@Bovidae said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
RTS went to Otahuhu College, so did he not go to school in his area?
Played league for oatahuhu as well I’ve been told , but I think he played a bit for the scorpions when he was really young
From what I understand, he was a talented junior in both codes , may have been a case of getting into the better playing environments
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
Hope Roger goes well ,
Out of curiosity, have there been any other Allblacks grow up in otara ?
Been great league players such as wiki .
Pita Alatini?
EDIT
Yes, he was from Otara. It’s mentioned in an article discussing a childhood friend who was convicted of murder: link
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
RTS went to Otahuhu College, so did he not go to school in his area?
Played league for oatahuhu as well I’ve been told , but I think he played a bit for the scorpions when he was really young
I read this article after posting above. I never knew there was a RTS-Rush connection.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
Newshub was making a big deal about Mark Robinson being at the ABs training yesterday. NZR is based in Wellington, of course.
you know if he HADN'T been there they would have said that meant something too :man_shrugging_light_skin_tone:
@Kiwiwomble maybe he was there giving our centres some tips...
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Kiwiwomble maybe he was there giving our centres some tips...
A USB stick full of videos of Ma’a and Conrad hopefully.
Edit: Just typing that out made me shake my head. How blessed were we to have had that team?
@JC said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Kiwiwomble maybe he was there giving our centres some tips...
A USB stick full of videos of Ma’a and Conrad hopefully.
Edit: Just typing that out made me shake my head. How blessed were we to have had that team?
The drop off was always going to be painful
This will be the 50th Test for Rieko
42 Tests were starts
10 of those starts are at 13
Still only 25 and now playing in a position where ABs have played well into their 30s
@Paekakboyz said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Duluth hopefully he keeps growing his game at 13 - he has made big improvements and if he gels well with RTS that could be a primo combo for the next few years.
….for the Blues, yes….
@Paekakboyz said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Duluth hopefully he keeps growing his game at 13 - he has made big improvements and if he gels well with RTS that could be a primo combo for the next few years.
The only way that is going to happen is if we get a real kicking game from our fullback. Maybe I'm the only one, but I think Jordie is playing like shit / not being used effectively at fullback.
We could probably really use Dmac's kicking game and ability to move to first receiver, as Barrett seems to be essentially at fullback during the kicking duels.
@Duluth said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
Maybe Perofeta is worth looking at. BB and him already have that combination
That's an excellent point.
I see why they've brought in Havili, but I wonder whether we would be better have Jordie up in the midfield and a more effective game driving fullback.
Hopefully we'll see some effective kicks in play from Havili because we need them.
Edit: JK was making sense on the breakdown pod today, for those who subscribe.
@Dice said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@pakman manukau , close
Isn't he from Mangere?
I think Tupou Vaai might be from Otara.
Yep Jonah was from Mangere. He lived next street down from me, Quennell Ave I think.
@Paekakboyz said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Duluth hopefully he keeps growing his game at 13 - he has made big improvements and if he gels well with RTS that could be a primo combo for the next few years.
Yep agreed. I think we can safely say barring some unforeseen incident or rise of some other option, the days of Rieko on the wing are over.
At super level, RTS’s lack of a kicking game isn’t a worry. At test level it’s a massive hole so like Nonu before him RTS needs to develop one pronto.
Why is RTS' (rumoured) lack of a kicking game a problem, but it's not a problem for Tupaea? Even Goodhue very rarely kicks. Anyone got any strong memories of one of ALBs pearlers off the boot?
@gt12 said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Paekakboyz said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@Duluth hopefully he keeps growing his game at 13 - he has made big improvements and if he gels well with RTS that could be a primo combo for the next few years.
The only way that is going to happen is if we get a real kicking game from our fullback. Maybe I'm the only one, but I think Jordie is playing like shit / not being used effectively at fullback.
We could probably really use Dmac's kicking game and ability to move to first receiver, as Barrett seems to be essentially at fullback during the kicking duels.
I love DMac and his kicking game, not sure how he would have gone with his side to side running against the Irish though
@Bones said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
Why is RTS' (rumoured) lack of a kicking game a problem, but it's not a problem for Tupaea? Even Goodhue very rarely kicks. Anyone got any strong memories of one of ALBs pearlers off the boot?
That’s what we’re missing. None of our 12’s have a strong kicking game to speak of. It would be advantageous to have another kicking option outside of Smith, Barrett & JBarrett.
Even Nonu developed a rudimentary one towards the back half of his career. Good short kicking game, serviceable long game.
