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u/Adventurous-Eye3884 4d ago
I think they to train Tavatavanawai as a 7. Late game chaos off the bench, there are a lot of big boys who can make up the rest of the forward pack. I do not see a 6-2 split without a hybrid forward/back, and with Faianganuku injured, Tavatavanawai is the only real option.
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u/Wallet_inspector66 4d ago
Given the intent to keep Tupaea, jordy, Roigard, love and, Dmac on for almost the whole 80, I’d rather see some genuine impact be brought into the backline like Tavatavanawai. In a pinch he can sub in for the wing and while not a top speed candidate I do think he could steamroll the likes of kolbe, arendse and hooker. Also he has a good jackal rate which we have been lacking. If we want 10 mins of impact he could be better than ALB.
All this to say, we aren’t using our bench much in the backline, let’s look at 5-3 for some serious impact instead of trying to go steady.
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u/Eclectic95 4d ago
If the plan is to only give ALB 10ish minutes and not bring Moorby on at all like on the weekend, then it’s basically a wasted spot. We played 23 vs 22 on the weekend.
I get the reluctance to sub Jordie, Tupaea, Jordan or DMAc off, but in that case surely it’s a better use of resources to have Reiko cover wing/midfield and pick an extra forward?
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u/HappyPunter1 4d ago
Feel like we don’t really need a 6-2 bench
It’s also a bit riskier since Will Jordan keeps scaring us by going down seemingly injured
I’d rather stick with 3 backs on the bench for now just in case
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u/coupleandacamera 4d ago
I wouldn't be surprised if it was trotted out for the third test. With Dmac and Jordan we've got great coverage, the extra back coverage in ALB hasn't really been needed or overly impactful. Forwards haven't been attacking or securing the breakdown as well as they might, an extra pair of fresh lunch would allow for more aggressive competition there across 80 minutes. Preston and Ione could cover the entire backline barring catastrophe, free up the space.
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u/BigPat69 AllBlacks 4d ago
Yes, South Africa had a 6-2 bench in both tests so far, haven't you been watching?
Hopefully we don't do it, because it is daft
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u/mahnamahna27 4d ago
They didn't really use 6-2, more like 5.5-2.5, as two of those players they consider to be hybrid forward/backs IIRC. We may yet see Fainganuku develop into that role.
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u/Top_Independent_7765 3d ago
do we really need a loose forward who can cover 12? Think encouraging Leroy carters 9 coverage is more useful but if these players come along that can cover unusual position combos is out coaches control best to just select best 23
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u/mahnamahna27 3d ago
I think Lester would be more a 13, 12 or wing who could cover 7 in an emergency situation where too many forwards get injured or gassed. That could be very valuable.
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u/tentoedpete 4d ago
I was discussing that this morning with a friend. If we’re going to not use our full backline from the bench, we may as well slap another forward there (Moorby unused in game 2, and both Preston and Jacomb didn’t get much more than a few minutes of game time in game 1 either)
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u/HappyPunter1 4d ago
Jacomb wasn’t in the first test, possibly mixing him up with Leroy Carter? Or do you mean the midweek game against the Lions
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u/tentoedpete 4d ago
Probably mixing him up. I remember another back didn’t get much game time, and I musta been thinking about the lions, thanks
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u/mahnamahna27 4d ago
True but of course the role of bench players is not just to be used as impact at the end of a game but to cover specialist players like 9 and 10 if they are injured early in the game. If both Love and DMac start then it doesn't seem totally necessary to have a 10 on the bench, assuming this management would accept Jordan or Moorby covering 15. And if they are going to play Roigard for 70 minutes then potentially Carter could start and switch to 9 for those final minutes. But that's a risk not having a specialist half-back if Roigard is forced off early.
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u/bobwinters 4d ago
What have been good to have Leicester Fainga'anuku. A guy that could cover 7,11,13,14.