All Blacks wing options

[edit - forked from a match thread]

@Rugbyman said in Chiefs v Highlanders:

Narawa leaving it late to make an impression, he can't have played more than 2 games this year. I would have Moorby ahead of him right now.

Moorby offers a very safe but effective option on the right wing which the ABs might need this year. I think he could definitely be a smokey for that first squad of the year.

As Parson's mentioned on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, it's good to have a big wing on the left (Clarke/Tangitau), and then a smooth operator on the right. He compared Moorby's playing style to a Jane/Bender type player which could be essential at a WC.

Don't forget Moorby was absolute class before he went to France, and he's starting to hit his stride again.

Moorby?
He might be the 3rd best wing at the Canes.

AB wing stocks is in a dire situation when Josh Moorby is in serious consideration.

The guy is a journeyman who racks up tries against Moana

There's still time for likes of Naholo, Taumoefolau to make a late run for consideration

Pleased to see Naholo starting this weekend

Wrong thread, but Moorby is a fullback playing on the wing.

@KiwiMurph said in Chiefs v Highlanders:

AB wing stocks is in a dire situation when Josh Moorby is in serious consideration.

The guy is a journeyman who racks up tries against Moana

There's still time for likes of Naholo, Taumoefolau to make a late run for consideration

Pleased to see Naholo starting this weekend

Lol you talk about Moorby being a journeyman and then go on to mention Taumoefolau who's body of work this season has been inferior to Moorby's.

Naholo could definitely make a run but I doubt we'll see two power wingers starting for the ABs.

@Bovidae said in Chiefs v Highlanders:

Wrong thread, but Moorby is a fullback playing on the wing.

Jane, Smith and Milner-Skudder say hi.

@Canes4life said in Chiefs v Highlanders:

@KiwiMurph said in Chiefs v Highlanders:

AB wing stocks is in a dire situation when Josh Moorby is in serious consideration.

The guy is a journeyman who racks up tries against Moana

There's still time for likes of Naholo, Taumoefolau to make a late run for consideration

Pleased to see Naholo starting this weekend

Lol you talk about Moorby being a journeyman and then go on to mention Taumoefolau who's body of work this season has been inferior to Moorby's.

The reason I mention Taumoefolau is he has a higher ceiling that Moorby - will he reach it? We'll see. Possibly not. As I said he still has time - i didn't say his body of work was enough yet

@KiwiMurph said in Chiefs v Highlanders:

@Canes4life said in Chiefs v Highlanders:

@KiwiMurph said in Chiefs v Highlanders:

AB wing stocks is in a dire situation when Josh Moorby is in serious consideration.

The guy is a journeyman who racks up tries against Moana

There's still time for likes of Naholo, Taumoefolau to make a late run for consideration

Pleased to see Naholo starting this weekend

Lol you talk about Moorby being a journeyman and then go on to mention Taumoefolau who's body of work this season has been inferior to Moorby's.

The reason I mention Taumoefolau is he has a higher ceiling that Moorby - will he reach it? We'll see. Possibly not. As I said he still has time - i didn't say his body of work was enough yet

He’s way too error ridden as a player atm for me. Maybe someone to look at post RWC once he has more experience.

On Moorby, we may not even need him with Tangitau, Jordan and Narawa probably the leading options as right wingers. I just feel he isn’t the worst choice if we start to get riddled with injuries.

Happy to continue this chat in the AB thread,

Start both Calebs

@Duluth said in Chiefs v Highlanders:

Start both Calebs

If we want to go all-out attack it has to be Clarke, Tangitau and Jordan

Be interesting having those 3 at the back. Would for sure be refreshing having 3 genuine outside backs in our back 3, as opposed to having a 10 at 15 and a 15ish player at 14. Do you lose some play making ability with this set up?

The only question for me is whether Rennie wants a playmaking fullback, in which case we only get two of Jordan/Tangitau/Clarke on the wings.
That wouldn't surprise me give his history - and you do need passers to put those guys into space, you can't just pick a team full of ball runners and go woah this is gonna be awesome (cause it won't be) - but there is undeniably a big 'get your most dangerous attacking players on the field' temptation to have Jordan at fullback with the Calebs.

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

The only question for me is whether Rennie wants a playmaking fullback, in which case we only get two of Jordan/Tangitau/Clarke on the wings.
That wouldn't surprise me give his history - and you do need passers to put those guys into space, you can't just pick a team full of ball runners and go woah this is gonna be awesome (cause it won't be) - but there is undeniably a big 'get your most dangerous attacking players on the field' temptation to have Jordan at fullback with the Calebs.

A lot of the kicking in the backfield will fall on our 10 dropping back but that's not necessarily the end of the world with most of our 10s being comfortable there. Those three players mentioned are not renowned for their kicking.

If we want a fullback ont he wing, then the obvious solution is to play Jordan there, and to find a new fullback… you could even argue Narawa could be considered a fullback on the wing.

Moorby? FMD. Classic case of a guy playing way above his station because he is in a good team.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

The only question for me is whether Rennie wants a playmaking fullback, in which case we only get two of Jordan/Tangitau/Clarke on the wings.
That wouldn't surprise me give his history - and you do need passers to put those guys into space, you can't just pick a team full of ball runners and go woah this is gonna be awesome (cause it won't be) - but there is undeniably a big 'get your most dangerous attacking players on the field' temptation to have Jordan at fullback with the Calebs.

A lot of the kicking in the backfield will fall on our 10 dropping back but that's not necessarily the end of the world with most of our 10s being comfortable there. Those three players mentioned are not renowned for their kicking.

Yeah, I reckon we do need multiple kicking options - every force-back contest ends up using more than one kicker, so if you have one weak guy you lose those contests - and you don't want all the weight on one guy anyway, especially as Roigard keeps getting injured. The non-fullback way of achieving that is having Jordie at 12, but I think Tupaea has done enough to deserve that jersey.
Jordan is a runner with reasonable size and limited distribution. McKenzie is a playmaker who can run, with a very good boot - but small. Zarn with physical size and the massive boot. Those are the options basically, and they suit three really quite different game plans. Interesting times.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@Bovidae said in Chiefs v Highlanders:

Wrong thread, but Moorby is a fullback playing on the wing.

Jane, Smith and Milner-Skudder say hi.

Ffs Moorby isn't comparable to those guys. As to your original post Moorby is bigger than Tangitau.

@brodean said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@Bovidae said in Chiefs v Highlanders:

Wrong thread, but Moorby is a fullback playing on the wing.

Jane, Smith and Milner-Skudder say hi.

Ffs Moorby isn't comparable to those guys. As to your original post Moorby is bigger than Tangitau.

I'm not saying he is, I'm just saying fullbacks can make good wingers. In fact, we've won our most recent WCs with that sort of player on the right wing.

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

The only question for me is whether Rennie wants a playmaking fullback, in which case we only get two of Jordan/Tangitau/Clarke on the wings.
That wouldn't surprise me give his history - and you do need passers to put those guys into space, you can't just pick a team full of ball runners and go woah this is gonna be awesome (cause it won't be) - but there is undeniably a big 'get your most dangerous attacking players on the field' temptation to have Jordan at fullback with the Calebs.

A lot of the kicking in the backfield will fall on our 10 dropping back but that's not necessarily the end of the world with most of our 10s being comfortable there. Those three players mentioned are not renowned for their kicking.

Yeah, I reckon we do need multiple kicking options - every force-back contest ends up using more than one kicker, so if you have one weak guy you lose those contests - and you don't want all the weight on one guy anyway, especially as Roigard keeps getting injured. The non-fullback way of achieving that is having Jordie at 12, but I think Tupaea has done enough to deserve that jersey.
Jordan is a runner with reasonable size and limited distribution. McKenzie is a playmaker who can run, with a very good boot - but small. Zarn with physical size and the massive boot. Those are the options basically, and they suit three really quite different game plans. Interesting times.

Zarn is so limited and he showed that again over the weekend. Harkin would be the better option if we are going for a kicking fullback that can also attack. McKenzie and Love need to focus on being a 10.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

The only question for me is whether Rennie wants a playmaking fullback, in which case we only get two of Jordan/Tangitau/Clarke on the wings.
That wouldn't surprise me give his history - and you do need passers to put those guys into space, you can't just pick a team full of ball runners and go woah this is gonna be awesome (cause it won't be) - but there is undeniably a big 'get your most dangerous attacking players on the field' temptation to have Jordan at fullback with the Calebs.

A lot of the kicking in the backfield will fall on our 10 dropping back but that's not necessarily the end of the world with most of our 10s being comfortable there. Those three players mentioned are not renowned for their kicking.

Yeah, I reckon we do need multiple kicking options - every force-back contest ends up using more than one kicker, so if you have one weak guy you lose those contests - and you don't want all the weight on one guy anyway, especially as Roigard keeps getting injured. The non-fullback way of achieving that is having Jordie at 12, but I think Tupaea has done enough to deserve that jersey.
Jordan is a runner with reasonable size and limited distribution. McKenzie is a playmaker who can run, with a very good boot - but small. Zarn with physical size and the massive boot. Those are the options basically, and they suit three really quite different game plans. Interesting times.

Zarn is so limited and he showed that again over the weekend. Harkin would be the better option if we are going for a kicking fullback that can also attack. McKenzie and Love need to focus on being a 10.

Zarn is limited yes - but he has a bigger boot than anyone else in NZ and is physically the biggest fullback we have - so he provides something different. Whereas for me McKenzie, Jordan and Love can all play Harkin's game as well or better than he can.
Don't get me wrong, he's always been a good player and is having a great year, but so did the likes of Andre Taylor - if he can back it up through the playoffs and next year he might convert me fully - I wouldn't mind him in the great big bok squad as of now, but I wouldn't have him in the 23.

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

The only question for me is whether Rennie wants a playmaking fullback, in which case we only get two of Jordan/Tangitau/Clarke on the wings.
That wouldn't surprise me give his history - and you do need passers to put those guys into space, you can't just pick a team full of ball runners and go woah this is gonna be awesome (cause it won't be) - but there is undeniably a big 'get your most dangerous attacking players on the field' temptation to have Jordan at fullback with the Calebs.

A lot of the kicking in the backfield will fall on our 10 dropping back but that's not necessarily the end of the world with most of our 10s being comfortable there. Those three players mentioned are not renowned for their kicking.

Yeah, I reckon we do need multiple kicking options - every force-back contest ends up using more than one kicker, so if you have one weak guy you lose those contests - and you don't want all the weight on one guy anyway, especially as Roigard keeps getting injured. The non-fullback way of achieving that is having Jordie at 12, but I think Tupaea has done enough to deserve that jersey.
Jordan is a runner with reasonable size and limited distribution. McKenzie is a playmaker who can run, with a very good boot - but small. Zarn with physical size and the massive boot. Those are the options basically, and they suit three really quite different game plans. Interesting times.

Zarn is so limited and he showed that again over the weekend. Harkin would be the better option if we are going for a kicking fullback that can also attack. McKenzie and Love need to focus on being a 10.

Zarn is limited yes - but he has a bigger boot than anyone else in NZ and is physically the biggest fullback we have - so he provides something different. Whereas for me McKenzie, Jordan and Love can all play Harkin's game as well or better than he can.
Don't get me wrong, he's always been a good player and is having a great year, but so did the likes of Andre Taylor - if he can back it up through the playoffs and next year he might convert me fully - I wouldn't mind him in the great big bok squad as of now, but I wouldn't have him in the 23.

I'd prefer we move Jordie to the back and start Tupaea and Proctor in the centres.

@Canes4life I know the Canes are going well, but I really can’t help but laugh that every single solution you find for the All Blacks includes someone from the Hurricanes.

You have to respect the loyalty.

@frugby said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life I know the Canes are going well, but I really can’t help but laugh that every single solution you find for the All Blacks includes someone from the Hurricanes.

You have to respect the loyalty.

That's far from the truth. I've been fairly open about wanting Tangitau starting as the right winger, Tupaea starting at 12 (over a Canes players)., McKenzie starting at 10, Clarke at 11 etc. Infact the only guaranteed Hurricane in the backline right now is Roigard, with Jordie most likely being the other as he'll likely be the preferred 12.

It's not like my suggestions on Hurricanes specific players are out the gate, I'm only mostly repeating what's been said by NZ media.

The Moorby conversation came up after a discussion on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod. Harkin was also mentioned as one of three players earlier in the year that the Breakdown panel wanted to see as a bolter.

The other three Canes players I was heavily backing this year were Flanders, Fehi and Numia but we know two of them aren't available anymore and the latter is arguably the form loose-head across the New Zealand teams alongside De Groot.

@Canes4life It wasn’t meant as a criticism… but like come on, the idea of Moorby, and then the pivot to Jordie at fullback and Proctor at centre.

Like don’t get me wrong it is an inherently outrageous call the second one, but can’t you see how to a non Hurricanes fan it isn’t a little bit funny?

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

Naholo could definitely make a run but I doubt we'll see two power wingers starting for the ABs.

I'm talking about the overall squad (Bok squad). Given Clarke's propensity to get injured and if Fehi isn't picked due to heading overseas then there's an avenue for Naholo

@frugby said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life It wasn’t meant as a criticism… but like come on, the idea of Moorby, and then the pivot to Jordie at fullback and Proctor at centre.

Like don’t get me wrong it is an inherently outrageous call the second one, but can’t you see how to a non Hurricanes fan it isn’t a little bit funny?

The mention of Jordie at fullback was an alternative to the Sullivan suggestion. This close to a WC it would be a better option, no? He's a bigger body, his boot is just as big and he's an experienced test player.

I don't see how they are outrageous calls? Proctor gets a lot of shit on here, but he was dealt a shit hand in his first season of international footy. He's a better option than Ioane and ALB who we've seen do nothing in the jersey for far too long. Put Proctor in a backline that's attacking minded and he will go well. It all comes down to how Rennie wants to play.

I get the players I've mentioned are Canes players, but what are the alternatives? In the case of Proctor, you either push Tupaea out to 13 which I wouldn't be opposed to, or you go back to Ioane or ALB which to me is a backwards step.

In terms of fullback, my preferred option would Jordan, followed by Harkin if they see Jordan as a winger. JRK was looking good at the beginning of the season, but his form has dropped off a cliff. You could go McKenzie or Love but I'm sick of the ABs moving players every two seconds. We need consistency.

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

Naholo could definitely make a run but I doubt we'll see two power wingers starting for the ABs.

I'm talking about the overall squad (Bok squad). Given Clarke's propensity to get injured and if Fehi isn't picked due to heading overseas then there's an avenue for Naholo

100% there is.

LF is only being seen as a winger by Rennie if in the backs, so another power winger in the mix.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

The only question for me is whether Rennie wants a playmaking fullback, in which case we only get two of Jordan/Tangitau/Clarke on the wings.
That wouldn't surprise me give his history - and you do need passers to put those guys into space, you can't just pick a team full of ball runners and go woah this is gonna be awesome (cause it won't be) - but there is undeniably a big 'get your most dangerous attacking players on the field' temptation to have Jordan at fullback with the Calebs.

A lot of the kicking in the backfield will fall on our 10 dropping back but that's not necessarily the end of the world with most of our 10s being comfortable there. Those three players mentioned are not renowned for their kicking.

Yeah, I reckon we do need multiple kicking options - every force-back contest ends up using more than one kicker, so if you have one weak guy you lose those contests - and you don't want all the weight on one guy anyway, especially as Roigard keeps getting injured. The non-fullback way of achieving that is having Jordie at 12, but I think Tupaea has done enough to deserve that jersey.
Jordan is a runner with reasonable size and limited distribution. McKenzie is a playmaker who can run, with a very good boot - but small. Zarn with physical size and the massive boot. Those are the options basically, and they suit three really quite different game plans. Interesting times.

Zarn is so limited and he showed that again over the weekend. Harkin would be the better option if we are going for a kicking fullback that can also attack. McKenzie and Love need to focus on being a 10.

Zarn is limited yes - but he has a bigger boot than anyone else in NZ and is physically the biggest fullback we have - so he provides something different. Whereas for me McKenzie, Jordan and Love can all play Harkin's game as well or better than he can.
Don't get me wrong, he's always been a good player and is having a great year, but so did the likes of Andre Taylor - if he can back it up through the playoffs and next year he might convert me fully - I wouldn't mind him in the great big bok squad as of now, but I wouldn't have him in the 23.

I'd prefer we move Jordie to the back and start Tupaea and Proctor in the centres.

I think Zarn has a better boot, and hits the line quite a bit better than Jordie. Jordie maybe better under the high ball, and is a better passer. Neither are quick, Zarn maybe slightly more evasive. Jordie probably a better defender in the line, though at fullback I'm not sure.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks wing options:

LF is only being seen as a winger by Rennie if in the backs, so another power winger in the mix.

LF would surely be the super sub? He's kind of putting himself in that box.

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

The only question for me is whether Rennie wants a playmaking fullback, in which case we only get two of Jordan/Tangitau/Clarke on the wings.
That wouldn't surprise me give his history - and you do need passers to put those guys into space, you can't just pick a team full of ball runners and go woah this is gonna be awesome (cause it won't be) - but there is undeniably a big 'get your most dangerous attacking players on the field' temptation to have Jordan at fullback with the Calebs.

A lot of the kicking in the backfield will fall on our 10 dropping back but that's not necessarily the end of the world with most of our 10s being comfortable there. Those three players mentioned are not renowned for their kicking.

Yeah, I reckon we do need multiple kicking options - every force-back contest ends up using more than one kicker, so if you have one weak guy you lose those contests - and you don't want all the weight on one guy anyway, especially as Roigard keeps getting injured. The non-fullback way of achieving that is having Jordie at 12, but I think Tupaea has done enough to deserve that jersey.
Jordan is a runner with reasonable size and limited distribution. McKenzie is a playmaker who can run, with a very good boot - but small. Zarn with physical size and the massive boot. Those are the options basically, and they suit three really quite different game plans. Interesting times.

Zarn is so limited and he showed that again over the weekend. Harkin would be the better option if we are going for a kicking fullback that can also attack. McKenzie and Love need to focus on being a 10.

Zarn is limited yes - but he has a bigger boot than anyone else in NZ and is physically the biggest fullback we have - so he provides something different. Whereas for me McKenzie, Jordan and Love can all play Harkin's game as well or better than he can.
Don't get me wrong, he's always been a good player and is having a great year, but so did the likes of Andre Taylor - if he can back it up through the playoffs and next year he might convert me fully - I wouldn't mind him in the great big bok squad as of now, but I wouldn't have him in the 23.

I'd prefer we move Jordie to the back and start Tupaea and Proctor in the centres.

I think Zarn has a better boot, and hits the line quite a bit better than Jordie. Jordie maybe better under the high ball, and is a better passer. Neither are quick, Zarn maybe slightly more evasive. Jordie probably a better defender in the line, though at fullback I'm not sure.

I get that, Jordie can be a giraffe at times and can look horribly uncoordinated. I can't remember what year it was, but when he headbutted the ball that lead to Tupaea scoring, that really sums him up.

Maybe Jordie doesn't even make the 23? Plenty to ponder over the selection table.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

The only question for me is whether Rennie wants a playmaking fullback, in which case we only get two of Jordan/Tangitau/Clarke on the wings.
That wouldn't surprise me give his history - and you do need passers to put those guys into space, you can't just pick a team full of ball runners and go woah this is gonna be awesome (cause it won't be) - but there is undeniably a big 'get your most dangerous attacking players on the field' temptation to have Jordan at fullback with the Calebs.

A lot of the kicking in the backfield will fall on our 10 dropping back but that's not necessarily the end of the world with most of our 10s being comfortable there. Those three players mentioned are not renowned for their kicking.

Yeah, I reckon we do need multiple kicking options - every force-back contest ends up using more than one kicker, so if you have one weak guy you lose those contests - and you don't want all the weight on one guy anyway, especially as Roigard keeps getting injured. The non-fullback way of achieving that is having Jordie at 12, but I think Tupaea has done enough to deserve that jersey.
Jordan is a runner with reasonable size and limited distribution. McKenzie is a playmaker who can run, with a very good boot - but small. Zarn with physical size and the massive boot. Those are the options basically, and they suit three really quite different game plans. Interesting times.

Zarn is so limited and he showed that again over the weekend. Harkin would be the better option if we are going for a kicking fullback that can also attack. McKenzie and Love need to focus on being a 10.

Zarn is limited yes - but he has a bigger boot than anyone else in NZ and is physically the biggest fullback we have - so he provides something different. Whereas for me McKenzie, Jordan and Love can all play Harkin's game as well or better than he can.
Don't get me wrong, he's always been a good player and is having a great year, but so did the likes of Andre Taylor - if he can back it up through the playoffs and next year he might convert me fully - I wouldn't mind him in the great big bok squad as of now, but I wouldn't have him in the 23.

I'd prefer we move Jordie to the back and start Tupaea and Proctor in the centres.

I think Zarn has a better boot, and hits the line quite a bit better than Jordie. Jordie maybe better under the high ball, and is a better passer. Neither are quick, Zarn maybe slightly more evasive. Jordie probably a better defender in the line, though at fullback I'm not sure.

I get that, Jordie can be a giraffe at times and can look horribly uncoordinated. I can't remember what year it was, but when he headbutted the ball that lead to Tupaea scoring, that really sums him up.

Maybe Jordie doesn't even make the 23? Plenty to ponder over the selection table.

Yeah it's an interesting one alright. Jordie does a lot of good stuff - and a bench guy who can play 12 and 15 is pretty useful when the 15 we probably pick can play wing, and the 12 we probably pick can play 13.
But then if Tupaea is the 12, I think it's a fair argument that Jim Tavatavanawai is a better like-for-like if you want to keep the team pattern.

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks wing options:

@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:

The only question for me is whether Rennie wants a playmaking fullback, in which case we only get two of Jordan/Tangitau/Clarke on the wings.
That wouldn't surprise me give his history - and you do need passers to put those guys into space, you can't just pick a team full of ball runners and go woah this is gonna be awesome (cause it won't be) - but there is undeniably a big 'get your most dangerous attacking players on the field' temptation to have Jordan at fullback with the Calebs.

A lot of the kicking in the backfield will fall on our 10 dropping back but that's not necessarily the end of the world with most of our 10s being comfortable there. Those three players mentioned are not renowned for their kicking.

Yeah, I reckon we do need multiple kicking options - every force-back contest ends up using more than one kicker, so if you have one weak guy you lose those contests - and you don't want all the weight on one guy anyway, especially as Roigard keeps getting injured. The non-fullback way of achieving that is having Jordie at 12, but I think Tupaea has done enough to deserve that jersey.
Jordan is a runner with reasonable size and limited distribution. McKenzie is a playmaker who can run, with a very good boot - but small. Zarn with physical size and the massive boot. Those are the options basically, and they suit three really quite different game plans. Interesting times.

Zarn is so limited and he showed that again over the weekend. Harkin would be the better option if we are going for a kicking fullback that can also attack. McKenzie and Love need to focus on being a 10.

Zarn is limited yes - but he has a bigger boot than anyone else in NZ and is physically the biggest fullback we have - so he provides something different. Whereas for me McKenzie, Jordan and Love can all play Harkin's game as well or better than he can.
Don't get me wrong, he's always been a good player and is having a great year, but so did the likes of Andre Taylor - if he can back it up through the playoffs and next year he might convert me fully - I wouldn't mind him in the great big bok squad as of now, but I wouldn't have him in the 23.

I'd prefer we move Jordie to the back and start Tupaea and Proctor in the centres.

I think Zarn has a better boot, and hits the line quite a bit better than Jordie. Jordie maybe better under the high ball, and is a better passer. Neither are quick, Zarn maybe slightly more evasive. Jordie probably a better defender in the line, though at fullback I'm not sure.

I get that, Jordie can be a giraffe at times and can look horribly uncoordinated. I can't remember what year it was, but when he headbutted the ball that lead to Tupaea scoring, that really sums him up.

Maybe Jordie doesn't even make the 23? Plenty to ponder over the selection table.

Yeah it's an interesting one alright. Jordie does a lot of good stuff - and a bench guy who can play 12 and 15 is pretty useful when the 15 we probably pick can play wing, and the 12 we probably pick can play 13.
But then if Tupaea is the 12, I think it's a fair argument that Jim Tavatavanawai is a better like-for-like if you want to keep the team pattern.

Jim definitely has the game to get us over the advantage line, but I do question his distribution game. I guess it all comes down to what type of game we want to implement. I mean if we want to go all-out attack then you could pick a pretty interesting backline.

@DurryMexted

Who has the big boot amongst them- in SA we need to exit into their half - we can't just rely on 9 and 10 to do that.

@brodean said in All Blacks wing options:

Moorby is bigger than Tangitau

That would take a fair bit of convincing to get past the eye test.

@Bones said in All Blacks wing options:

@brodean said in All Blacks wing options:

Moorby is bigger than Tangitau

That would take a fair bit of convincing to get past the eye test.

They are listed as pretty much the same height/weight.

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks wing options:

@Bones said in All Blacks wing options:

@brodean said in All Blacks wing options:

Moorby is bigger than Tangitau

That would take a fair bit of convincing to get past the eye test.

They are listed as pretty much the same height/weight.

Yeah so categorically stating bigger seems off. Especially off physical appearance on telly.

@Bones said in All Blacks wing options:

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks wing options:

@Bones said in All Blacks wing options:

@brodean said in All Blacks wing options:

Moorby is bigger than Tangitau

That would take a fair bit of convincing to get past the eye test.

They are listed as pretty much the same height/weight.

Yeah so categorically stating bigger seems off. Especially off physical appearance on telly.

Yeah it is just a nominal amount each way. Moorby slightly taller. Tangitau slightly heavier.

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks wing options:

@Bones said in All Blacks wing options:

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks wing options:

@Bones said in All Blacks wing options:

@brodean said in All Blacks wing options:

Moorby is bigger than Tangitau

That would take a fair bit of convincing to get past the eye test.

They are listed as pretty much the same height/weight.

Yeah so categorically stating bigger seems off. Especially off physical appearance on telly.

Yeah it is just a nominal amount each way. Moorby slightly taller. Tangitau slightly heavier.

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks wing options:

@Bones said in All Blacks wing options:

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks wing options:

@Bones said in All Blacks wing options:

@brodean said in All Blacks wing options:

Moorby is bigger than Tangitau

That would take a fair bit of convincing to get past the eye test.

They are listed as pretty much the same height/weight.

Yeah so categorically stating bigger seems off. Especially off physical appearance on telly.

Yeah it is just a nominal amount each way. Moorby slightly taller. Tangitau slightly heavier.

Yeah depends where you get their weights.

One thing is certain though. Tangitau was named in the starting line up of a SRP team this week while Moorby was deemed surplus to requirements for the Canes 23 in an away game against the 3rd ranked team.

@brodean said in All Blacks wing options:

Moorby wasn't deemed surplus to requirements for the Canes 23 in an away game against the 3rd ranked team.

Come on I'm already confused enough

@Bones said in All Blacks wing options:

@brodean said in All Blacks wing options:

Moorby wasn't deemed surplus to requirements for the Canes 23 in an away game against the 3rd ranked team.

Come on I'm already confused enough

Fixed it. Anyway he should be preferred starter to be an AB contender