Backline defence captain

@Chris-B said in Backline defence captain:

@pakman I've got ALB pretty much locked into my first choice midfield - I'm just not sure whether at 12 or 13.

Right now, I'd be somewhat tempted to push Rieko to 11.

Jack Goodhue also floating around as a wildcard. He could be starting or he may not even make the RWC squad. It's coming up two years since Jack played a test and we won't have tests to waste building new combos next year.

in my opinion only, a midfield of Havili and ALB lacks balance. Where is the threat that gives defenses kittens? At the moment we have the passing and kicking ability of Havili balanced with the threat of Ioane smoking you to the outside and disappearing in to the distance. ALB does not provide that threat, which means way more pressure on 10 and 12.

@mariner4life Yeah - that's something of a concern that I don't disagree with.

But, can maybe be alleviated by using Ioane, Jordan and Jordie through the midfield.

Midfield is still a puzzle to be put together IMO - but, ALB is certainly one of the main pieces.

@mariner4life said in Backline defence captain:

@Chris-B said in Backline defence captain:

@pakman I've got ALB pretty much locked into my first choice midfield - I'm just not sure whether at 12 or 13.

Right now, I'd be somewhat tempted to push Rieko to 11.

Jack Goodhue also floating around as a wildcard. He could be starting or he may not even make the RWC squad. It's coming up two years since Jack played a test and we won't have tests to waste building new combos next year.

in my opinion only, a midfield of Havili and ALB lacks balance. Where is the threat that gives defenses kittens? At the moment we have the passing and kicking ability of Havili balanced with the threat of Ioane smoking you to the outside and disappearing in to the distance. ALB does not provide that threat, which means way more pressure on 10 and 12.

Agree. Unless we have a compatible partner at 12 for ALB at 13 (ie a straight runner) the we may need to stick with what we have. ALB does provide excellent cover for either position though, like a much better version of QT.

@Chris-B said in Backline defence captain:

@mariner4life Yeah - that's something of a concern that I don't disagree with.

But, can maybe be alleviated by using Ioane, Jordan and Jordie through the midfield.

Midfield is still a puzzle to be put together IMO - but, ALB is certainly one of the main pieces.

Ideally in the midfield I would like a triple threat player at twelve and a double threat at 13.
I have written to Santa.

@Chris-B said in Backline defence captain:

@mariner4life Yeah - that's something of a concern that I don't disagree with.

But, can maybe be alleviated by using Ioane, Jordan and Jordie through the midfield.

Midfield is still a puzzle to be put together IMO - but, ALB is certainly one of the main pieces.

no secret i'm a fan of ALB. But over the last month i have been impressed with some of Havili's touches, and his ability to interchange with Mo'unga to mix up our attack.

Was very concerned with how fucking slow QT looked both trying to run in support and turning to chase in defense.

@mariner4life Davy is going much better this year than he did at the end of last year, when I reckon he ran out of gas mentally.

Probably not surprising for a guy who in March 2021 was probably expecting to spend the year playing fullback for the Crusaders and the Mako.

He's very much a second-five rather than inside centre, though - and I'm still worried if he has to mark a huge munter in the opposition.

To refer to the OP - I'm not convinced either him or Rieko is the defensive KP we need.

@Chris-B said in Backline defence captain:

@mariner4life Davy is going much better this year than he did at the end of last year, when I reckon he ran out of gas mentally.

Probably not surprising for a guy who in March 2021 was probably expecting to spend the year playing fullback for the Crusaders and the Mako.

He's very much a second-five rather than inside centre, though - and I'm still worried if he has to mark a huge munter in the opposition.

To refer to the OP - I'm not convinced either him or Rieko is the defensive KP we need.

i think they are using him differently as well. And he's not playing outside BB running him out of room and then shovelling shit at him

@mariner4life you mean not using him to try and batter his way through, thats quite a novel approach on how to use a midfielder under 90kg

@taniwharugby said in Backline defence captain:

@mariner4life you mean not using him to try and batter his way through, thats quite a novel approach on how to use a midfielder under 90kg

crazy aye?

@taniwharugby He was more mid-90kgs - and he may even have packed on a few more kgs in the off-season (or should have tried to).

But, your point is still correct - 95kgs is a "little" midfielder.

@Chris-B What is average these days, about 105 kg?

BB and DMac both 10s that work better with a bail out option at 12. RM a touch better but I guess that he just has more experience in finding ways to not compromise the 12..
The original question is one of the reasons I am not a great fan of JB at 12. He doesn't do a good job directing from the back and plays his own game so putting him in the midfield only adds him closer.

@Chris-B he's tall for only 95kg though. Not exactly a low center of gravity he has there.

@Chris-B yeah I was just going by the Wiki entry at 88kg haha

@Tim said in Backline defence captain:

@Chris-B What is average these days, about 105 kg?

Certainly over 100kgs.

Bovidae posted a video of ALB on the scales and he was something like 102.8kgs and you'd only class him as a middleweight.

SBW and Nonu were listed at 108kgs and looked it. There's a few who are bigger.

Big Bastard from France is listed at 120kgs, but maybe he's converted to prop!

Wiki says Levi Aumua is 118kgs, but that looks a bit much to me. No wonder he's a handful in NPC though!

@Frye said in Backline defence captain:

@Chris-B he's tall for only 95kg though. Not exactly a low center of gravity he has there.

At best he's medium.
And when you select Smith and Mo'unga that is three smallish players in a row. Defences love it.

Our defence has been average this year. Leaked a whole lotta points. Used to be if we hit 20, we won ... totally not the case any more

@nzzp said in Backline defence captain:

@Frye said in Backline defence captain:

@Chris-B he's tall for only 95kg though. Not exactly a low center of gravity he has there.

At best he's medium.
And when you select Smith and Mo'unga that is three smallish players in a row. Defences love it.

Our defence has been average this year. Leaked a whole lotta points. Used to be if we hit 20, we won ... totally not the case any more

A lot of the leaks is about system, not size. McLeod loves giving up metres

@nzzp said in Backline defence captain:

@Frye said in Backline defence captain:

@Chris-B he's tall for only 95kg though. Not exactly a low center of gravity he has there.

At best he's medium.
And when you select Smith and Mo'unga that is three smallish players in a row. Defences love it.

Our defence has been average this year. Leaked a whole lotta points. Used to be if we hit 20, we won ... totally not the case any more

The leaking is on the edges according to the stats.

@nzzp Yeah - I don't think we've got any backs available right now who are elite defenders.

Maybe Jordie is at fullback.

I think ALB might be able to plug one of those holes - at a stretch Goodhue might plug the other.

But, then you go back to Mariner's point on offensive threat...

@Chris-B said in Backline defence captain:

I think ALB might be able to plug one of those holes - at a stretch Goodhue might plug the other.

Goodhue was insanely good on defence against SA in his statement test in 2019 (I think the year's right) in Wellington. But post injury, do you back him to hold Lukhanyo Am? I'd be concerned ... it'd be shades of Jordie on the wing again (hee haw)