Players to watch in 2021
My thoughts as follows, and I've gotta be honest here: the 2020 international season was almost a non-event for me. Between Covid-19 hovering in the background, misgivings re the coach and captain, really unpalatable scheduling and results and what I saw/see as just the outright unnecessary demolition of what could have been the greatest domestic competition in more than a decade, I'd largely lost interest in the All Blacks, for the first time since I was about 9 I reckon.
As such, I didn't follow performances as closely as I normally otherwise would, so if I gloss over a name or two below, please forgive me.
Hooker currently still well-served by Coles and Taylor but we need at least one of the younger brigade to put their hand up this year or worst case next. Most likely is Aumua.
Props Plenty of options and plenty of promising options. It'll be fascinating if the young talent at the Crusaders can compete instantly with the Blues' hoard of AB props - this'll be a perfect proving ground for the likes of Williams and Newell.
Locks Similar to the rake position ie well-served by world class veterans at present (Whitelock, Retallick) plus other decent options like Tuipulotu and Barrett but we need a really good 2m+ guy to force his way in.
There are plenty of youthful guys who fit the category eg Strange, Selby- Rickett, IWL and Parkinson.
Blindside Up for grabs, big time, IMHO.
Frizzell is a mixed bag, Squire could be anything this year, Fifita has plenty of space before he reaches his ceiling, Ioane could be used here, Grace could be used at 6 (or 8) and there's Jacobsen and Papali'i.
I'd love to see Fifita shore up his physicality and become a true swingman option in the ABs.
Openside Refer the shit storm I created last year on the Cane vs Savea thread. I don't wish to re-hash it all but my feelings remain the same.
Nonetheless, we're well served here until the next RWC at least, by both. But another guy needs to stand up and put some pressure on.
I think Lentjes has the best all-round game of the rest but he's not a tyro. Kirifi and Harmon are midgets and don't thrill me, so I'd like to see Lachlan Boshier - who's efforts in the RS challenge last year still give me the shits - get a crack.
Number 8 Wide open. no-one locked it down last year and this year they'll potentially have Cullen Grace as further competition.
Options aplenty though out of the Blues plus Jacobson.
Halfback Smith won't make it to the RWC and if Foster is counting on it he's an even bigger muppet than I already give him credit for.
Fakatava is the big new noise here but untested at SR level for a start. There are several serviceable older options who haven't or wouldn't disgrace the black jersey.
First-five Richie and Beaudy will take us through to the RWC but we need Ioane ideally to step up this year.
I've always liked Otere Black but his window is closing. DMac for mine is impact cover at fullback and 10 cover secondarily.
Second-five eighth This is our most problematic position a) due to depth and b) due to selectorial pig-rooting around.
For mine, ALB is an international 12 all day, every day, who can cover centre. Goodhue is the exact opposite. Yet the selectors insist on playing them in reverse. Grrr. If they just played ALB at 12, (Goodhue, Laumape or J Barrett to cover) we'd at least have the first string option covered.
As for the back-up, as I just inferred, in a squad situation any of those three could provide cover but who would my actual #2 be? Probably the guy who played his best season of provincial footy in that position, and in combination with the likely centre selection in my XV (Goodhue). That would be Barrett. However, the Canes won't play him there so the chances of this happening are quite low unfortunately.
Beyond those options, I don't see any young guys ready to take the world by storm.
Centre See above re Goodhue with ALB able to cover. Ioane should be an option there, as well as Ennor when fit. PUJ adds to the plethora of exciting, quality options.
Wings Yikes. Clarke, Ioane, Bridge, Reece, Ennor (when fit), Jordan, and I reckon this year Leicester F will all be viable options, plus J Barrett.
Scary deep.
Fullback Also plenty of options this year and/or through to the RWC. The Barretts, DMac, Jordan and Havili'i have us well covered.
@antipodean said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@mariner4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@MN5 said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Canes4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@MN5 yeah that game against the Blues last year at the Cake Tin was something else by Laumape. Must of had about five red bulls before that game, certainly played like one.
.....and for those doubting whether he has the more subtle touches to his game could look at how Nonu developed these at a similar age.
Similar ages? Laumape is the same age nonu was at the 2011 world cup. This so called development is a couple of years behind
Nonu was also 4cm taller and 10kg heavier
According to the internet you've got those numbers around the wrong way.
Aye? That wouldn't pass the eye test
@mariner4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@antipodean said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@mariner4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@MN5 said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Canes4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@MN5 yeah that game against the Blues last year at the Cake Tin was something else by Laumape. Must of had about five red bulls before that game, certainly played like one.
.....and for those doubting whether he has the more subtle touches to his game could look at how Nonu developed these at a similar age.
Similar ages? Laumape is the same age nonu was at the 2011 world cup. This so called development is a couple of years behind
Nonu was also 4cm taller and 10kg heavier
According to the internet you've got those numbers around the wrong way.
Aye? That wouldn't pass the eye test
Apparently Laumape is 10cm shorter but only five kilos less in weight. I don't think he's as big as those numbers suggest.
@antipodean no way he is that much wider than nonu. Nonu was frikken massive. Especially in the legs.
@mariner4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@antipodean no way he is that much wider than nonu. Nonu was frikken massive. Especially in the legs.
Depends which era nonu you're talking about. In those '05 Lions games someone posted the other day he looks pretty trim.
@mariner4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
I remember trying to tackle those fucking tree trunks before he was proper famous and they were huge!
Only time I played him I broke his thumb so I didn't have to face him again. RUN AT ME
@Bones said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@mariner4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
I remember trying to tackle those fucking tree trunks before he was proper famous and they were huge!
Only time I played him I broke his thumb so I didn't have to face him again. RUN AT ME
If I see him at the pools as I often do on Saturday can I check whether this story is remotely true ?
MN5: hi Ma’a, a guy I know from the internet said he broke your thumb, did this ever happen ?
Ma’a: ( stares blankly, wishing he wasn’t a famous ex All Black )
Actually even in my mind this conversation sounds awkward, I might just respect his privacy....
@Bones said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@mariner4life said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
I remember trying to tackle those fucking tree trunks before he was proper famous and they were huge!
Only time I played him I broke his thumb so I didn't have to face him again. RUN AT ME
is that why you call yourself @Bones? gloating over a famous ex AB from the safety of the infoweb
@shark very little to argue with
one question, " Kirifi and Harmon are midgets" do you mean metaphorically? Harmon seems to be listed as pretty much identical to Cane and heavier than Savea
@Kiwiwomble said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@shark very little to argue with
one question, " Kirifi and Harmon are midgets" do you mean metaphorically? Harmon seems to be listed as pretty much identical to Cane and heavier than Savea
Well, if he were any taller he'd basically be Wilt Chamberlain
@shark At 6. I reckon Big Tom Robinson is better than most of those options.
He might well be better than all of them!
@Chris-B think his ceiling is right up there, and could cover lock at a pinch.
His issues to date are about remaining unbroken, if he does so during super, surely he will be capped if we get a decent season of international rugby this year.
@Kiwiwomble said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@shark very little to argue with
one question, " Kirifi and Harmon are midgets" do you mean metaphorically? Harmon seems to be listed as pretty much identical to Cane and heavier than Savea
And Kirifi is listed as 1.80m. Granted NZ prefers taller 7's
@taniwharugby said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Chris-B think his ceiling is right up there, and could cover lock at a pinch.
His issues to date are about remaining unbroken, if he does so during super, surely he will be capped if we get a decent season of international rugby this year.
Second coming of Peter Jones?!! 
@Kiwiwomble said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@shark very little to argue with
one question, " Kirifi and Harmon are midgets" do you mean metaphorically? Harmon seems to be listed as pretty much identical to Cane and heavier than Savea
There is no way Harmon is that size. I've been in a room with him and he's significantly shorter than me and I'm 1.8m. He's solid but can't be that stature and be heavier than Savea.
@Kiwiwomble That's gold, absolute gold! 6'2!!!!!!!! Goes to show once and for all that those stats just can't be trusted.
@Nepia said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Tim said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
2nd Five-Eighth
A big one this year, as our midfield really underperformed last year, lacking penetration and defensive muscle. Distribution from 12 was often mediocre too. This may also be the position with least depth, with some AB options better suited to centre.
ALB - seems more like a centre to me. Classy player, can run good lines outwide, accurate defender, decent distributor, not direct or physical enough at 12.
Jack Goodhue - not the fastest, doesn't have a good long passing game from 12, better suited to centre where he is an accurate player and very good off-loader.
Laumape - not suited to test rugby. Too small to play his direct, physical game at that level. Poor distribution, running lines aren't adequate at that level.
TJ Faiane - probably too small.
Peter Umaga-Jensen - does he have the distribution to play 12? Might be worth trying.
Havili - need to see a full season at 12 in Super Rugby.
Will be interesting to see if "2nd five-eighth" rather than an inside centre type puts their hand up.
Cough cough Jordie cough cough.
That cough sounds bad, best you go get a Covid test.
I can’t help it if everyone is wearing masks over their eyes as well as their mouths.
In all seriousness, the guy played age grade at 12, was Mitre 10 player of year in that position while at Canterbury and made up a pretty damn good midfield combo together with Goodhew. Why he isn’t at least being considered there and has been played on the goddam wing is beyond me.
Rugby: Nonu nurses thumb injury - NZ Herald
@Bones haha love it...
did you read that article after sitting on the bench that day?
but it is unclear how the injury happened
I'lll take that! 
@Bones said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@MN5 pfftt...umscathed.
Former All Black centre Ma'a Nonu is in a cast with a possible broken thumb, but it is unclear how the injury happened or how long it will keep him off the field.
The 22-year-old turned up to Wellington representative training yesterday in a "precautionary cast" as medical staff assess whether he has suffered a break.
Bit premature
@Canes4life I a Canes man , and really like Flanders, but prefer him at 8 where Ardie is blocking his way. I suspect thatGrace has inside running behind maybe Akira if he can keep finger pulled out. Saw Blues on news last week and trimmest I have seen Akira at this time of year, so he could possibly at last make me eat my words and prove he can play!
@Bones maybe, but he played at 6 for the Bay this year as Flanders was at 8.
@delicatessen said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@Bones said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@MN5 pfftt...umscathed.
Former All Black centre Ma'a Nonu is in a cast with a possible broken thumb, but it is unclear how the injury happened or how long it will keep him off the field.
The 22-year-old turned up to Wellington representative training yesterday in a "precautionary cast" as medical staff assess whether he has suffered a break.
Bit premature
thank you, that was one of the first things I spotted, trying to remember if he was particularly shit in his first season to justify being written off
@Stargazer said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
Geez. The bandwagon is riding again.
What's the issue exactly?
@KiwiMurph The exaggeration in @Tim 's statement that Akira was better than anyone else in NZ at all levels last year.
@Stargazer said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@KiwiMurph The exaggeration in @Tim 's statement that Akira was better than anyone else in NZ at all levels last year.
So, name sometime who was better?
@Stargazer Who was better at test or Super Level? Clearly nobody. Absolutely zero exaggeration.
@Stargazer Yeah, I think Frizzell was poor at test level, and only adequate at Super level.
@Stargazer said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
@nzzp @Tim I think Akira, Cullen Grace and Shannon Frizell all had strong SR seasons; Frizell and Akira were both good at test level, but still have a lot to prove. Grace is possibly the most promising of the three, but didn't get a decent opportunity at test level.
I don't think that's accurate .
Akira did not put a foot wrong in his 1.5 tests - he was excellent.
Frizell on the other hand was a real mixed bag for the ABs.
Big fan of Grace - he's still so young - just hope he avoids injury and can keep gaining experience at Super and test level.
@KiwiMurph said in Positions and players to watch - 2021:
Frizell on the other hand was a real mixed bag for the ABs
and that mixed bag was adequate down to ordinary. He just doesn't appear to have it.
ABs aside as yes akria outshone him, but Frizell had a great super season, top offloads in the comp from memory and top five for tackles, lineout takes, carries
he may not have taken his chances in the Black jersey and so may not deserve more until AI has had a good go at the spot but he's still a bloody good player
@Kiwiwomble to me Frizell's game suits Super Rugby more than test rugby as the game play in Super Rugby is less attritional and more wide open and this is where his strengths can show out more (speed, athleticism etc).