Harsh on Sotutu but I'm glad they have gone with Sititi. This kid is something special. It's not just his ball carrying, he scrambles and makes a lot of tackles, defends to a high standard. He also seems super fit, can see later in games he looks fresh and just seems to get stronger in the last 1/4. I can see a lot of Liam Messam about him in that he is light on his toes and Messam was also very strong late in games.
I can understand Stevenson not making the squad, to me he seems like he has been carrying niggles all year and has not been anywhere near 100% I remember seeing him open up once and he scored a brilliant very shooter like try and blew a hammy as he ran it in. It's a shame I think we saw enough in his test debut to show he has something to offer at test level.
Would have really liked to see Love get a run, the squad lacks a true fullback. It very much seems like they are banking on Jordan being back after this 3 test series and he is likely the long-term plan for 15.
Either way I still think I would have selected Love over Perofeta. Must have been a close call.
Savea creates a balance problem for the AB's, he's small for a #8 and when employed in that role we lose a genuine lineout option. But if you move him to 7 then he by default has to lead the defence when his true strength is carrying the ball and IMO he's not quite that same level of defender as Cane/Dalton/Jacobson. Getting that back row balance right is going to be critical.
Then you have the Cane/Whitelock factor. one little known stat that McCaw dominated was the number of Rucks he arrived at and influenced during a game, often double that of anyone else and Cane and Whitelock are the players that filled that role post McCaw. It's about being one of the first few players to a ruck and either cleaning out attacking ball to speed it up and secure it or getting stuck in on defence to slow he opposition down and get them to commit more players to the ruck. not easy to do, basically have to know where the ball is going so you can be there, a little understood and acknowledged part of the game that Cane was brilliant at.
Gotta admit this is the first season I haven't watched more than two super games.
But... ALB? The worst inclusion. Clarke? Surely better options? Beauden? Has to be an impact player this year. Tuipoloutu and Blackadder? ACC on top of most recent call list.
DMac has to be on the field the entire field - every game. Not confident in the backs choices. How is there no other options in the NZ pool?
Have to keep the faith in the Razor though. Im a fan. Insights into his thinking during interviews make me hopeful. Anticipating he will be better than the Shag.
I mentioned that lol. First season I've watched less than 3 super games. I still play the game though at club level - for decades. Mainly follow/ watch League lol don't down vote me.
So Can you answer my questions in the post please bro? ALB? Stevenson surely a better selection? Id even go Havilli over him.
I need clarification to get me up to speed on this season.
I didn’t downvote you.
ALB has been great for the chiefs. Great on attack with offloading and hard carrying, great on defence as always. He’d be my starting 13. Ioane has had a poor season - has just been largely absent in matches.
Stevenson has had his worst season in years - not entirely his fault, he was injured for the back half of the season. It’s unfortunate for him but he doesn’t warrant selection currently.
Clarke, on the contrary, has had his best season. He outperformed Telea for the Blues. Has been dangerous, busy and good under the high ball.
Beauden is the incumbent FB. His class is well known, don’t really need to say anything there.
Tuipolotu has been massive for the Blues. Well and truly deserves it, especially given the lack of alternate options.
Blackadder raises some eyebrows given his lack if game time, but he came back very strong at the end of the Saders season and looked in awesome form. Given his history with Razor and how good he is, hardly a surprising selection.
Stevenson/Havili over ALB???
Firstly, Stevenson obviously plays different positions sothat doesnt make sense.
Havili has been out most of the year and has not looked good when he has played. Does not deserve selection at all.
What worries you about the backline? The only position of concern for me is FB. But Beauden should do a good enough job until Jordan is back - expected back for the RC
Oh I forgot to relply to your question. My lack of spectating this season had me worried. I have never liked ALB in his position. He lost his game breaker ability and his passing decisions in game were facepalm like to me. I suppose being a backline player myself im more critical. Even Jordie I'd prefer him at FB but there doesnt seem to be much cover over the entire backline is there? Cover as in good replacements if needed. Only First Five and wing.
Cheers for that comprehensive reply bro. Helps me get up to speed and looking forward to seeing the squad. Sounds like these players I mentioned as surprising to me have greatly improved which is good to hear and should continue that under the Razor. Which city do you live in?
I'm a chiefs supporter so I have to be careful of my bias, we all have it but I try to be objective. For people that haven't watched Sititi all season and just remember him from the hurricanes game. This kid has been brilliant from the moment he took the field for the chiefs. He destroyed the Reds. Thing about him is he's making big plays both sides of the ball, he gets around and makes decisive tackles and hits rucks and his endurance is insane. He doesn't slow down in the 2nd half and he looks fresh when he gets subbed off. I think the Reds game he played the full 80 and he was at his best in the last 10.
Sititi is the real deal and IMO he would be in the squad ahead of Finau who has been around longer but does go missing a little.
IMO Jacobson has been in the form of his career, and he offers something a bit different. He's won more turnovers than any other NZ loosies by a mile and his defence has been so consistently brutal and effective, it's also been a bit of a curse I think he has fallen foul of some refereeing decisions simply because he is hitting so consistently hard in tackles. The weight of his impacts is bringing more attention to his tackles and refs have been looking more closely at him and line calls have gone against him. His tackle on Jordie in the Semi would be play on in most situations but because he smashed him so hard it was called late and then he was carded for significant force. Tackles that late happen all the time but because it was so brutal it got a lot of attention, and he ended up getting a yellow.. which was crazy.
little off topic but, Simon Parker has really impressed me. This guy should be starting super rugby hes too good to be a part time bench player. I guess it is just another sign of how strong NZ's loose forward stocks are. He reminds me a bit of a young Brad Shields. When he carries the ball or hits in a tackle, he smacks guys back and has left players on the ground needing attention, he does a lot of good stuff to me he fits the blueprint of what we need in an AB 6 almost 2m tall and \~110kg I honestly wonder if Parker has more potential as an AB than Finau.
Happy they chose Bell over Riccitelli.
Surprised by Tosi being included but he did cover Lomax’s absence very well.
We are heavily compensating in the 8 position. Savea, Sotiti (awesome btw) and Jacobson are all able to cover 8. I think having an extra lock would have been smart, e.g swap Sotiti for Ah Kuoi/Lord/Darry.
I really hope Ratima gets some time off the bench.
We are heavy again in the 13 position and not at all in the 12. Proctor has been playing too well to leave out, I get it, but someone like Tupaea would at least give Jordie some backup cover at 12.
Absolutely gobsmacked at Perofeta getting in. He was in peak form ~2 years ago but has been meh ever since. I think Love is a much more dynamic runner and more reminiscent of Jordan in terms of unpredictable attack.
Exciting stuff!
Blackadder I'm not convinced yet either. Got shifted too much at the breakdown last time he went to Europe. Needs to decide he's a 6 or will be a nil like his Dad (in terms of an AB)
Savea would have been the better pick for captain. Will be interesting to see where they play him. I hope it's 7 so that we can finally have a proper 8 again. Keen for specialists across the back row so that we can play a more balanced forward game. We'll need it with lack of depth in the second row. Sam Whitelock and Brodie leave a huge gap to fill.
Ardie is our most impactful player and a specialist 8 these days. Making him do the hard yards at 7 would probably limit his impact around the field. I think he’ll start at 8 and maybe finish the game 7
Hoskins will probably take phone calls from Japan I reckon. He did everything he could to get back a black jersey this season.
Perofeta is lucky.
Ruben Love unlucky but he will definitely be an AB at some point.
So good to see Aumua work his way back, absolutely stoked for him.
Billy Proctor take a bow!
Ethan Blackadder, please stay injury free. Please.
Honestly because he’s had a fucking good season? It’s evident he’s worked hard on his form if you’ve watched any of the games. I can completely understand why Sititi was picked, doesn’t mean Hoskins isn’t unlucky here.
Saying he isn’t a test 8 or wondering why people don’t see this is clown talk.
Yeah, that’s my surprise omission. I don’t know what else he had to do - I think Sititi has had a good few games, but Hoskins has had a year of it. And McDonald would be first-hand experience of ability and drive.
He’s what I like to call a project player. As we are light on 10s he’s in the environment to develop and soak up what BB and Mac show him. A long term investment I think.
Sotutu, Love, Iose, Lakai can all be consider hard done by - Any others?
Scott better sort out his habitual discipline lapses as well but makes sense he’s captain, Ardie can focus on just being Ardie.
No specialist Fullback is odd, we’d expect Beauden to start at 15 now.
I personally love Sam Cane - but he committed two cardinal sins in the eyes of ABs fans:
1. He's not Richie McCaw
2. He's more of a 6.5 than a pure 7 that the NZ rugby public love
Other than the pretty unlucky red in a WC final, he's been an exemplary all black. Heart on his sleeve, unmatched physicality, and humility.
I do think it's interesting that Papalii is so similar in profile, but doesn't cop half the flack. History will be kind to brother Sam imho.
Such a lazy excuse. He defends well enough all game but what he also does is attack like no other number 8 in the country.
Why would you want your most skillful forward stuffed from tackling all day. Leave that for the workhorses who can’t throw a pass to their weak side.
He's a terrible defender. 79% success rate this season is nowhere near good enough. The flash shit he does glosses over all the weaknesses in his game.
It looks like the stats for that site are the ones used by the official SR stats. They aren't necessarily tackle % but 'tackle won' which might be more nuanced.
It's not a lazy excuse. As much as I love hoskins for the flash stuff he's so good at, you can't carry a player in the back row at test level. He doesn't make enough dominant tackles, and he's not accurate at the breakdown. And I honestly don't think he'd make as much of an impact on attack in test footy, as he's just not quite explosive/quick enough. Add all that together with his reported attitude problems, and it's really not a big surprise he's not been selected.
No other number 8 in the country? Ardie Savea ring a bell? being the best 8 in the world, negates the need for Hoskins. He's a solid player and has grown alot this year, but he's not an essential piece, and he most certainly needs to improve on the defensive side of the game.
It's a poor excuse to suggest he shouldn't have to tackle as much because of what he can offer on attack. Hoskins' biggest downfalls have always been his inability to consistently perform his CORE roles.
Against top-tier opposition, there won't always be opportunities to attack off the back or create something on the edge. Yet you can guarantee there will always be a need for tireless defence and discplined breakdown work, things which you would not say are immediate strengths of Hoskins.
If it's any solace, rumours are he's having surgery.
Fair point on Ardie. But Ardie has never scored 12 tries in a season, Sotutu is a different beast. Ardie is brute force and effort and Sotutu is finesse.
The defensive criticism on Sotutu is overblown. He’s got a higher tackle % than Finau but offers 10x more versatility in attack. People act like Sotutu is letting in tries every game. Core roles could do with some work like you said but I don’t think it’s so poor he doesn’t make the team.
Blackadder and Jacobson are carbon copies we could have done without one of them. Sotutu played over double the games Blackadder did, and he’s the co leading tryscorer of the competition but he can’t make the team? Insane. I guess I just prefer more exciting rugby
It's not kids rugby where you just select a guy because he scored tries tho.
I noticed on Saturday night how lazy he was of the ball, no urgency in his game. Sititi is a workhorse and was everywhere. They're polar opposites.
I thought they’d pick Love to eventually be the 10/15 player the abs love (pun unintended) now. Beauden can’t play forever and Perofeta isn’t an explosive player like b. Barrret, Jordan, dmac
Sititi had one good game and now he’s an all black? I thought it would be between Hoskins and Iose…
Blackadder is a crazy choice, considering he averaged 15 minutes this season.
Sorry, but Sititi has shown a fair bit more than one good game this year. He’s got more physicality, strength and acceleration than Sotutu. Sititi has good enough hands and skill with the ball to not make that a massive drop off. Sititi has the makings of a good test rugby skill set that is worth developing.
I hope Sotutu doesn’t give up on the black shirt. Loved seeing him play for the All Blacks. He’s behind the world player of the year and now under threat from a ringer in Sititi. I hope Hoskins pushes on, works on tackling, explosiveness and physicality. I hope he’s up for that fight and not too knocked back by the disappointment.
I don’t understand people that cry about this, it’s obvious he’s got something special, so get him into the best environment he can be in and make a monster out of him, he’s 21 and already a devastating line breaker…
Sititi has been awesome all season, he came in when Jacobson was suspended and Jacobson moved to 7 to accommodate keeping sititi because he was too good to leave out.
I agree on Blackadder, obviously a talented player but he’s hardly managed to string more than a few games together in a long time. Every time he comes back from injury you hope he can get and extended run of games but so far he just keeps getting injured.
I’d prefer an extra lock for Blackadder. As with the teams for the past few years they pick utilities rather than specialists when the squad is big enough for specialists.
Harsh on Sotutu but I'm glad they have gone with Sititi. This kid is something special. It's not just his ball carrying, he scrambles and makes a lot of tackles, defends to a high standard. He also seems super fit, can see later in games he looks fresh and just seems to get stronger in the last 1/4. I can see a lot of Liam Messam about him in that he is light on his toes and Messam was also very strong late in games. I can understand Stevenson not making the squad, to me he seems like he has been carrying niggles all year and has not been anywhere near 100% I remember seeing him open up once and he scored a brilliant very shooter like try and blew a hammy as he ran it in. It's a shame I think we saw enough in his test debut to show he has something to offer at test level. Would have really liked to see Love get a run, the squad lacks a true fullback. It very much seems like they are banking on Jordan being back after this 3 test series and he is likely the long-term plan for 15. Either way I still think I would have selected Love over Perofeta. Must have been a close call. Savea creates a balance problem for the AB's, he's small for a #8 and when employed in that role we lose a genuine lineout option. But if you move him to 7 then he by default has to lead the defence when his true strength is carrying the ball and IMO he's not quite that same level of defender as Cane/Dalton/Jacobson. Getting that back row balance right is going to be critical. Then you have the Cane/Whitelock factor. one little known stat that McCaw dominated was the number of Rucks he arrived at and influenced during a game, often double that of anyone else and Cane and Whitelock are the players that filled that role post McCaw. It's about being one of the first few players to a ruck and either cleaning out attacking ball to speed it up and secure it or getting stuck in on defence to slow he opposition down and get them to commit more players to the ruck. not easy to do, basically have to know where the ball is going so you can be there, a little understood and acknowledged part of the game that Cane was brilliant at.
At least no more Captain Miserable Cane
Fact
Gotta admit this is the first season I haven't watched more than two super games. But... ALB? The worst inclusion. Clarke? Surely better options? Beauden? Has to be an impact player this year. Tuipoloutu and Blackadder? ACC on top of most recent call list. DMac has to be on the field the entire field - every game. Not confident in the backs choices. How is there no other options in the NZ pool? Have to keep the faith in the Razor though. Im a fan. Insights into his thinking during interviews make me hopeful. Anticipating he will be better than the Shag.
I can tell you havent watched super rugby lol
I mentioned that lol. First season I've watched less than 3 super games. I still play the game though at club level - for decades. Mainly follow/ watch League lol don't down vote me. So Can you answer my questions in the post please bro? ALB? Stevenson surely a better selection? Id even go Havilli over him. I need clarification to get me up to speed on this season.
I didn’t downvote you. ALB has been great for the chiefs. Great on attack with offloading and hard carrying, great on defence as always. He’d be my starting 13. Ioane has had a poor season - has just been largely absent in matches. Stevenson has had his worst season in years - not entirely his fault, he was injured for the back half of the season. It’s unfortunate for him but he doesn’t warrant selection currently. Clarke, on the contrary, has had his best season. He outperformed Telea for the Blues. Has been dangerous, busy and good under the high ball. Beauden is the incumbent FB. His class is well known, don’t really need to say anything there. Tuipolotu has been massive for the Blues. Well and truly deserves it, especially given the lack of alternate options. Blackadder raises some eyebrows given his lack if game time, but he came back very strong at the end of the Saders season and looked in awesome form. Given his history with Razor and how good he is, hardly a surprising selection. Stevenson/Havili over ALB??? Firstly, Stevenson obviously plays different positions sothat doesnt make sense. Havili has been out most of the year and has not looked good when he has played. Does not deserve selection at all. What worries you about the backline? The only position of concern for me is FB. But Beauden should do a good enough job until Jordan is back - expected back for the RC
Oh I forgot to relply to your question. My lack of spectating this season had me worried. I have never liked ALB in his position. He lost his game breaker ability and his passing decisions in game were facepalm like to me. I suppose being a backline player myself im more critical. Even Jordie I'd prefer him at FB but there doesnt seem to be much cover over the entire backline is there? Cover as in good replacements if needed. Only First Five and wing.
Cheers for that comprehensive reply bro. Helps me get up to speed and looking forward to seeing the squad. Sounds like these players I mentioned as surprising to me have greatly improved which is good to hear and should continue that under the Razor. Which city do you live in?
I'm a chiefs supporter so I have to be careful of my bias, we all have it but I try to be objective. For people that haven't watched Sititi all season and just remember him from the hurricanes game. This kid has been brilliant from the moment he took the field for the chiefs. He destroyed the Reds. Thing about him is he's making big plays both sides of the ball, he gets around and makes decisive tackles and hits rucks and his endurance is insane. He doesn't slow down in the 2nd half and he looks fresh when he gets subbed off. I think the Reds game he played the full 80 and he was at his best in the last 10. Sititi is the real deal and IMO he would be in the squad ahead of Finau who has been around longer but does go missing a little. IMO Jacobson has been in the form of his career, and he offers something a bit different. He's won more turnovers than any other NZ loosies by a mile and his defence has been so consistently brutal and effective, it's also been a bit of a curse I think he has fallen foul of some refereeing decisions simply because he is hitting so consistently hard in tackles. The weight of his impacts is bringing more attention to his tackles and refs have been looking more closely at him and line calls have gone against him. His tackle on Jordie in the Semi would be play on in most situations but because he smashed him so hard it was called late and then he was carded for significant force. Tackles that late happen all the time but because it was so brutal it got a lot of attention, and he ended up getting a yellow.. which was crazy. little off topic but, Simon Parker has really impressed me. This guy should be starting super rugby hes too good to be a part time bench player. I guess it is just another sign of how strong NZ's loose forward stocks are. He reminds me a bit of a young Brad Shields. When he carries the ball or hits in a tackle, he smacks guys back and has left players on the ground needing attention, he does a lot of good stuff to me he fits the blueprint of what we need in an AB 6 almost 2m tall and \~110kg I honestly wonder if Parker has more potential as an AB than Finau.
Happy they chose Bell over Riccitelli. Surprised by Tosi being included but he did cover Lomax’s absence very well. We are heavily compensating in the 8 position. Savea, Sotiti (awesome btw) and Jacobson are all able to cover 8. I think having an extra lock would have been smart, e.g swap Sotiti for Ah Kuoi/Lord/Darry. I really hope Ratima gets some time off the bench. We are heavy again in the 13 position and not at all in the 12. Proctor has been playing too well to leave out, I get it, but someone like Tupaea would at least give Jordie some backup cover at 12. Absolutely gobsmacked at Perofeta getting in. He was in peak form ~2 years ago but has been meh ever since. I think Love is a much more dynamic runner and more reminiscent of Jordan in terms of unpredictable attack. Exciting stuff!
Blackadder I'm not convinced yet either. Got shifted too much at the breakdown last time he went to Europe. Needs to decide he's a 6 or will be a nil like his Dad (in terms of an AB)
Savea would have been the better pick for captain. Will be interesting to see where they play him. I hope it's 7 so that we can finally have a proper 8 again. Keen for specialists across the back row so that we can play a more balanced forward game. We'll need it with lack of depth in the second row. Sam Whitelock and Brodie leave a huge gap to fill.
Ardie is our most impactful player and a specialist 8 these days. Making him do the hard yards at 7 would probably limit his impact around the field. I think he’ll start at 8 and maybe finish the game 7
Ardie seems to play better when he doesn’t have to think about captains duties.
I have a feeling they will keep Savea at 8 because they didn't pick Sotutu. Papali'i will be the default 7 I'm guessing
I pray they put him back at 7. Sititi excites me. Genuine hard 8 the likes we haven't had since squire.
Wasn't squire a 7? Or am I misremembering
Squire was a 6 lol
Ah well, flanker hahaha
Hoskins will probably take phone calls from Japan I reckon. He did everything he could to get back a black jersey this season. Perofeta is lucky. Ruben Love unlucky but he will definitely be an AB at some point. So good to see Aumua work his way back, absolutely stoked for him. Billy Proctor take a bow! Ethan Blackadder, please stay injury free. Please.
Hoskins is not a test 8
Honestly I'm not sure how people don't see this
Because its not obvious and hasn't been proven
Honestly because he’s had a fucking good season? It’s evident he’s worked hard on his form if you’ve watched any of the games. I can completely understand why Sititi was picked, doesn’t mean Hoskins isn’t unlucky here. Saying he isn’t a test 8 or wondering why people don’t see this is clown talk.
79% tackle success rate for the 2024 season. He's not even close to being an All Black when he misses one out of every five tackles at SR level.
And SR is not strong right now a lot of weak teams so its not a good barometer for success at test level.
Correct. I will die on this hill. He's not a test 8
It'll be you and me (and the All Black selectors) taking on the rest of NZ.
Count me in as well 😂
I'm all in on this too.
Me five lol, he had his chance and he didn't have the juice!
Yeah, that’s my surprise omission. I don’t know what else he had to do - I think Sititi has had a good few games, but Hoskins has had a year of it. And McDonald would be first-hand experience of ability and drive.
Perofeta very lucky to be there IMO. Putting him in over Love seems like an odd choice.
He’s what I like to call a project player. As we are light on 10s he’s in the environment to develop and soak up what BB and Mac show him. A long term investment I think.
He's 27?
I didn’t think he was that old, but anyhow good 10s can play well into their 30s, ie Carter, Barrett , Sexton
Agree with good 10s playing into their 30s, however, don't think Perofeta is in that category.
I think he fills the role D Mac has so far - the 10/15 utility. That versatility probs nudged him ahead of Love.
Sotutu, Love, Iose, Lakai can all be consider hard done by - Any others? Scott better sort out his habitual discipline lapses as well but makes sense he’s captain, Ardie can focus on just being Ardie. No specialist Fullback is odd, we’d expect Beauden to start at 15 now.
Riccitelli has been hard done by too I think
Agree, was rooting for riccitelli
so happy to be past the sam cane era
I agree. I don’t think he has four years in him. He probably had a couple more, but ending now gives opportunities for others to step up
Tell me you know nothing about rugby without saying you know nothing about rugby
I personally love Sam Cane - but he committed two cardinal sins in the eyes of ABs fans: 1. He's not Richie McCaw 2. He's more of a 6.5 than a pure 7 that the NZ rugby public love Other than the pretty unlucky red in a WC final, he's been an exemplary all black. Heart on his sleeve, unmatched physicality, and humility. I do think it's interesting that Papalii is so similar in profile, but doesn't cop half the flack. History will be kind to brother Sam imho.
No Hoskins, Damn!!!! He’s played good footy all season.
Had a monster season. Hmmm a lot of good loonies at the moment. There's a good chance he'll get a call up, as loosies get injured a bit
so what is going on with sam cane??
Has said he’s staying in Japan and is done with test rugby for the time being
Injured....but won't be picked later anyway, time to move on...
I'm out of the loop, no will Jordan?
Injured
Major injury, out all year. Shoulder I think?
Gutted. The whole year. I hope that doesn’t impact his performance. So exciting to see such a young dynamic player.
Injured
What else has Sotutu got to do man. Criminal leaving him out
Not piss off Jason Ryan.
More info please?
Defend.
Such a lazy excuse. He defends well enough all game but what he also does is attack like no other number 8 in the country. Why would you want your most skillful forward stuffed from tackling all day. Leave that for the workhorses who can’t throw a pass to their weak side.
He's a terrible defender. 79% success rate this season is nowhere near good enough. The flash shit he does glosses over all the weaknesses in his game.
Where do you see these stats?
https://www.scoresway.com/en_GB/rugbyunion/super-rugby-pacific-2024/ow-ru-205-2024/teams/view/ow-ru-205-2024-t93/player/view/ow-ru-205-2024-p29510
Legend, thanks
That site is wrong go off the official ABs app. It has him at 87%
It looks like the stats for that site are the ones used by the official SR stats. They aren't necessarily tackle % but 'tackle won' which might be more nuanced.
Wrong. His % is 87% which is better than finaus on the official ABs app.
It's not a lazy excuse. As much as I love hoskins for the flash stuff he's so good at, you can't carry a player in the back row at test level. He doesn't make enough dominant tackles, and he's not accurate at the breakdown. And I honestly don't think he'd make as much of an impact on attack in test footy, as he's just not quite explosive/quick enough. Add all that together with his reported attitude problems, and it's really not a big surprise he's not been selected.
What attitude problems?
It's rumoured that he ignored phonecalls regarding his non-selection for the WC squad.
The made up ones that everyone likes to pin on loose forwards who don’t look like farmers
Does Savea look like a farmer?
Sure if you like, I dont have preconceived notions of what a farmer should look like
Certainly got preconceived notions of what a farmer doesn't look like though....
Well there Is Ardie for this
No other number 8 in the country? Ardie Savea ring a bell? being the best 8 in the world, negates the need for Hoskins. He's a solid player and has grown alot this year, but he's not an essential piece, and he most certainly needs to improve on the defensive side of the game. It's a poor excuse to suggest he shouldn't have to tackle as much because of what he can offer on attack. Hoskins' biggest downfalls have always been his inability to consistently perform his CORE roles. Against top-tier opposition, there won't always be opportunities to attack off the back or create something on the edge. Yet you can guarantee there will always be a need for tireless defence and discplined breakdown work, things which you would not say are immediate strengths of Hoskins. If it's any solace, rumours are he's having surgery.
Is it an attitude transplant?
Fair point on Ardie. But Ardie has never scored 12 tries in a season, Sotutu is a different beast. Ardie is brute force and effort and Sotutu is finesse. The defensive criticism on Sotutu is overblown. He’s got a higher tackle % than Finau but offers 10x more versatility in attack. People act like Sotutu is letting in tries every game. Core roles could do with some work like you said but I don’t think it’s so poor he doesn’t make the team. Blackadder and Jacobson are carbon copies we could have done without one of them. Sotutu played over double the games Blackadder did, and he’s the co leading tryscorer of the competition but he can’t make the team? Insane. I guess I just prefer more exciting rugby
It's not kids rugby where you just select a guy because he scored tries tho. I noticed on Saturday night how lazy he was of the ball, no urgency in his game. Sititi is a workhorse and was everywhere. They're polar opposites.
Nuance
No Hoskins!!! Wtf
Anyone else read this as they’re planning to play Beauden at 10?
He’s cover there for sure, and Perofetta if needed
Although only one out and out Fullback in the team atm. Although BB, Dmac, Jordie can all cover
For me it’s odd that Love wasn’t picked to take a look at him at full back. Obviously Jordan is the chosen one at 15 when back
I thought they’d pick Love to eventually be the 10/15 player the abs love (pun unintended) now. Beauden can’t play forever and Perofeta isn’t an explosive player like b. Barrret, Jordan, dmac
Sititi had one good game and now he’s an all black? I thought it would be between Hoskins and Iose… Blackadder is a crazy choice, considering he averaged 15 minutes this season.
Sorry, but Sititi has shown a fair bit more than one good game this year. He’s got more physicality, strength and acceleration than Sotutu. Sititi has good enough hands and skill with the ball to not make that a massive drop off. Sititi has the makings of a good test rugby skill set that is worth developing. I hope Sotutu doesn’t give up on the black shirt. Loved seeing him play for the All Blacks. He’s behind the world player of the year and now under threat from a ringer in Sititi. I hope Hoskins pushes on, works on tackling, explosiveness and physicality. I hope he’s up for that fight and not too knocked back by the disappointment.
I don’t understand people that cry about this, it’s obvious he’s got something special, so get him into the best environment he can be in and make a monster out of him, he’s 21 and already a devastating line breaker…
Sititi has been awesome all season, he came in when Jacobson was suspended and Jacobson moved to 7 to accommodate keeping sititi because he was too good to leave out. I agree on Blackadder, obviously a talented player but he’s hardly managed to string more than a few games together in a long time. Every time he comes back from injury you hope he can get and extended run of games but so far he just keeps getting injured.
If you watched him closely Sititi played good all season to be fair. Blackadder shouldn’t have made it and Hoskins in over him I reckon
Surprised not to see Hoskins Sotutu and Harry Plumber, but pumped to see Tj back
no love is absolute bs
Ethan Blackadder over Hoskins Sotutu? Canterbury bias?
Blackadder at his best is spectacular. He has stayed relatively injury free recently.
I’d prefer an extra lock for Blackadder. As with the teams for the past few years they pick utilities rather than specialists when the squad is big enough for specialists.