What are your thoughts about the All Blacks playing Kahui on the wing?

Question

With two specialist wings in Wulf and Tuitavake in the squad this move smacks of desperation. Personally I'd like to see Wulf there. He has played very well there for the All Blacks to date without being sensational.

Answer 1

I think Smith has more control over the back line selections than Ted.

Seems simple enough, prevent the Aussies kicking deep and chassing like last weekend, Kahui can kick, so he has the nod over the wings who, simply haven't had a chance to step up.

But playing a centre at wing is odd, even desperate, if it wasn't someone as confident as Kahui then I would say bad idea.  But I reckon there is a method to the madness. Tuitavake was a dissapointment last weekend, not because he is a bad wing, it's just the nature of the game the Aussies threw at us - he is not confident under high balls and kicking is a weak point, Deans banked on those guys running it back rather than clearing smartly and confidently. Simple attack, and RSA did the same thing to us the weekend before. - It won't bloody happen again.

Kahui will make a difference. Expect a lot more kicking from Mils, Kahui, DC and Piri Weepu / Cowan.

Doesn't matter how much of the pill you have if you are pinned inside your own half you aren't going to score. We had more than enough pil last weekend and we had more than enough line breaks - trouble was, when we broke over the gain line, there was still half the bloody paddock between the ball carrier and the sticks.

Kicking is easy. kicking scores tries.

Answer 2

Totally agree with Lesley J, Henry hasnt been thinking straight at all

Answer 3

I agree with Lesley J above me, What the h**l did Rudy Wulf do wrong ?,he would have to feel very disappointed,he deserved better than he got.

What in the world posessed them to bring in Anthony Tuitavake ? ,other than a lot of media hype , he had nothing going for him and his showing against Aussie confirmed my thoughts,that he is no more than average.

Rudy Wulf had played well, and he is, a left winger.

In saying that , i think Richard Kahui will go well, he does have that x factor.

The more i look at replays, the more i`m convinced, we were not far away in the Aussie game.At 19-17 up , another 7 points for the  Sivivatu penalty try & conversion ,would have made it 26 -17 to ABs, ...a totally different final result methinks. I sniff a good victory this week.( mind you , I sniffed one last week too)

Answer 4

kahui played wing 2 years ago for the highlanders...he played the whole season there so i dont know what you lot are on about...plus Rudi wulf...shudnt even be in the AB's!!! he didnt even have a good super 14...talk bout a bolter!! hes rubbish...tuitavake on the other hand has had 2-3 outstanding seasons and is powerful...strong on defense and is the man on his feet...rudi wulf...pffff. u lot dont know talent when u see it.

Answer 5

Very bad call from Hennry ,Wulf should play, he is a winger

Answer 6

Another stupid move by the AB coach.

Never learn the mistake of using player at wrong position.

It never works against quality team, only against  opposition well below your level as shown in the WC at Australia and France.

The Oz will have better chance to win now as the AB management team is losing their wit and doing something stupid again.

Answer 7

Oh no, Graham Henry has brought back his stupid rotation policy. We're doomed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

Playing players out of position so you can have the best players on the field is stupid. Remember what happened when John Hart tried to put Tana Umaga, Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen and Jeff Wilson together. Cullen got put in the centres and it's why we lost the 1999 world cup. I think they should have just put a specialist winger on the wing.

Answer 8

Yeah just another very odd selection by Henry. Far out I wish we had selectors who thought logically for a change. What did Rudi Wulf do wrong against South Africa anyway to get dropped? Nothing seems to make sense with Henrys selections!

Answer 9

i think you cant go wrong really its about having your strongest players on the field together they are pro atheletes alot of people put too much emphasis on specialist positions smith should have started last game anyway but kahui is not a bad option and yes we are desparate!!!

Answer 10

h**l what difference will it really make. the blacks at this time r  unsettled & have a lot of catchin up to do. the aussies are firing, the blacks are definitely in a corner. Same coaches (i can't believe RU r lining up Hasen to take over from Henry, what the @#$%) same systems don't help for christ's sake they're still mucking round with their selections (one of the key reasons we lost at the world cup)

Answer 11

I don't think it's about rotation systems; I think it's more likely because Henry will want to have Kahui on the bench quite a bit in the build up to the 2011 World Cup and I bet he's just keen on finding out if the guy can cover when Joe Rokocoko and Siviveni Sivivatu hobble off, or at least if I were All Blacks coach, that's certainly the message I'd be trying to give to Tuitavake and Wulf.

They've got years ahead of them to prove themselves and on occasion Kahui may be warming the bench for them. I don't see what's so crazy about finding out if the guy can play test rugby on the wing when the team are already in a backs against the wall position. I think it's a genius selection by Graham 'Mastermind' Henry

Answer 12

tommorow we'll do it