Smith at midfield just doesn't do it for me, What about Muiliana instead and Leon at Fullback?

Question

Smith at midfield just doesn't do it for me, What about Muiliana instead and Leon at Fullback?

Answer 1

I agree with you guys totally. I have always prefered Mils in 13 and MacDonald in 15. I'm not a fan of Conrad Smith, he hasen't proven himself enough at test level in the 13 for my liking.

Mils on the other hand is a steady and reliable player and would suit the 13 well. macDonald I would personally rate slightly ahead of Mils in the 15 jersey. But thats just me.

Evans on the bench is good, Toeava needs time, still young and his inexperience shows and gets exposed from time to time.

Answer 2

Yep, I agree with all above me,, Conrad ,although a good player , is definitely not our best option at centre.

Toeava , is green, but is getting better with every game.

For this cup, Mils at centre, Leon at fullback, and Nick Evans off the bench.....he`s all class.

Answer 3

that is one of  the better selections ive heard,Mills at centre and leon  who has matured as a world class fullback.Mills can still foot it at fullback but Conrad Smith is not our no.1 centre,Tuiava is still young and will mature into the no.13 jersey but Mills at centre any day as long as Leon 'Rangi' Mc donald at fullback

Answer 4

This issue of who should play center just won't go away - and that's because the public have not yet seen any player given a long enough run in that position to make up their minds.

Do the coaches know the answer? I hope so but fear they don't yet either.

Whilst it certainly doesn't spell doom for the All Black campaign it is a bit of a worry that we have not settled this going into the knockout stages of the World Cup.

It's not just about who wears the No.13 jersey - it's about the whole midfeild and what combinations are the best. What is our best 10/12 combo and what is our best 12/13 combo?

For me it's going to be all about experience come the knockout games, therefore I go for Mauger at 12 and Muiliana at 13. McAlister and Evans would be my inside and outside reserve backs.

I would like to have seen this combo given some decent time together leading into the tournament, but I reckon the class of these guys will show through anyway.

Answer 5

I'm going to play devil's advocate here and say keep Snakey smith in at the 13 jumper.  Don't get me wrong, Leon has been absolutely cracking at fullback recently, but he's not quite the same as Mils.  What we're suffering from is the hangover resulting from having the world's best center retire (ei Tana "pretty much the greatest rugby player to have ever graced us with his presence on and off the field" Umanga).  Smith's problem is that he needs a touch of game time to get himself back on target then watch out because he's not called snakey for a reason, he's a tricky bugger.

Answer 6

We only have one proven International centre in France and that is Conrad Smith.   Watch him closely as he looks for the man to pass to.  Reminds me of Jeff Wilson who aways sought out the supporting player (if any) before he tried a break.  

Conrad has that intellectual capacity to seize the opportunity and is not one of those who blunder through; and when they can't score give Hail Mary passes to those in a worse situation.   Conrad knows he is not there to always score, but rather to set up the wings.

And when it comes to defence, rely on him to subdue Mortlock and his ilk.  He is always in the right position.  May he remain injury free for the final.

Of course, there is no doubting that MacDonald should wear number 15 on that great day.

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Answer 7

Yes if Mils is our best centre then play him there, besides we've got Nick Evans who is a prodigious punter and proven attacker to cover at fullback as well. Don't con us with Conrad, he's just not good enough.

Answer 8

WHAT ARE YOU ALL TALKING ABOUT?????  I think the answer if pretty obvious!!!  Send someone home and bring back Tana!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, just to indulge you over our second best option... yeah, I'd put Mils at Centre and have Leon at Fullback.  You'd have to have Evans on the bench though since MacDonald gets hurt more than an Australian prop in a Bledisloe series.