWC. There needs to be extended game time with the same combination ala Nonu/Smith, which is a given that it was quite unique to have their extended period as a settled combination in Super and at Test level.

Cue Laumape and Goodhue running into a string of injuries over the next couple of years...

Long time reader, first time poster.

McKenzie 12, Sopoaga 13.

Reckon it's worth a go.

@billy-tell outside Dagg. A Savea in 23.

Crotty is first name on the sheet in the MF. It's just a matter of who's with him. I agree with those that thought ALB Crotty was good. I'd like to see them given opportunity on the tour

@canefan said in What is the best AB Midfield?:

Crotty is first name on the sheet in the MF. It's just a matter of who's with him.

yeah....especially after the Brisbane Bledisloe.......

@centreman said in What is the best AB Midfield?:

@tim said in WHAT IS THE BEST AB MIDFIELD COMBINATION:

I really like the look of Goodhue, but he may face the second season blues next year, as ALB did this year. Goodhue looks like a more physically robust player though.

Yes but that doesn't solve the question of #12 which is where I feel the AB's have a problem of quick decisive distribution.
What I would really like to see is Laumape at 12 with Goodhue outside him.....would be interesting to see if it would work.
Both have had exceptional seasons, but untried at Test level.

I agree, both are hugely exciting talents, but both are probably a couple of years away and a lot can happen in that time. But like you I'd love to see them together, I think they'd compliment each other in a similar way to Nonu and Smith.

I wonder if ALB has put on a bit much size, because he looks bigger and if so, maybe affected his game a touch?

@taniwharugby He's been noticeably slow after taking a gap this year.

It's not just precision we need but incision.Tired of playing safe. My vote goes to Laumape and Goodhue, time to unshackle the beast...

@tim said in What is the best AB Midfield?:

@taniwharugby He's been noticeably slow after taking a gap this year.

Yeah that’s been the most noticeable thing for me this year. When he came on in that Lions test he was getting beat on the outside very easily.

His power game close in has been good though.

My prediction for the 2019 RWC : Goodhue (12) - Ioane (13).
But for 2018, I'd go with Crotty (12) - Goodhue (13).

@cgrant said in What is the best AB Midfield?:

My prediction for the 2019 RWC : Goodhue (12) - Ioane (13).

Wings as centres eh - that shouldn't cause any issues or send the Fern into a meltdown.

More chance of Ngatai returning to that level than Ioane coming in I'd say. He's too good out wide.

The only reasons we would move a quality winger to centre is if the cupboard is bare at centre or said winger loses some pace.

Can’t see either of those being the case over the next two years.

I wouldn’t be giving up on the four we have seen so far this year of Crotty, SBW, ALB and Laumape just yet.

@act-crusader Pretty sure Hansen said last year that they see Ioane as a centre. Centre is arguably a more important position, so why not move the wing?

@nzzp said in What is the best AB Midfield?:

@cgrant said in What is the best AB Midfield?:

My prediction for the 2019 RWC : Goodhue (12) - Ioane (13).

Wings as centres eh - that shouldn't cause any issues or send the Fern into a meltdown.

More chance of Ngatai returning to that level than Ioane coming in I'd say. He's too good out wide.

Ioane has played most of his footy as a centre. He was the best centre in the Blues, but I felt they put in Moala on reputation (as an All Black).
When Ioane played on the wing for the AB's, I thought they were just blooding him in.
I would still like to see him play centre for the Blues, and move out to the wing for the AB's to accommodate better midfield players, just like how we had Smith/Dagg playing wing even though they're fullbacks. However, if he is the form centre, why not reward his form and play him at centre?

@mimic he might have been the Blues best, but I thought he struggled there. His read of the play seemed way off test level.

Even if they see him as a centre it could be a case of the reverse Kahui. They thought he was a centre but he played his best test footy as a winger.

I would be very reticent to move Ioane given what he’s provided as a winger. IMO he’s had two MOTM performances as a winger this year. Keep it going I’d say.