@jimmyb said in All Blacks wing options:
@Bones I swear I’ve seen George Bridge catch a high-ball…
..in a cocktail bar maybe..
I would pick Fehi at 11. Give him a taste of being an AB, and if he turns out to be as good at test level as he is at Super, next year might sort itself out too.
@Rugbyman said in All Blacks wing options:
but if you have a wet game in Cape Town and we have been exposed under the high ball in test 1 I think he should come into consideration
In a wet game in Fiji this year Moorby was the worst player on the field and hugely error prone
@KiwiMurph everyone can have 1 bad game. For the rest of the season he has pretty much been error-free like a Ben smith/Cory Jane type player. I am not saying I would start him ahead of Tangitau but with Narawa barely playing this season I would rank him as the number 2 14 in the squad.
I've just had a bit of fun getting AI to probe through Sir Graham Henry's comments in recent years about current NZ rugby players.
The top three recipients for his praise, according to Chat GTP, have been Ardie Savea, Will Jordan and Cam Roigard.
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks wing options:
I would pick Fehi at 11. Give him a taste of being an AB, and if he turns out to be as good at test level as he is at Super, next year might sort itself out too.
I don't reckon. His play undoubtedly deserves it, but when you have guys like Clarke and Jordan who are world class, why should they miss out? And Tangitau who is amazing - but raw and has a bit to learn, surely it's better to give him that time in the jersey?
Maybe in the squad to give him a taste of what he's missing, but I don't see the point really. Giving LF game time there with specific targets on improving his defensive positioning and ball security would have more value, or even a Tupaea/Proctor/Lennox to increase our injury cover options and ability to have a 6-2 bench.
Unless there's a way out of the Newcastle deal of course, that would change things entirely.
@Rugbyman said in All Blacks wing options:
@KiwiMurph everyone can have 1 bad game. For the rest of the season he has pretty much been error-free like a Ben smith/Cory Jane type player. I am not saying I would start him ahead of Tangitau but with Narawa barely playing this season I would rank him as the number 2 14 in the squad.
Will Jordan is a pretty decent 14 too....
@Old-Alleynians said in All Blacks wing options:
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.
Yeah thats the big issue - Clarke and Jordan can thump it but not sure you can call it tactical
@george33 said in All Blacks wing options:
@Frank so should Reiko he will be there.
88 caps for the Allblacks and people still cant spell his first name correctly.
I do think Moorby will be in the discussions purely on the basis that he is the 2nd highest try scorer in the comp. He might be selected in the squad on that basis and because he covers fullback.
He has made more carries than any other player.
Back three carries:
100 Josh Moorby
92 Fehi Fineanganofo
88 Jacob Ratumaitavuki Kneepkens
78 Leroy Carter
76 Caleb Clarke
76 Will Jordan
76 Callum Harkin
72 Caleb Tangitau
Clean Breaks Per Carry
0.25 Caleb Tangitau
0.23 Kyren Taumoefolau
0.21 Fehi Fineanganofo
0.17 Will Jordan
0.17 Caleb Clarke
0.13 Josh Moorby
0.1 Leroy Carter
0.05 Jacob Ratumaitavuki Kneepkens
So the Canes use their back 3 to attack a lot more than the other teams.
Tackle Percentage
85% Leroy Carter
83% Caleb Clarke
83% Kyren Taumoefolau
82% Will Jordan
79% Caleb Tangitau
76% Josh Moorby
72% Fehi Fineanganofo
70% Jacob Ratumaitavuki Kneepkens
@reprobate said in All Blacks wing options:
@brodean I don't see it eh, good player but we have better starting options at wing and fullback, and would be better off using a development slot for a Taumoefolau or maybe even Hutchinson.
I agree. I think he's benefited by being on the end of the Canes backline but I still think the selectors will talk about him.
If Tangitau is out long term (fingers crossed somehow he isnt) I wonder if Jordan to 14 really picks up steam
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks wing options:
If Tangitau is out long term (fingers crossed somehow he isnt) I wonder if Jordan to 14 really picks up steam
Which in turn really makes the end of the season interesting for Sullivan/Harkin (and maybe even Hutchinson).
@KiwiMurph Personally I would like Jordan at 15 which is his favoured position. Then look for the best 14 which may change if Tangitau is out and Narawa can't find some fitness and form. Perhaps they look at Fehi on the right wing or Moorby as a solid Ben Smith type player.
@Rugbyman said in All Blacks wing options:
Personally I would like Jordan at 15 which is his favoured position.
I'm more interested in the best position for the ABs not his favoured position.
@KiwiMurph who is a better 15 than Jordan in NZ? there is no one and I would argue he is more influential there than on the wing, just look at his impact at the Saders.