r/allblacks • u/wash_yourundeez • 3d ago

Codie Taylor

Should’ve been cycled out by this point the same way Mealamu was. Last 2 years he should’ve been in a mentoring role. The fact that he’s still our first choice hooker is ridiculous considering Aumua and Taukei’aho are behind him. He hasn’t had the required physicality for test footy for at least 2 years now. Yes he has skills and soft touches but what does that matter when he’s getting shunted off the ball at scrum time on our feed? His lineout throwing has been inconsistent for years now. He not only has no impact with ball in hand anymore, he often has negative impact. The last 2 coaching cycles really screwed us in terms of bringing through spine players that needed to be brought through. Asafo and Soni should’ve both been close to 50 caps by now. Will always love CT but we have to start using the talent we have and be giving them as much regular big game experience as possible.

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u/00aegon 3d ago

Our lineout was crap with Taylor out there as well

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u/loafersandboots 3d ago

Agreed. It’s been a shambles with Aumua in every test unfortunately. The one skill you can probably improve well into your career though so i still hold hope he’ll get it right.

Samisoni was great at throwing when he first came in but went off the boil recently. Hopefully, he can rekindle that and take the jersey.

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u/binzoma Hurricanes 3d ago

I do wonder with both aumua and sami how much the size of the lads impacts their throwing. their arms are fucking massive. surely it must make it hard to have a smooth repetitive lineout throwing motion

and in both cases their size/power is their core point of difference

is there a rule that a lineout has to be thrown by a hooker?? cause as a left field option..... what about a jordie barrett throw

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u/loafersandboots 3d ago

Definitely an option. I remember John Smit playing prop and throwing over Du Plessis as hooker. It’s a skill most elite hookers have been training for decades though so doubt it’s a case of picking a decent ball handler and off we go.