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The All Blacks arrived at Twickenham over the weekend and played a Barbarians side with 12 more Kiwis in it, so it’s fair to say the New Zealand influence in Europe right now is pretty high. However, for the guys already there, it was another weekend on the job.
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Here’s some of the key performers:
Jamison Gibson-Park, Leinster
The former Blues halfback’s Leinster team didn’t have the best of days in their Pro14 clash with Glasgow, going down to the unbeaten Warriors 31-21 in a match that featured one of the tries of the season. However, Gibson-Park managed to do his best to stem the tide with a try of his own, six tackles and 29 metres run.
TJ Ioane, Sale
Another man to get on the scoresheet, this time in the first round of the Anglo-Welsh Cup. Ioane, originally from Wellington but better known for his career down with Otago and the Highlanders, bagged a try early on in the Sharks’ 24-21 win over Worcester and was prominent in an open game.
Malakai Fekitoa, Toulon
Only a few weeks out of New Zealand, but it’s probably a good time to check in with former Highlander and All Black Fekitoa, who had to endure a 26-24 Top 14 loss to Agen over the weekend. He put in a good shift, though, with 11 carries for 50 metres and 10 tackles. Inside him were two more former All Blacks, Ma’a Nonu and Luke McAlister – if the latter had a better day with the boot then Toulon might’ve ended up on the right side of the scoresheet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdx97vyxpjI
Quentin MacDonald, Oyonnax
The hooker from Tasman and the Crusaders had a big game for the Top 14 cellar-dwellers, but even his try couldn’t help a 32-19 loss to Castres Olympique. All the rest of Oyonnax’s points came from the boot of fellow Kiwi Ben Botica, while MacDonald found himself replaced by former Chief and All Black hooker Zika Elliott in the second half.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCVE_6NUtCU
Colin Slade, Section Paloise
Slade, a man best remembered for getting himself injured at the worst possible times for the Crusaders and All Blacks, is making a good fist of his time in France. He’s a regular feature in the Pau side, and his five penalties and eight tackles almost saw them upset Parisian glamour club Racing 92. They went down 23-20, but fellow former All Black Frank Halai managed to get a try for Pau.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xreJIFuM-0
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments