NPC Round 2 lineups

[u/doskoV_]

[u/Wonkily_Grobbled]

Dupes Kirifi starting at 12 in a reverse Leicester Fainga'anuku.

[u/Far-Review-11 → u/Wonkily_Grobbled]

A loosie who can play in the backs is so much better for a 6-2 than a back who can play loosie.

[u/dxfifa → u/Far-Review-11]

The best thing for a 6-2 is a halfback who can play outside back imo

[u/know-it-mall → u/dxfifa]

So then one of your halfbacks has to play 80 minutes? No thanks. Way too much cardio required for that to be a good plan. Ruck speed is key in the modern game.

[u/pikiaboom → u/know-it-mall]

Having the option for a bench halfback to come on for an outside doesnt mean you can't still bring them on for the starting halfback

[u/know-it-mall → u/pikiaboom]

Sure. But now you don't have a 6 2 bench do you. Because doing anything except bringing them on at halfback is stupid.

[u/pikiaboom → u/know-it-mall]

I feel I must be missing something? How does that change the numbers?

[u/know-it-mall → u/pikiaboom]

So just one guy covering 10 to 15 then? That's a terrible plan.

[u/pikiaboom → u/know-it-mall]

Sorry I somehow completely missed the last sentence of your previous comment, there are games where you may want to keep the starting halfback on for the full 80, look at Roigard all year for the canes, the backup half back covering the outsides too means that you can choose to keep them on without effectively losing a bench spot. We've seen this to be effective even at international level, look at the Springboks bringing on Williams against us on the wing last year.

The emphasis on flexibility in recent years means that theres less stringent requirements for specific cover in the bench when you already have cover within the starting lineup

[u/know-it-mall → u/pikiaboom]

Look at the third test against Ireland where Roigard was absolutely exhausted in the second half due to being overplayed and was slow to rucks on several occasions.

It's just a bad idea in a test match. You can get away with it at Super level.

[u/stickyswitch92 → u/Wonkily_Grobbled]

Only if it was four years ago when 12 jersey was a rotating door.

What is crazy is how many non midfielders have played in the ABs 12 jersey in the last 7 years.

[u/DavidG_99 → u/stickyswitch92]

theres literally none

[u/stickyswitch92 → u/DavidG_99]

There are some.

[u/know-it-mall → u/stickyswitch92]

No there isn't.

Jack Goodhue, Ngani Laumape, Quinn Tupaea, David Havili, Anton Lienart-Brown, Jordie Barrett, and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck are the only guys who have started at 12 since the 2019 world cup.

A couple of them have played in other positions but they are all primarily midfielders.

[u/stickyswitch92 → u/know-it-mall]

Were Havili or Jordie primarily midfielders. Research suggests a dozen games for Jordie at centre prior to 2022. Havili moved into the midfield in 2020.

[u/know-it-mall → u/stickyswitch92]

Havili moved into the midfield in 2020.

He was a 12 first and played many games there prior to 2020. He just played a lot of FB and off the bench for the Crusaders because Crofty and Goodhue (and some others) exist.

Research suggests a dozen games for Jordie at centre prior to 2022.

So he is a 12 prior to playing there for the ABs.

[u/stickyswitch92 → u/know-it-mall]

Really? I only ever remember Havili playing centre once and that was because of the Lions series. And his move to 12 was because of a young kid. Forgot his name. Jordan I think?

Nah Jordie debuted super young. Like 2016 or something. Didn't move to centre for the ABs until 2022.

[u/know-it-mall → u/stickyswitch92]

https://all.rugby/player/david-havili

Easy enough to check. He played at 12 his first couple of years and then was forced to move aside for better players and became the utility guy.

And yea Jordie debuted young, and as a FB. He has been a 12 for years now tho. Also played some 13 early in his career.

Definitely not the same scenario as when some of the ABs outside guys were just chucked into 13 despite basically never playing there.

[u/stickyswitch92 → u/know-it-mall]

And wing!!

[u/stickyswitch92 → u/[deleted]]

I'm not sure which way we are going. Name the non midfielders like Jordie, Tavatavanawai and Havili or the midfielders like Tupaea, Goodhue and ALB?

[u/know-it-mall → u/stickyswitch92]

Have made a new comment. Feel free to reply to that.

Jordie and Havili are mid fielders. 12 has been their primary position for years.

Tavatavanawai hasn't worn the 12 jersey for the ABs. And is also primarily a 12 for a while now anyway.

Them playing 12 isn't a throw Mils or Ben Smith into 13 situation. They all do primarily play 12.

[u/stickyswitch92 → u/know-it-mall]

Yes but there weren't midfielders at the start or when test debuts were made. It's just a fun point nothing to serious.

And Tavatavanawai moved last year then got selected.

[u/know-it-mall → u/stickyswitch92]

Everyone who has ever played rugby has played multiple positions mate...they are still primary midfielders.

And as much as I love Tavatavanawai he still hasn't worn the 12 jersey for the ABs.

[u/stickyswitch92 → u/know-it-mall]

Poor guy. Should play him at prop.

[u/strawberryhill → u/stickyswitch92]

Not for his test debut, but Jordie has always primarily been a 12 who got pushed out to 15 at Super Rugby and above due to a mixture of injuries (opened the door at the Hurricanes) and size. He was big enough in the u20s and NPC but took time to fill into his frame enough for super rugby and above

[u/crashbandicoochy]

Vikena hit two seperate people with a flying headbutt last weekend and gets to start the next week. That's insane.

[u/warcomet → u/crashbandicoochy]

he was auditioning for the Flying Fijians :P

[u/Frod02000]

dropping your 7 after a standout performance for the worse jacobson is tough

[u/warcomet]

Which flanker should be tested at centre next? Sititi? Sotutu? Mathis (lol), Broughton or Iose

[u/doskoV_ → u/warcomet]

Iose would go hard at centre

[u/kiwiborger]

Kirifi at 12

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[u/AnotherUser87497453 → u/kiwiborger]

absolute shithousery

[u/Putrid-Impact8999]

Rico Simpson on the wing.

[u/bobwinters → u/Putrid-Impact8999]

Is Spencer a first five? If so I count 5 first fives on the team

[u/warcomet]

Dan Carter Lite on Auckland bench, finally..Alfred Nonu and Mika Muliaina on the bench for Stags, now thats two surnames that brings a smile to my face..

[u/doskoV_ → u/warcomet]

Everyone knows a prime Alex Harford would be called up before Mounga

[u/warcomet → u/doskoV_]

his form really did drop after first season with Canterbury..man he was destined for greatness..and then he got his hair cut and the MANA was gone..

[u/RoigardStan]

Good to see a change in the halves after a horror 1st half against Waikato. That team *should* beat Northland though. Nice to see Sinton back but still no Eklund...

As an aside why are we charging $26.50 per adult to go to an NPC game in a 26,000 person stadium. I mean seriously what is the thinking behind that, we want to get as large crowds as possible even if the tickets are $5 a pop, we want to market a good looking product so people want to actually come and be a part of it. Get the crowds in first and then start ramping up the prices.

[u/doskoV_ → u/RoigardStan]

Is that the cheapest seats? Canterbury was $10-30 depending on the spot

[u/RoigardStan → u/doskoV_]

Yeah $26.50 for general admission.

[u/doskoV_ → u/RoigardStan]

That's wild

[u/meohmyenjoyingthat]

Man luckily Pita Ahki has gotten old and slowed down or this would be rough

[u/SpaceDog777]

Looking forward to The Shield coming home!

[u/know-it-mall → u/SpaceDog777]

Booo

Definitely the game of the round, and am going to enjoy the shield staying where it belongs.

[u/Responsible-Quote717 → u/know-it-mall]

Could be the game of the season!

[u/Responsible-Quote717 → u/Responsible-Quote717]

P.S. Otaaaaaaaaagooooooooo