Thursday, June 25, 2009

AB or A "B" Team?

Shame on you Cantabs for not snapping up the AB v Italy tickets this weekend! All I hear on the radio are whinging sheep shaggers complaining about the quality of the AB team for Italy and the 7 changes being rotation. Really? I don't think so:

Williams in for Ross - the incumbent returning from injury
Afoa in for Tialata - the reserve covering an injured player (and arguably a better player)
Leonard in for Cowan - the incumbent prior to a long term injury (and a lot better player)
McAllister in for what his name? - the reserve covering an injured player and about time too...
Toeava in for Smith - the reserve covering an injured player (and arguably a better player)
Masaga in for Jane - OK so the reserve gets a shot and he's a specialist replacing a utility
Crocket in for Woodcock - OK so its rotation here...

Isn't this AB team a better team on paper? Many have argued for Afoa (a specialist tighthead) to replace Tialata (a converted loosehead). Donald is gone, please Jesus, forever...the players coming in for injured players are not too bad eh?

8 comments:

Rhett said...

I didn't realise you had so much angst for Donald! Hey, me too!

I think this team i a better on on paper than last weeks, all except for Crocket and Toeava. Toeava is still an impact player for me.

As for Cantab ticket sales, I can't say I blame them for not wanting to sit in sub-zero temps in the middle of winter to see us play Italy. Bring back afternoon tests!

BJ said...

Yeah and last week Smith was a non impact player :)

Nah Cantabs are soft - its the AB's. But I'm with you on afternoon tests, for the quality of the games it will produce.

Rhett said...

Rubbish, Smith steadied the ship! See how much better Nonu played with Smith there?

BJ said...

All Blacks centre Isaia Toeava would have started on the wing had he not been required to fill yet another hole in the backline for Saturday night’s test here against France.

Coach Graham Henry let that slip during a glowing tribute to the in-form Blues utility back who will play his 22nd test when he runs out in the black No 13 jersey at Carisbrook.

Toeava has always been somewhat of a project of the Henry coaching triumvirate ever since making his test debut for them back as a promising 19-year-old on 2005’s northern tour.

Now 23, he’s still yet to fully unleash the potential that Henry, his backline assistant Wayne Smith and others saw in him back then. But there’s no doubting the enigmatic Aucklander’s value to the All Blacks now – if only as the ideal cover for Nos 12 through 15.

After Toeava was confirmed as the All Blacks’ new centre, following the injuries to Rickard Kahui (shoulder – gone for season) and Conrad Smith (hamstring – hoping to be back soon), Henry was asked if Toeva was now his team’s new ‘Mr Fixit’.

“He’s Mr Gold, rather than Mr Fixit because he got that ability to play 12, 13, wing or fullback,” said Henry. “If you asked him he’d prefer to play fullback but the skipper’s playing there so that makes it a bit difficult.

“We think he’s a very valuable player. We were probably going to play him on the wing in this test if Conrad had been fit because he’s got those back three skills -- high ball skills, kicking skills and [he’s] quick enough to do all those things.

“Those people are gold. That’s really positive from our point of view and hopefully he thinks it’s positive as well.”

BJ said...

Funny thing I tried to find some commentary in news articles online (OK so I didn't try that hard) but it seems like the best evidence we have that Smith was on the park was that he injured his hamstring...

Rhett said...

Man, this has been afrustrating season so far.

Ok, the Italy test...

Leonard and Masaga: not terrible, just rusty and average.

McAllister: I don't think you could split his performance tonight and Donald's last week. Only difference was McAllister kicked all his goals. Looks a bit out of his depth at the moment. So what can we do? Try Weepu there?!

Toeava: wouldn't be suprised if he just played himself out of the game. Little difference from the first game against France (meaning he was the invisible man), though he did manage to make more basic errors and drop more ball. Has there ever been an AB player who the selectors hyped up far beyond his ability? Oh wait, of course. Reuben Thorne.

Crocket: terrible.

Positives? Well, Steve Hanson said it well... "We won, and we have some good players coming back. Team to be announced soon."

I can think of one or two more. Isaac Ross was outstanding, and instilled a lot fo faith for the Tri Nations. George Whitelock completley outshines Latimer in the basics when he came on, and I think played himself into the Openside backup role. And Mils was superb, as usual.

We are going to need a miracle to be competitive in the Tri Nations.

BJ said...

31-8 and 34-12 were Aussie's margins against Italy. 27-6 was our effort. It wouldn't do to underestimate the good defence, smart kicking game and spoiling play of the Italians.

Ross and Kaino the pick of the forwards. Whitelock did play well and I know McCaw rates him. Mils the pick of the backs.

McAllister was much better than Donald. He kicked his goals, found some good touches, executed a great crossfield kick, made a beautiful clean break and was never in that skittery headless chook mode that Donald goes into. He's a bit weak on the pass occasionally and sometimes miskicks. But overall an improvement on Donald's effort and will only get better.

Masaga did really well for a first test. Confident and willing. Great centre kick - he will only improve.

Toeava. 2 moments summed him up. A sublime break and pass that led to the Ross try. And THAT dropped ball (did he drop it any other time?) He was solid on the tackle and made a few good runs, but the backline was too flat most of the night and everyone was a bit ineffective. The way I see it, he's only 23. All the skills, I'd persevere with someone like him - has the attributes and just needs to mature a bit. Perhaps the sad thing is his best position seems to be fullback - think back to the blinder he had v Aussie last year. But he's got the world's best in there.

I didn't like the ref - Clancy rhymes with Nancy.

BJ said...

31-8 and 34-12 were Aussie's margins against Italy. 27-6 was our effort. It wouldn't do to underestimate the good defence, smart kicking game and spoiling play of the Italians.

Ross and Kaino the pick of the forwards. Whitelock did play well and I know McCaw rates him. Mils the pick of the backs.

McAllister was much better than Donald. He kicked his goals, found some good touches, executed a great crossfield kick, made a beautiful clean break and was never in that skittery headless chook mode that Donald goes into. He's a bit weak on the pass occasionally and sometimes miskicks. But overall an improvement on Donald's effort and will only get better.

Masaga did really well for a first test. Confident and willing. Great centre kick - he will only improve.

Toeava. 2 moments summed him up. A sublime break and pass that led to the Ross try. And THAT dropped ball (did he drop it any other time?) He was solid on the tackle and made a few good runs, but the backline was too flat most of the night and everyone was a bit ineffective. The way I see it, he's only 23. All the skills, I'd persevere with someone like him - has the attributes and just needs to mature a bit. Perhaps the sad thing is his best position seems to be fullback - think back to the blinder he had v Aussie last year. But he's got the world's best in there.

I didn't like the ref - Clancy rhymes with Nancy.