Highlights: Rebels defence costly in loss to Blues

CUW I suggest Hansen will stay with his usual selection pattern and choose a full front row (i.e. Taylor, Faumuina and either Goodes or Crockett), an open-side flanker (i.e. either Savea or Todd) and a lock/No6/No8 (i.e.Luatua). I would choose Vito as my No6/No8 cover without the lock option since either Read or Kaino, can fill that role if Rets or Whitelock are injured......but, I agree Hansen may overlook Vito because, of his pending departure. It could be the back reserves that create the most interest. Obviously you look for a No9 (Weber since TKB has a broken arm), a No10 (Beaudin) and then what positional cover for the last spot?? Does Shag go for a wing/FB cover or a No12/No13 cover. I would suggest the latter since BB can cover No10/FB and wing, if necessary. So, who does Shag look at for No12/No13 because 2 players that have shown some form, have both been on the injury list (i.e. Crotty and Ngatai). They will have a couple of games to run into some form again so perhaps, Shag gives Crotty the start and Ngatai, the bench. Again, who'd want be a coach/selector aye....??

@ Kuruki : Luatua is a 2nd row 3rd row - he can play i think 5 in 2nd row , 6 and 8. that means there is space for a genuine 2nd row like Romano / Tuipulotu. starters being Kaino Cane Read ; that may mean Cane has to go the distance. another option maybe to have Luatua with another outright 7 - Todd or Savea . If i want a Mccaw clone , would go with Todd, but if the need is a 6/7 Savea may fit the bill. Kaino trained to play in the 2nd row for world cup - do not think he likes it at all :D Vito is leaving so , who knows if he will be used. Squire is more of an 8 , he will struggle at 6. Ioane is a more of 6 , he will struggle at 8. If u want the hybrid 6 / 8 there are few options , Mama Vaipulu of chiefs but his form has been down this year. Brad Shields is another - he is really good but injuries have robbed him a yard of pace. Elliot Dixon is also versatile but after a great last year and early form this year seems to have lost it a bit. They also have Luke Whitelock , but he does not start enuf to get into all blacks BladeThomson is like Luatua - can play both 2nd and 3rd row. IMO he is a good super level player but not sure he is test class (for all blacks , but for any other country sure he is good enuf.) also he is behind Shields and Vito on the 3rd row positions most of the time. now , if ur looking for 2nd rowers and 6, a few newbies have come to the front . Cheifs Taleni Seu has become a sensation, but he really needs more experience to get a less error prone game. Vaea fifita is another blockbusting talent, but to me , he has not yet shown the ITM form at super level. The crusader Jimmy Toupou has of late become a 2nd row /3rd row option. he is a good, but again IMO not test level (yet). at the end of the day , IMO , S Hansen will go with the known rascals. he may have a look at one or two new guys but will not make wholesale changes to the pack. His eye is on Lions 2017 , he will build a squad for that . surely Kaino can play another 2 years :) the guy i'm not sure of is READ. he is one bad head knock away from permanent retirement. (Like Leon Mcdonald , another crusader and allblack).

The thing holding Moala back is his vision and distribution. That is a massive setback when you're hoping to push for an All Black midfield role. I'm sure Hansen and co have spoken to him about this surely and hopefully it is a work in progress. For me a fit Tuipolotu is the third best lock in the country. He will surely overtake Romano as the All Blacks go to impact lock from the bench. That Tuipolotu/Famuina second half impact would be massive. Interesting for me with the retirement of McCaw is the makeup of the bench cover for the All Blacks. We were used to seeing Sam Cane on the pine with McCaw making the move to blindside. Does Hansen now develop Savea as the cover for 6/7 and give him the bench spot, or does he look to someone else maybe an 8/6 cover. Are there any genuine All Black 6/7 options? Savea is one in my book who could do it. We saw in the WC Hansen went with Vito as lock cover which gave him one man covering 4,5,6,8 and allowed for Cane to cover 7 with the McCaw switch also possible at 6. There are so many possibilities. Tuipolotu covering lock/6 is one option i like the look of. Or do we go with someone like Squire/Ioane who can cover 6/8 and risk not having a genuine cover at 7. Look forward to it all unfolding as the June tests arrive.

@ Rugby Tragic : one issue i find with blues is , Umanga takes off his most senior staff early. In this game Kaino Parsons big Chrlie were all taken out by like 60 - 65. that left only latimer as an old head in the park - and it almost backfired when rebels managed to cpitalize on some silly plays. they really need to get hold of an old man who can play 80+. wonder if Adam Thompson is interested , but then Blues do have very good 3rd row stocks.

REIKO IOANE is too raw. he is good in attack , and like any young fast boy with the ball will try all he can to get to the line. but his defence is poor and his decisionmaking needs a big improvement. the + is , he is very young and with experience will learn to play like a Jane than a schoolboy (which he is :) ) imo , he shud play a couple of seasons of 7S. becoz u need to play a very error free game , he will become more rounded for xvs. even akira still makes a few more mistakes than required. but then it must be something in the blue's water , becoz the silly mistakes were started by their captain.

nah he is out of breath after holding it for the last 10 minutes of that game (from the time that Rebel wing scored LOL).

PT is an allblack already . SamW BrodieR LukeR and PatrickT will be the 4 2nd rowers. Thrush came into the scene becoz PT was almost the entirety of last year. Moala while good in attack is still not that ggod in defence compared to his immediate threat Ranger. the similarity of both however , is their propensity to throw ahil Mary passes, that end up either costing the team points or putting them in danger. that is why Hansen likes Crotty, he is nothing flash , not a powerhouse , BUT he is solid in both attack and defence.

Oops

Haha! ... sorry 'bout that... posted a comment on the wrong thread...

RT at a loss for words congrats Blues

I still really like Moala. He is not ready for the next step, but is becoming very damaging at this level much like Kerevi. But the person who I have been impressed with all season is Tuipulotou... he must be close to a shot at making the AB squad. He has been a little inconsistent in the past, but he's really starting to string performances together. I hope he keeps getting better. Also good to see Kaino upping his work rate and returning to the sort of form that had him rated as one of the best.

Blues did their best to almost lose this. Moala needs to be 1 in at 2nd 5 and as Hansen sees Rieko Ioane as a centre..i wouldnt mind seeing him given a go there too. But hes gone to the 7s now. Rebels best aus team atm....who wouldve picked that.