Field Theory by Hadyn Green

I’d say he is actually a Man City fan; there are limits to people’s sarcasm.

and big questions (where's Masaga?).

He's off to Fiji (and Samoa) with the Juniors to work on his aerial ball skills and kicking, apparently. ABs backs coach Wayne Smith says they're treating wingers and fullbacks as more or less interchangeable now: wingers have to be able to kick and field high balls.

Get over it, you live in a lovely little country, playing a lovely little sport; decaying as we speak.

What a dick. For a start, NZ is way bigger than England and many other countries: we're a bit bigger than the whole UK in fact. Just not so many people!

Also, rugby's growing massively up north. Keeping those players here is only going to get harder and harder... time to give up that communist NZRU central contracting bizzo and pick from overseas?

The general sniffy fitba vs rugby tone from your correspondent just doesn't work does it? I mean, I'm a huge fan of the round ball code but there's room for many sports in my view.

It's waiting for some damaged investments to return to full fitness (So'oialo) while backing others (Leonard). It is wary of previous pitfalls (Lauaki) but it creates some interesting puzzles (who goes where in the loose forwards)

Two questions:

1) Why are there more players from the Blues than any other franchise, when their defense was so irredeemably shit?

2) Bryn Evans.

I pick Messam to start at 8, with Latimer on the openside and one of Read/Thompson on the blind. That would put Kaino on the bench for impact, unless Henry et al decide to play him based on past experience. TBH, I wasn't hugely impressed with his season, and think it's his versatility that beat out Lauaki to the black jersey.

That and the fact that Lauaki consistently plays badly in the black jersey.

Ah, the old "I don't read your blog, but I had to get in touch to tell you that you suck" email. Everyone's favourite.

Kyle: Agreed, and there's only so many times the selectors will want to get burned on that one, however it does seem that more than a couple of players have been picked on past form, rather than current.

Edit: I should probably qualify that by saying that some players are picked on some amazing previous form. Ie: Smokin' Joe.

Kaino, however, has hardly had a stellar AB's career, nor a great S14 season.

it does seem that more than a couple of players have been picked on past form, rather than current.

That's probably why Hadyn was wondering where Masaga was... but then the Rocketman does usually turn up in black!

Not sure what Wulf's doing there though... I thought Rene Ranger looked promising too. Smith called him "green" at Eden Park on Sunday though...

I understand Adam Thompson may get the nod at 7 ahead of Latimer, which would be a good call in my book, I've been amazed watching his workrate in an inferior side. Imagine how good he could be as an All Black!

Wulf was my reason for wondering as to Masaga's whereabouts. I'm still sitting on the fence about Rokocoko.

I understand Adam Thompson may get the nod at 7 ahead of Latimer, which would be a good call in my book, I've been amazed watching his workrate in an inferior side. Imagine how good he could be as an All Black!

Like when he was an All Black? :)

I found Thomson to be quite variable in his performance (though I should really dig up some data to back that claim up)

Hadyn: I think the money quote (From Russell?) was something about Thompson being so incredibly quick to the breakdown, and so utterly ineffective once he was there.

I gather he has worked hard on this. It'll be interesting to see him in play against the Wallabies or Boks. The South African team is looking very scary this year.

Thompson played flanker didn't he? Yeah he's been there but I reckon he's much better this season and will do a great job at 7, if he is indeed ahead of Latimer in the fetcher stakes...

Ok the thing about Masaga is that yes he's fast, but from watching him this year I've found out the following;

His workrate is very low. On defence he plays more of a kicking defence, very rarely is he up in the line and he almost never gets involved in rucks - which is an area where if wings were trainedto steal pill there'd be a shitload more turnovers (and the game would be a LOT faster still)

He is weak under kicks. While he's not Gopperthesque, he'll either leave it for Mils or misjudge it.

When he's running he's electric, but lacks vision. He'll treat each tackle one at a time (and he always steps left!) which is why on tge set piece he very rarely makes line breaks.

Finally, for a modern wing he's very small.

What Naly said. Ecept I'd add that anyone who lazily conceeded that try against the Brumbies by being lazy and watching the ball should never play for the All Blacks in the same calendar year.

Surely no-one seriously expected him to get picked?

And to add to all that Naly said about Masaga.... may I present this as evidence for the prosecution.

With apologies and hat-tips to Naly D - as that link's via the dropkicks.

It did make me smile a lot.

Can't add much to what Naly D has already said about Masaga, if he proves himself in the Junior ABs he might get a chance, but it would seem he doesn't really have the full skillset yet.

As for Bryn Evans - the word from the coaches is that of all the locks outside of Thorn, Williams, Boric & Ross is that he does the core things better than the likes of Thrush et al. So he's good at taking kickoffs, good at the lineout and does the tight-stuff well. They think they'll be able to add the sizzle that players like Thrush and all already have.

Edit: I should probably qualify that by saying that some players are picked on some amazing previous form. Ie: Smokin' Joe.

I read that and caught myself thinking: Smokin' Joe - he retired years ago.

Joe Stanley that is. When did Joe Rocks take over that nickname?

When did Joe Rocks take over that nickname?

When sports writers got lazy. I thought Joe R was "the rocket"

But Smokin' Joe was Joe Frasier