Tendai Mtawarira's six word verdict on South Africa successor Ox Nche

Theres quite possibly something in it but he’s not one to avoid stiring either! My post was blunt for the same reason! Nar he has a good grip on things, certainly not enough to fulfil his sort of role in any other market, say as a specialist like Fittler in the NRL or the multi ring wearing comments guys you get in the NFL but even in this article I agree pretty strongly with his message (just as I say delivery not to those others standards). Certainly the amount of money he gets paid for it would determine the amount of effort he puts into performing it (though you’d really hope the most smartest and affable dudes would put there hand up for this low paid role).

Very interesting that many wanted Vaa’i to specialise as the 6. You are going back more to my angle of covering when you start talking about Cane, as apposed to HHTs of which bum is on which seat.

I can see you picture as being very beneficial (as I outlined in another reply) but certainly when you hear headlines like this (if you believed it), it creates very scary prospects in your head, if they weren’t their already like you say.

Look I actually agree with the guy, he might have heard something said and seeing as he loves to make a spotlight, and be in it, he decided/mistakenly came up with this headline grabber?

Despite what I already said was the actual idea for the topic he mistook, I think, at this particular moment, there are plenty of situations people should be sticking. I’m OK with the Dmac situation if its just until Stevenson and Etene start sharing the Fullback job. I’m OK with Barrett being left at 15 and Perofeta being given the job to displace Plummer (easy task for him imo) as the first five (with the ABs in mind). But pretty much all the others, like your suggestions, they are far off optimal understanding of their core positions so should be trying to specialize for a couple of years. Think Ioane and Proctor, one or the other, not trying to get both on. Barrett or ALB/Higgins/Lam, Sititi and Sotutu at 8, Finau/Haig/all the 6’s injured or gone etc.

From Razors perspective, of a coach on the limit of what can be achieved, he wants to a balance of core and niche. Having players able to cover situations when your down a man, through card or because he’s lying on the ground, you want your players to be adaptable. Does this mean he’d like them to learn that adaptable by playing other positions fully, like for a whole game in another position, or just as in terms of their skills sets. Because if you apply what I suggested Razor was referring to as “four” positions, wingers can be very useful in other roles like a carrying 12, or a pilferring 7, let alone benefit from a tight relationship and understand of what a 13 is trying to do for them.

This concept applies to pretty much every single position. Take your(my) Lock example, theyre now lifters, they can (size and shape allowing) ruck and maul like the front row, run like a back and offload like a basketballer. Many recent young locks of of this rangy razzle dazle variety.

Personally I really like and think that adding versatility is inevitable with the amount of training and really early highperformance skill/athleticism work they get through. Max Hicks looked interesting as a 2m beanpole playing openside in France, PSDT showing the frame is certainly viable (as apposed to the typical 6 playing lock), opensides really need a running/carry side to their play these days and could easily play in midfield. Halfbacks are starting to play standing up straight rather than low to the ground, how cool would it have been if the Hurricanes had decided to retain Preston by switching Roigard to 10 for this season? Like Leroy Carter they’re already good wingers with the right pace. I do really see the back three players staying were they are for the most part though, unless theyre special players like Dmac.

But the NZRU should’ve given him a contract that was worth him staying, they let him walk out the door. Especially as Mo’unga turned the team around when was thrown in the deep end in South Africa.

Also, by December 2022 it was clear that Roberston was going to be the coach. It looked like Foster was going to be dropped mid 2022 (until Mo’unga lead the fight back).

The NZRU knew that Mo’unga was Roberston’s first choice 10. They should’ve been willing to lose other players to keep Mo’unga; 10 is the New Zealand rugby’s weakest position at the moment. The NZRU also let: Burke and Plummer go as well (I bet Burke is kicking himself, he would almost certainly have gotten and All Blacks cap this year).

What were the NZRU thinking? B Barrett and McKenzie are very unlikely to be ‘knock out game’ test 10s. Mo’unga was the best option they had. Then they needed to focus on developing new talent, but they let Burke go too.

I’ll go slightly the more variable route and predict the battle for the last two spots will be just as much up in the air as they were last year.

Wilson really is a bit of a fruitloop sometimes. I like the foundation of his thoughts be he has one of the worst ‘presenter’ ways of sharing them.