State of the Nation

Things aren't looking too bad.  They say when Auckland rugby is strong, All Black rugby is strong.  All Black rugby is strong.  Auckland has seen better days.  Much better days.  So maybe we should start from the bottom up.

It's the old cliche.  Trotted out time and again. Every Otago team is greater than the sum of its parts.  You could even have uttered this early season but not now.  Yes, there's still the two Smiths and new AB Fekitoa playing their main parts.  But there's a host of others who are thrusting their names forward for national selection.  The 2 wings, Naholo and Osbourne, together with Ben challenge as the best back 3 in the business, with only the Hurricanes to have a word about that.  Osbourne has been in the AB camp before.  Now he is twice the player.  Getting involved he is guaranteed gain line and recycled ball.  That extra time he stays on his feet as he plucks off another metre compliments the All Black style perfectly.
Buckman may never be an AB but if you were selected on heart and effort he'd be the 1st name on the teamsheet.  Asked to fill in the midfield he's done so admirably and you get the feeling he'd play prop if asked. As error free a footballer as you get and then some.  This guy is a thinker and the way he pounces, Barracuda is a nice fit. In the pack they are hardly no names.  Coltman's stock is rising but if there's one player that epitomises this team it's Elliot Dixon.  Perhaps another to fit into the "never an AB" category but this guy shirks nothing and is at the forefront of everything.  Asked to fill in across the backrow he does it with ease, while obviously his best game comes at 6.

Craig Joubert carried the Lions home over the 2nd 40 on the weekend and a recent loss to the Brumbies shouldn't deter.  Master plan by Joseph to fit in his compulsory All Black rest weekends versus a conference front runner.

 

Elliot Dixon

Up to Crusader country and we have the greatest team in pro rugby history that doesn't quite know whether its time is done or not.  Forget the availibility of McCaw and Carter.  This team has struggled since letting Fruean go.  This team seems bereft of ideas when they have no big guy to punch holes at pace out wide.  Enter Nadolo and we have another beast on our hands.  Problem is if he isn't firing the team isn't.  Then getting ball to your winger with some space to work with is another story.  They have missed Dagg.  He has unfairly copped criticism this year but when he has been on the paddock he has looked at or near his best, finding gaps in oppositions' defences out wide and initiating singlehandedly the linking attacks we know the Crusaders are famous for.  Slade is pushing as the best #10 in the comp but apart from that the 3/4s are struggling to get over the advantage line.  Tom Taylor was a short time All Black but I doubt we'll see him there again.  He's very much his ol' man, ie. Mr Dependable.  Bit tough on him being asked to be the Crusaders' handyman but he stifles the attack.  At 15 he is nothing more than your old time fullback, just the last line of defence.  He brings no attack to the team at all.  Up in the engine room and the Red & Blacks have a wealth of riches.  They just need to sort out their pretty boys.  Is it too late?

Jordan Taufua - worth putting a higher number on his back?

Across the Cook Strait into capital territory and we have a revelation.  This team has looked nothing other than finals material since round one.  Wonderkid Barrett pulling the strings and growing with every minute, the new found stepping "Super Rugby is easy" whizzkid at 15 Milner-Skudder, and 2 wide flanks in Savea and Jane and you've got some serious fire power.  Nonu in the form of his life and the ageless Conrad Smith, all fed by TJ Perenara finally pushing for the AB 9 jersey?  In the pack the only worry will be Thrush,....can he keep his jersey?  My money would say no.  Broadhurst is outperforming him in every aspect.  A backrow of Vito, Shields and Ardie Savea means no place for Blade Thomson.  This guy is dynamic and must be pushing for a black jersey of his own, forget the yellow one. Up front it's all good with most the fatties on the selectors' radar.  The biggest threat to a maiden Super title is losing a home knock out match to a fellow Kiwi team.

The name says it all. Blade.

Heading on up State Highway 1 to Chiefs territory.  Still a champion team but playing like a champion every 2nd game.  Lowe pushing hard for a black jersey, pops up everywhere, a powerhouse wing with a boot to match and capable of holding his own at fullback.  Nanai-Williams has been chasing the AB dream all his life and despite this being his best season his at times frail defence is all that's holding him back.  Sonny Bill in midfield has been unusually quiet and the work he does creating can go unnoticed.  Cruden maybe isn't the big loss people think if the Chiefs would fill it with the younger MacKenzie brother. Belying his slight frame this boy can light up a game.  Far too quick for any of the tight 5 this kid can dart through keyholes.  Messam has finally muscled up over the last season or 2, Retallick is Retallick, much more than a workhorse.  Big Ben still hanging in for that black jersey, he seems capable of 80 to me and throws himself around.  Not sure what the final criteria is the selectors are looking for.

 Damian MacKenzie....blink and you'll miss him

Over the Bombays and a coaching frustration.  The simplest game plan Kirwan could put in place is order zero offloads.  The Blues would still win half their games this way.  The amount of spilled ball is terrifying and surprised Sir John still has a head of hair.  This is like watching bad games from the Hurricanes of old over and over again.  Some classy backs right through from 11 to 15.  Bowden was a godsend so we'll be wanting him back quick sharp. Moala, off field problems seemingly behind him, should be being watched by Hansen and co.  If they seriously want to continue down the Nonu-C.Smith road then Fekitoa doesn't fit the concept.  Wing come inside-centre Moala is your man.  A beast, ball in hand, the only player that comes close to Nonu's bustling pressure relieving crash game. Piutau will be sorely missed.  Up front Luatua is playing for his life and is hoping to step up in Kaino's absence.  Akira Ioane is the one to watch.  19 years old and already sitting 120kg opponents on their proverbials with powerful runs, icing it nicely with some 3/4 like swerving runs out wide.  The question here is will the selectors be willing to blood a kid in the lead up to the Cup?  Tuipulotu is a one man wrecking machine but his offloads have to be restrained.  If he can get that right he is going to be an important cog at the Cup with the modern game. New look Tu'ugafasi looks good to me.  As big as today's props come at 120kg and 195cm, just ticked over 23 will the selectors also be ready to take a gamble here?

Akira Ioane

  

All up New Zealand rugby is looking pretty good despite the exodus.  A lot of untried players at international level pushing for a part.  We haven't seen how they stack up playing at the elite, but neither has anyone else.Things are looking pretty damned good.