ABs Back Three

@reprobate said in ABs Back Three:

Also I'd say that I don't think Clarke is necessarily a bad passer, but playing within the Blues structure and being a pretty effective battering ram are going to emphasise those carry numbers.

Hard to compare the numbers of a power winger with a fullback

One of the improvements in Clarkes game has been knowing when to pass and when to set up the next phase. Leicester is another power wing option who has that balance completely wrong

@Duluth Clarke is also used close to the ruck as a one-off runner or doing pick-and-goes.

It is no reflection on Caleb Clarke, that Caleb Tangitau and Will Jordan should be getting first crack on the wings.

For mine, if we aren't unleashing Tangitau, then the philosophy of NZR has changed.

@Tim especially as he at least runs at the line as opposed to many of our forwards (the last couple of years at least) taking the ball form a standing start

@mariner4life said in ABs Back Three:

i want JRK in teh ABs for no other reason than i want world commentators to have to pronounce his name

That would be a fun XV

@Duluth said in ABs Back Three:

@reprobate said in ABs Back Three:

Also I'd say that I don't think Clarke is necessarily a bad passer, but playing within the Blues structure and being a pretty effective battering ram are going to emphasise those carry numbers.

Hard to compare the numbers of a power winger with a fullback

One of the improvements in Clarkes game has been knowing when to pass and when to set up the next phase. Leicester is another power wing option who has that balance completely wrong

Yeah I wouldn't call linking a weakness, but I kinda feel that we don't see enough of it under the Blues gameplan as I would like to be able to call it a strength.
I wouldn't have LF in the picture barring an injury to Clarke and wanting a substitute power runner - and even then probably not. Just loses too much ball in contact.

Leicester shouldn't be in the conversation.

The issue with Jordan is he's a finisher who largely creates his own tries. His ability to set someone else up is dreadful in comparison to his ability to see an opportunity for himself.

@antipodean said in ABs Back Three:

Leicester shouldn't be in the conversation.

The issue with Jordan is he's a finisher who largely creates his own tries. His ability to set someone else up is dreadful in comparison to his ability to see an opportunity for himself.

If anything he's on the bench as centre/wing cover which is bad news for Reiko Ioane.

I guess they have to weigh up whether his genuine power and go forward is enough to cancel out the deficiencies he has in his game.

Very obviously a Razor favourite, lets see if he's a Rennie favourite too.

@antipodean said in ABs Back Three:

Leicester shouldn't be in the conversation.

The issue with Jordan is he's a finisher who largely creates his own tries. His ability to set someone else up is dreadful in comparison to his ability to see an opportunity for himself.

While that is true, I think it's worth remembering that the majority of his blunders occur after making a linebreak - and most other players would never get that opportunity to fuck it up.

@antipodean said in ABs Back Three:

Leicester shouldn't be in the conversation.

Toulon played him as a loosie. He could be bloody good there for us.

@frugby said in ABs Back Three:

It is no reflection on Caleb Clarke, that Caleb Tangitau and Will Jordan should be getting first crack on the wings.

For mine, if we aren't unleashing Tangitau, then the philosophy of NZR has changed.

I'm sure they'll all get time. Both the Auckland wings can play either side, but one prefers 14 and one prefers 11. I don't think the Calebs are competing with each other.

Having both Calebs on the wings reminds of the Lomu Vidiri days at the Blues. Jordan at test level is a wing only, same as Jane back in the day.

Not sure if JRK is the answer at the back, but we need a better fullback.

I think Etene Nanai-Seturo is underrated as a fullback, Hope he gets a shot.

@Frank said in ABs Back Three:

I think Etene Nanai-Seturo is underrated as a fullback, Hope he gets a shot.

Going to France after SR

@nzzp said in ABs Back Three:

@antipodean said in ABs Back Three:

Leicester shouldn't be in the conversation.

Toulon played him as a loosie. He could be bloody good there for us.

Christ imagine how much he'd lose the ball carting it up as a loosie. That might be one thing that finally got me to stop watching.

And Jordan should be back 3 cover from the bench.

@Bones said in ABs Back Three:

And Jordan should be back 3 cover from the bench.

I was wondering about that, but all of our 10 cover is 10/15, and I don't think you can afford to not have 10 cover. Unless Jordie covers 10, which seems a stretch.
So then you've got a wing/fullback and a 10/fullback, and you need midfield and halfback cover as well - that's a lot of backs.

...or actually... is this a subtle part of your campaign to get Jordan to 13?

@reprobate would assume Dmac/Love at 15 is your 10 back up?

@reprobate yeah what teamrebel said. Run the risk of losing both your 10's, but let's get Roigard training as emergency backup (and Jordie I guess).

Works well when Pledger comes back too.

@Bones said in ABs Back Three:

@nzzp said in ABs Back Three:

@antipodean said in ABs Back Three:

Leicester shouldn't be in the conversation.

Toulon played him as a loosie. He could be bloody good there for us.

Christ imagine how much he'd lose the ball carting it up as a loosie. That might be one thing that finally got me to stop watching.

Yeah every fluffybunny out there thinks he's Andre Esterhuizen.

Can't wait for everyone's favourite player Henry Pollock to have a go at 12 later this year.