I think Savea should be the way to go.
Taylor or Ardie for me, both seem to have the mana within the side. Barrett would be better in a support role and can concentrate on getting back to his best.
@ACT-Crusader said in Who should be AB captain?:
Scooter is Ross Taylor. Where’s our Baz?
Ross Taylor was pretty much always either clearly the best player or 2nd best player in the team - and all time top 3 batsman, which I guess equates to all time top 3 forward?
Zero questions about his spot as a starter.
Averaged more i.e. played better as captain.
Scooter isn't quite Lee Germon, but he's no Ross Taylor.
@ACT-Crusader said in Who should be AB captain?:
Scooter was our best lock in 2023 and easily in our top 3 most important players.
Well that was 2 years ago.
I think there are people who would say he's not top 3 locks at the moment. Im sitting on the fence there myself.
Vaa'i is not a definite starter for me. He can be a bit of a flake defensively. He missed 5 tackles this weekend and there was that try set up by Matera off the back was it?
Controversial I realise but I actually think our best two locks are Holland and Tuipulotu. Not sure about Vaa'i at 6 either due to his defensive flakiness.
@brodean said in Who should be AB captain?:
Vaa'i is not a definite starter for me. He can be a bit of a flake defensively. He missed 5 tackles this weekend and there was that try set up by Matera off the back was it?
Controversial I realise but I actually think our best two locks are Holland and Tuipulotu. Not sure about Vaa'i at 6 either due to his defensive flakiness.
Darry is another solid performer
@brodean said in Who should be AB captain?:
Vaa'i is not a definite starter for me. He can be a bit of a flake defensively. He missed 5 tackles this weekend and there was that try set up by Matera off the back was it?
Controversial I realise but I actually think our best two locks are Holland and Tuipulotu. Not sure about Vaa'i at 6 either due to his defensive flakiness.
Another who seems to be getting better and better the less he’s available…..
I’m a fan and our only real impact lock right now.
@ACT-Crusader said in Who should be AB captain?:
Scooter is Ross Taylor. Where’s our Baz?
You want someone massively overrated ?
I reckon Vaai, might help him cool his head a little and he's going to be a mainstay for several years if he keeps up his typical form.
Wouldn't be upset with Taylor though, just not sure if it would be a burden to him like it is to Barrett.
@MN5 said in Who should be AB captain?:
You want someone massively overrated ?
No, I think it is clear now we don't need any more Scottish players in the ABs....
While being captain is no doubt a huge honour, you wonder if SB is enjoying it.
If not, would he be big enough to go to Razor and ask him to pass it on, by the same.token, is Razor man enough to take it away in hopes it inspires him to the form he was in when he wasn't captain?
I'm gonna guess no for both, but who knows
@nostrildamus said in Who should be AB captain?:
@MN5 said in Who should be AB captain?:
You want someone massively overrated ?
No, I think it is clear now we don't need any more Scottish players in the ABs....
For once I agree 100% with you. Finlay Christie is hardly a fair swap for Sean Lineen, the Leslies, Metcalfe, Maitland etc.
@MN5 said in Who should be AB captain?:
@nostrildamus said in Who should be AB captain?:
@MN5 said in Who should be AB captain?:
You want someone massively overrated ?
No, I think it is clear now we don't need any more Scottish players in the ABs....
For once I agree 100% with you. Finlay Christie is hardly a fair swap for Sean Lineen, the Leslies, Metcalfe, Maitland etc.
Maitland was pretty good. Not sure I remember the other ones.
9 months later
so, been a couple of comments on other threads but worth its own discussion
Savea obviously isnt a long term solution, i imagine not past next years WRC
Who have we got coming through? my preference would be someone young so we can have several years out of them, some consistant leadership
Is there some 22 year old out there that could be a bolter for the SA tour, someone who could be in line for 2 years time?
@reprobate said in Who should be AB captain?:
If Darry firms up his TH credentials, he and Holland look like a long term pairing. He speaks well and works hard.
If Darry plays like he did last week in most games he'd certainly be a contender.
encouraging to see a few people agreeing quite quickly, do we think there is any chance he'll captain the midweek games in RSA?
I think we're getting ahead of ourselves. 2 seasons is an eternity in pro rugby - let's just see who goes well next year and figure it out then.
That said, Darry could be a bolter. But ScoBa looked a contender before Razor and his game fell apart. Dalts after RWC23 looked a prospect (check who was talking in the huddles) - but we know how that went.
Reckon we just let the lads play and see how it looks at the end of the RWC
@Kiwiwomble said in Who should be AB captain?:
encouraging to see a few people agreeing quite quickly, do we think there is any chance he'll captain the midweek games in RSA?
I think he's a chance to be a first choice lock in the test side in which case he wouldn't be playing in the mid week team but I guess we will see.
Based on what we had with Whitelock and Retallick I like the concept of having two 2m+ locks. It could be any combo of Holland, Darry, and Lord with Vaa'i, Tuipulotu and Barrett backing up.
@taniwharugby whoever is captain post 2027, I can guarantee it won't be the bloke headbutting the coach 
@brodean said in Who should be AB captain?:
@Kiwiwomble said in Who should be AB captain?:
encouraging to see a few people agreeing quite quickly, do we think there is any chance he'll captain the midweek games in RSA?
I think he's a chance to be a first choice lock in the test side in which case he wouldn't be playing in the mid week team but I guess we will see.
Based on what we had with Whitelock and Retallick I like the concept of having two 2m+ locks. It could be any combo of Holland, Darry, and Lord with Vaa'i, Tuipulotu and Barrett backing up.
That works if the two best locks are 2m+ locks. If they're not then it's silly to select an inferior player on height alone.
@Nepia said in Who should be AB captain?:
@brodean said in Who should be AB captain?:
@Kiwiwomble said in Who should be AB captain?:
encouraging to see a few people agreeing quite quickly, do we think there is any chance he'll captain the midweek games in RSA?
I think he's a chance to be a first choice lock in the test side in which case he wouldn't be playing in the mid week team but I guess we will see.
Based on what we had with Whitelock and Retallick I like the concept of having two 2m+ locks. It could be any combo of Holland, Darry, and Lord with Vaa'i, Tuipulotu and Barrett backing up.
That works if the two best locks are 2m+ locks. If they're not then it's silly to select an inferior player on height alone.
Of course. For me I think we have probably seen the best of Tuipulotu and Barrett. I'm not convinced Vaa'i is better than any of Lord, Darry or Holland. They all have their strengths and weaknesses but they're all strong options.
I don't like the way Vaa'i carries on some times. He can be a bit of a pelican which is a shame because he could have potentially been an option for captain. Similar to Itoje.
Was going to suggest Aumua as a smokey, but bloody hell I didn't realise how old he is!
Darry looking very promising.
EdG prolly worth a look.
Fuck it, just announce Barnes as Ardie's successor after tomorrow's game.
It can't be a back. Our best captains, in my lifetime, are mostly found in the backrow. Not sure we have anyone who is a nailed on starter other than Ardie who is obvious captain material right now
@canefan said in Who should be AB captain?:
It can't be a back. Our best captains, in my lifetime, are mostly found in the backrow. Not sure we have anyone who is a nailed on starter other than Ardie who is obvious captain material right now
Never realised how young you were
@MN5 said in Who should be AB captain?:
@canefan said in Who should be AB captain?:
It can't be a back. Our best captains, in my lifetime, are mostly found in the backrow. Not sure we have anyone who is a nailed on starter other than Ardie who is obvious captain material right now
Never realised how young you were
Well played Sir. I did say mostly though….
@canefan said in Who should be AB captain?:
@MN5 said in Who should be AB captain?:
@canefan said in Who should be AB captain?:
It can't be a back. Our best captains, in my lifetime, are mostly found in the backrow. Not sure we have anyone who is a nailed on starter other than Ardie who is obvious captain material right now
Never realised how young you were
Well played Sir. I did say mostly though….
You also said can't be a back....
said in Who should be AB captain?:
@MN5 said in Who should be AB captain?:
@canefan said in Who should be AB captain?:
It can't be a back. Our best captains, in my lifetime, are mostly found in the backrow. Not sure we have anyone who is a nailed on starter other than Ardie who is obvious captain material right now
Never realised how young you were
Well played Sir. I did say mostly though….
The devil is in the edit
@KiwiMurph said in Who should be AB captain?:
@canefan said in Who should be AB captain?:
@MN5 said in Who should be AB captain?:
@canefan said in Who should be AB captain?:
It can't be a back. Our best captains, in my lifetime, are mostly found in the backrow. Not sure we have anyone who is a nailed on starter other than Ardie who is obvious captain material right now
Never realised how young you were
Well played Sir. I did say mostly though….
You also said can't be a back....
He's got you there @canefan
@KiwiMurph said in Who should be AB captain?:
@canefan said in Who should be AB captain?:
@MN5 said in Who should be AB captain?:
@canefan said in Who should be AB captain?:
It can't be a back. Our best captains, in my lifetime, are mostly found in the backrow. Not sure we have anyone who is a nailed on starter other than Ardie who is obvious captain material right now
Never realised how young you were
Well played Sir. I did say mostly though….
You also said can't be a back....
As in I prefer the future captain not to be a back based on the current crop.