LISH says...

I would call it a 'safe side' to name against the wallabies, since Henry does not want to lose his last tri nations game. JR should have been named to play. He is one of the last genuine wingers in the game, and give Dagg the No.15 this time. I would also like to see Rene Ranger at 2nd centre as a sub during the game, we need a backup for Conrad since Richard Kahui is out of sorts. Also playing 3 fullbacks is not what you want to see on saturday.

Posted 12:30 09th September 2010

Euskadi says...

They have named the "Full-Back Three" as I predicted after the first NZ vs SA match.

Perhaps it is because of the desire to give the young guys a start (Dagg) but in my opinion Dagg is in there on form. In my opinion Rocokoko´s form has been nothing more than stable regardless of what Graeme Henry says. So what has happened to the winger? Like many positions on the field today their role has become less and less specialised and although the new rule interpretations are not as reliant on an educated kicking boot there are more gains to be made by employing a fullback on the wing.

The greatest weapon in the traditional wingers arsenal was their speed whether on attack, to take the last pass or covering defense or chasing kicks.

Full backs on the other hand are required to be kick receivers and returners, high quality defenders, quality counter attackers, astute readers of the game and very good kickers be it for distance, accuracy or position. Similar in many respects to what is expected of a 10 which is why there are examples of 10s slotting into fullback and to some extent vice versa.

Like all skills they can be improved but for a natural fullback to extend his arsenal to include real speed is easier than a natural winger acquiring the skills of the fullback. Explosive 40m speed is easily trained into these athletes and is not so much a skill which has to learnt but rather an action that can be improved with hard work.

I think Dagg on the wing will be a sign of things to come, not necessarily Dagg becoming a winger but talented fullbacks being utilised in place of specialist wingers.

The out and out high speed winger is an endangered species.

Although there will always be room for a 120KG 190cm+ specimen capable of 100m in <11 seconds

Posted 11:03 09th September 2010