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Smith is a better defender (while still ably performing the dummy half role) than a slow roasted King
I suppose that too could work. Tepai/Alvaro/Mannah to bench at 20min. Probably one of the props if Taka plays rest of game. And why would you waste another interchange to take him back off. Another 2 for swapping King & Smith (or one depending on Kingy's end of first half [not so good last week] or Smith can even stay on late depending on situation) although that then restricts your forward movements. Thus how I got to starting Taka
Like vaginas and breasts, eh?
If Smith comes on at 30 minutes and sits down again at about the 50 mark, it would mean King is solid through his whole 60 minutes.
Then surely he would be cheap?
I've sometimes wondered why more players don't start the game, play the whole first half, then as much of the second half as they can before being replaced. Surely the natural progression is you're able to go harder/ longer in your first stint. But more often than not their time seems equally split or some other combination. I wonder if it's just a holdover from the days of reserves and not wanting them on at the end of the game, when it's supposedly being decided. My opinion is that all game time is equal. If you think your 'reserves' are gonna shit the bed then you're doing something wrong. Or you need better reserves.
Well I don't, but it's fun to speculate. The problem I see with replacing someone and bringing them back on is that it costs double the number of interchanges compared to a bloke who can last a whole half, and then a bit more after the rest. Maybe the trend will shift to having more of these types in your team. For example Edwards, except he's being used the other way around. We might get more out of him if he starts and gets replaced at the 60 minute mark.
Except most of the players he or Takairangi run at - opposition halves and edge forwards - are 80 minute players, who will be more fatigued in the final 60 minutes than in the first 60.
Yeah but with a longer first stint and shorter second you might get longer minutes out of him. Or he can go harder overall. And the fresh replacement could then terrorize those tired players. And when a fresh Peni tramples DCE to score a try to seal the game, no doubt plenty of people will be howling for him to get more time.
If you’re talking about middle players then I believe this already happens, though the bloke stays on until he starts losing effectiveness then returns to the field sometime after half time when he is fresh enough to play out the rest of the game.
So how much do these 50+ scoring back rowers cost?
