Comments on: New Zealand team named for third test with England

By: Don P

Don P — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 13:56:01 +0000

Fekitoa isn’t like 4 like. They’re going to attack England more thru him, rather than look to distrib, org skills that Smith brings.

McCaw needs a big game.

If fully awake, Read should make a diff.

Looking to see what Kaino can do @ his age with his physicality. Carried big in 1st test, helping to tee up the try.

Patrick Tuipulotu needs to up his scrum work… if he gets on.

By: Jonny

Jonny — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 13:37:44 +0000

Kaino was playing in Japan, and therefore I believe ineligible for NZ during that time.

By: McMurphy

McMurphy — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 13:25:16 +0000

And is there a reason Messam has been selected over Kaino over the past couple of years? I know he must be a good player – he’s been a fixture in the unbeaten season team, after all. but every time I’ve seen him he’s looked like Kaino, only less so.

Small sample size, but is there anything he brings that Kaino doesn’t?

By: McMurphy

McMurphy — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 13:23:48 +0000

From what little I’ve seen of s14 he seems to be a physical specimen – strong, fast, good feet, electric and reads the game well, but, but without the decision making of Smith. It’s not a like for like.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 10:54:12 +0000

Whilst he does seem to struggle a bit against Tuilagi, who on earth wouldn’t miss Smith’s guile? The man is the perfect outside centre

By: Blub

Blub — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 10:29:45 +0000

Well reading the NZ Herald a few days ago, they seem to suggest that he is not dis-similar to Tuilagi.

There was also a school of thought that he would not fit well with Nonu, and they were suggesting that Ryan Crotty would be a better like-for-like replacement for Conrad Smith.

So, yes, the inference was that they would miss Smith’s guile.

An interesting point from that article was that Nonu and SB Williams only started together 4 times, and they felt that it was quite underwhelming each time.

By: DanD

DanD — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 10:27:48 +0000

Fekitoa has electric feet. If he can keep his nerve, and not break their defensive line, he’ll be far more dangerous an individual than Smith in attack. Probably doesn’t have Smiths guile though, and may be looking to take on too much himself and not look to distribute.

By: Benjit

Benjit — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 10:17:56 +0000

Looks like a very strong side. What is the new kid like? I wonder whether they will miss Smith’s guile.