Kiwis news

[Philip_Smith007]

Ha!
Once in a generation players!
Aussie keeps spitting them out every couple of years, develops them with SOO and steals the cream of the crop for SOO.
Ha!

 

[jaseg]

There is some comfort in the fact a number of Kangaroos, those once-in-a-generation players, probably won't be around at the next World Cup but we can't sit back and wait and hope for success. "

Yeah... they'll still have DCE & Inglis, plus whoever can step up between then and now. It's pretty safe to say that the Kangaroos won't lose too much.

That said, we'll still have RTS (24yo at that point), Luke (30), Foran & Johnson (both 27), even TL (32) could play a part.. plus anyone that comes up in that time (right now looking mostly at Dallin Watene-Zelezniak & Siliva Havili, maybe Tui Lolohea). So we should be better than 2013. Should.

(But the pessimist in me says Johnson won't develop as much as he should, Foran will be withdrawn by Manly for immediate minor elective surgery, Luke will be injured, Havili overlooked and RTS & DWZ competing for the same spot, stuck behind a pack failing to dominate. At least a few of these actually happen to derail the campaign).

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

So looks like Foran is out with Injury, So our first choice 9 and 6 are gone

 

[Cold Roses]

So looks like Foran is out with Injury, So our first choice 9 and 6 are gone

So Hoffman plays 5/8 and TL hooker. This game for me is all about getting guys playing in the right positions wherever possible and giving them experience. Tuivasa-Sheck HAS to be at fullback and Whare and Beale given first crack in the centres to prove themselves.

We may be missing first choice players in Foran and Luke, but at least it will give their back ups experience which we are sorely lacking at the moment. Our biggest problem is lack of depth in the spine. Giving Hoffman a shot and blooding a young hooker on the bench could help us long term. Knowing Kearney though, we'll end up with Taylor at hooker and Johnson and TL in the halves. That isn't going to solve anything.