Pick Your World Cup Squads

Discussion in 'Rugby Union Discussion' started by Jabba, Apr 5, 2015.

  1. Fiery GR Smith

    All Carter has done in an AB jersey in the past obviously means nothing to anyone here. Yeah he might be short of a gallop, but his goalkicking is still a million times better than Barrett's...not to mention his tackling. Carter has been kicking at over 75% this season, as opposed to Barrett's 65%. And Barrett struggles to convert from the sideline, as exposed by his woeful 52% success for conversions.

    It's only April and Carter has 5 months of rugby before the World Cup to blow off any more rust. Now that Israel Dagg is injured, Slade will drop back to fullback and he will get much needed game time for the Crusaders at 10. I would like to see him run more to build his confidence.

    I'm keeping the faith in the great man...for now.
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2015
  2. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    Don't agree but like your post anyway.
     
  3. Fiery GR Smith

    Well what parts don't you agree with?
     
  4. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    I think he is very very very rusty not just short of a gallup. The saders should have been directed to play him at 10 in the interests of providing coverage for that position for the ABs. There may not be enough games left in the super rugby season for him to regain his touch.

    On Friday he was a liability and was a contributing factor to the loss.
    Even the final Chiefs try. Guess who's clearing kick failed to find touch and went straight to a chiefs player...
     
  5. Starris ER Starris

    One word to decimate all DCs epic qualities. Injury.

    He's hardly finished more than one world cup.

    I like him I really do. At his peak he was the best first five on the planet.
    But the key word is was. I hope I'm wrong but I fear time is running out and ppl think we are just gonna cruise into the final and win.

    I still stand by my prediction that the black caps have a better chance of winning the world cup than the all blacks.

    hope I'm wrong.
     
  6. Fiery GR Smith

    Yeah he had a pretty ordinary game against the Chiefs, admittedly, but there are still 8 rounds and over 2 months of Super Rugby to go. Then there are all the All Black fixtures before the World Cup....a test in Samoa we can afford to play him in...and then the Rugby Championship.

    It think it was probably a tough call to direct him to play at 10 when another contender for the AB No.10 jersey, Slade, is also there.
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2015
  7. Fiery GR Smith

    Well given the Black Caps have absolutely 0% chance of winning a World Cup now, that doesn't bode well for the All Blacks lol ;)

    Seriously though? You really thought that? Wow. The All Blacks will go into the tournament as favourites (like they always do). Whereas the Black Caps exceeded most people's expectations by making the final.
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2015
  8. Starris ER Starris

    How many games have we won in the last ten minutes in the past year or so. The world has caught up. 3 points would have seen us lose both the bled and the champ last season. Our team isn't ahead of the game and we don't have home court advantage. I just think there's a lot more against us than last time.

    Hell if we win I'll be as ecstatic as the next guy. Probably more so as I love seeing nz do well. I'm not feeling it though.
     
  9. Fiery GR Smith

    This is why we need a really good goalkicker.
     
  10. Starris ER Starris

    Yep but he needs to be an in form world class first five too.
     
  11. BoyBlunder BOY Blunder

    Yeah, in fairness while I'm not convinced DC will make it through a tournament it's been abundantly clear that the games I've seen you guys play in his absence would have been alot smoother with a nailed on goal kicker. That's one thing us NH sides have going for us atm - we will reliably slot those 3s
     
  12. Fiery GR Smith



    Well I don't think that can be in dispute when we're talking about Dan Carter. But yes of course, he will need to be in form.
     
  13. Fiery GR Smith


    Exactly right.
     
  14. Jabba HJ Bots

    Carter needs to do one thing, distribute properly. Unfortunately the 'saders backline is shiet so we'll have to wait for the All Black games before we get to see if he's still got it.
     
  15. Rego RS Hutchinson

    Carter is terrible atm, I'd like to see Barrett starting with Slade on the bench, both can provide coverage in other positions too.

    I think Carter will be in the WC squad though, I wouldn't back the selectors not having him there but would like to see how Slade and Barrett go in the June tests.
     
  16. Fiery GR Smith


    There are no June tests. First AB test this year is v Samoa on July 8th. Plenty of time for DC to find form.
     
  17. Fiery GR Smith

    Start with Barrett and watch him miss easy kicks
     
  18. Rego RS Hutchinson

    July tests*

    Yeah, he'll be there but you'd have to think a bit of experimenting with the given squad will be done regardless.
     
  19. Rego RS Hutchinson

    Start with Carter and watch him lose us the game.....

    Barrett's kicking use to be reasonable.....definitely easier to fine tune that, than everything.
     
  20. Fiery GR Smith



    Your crystal ball gives completely different images to mine. He has a lot more experience and a much better kicking game than Barrett. And can control a game better than Barrett. He will also kick goals and tackle better. The only way Carter will lose us games is if he is dropping balls and kicking out on the full too often. I can't see that happening once he's rediscovered some form. The only concern I have with Carter is whether he can stay unbroken.
     

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