Tony Brown.

Article in the Herald suggesting TB should be our backup #10. Thoughts?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/national/4927030/Tony-Brown-kicking-down-All-Blacks-door

Usually I would say 'desperate times' etc, but he's proving invaluable for the Highlanders, and the points made about experience in a tough situation are undeniable. It seems that whilst we've always had talent at first five when it mattered, our depth has been an issue for a very long time. Shame about Slade getting injured again.



gc.

I'm very open to this idea. Anyone over Donald, imo. But what will mostlikely happen, we will see McAlister being picked. Or even Brett. There is a possibility for Slade to still get into the team.

Agree..would sooner have Tony Brown in there than Stephen Donald, for sure.

MacAllister seems to be in favour with the coaches though - but he is not a 1st 5. 2nd 5 definitely, but then the Nonu/SBW combo still has a mortgage on that position surely.

Ma'a Nonu will be very lucky to make the squad on current form. He's been awful this year!

I would rather have Wipeout in the team than Stephen f'n Donald. I'm not joking either.

He is safe as fuck for selection

Can we afford to pick Nonu SBW Fruen and Smith in our sqaud? If so I would agree, otherwise IDK. Out of the 4 (and generally) Nonu strikes me as a likely candidate to give away a retarded penalty at a crucial time while looking confused

If the team was picked tomorrow it would clearly be Lukey mac, and I dont think that will change. Sure there is no need for a flash back up, but you pick the best player...and Luke is the best no. 2 of the current lot and its not really close at all

Shows how long it has been since I followed union, let alone my home team. I didn't even realise Bony Town was still playing!

haha.. thanks Jono.

I must say, you've gotta be bread into the No 10 jersey. It's not a given.

This. When have Graham Henry & co ever selected their team purely on form? Nonu/SBW & Smith are a proven combo and I can't see them breaking it up anytime soon especially in a WC year. I guess we'll see what happens in the Tri Nations.

stephen donald.

If you guys took off your blinkers about 'the last time he played for the ABs' and actually said 'ON CURRENT DISPLAYED FORM, WHO IS THE 2ND BEST FIRST FIVE IN NEW ZEALAND' - it wouldn't be brett, it wouldn't be mcalister, and it wouldn't be slade

but of course you guys are so consumed by stupid hate that has zero evidence behind it (still yet to hear anybody say why donald sucks so much whereas evertime Nonu sucks I can pick out a dumb penalty, a missed tackle, a dropped ball or when Likey Mac sucks I can pull out a dumb chipkick, poor defensive positioning). Some players get a tough ride, some are beloved no matter what they do. it's why we need more stats so we can have evidence-based evaluations.

PS I'd actuallly play Toeava at 10 if we had someone else to handle the goalkicking. it's worked for aussie with their faggots barnes/cooper/even fucking o'connor, so it would work even better with a genius like Ice

You must be joking.

The reason people hate Donald is because he comes out of that classic 'NZ cricket' mould where he seems very adept and capable at provincial or representative level, but when it comes to taking the step up to All Black level he has proven himself to be an abject failure. Poor tactical kicking, extremely poor goal kicking, lack of creativity and execution on attack. He has been awful in the black jumper.

If Matthew Bell or Michael Papps score 1,000 fc runs again next season (like they always do) should we pick them for the Black Caps test team? Where they have showed themselves to be utterly hopeless?



gc.

And the 2nd best #10 in the country right now is Tony Brown.



gc.

A no.10 that can't find touch in a vital point in a vital game is nothing more than hopeless.

Or kick the match winning goal from right in front, 35m from the fucking posts!?



gc.

But, in fairness, he did carve up the Taranke backline something epic in this year's NPC! :>

Add to this: McAlister has let the team down too many times to really justify giving more chances - either through poor play or injury. Either way, they should count him out from the get go and only consider him if all else fails.

Remember, many of the times McAlister was on the field screwing up or getting injured he was supposedly in form.

But what about his Man of the Match Performance 4 years ago????

So now first fives are judged solely on goal kicking?
His tactical kicking has always been excellent

Mike Delany has been playing pretty well as well. Think him and Donald and 2 and 3 for best first fives imo.