So. To The ABs
John Cawston
around the park pretty well. But is a 60 min player.
Did he do enough to unseat Hoeft? I don't think so.
Hammet. Very good game. But he's not Oliver. But he
will sub nicely for a while.
Somerville. Gave away a couple of penalties, but
will hold out Meeuws.. I think.
Maxwell. Played a very good game. Will he beat
Maling? Perhaps. But I still like Maling better for
his lineouts and kick offs.
Jack. For me, the man of the S12. No lock in NZ
comes close.
McCaw. Showed he is a big match player to go with
the talent.
Thorne. Demonstrated yet again that he is the best
invisible player in the world. Taine for me.. if
only because he doesn't wear Frodo's ring.
Robertson. Impressive performance. A tremendous
hunter on the day.
Marshall. Pretty good. Apart from passing to Walker
for his try, he showed how good his big match
experience and temperament is. Better than
Kellerher? Probably not.
Mehrts. Keep him for his tackling and the way he
intimidates Finnegan.
Mauger. A continued impressive display of a player
with all the skills. He's an extraordinary Mr.
Fixit.
Robinson. Watch out Umaga! This guy is the heir
apparent.
Vunibaka. Doesn't qualify for the ABs. But his long
layoff for indiscipline has improved his hands and
general play. Howlett here.
Ralph. Too slow. But scores when needed. Really, he
is a complete player outside of pace. I'd give him
the spot.
Rangi. Home by a country mile.
Hammet, Somerville, Jack, McCaw, Robertson, Mehrts,
Mauger and Rangi are shoe ins from Canty with Feek,
Maxwell, Thorne, Marshall, Robinson and Ralph close
behind. Dave Hewitt could come in for Feek with his
useful TH ability as well.
A great effort for one province. Bolters? Randell
for Capt. and J Collins for No 6/8.
JC
Greig Blanchett
wrote:
>Feek, played well, didnt give away penalties and got
>around the park pretty well. But is a 60 min player.
>Did he do enough to unseat Hoeft? I don't think so.
>
>Hammet. Very good game. But he's not Oliver. But he
>will sub nicely for a while.
>
>Somerville. Gave away a couple of penalties, but
>will hold out Meeuws.. I think.
>
>Maxwell. Played a very good game. Will he beat
>Maling? Perhaps. But I still like Maling better for
>his lineouts and kick offs.
>
>Jack. For me, the man of the S12. No lock in NZ
>comes close.
As long as he can stay away from the seagulling in the tight games.
Top lineout display, no slouch with ball in hand.
>McCaw. Showed he is a big match player to go with
>the talent.
Needs a season or two more to beef up. Excellent retrieval work, not
so good carry it up work.
>
>Thorne. Demonstrated yet again that he is the best
>invisible player in the world. Taine for me.. if
>only because he doesn't wear Frodo's ring.
Actually caught sight of him once or twice today, including the quick
flick for Vinubaka's try, but the question has to be asked, what the
hell was the blindside flanker doing way the hell out in the backs?
>
>Robertson. Impressive performance. A tremendous
>hunter on the day.
>
>Marshall. Pretty good. Apart from passing to Walker
>for his try, he showed how good his big match
>experience and temperament is. Better than
>Kellerher? Probably not.
I've gone off both. If we ever need a backup loosie, Marshall's the
man, but his option picking and finding of targets was a bit slow.
Gregan, Kelleher and Marshall all tend to play the ref instead of the
ball in front of them and they get caught out a lot. I like Mark
Robinson for half back, simply because he's not an extra loose
forward, he's just a damn good passing halfback. I imagine Mehrtens
would choke less than usual with all the time in the world to pick his
play.
>
>Mehrts. Keep him for his tackling and the way he
>intimidates Finnegan.
Almost choked on a couple of kicks but he must have ate all his
shreddies for breakfast alright.
>
>Mauger. A continued impressive display of a player
>with all the skills. He's an extraordinary Mr.
>Fixit.
Reminding me more and more of Little.
>
>Robinson. Watch out Umaga! This guy is the heir
>apparent.
The midfield is starting to look a bit richer after the last few
years.
Matt Neilson
"John Cawston" <rewa...@ihug.co.nz> wrote in message
>
> Ralph. Too slow. But scores when needed. Really, he
> is a complete player outside of pace. I'd give him
> the spot.
>
seem to have the wood on him for pace :)
Cheers, MAtt
TomV
wrote:
>>Thorne. Demonstrated yet again that he is the best
>>invisible player in the world. Taine for me.. if
>>only because he doesn't wear Frodo's ring.
>
>Actually caught sight of him once or twice today, including the quick
>flick for Vinubaka's try, but the question has to be asked, what the
>hell was the blindside flanker doing way the hell out in the backs?
If Thorne is a shite as u lot claim, Canterbury must be fucking
awesome to win all their games with only 2 loose forwards.
Add in, that in general most aren't too impressed with Scottie
Robertson and McCaw must be a fucking legend to do the work of 3.
...tom
ROCK
"TomV" <to...@ihug.blahblah.co.nz> wrote in message
news:lk20fuk5hhrn1f74q...@4ax.com...
He wasnt shite Tom , just nothing special .... I am sure he would do an
adequate job for the ABs.
In context of the 3N and WC Canterburys deserving glory does not mean much
... test football is and should be a step up from S12.
That said I share the apprent opinion of some in this ng that the ABs need
something special where they can find it in every position.
IMHO for Blindside I would say that Flavell or Collins have the most
potential (unrealised at the moment) so Randell ot Thorn are probably
the incumbents - Mitchell will select based on what style he needs ...
PS: IMHO McCaw was a legend on defence and probably did the work of at least
2 ... on attack he needs to work on his body position or beef up I dunno
seemed tentative at times.
ROCK
Mr Scebe
> If Thorne is a shite as u lot claim, Canterbury must be fucking
> awesome to win all their games with only 2 loose forwards.
>
> Add in, that in general most aren't too impressed with Scottie
> Robertson and McCaw must be a fucking legend to do the work of 3.
>
> ...tom
Well put. It isn't surprising that Thorne regularly leads the tackle counts,
but that doensn't seem to be enough for the "instant gratification" crowd.
There is no doubt that he doesn't carry the ball up the way that Flavell or
Collins does, but to me that is the role of a No8 - where i think that
Flavell is best suited, but where Collins' hands let him down.
Thorne is a grafter, who does a lot of work in the tight, and is *always*
there to assist - two points in the last couple of weeks that stand out in
that for me
1. In the semi, he was shunting MacCaw over the line to help him score.
2. The quick hands to pass off to Vinubaka.
Where he stands out for me, is that he knows what needs to be done to *WIN*,
and in the last few years, that has sadly been missing from the AB's. He
should be a shoo in for captain.
--
Mr Scebe
Show your disgust of the ARU/IRB. Boycott the Rugby World Cup in
Australia through non-attendance. Attend an NPC final instead.