Comments on: All Blacks bid to save series against France

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:59:18 +0000

Jerry – fair point, we lose the top 3 7′s & the top 8 & we’re in strife. Lauaki has turned his game around in the S14, his major issue at test level was ball retention & he’s sorted that, pity he can’t have another crack (even though after the tests last year I was hoping never again). What are the issues with Waldron ? in the S14 he played agaisnt te opposition that he’d play against in teh 3N & came out well. At least with eirther of those we’d have 2 from 3 specialists.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:12:55 +0000

Well, if you look at those guys playing 7 and 8 for the S14 franchises, to be honest, there’s not that many options out there.

These are the guys who played 7 and 8 for most of the time for each franchise (or were the top in that position when fit).

7 – Scott Waldrom, Josh Blackie, Tanerau Latimer, George Whitelock, Alando Soakai. Prior to Latimer getting on as a replacement last weekend, there’s not a test cap amongst that bunch and Waldrom and Blackie are both injured.

8 – Rodney So’oialo, Sione Lauaki, Thomas Waldrom, Jerome Kaino, George Nauopo. Rodney’s sitting out the Iveco series resting up for the TN, Lauaki’s had multiple opportunities and has failed to step up, Kaino’s been shown to be a far better 6 and has been selected there and Nauopo is very inexperienced.

Essentially, the only fit capable specialists who could concievably step up are Latimer and Waldrom and there are question marks over both of them. Look, I’m not an apologist for Henry by any means, but it’s not like he’s over looking proven test performers to experiment. And learning a new position at test level isn’t anything new. Sometimes it fails, like Cullen and McDonald at centre, sometimes it succeeds, like Stephen Larkham at 10 or Mils Muliaina at 15.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:43:01 +0000

Jerry – but why why why doesn’t he put a specialist in there……we have 5 teams in the S14, that means a MINIMUM of 5 regulars at 6, 7, & 8.

Yet last weekend he started 3 guys who were regular 6′s
This weekend he starts 2 6′s & a 7………he wants someone to learn their trade at international level ??? Maybe he should shove Weepu into Centre next time we have problems there !

What’s he trying to do to us poor supporters……looking forward to this weekends match though. French will be up for it big time, AB’s came back from 17-3 down last weekend so showed some guts, should be a cracker.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:16:53 +0000

To be fair, Read played a full season at 8 in the Air NZ Cup last year. I do agree Henry seems to have a blindspot when it come s to specialist loosies.

By: Rusty

Rusty — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:33:51 +0000

must be smoking the same pipe as PDV

By: van der Merwe

van der Merwe — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:07:01 +0000

Why is Henry so obsessed with playing his loose forwards out of their provincial positions?

By: JamesB

JamesB — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:31:44 +0000

Fair comment about Messam, but on this basis how does Keiren Read warrant being retained. He really looked to be struggling at this level. These are both players I admire and have a lot of time for, but they really must do better. Adam Thompson a real disappointment, and he is yet to have a good game wearing the black jersey. Time must be running out for him.