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Watch: Albert Polu is too fast

Sensation Taniela Tupou caused widespread shock and awe when his long range tries for Sacred Heart went viral in 2014. His unique skills for his size led to some pundits calling for Tupou to be used as a centre – although we don’t think that will happen, we have found similar traits in one prospect who actually is a centre.

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Albert Polu, from St Pats Silverstream in Wellington, is a blockbusting power runner with speed for a big guy. Watch Polu burn past defenders with ease in a recent local Sevens competition.

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Comments on RugbyPass

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Hellhound 14 minutes ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

When Rassie took the head coach position, he said he is building towards the 2023 WC. The 2019 WC was a bonus. Razor doesn't even have a settled A team yet. Nevermind enough depth. Between the Boks A team and B team there is no difference. The Boks have at least 5 players available in all positions. Most players play multiple positions. The Boks is done depth building. They are fooling around with various strategies and combinations. The Boks have never been as prepared for a WC or any tournament as they are now. Rassie said that he wants a full house this year. The Boks mean business. They won 11/13 in 2024. Both games they lost, they lost with a single point. Scoreline doesn't matter. What does is the victory. The AB's are very good. Are they good enough to beat these Boks? Only time will tell. The AB's are the favourites.

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BA 17 minutes ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Tour to SA next year we going to need more than a few extras hands on deck I would imagine will be the biggest ABs squad ever naybe?

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BA 22 minutes ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Well we got to take on the Pumas first and we need to keep our sights trained on them fully otherwise….well we both know what happens there

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H
Hellhound 26 minutes ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

That's not true. The AB's have never been a laughing stock. Many may have been happy while the AB's struggled, but as usual it was when and not if the AB's will be one of the top teams again. Razor does have to proof himself yes, but he will. Rebuilding takes time. Building depth takes time. How he use the remaining tests between now and the WC will be important to build cohesion and getting his A and B teams sorted.

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Hammer Head 30 minutes ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

I keep hearing names of potential players to get into the ABs. Lists of the most exotic sounding names, it’s as if I’ve emerged in an alternative universe.


Shalfoon?


Walker-Texas Ranger?


Broken necks? You’re picking players with broken necks?


Are these real people or are you lot making this up or just randomly nominating your neighbors for AB caps?


If these people are legit (I’m not bothered to check) - when is Razor going to pick any of them? On the eve of the World Cup?

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B
BA 32 minutes ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

no doubt! I personally can’t wait to see more boys get a go hopefully show off some new toys

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Hammer Head 36 minutes ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

If I were to list every apparent strength the Boks have over the ABs, Kiwis on here would counter. Which is fair enough.


There’s only one inarguable factor in the ABs favour - home ground advantage.


Which is why I expect the ABs to win both tests. And by small margins.

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BA 37 minutes ago
Steve Hansen: The Boks are 'rolling the dice and so far they’ve got away with it'

Well it would be fair to say leading up to the World Cup ABs def were considered bit soft up front in the engine room so most kiwis are happy we have good depth there now when for a moment we looked kinda vulnerable , now at the least competitive with anybody and across more than just starters or regulars, ultimately ABs just haven’t won enough games to experiment more with lineups and haven’t been taking many”easy” games it will interest to see what lineups Rassie and Razor will roll out for round 1 TRC can’t wait

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Hammer Head 45 minutes ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

I’m obviously excluding a lot of young talented players in form

Same as Razor

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BA 50 minutes ago
Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us

For the top 14 to become the “ NBA” of a internationally played game and the money that comes with it will require far more interest from the rest of the rugby world let alone the rest of France when it’s not Finals time the clubs are amazing but you can only make so much from local cash $$

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Hellhound 57 minutes ago
Steve Hansen: The Boks are 'rolling the dice and so far they’ve got away with it'

That is BS. NZ will always have great talent. The talent pool however is a bit thin. Meaning even though there are very good players that can make the step up, they are not experienced enough in international rugby. In other words not enough test caps. The AB's have never dipped as low as the Boks in the rankings and when Rassie took over, the Boks was at their worst ever. Rassie is still installing the new attacking strategy. Rebuilding doesn't take a few games or a year. He took the traditional route to the 2019 WC, worked on better strategies and started building depth during the next 4 years, mostly still with forward play strategy wise, yet recruiting the right people for an attacking game play. During this cycle to the 2027 WC he worked on more expansive running rugby. It's still a work in progress, but they are getting there. I see the same for NZ in a way. Building depth and sorting out the right strategies will take time. As players play together more, the cohesion will come. Rebuilding doesn't come overnight. Rassie also have more power over who he can choose world wide for the Boks. Razor don't have that luxury.

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GP 1 hour ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Agree. If Razor wants to be serious about this plan, put Rivez Reihana in the AB squad. Rivez was so accomplished at 10 for the Crusaders, when his chance came. Otherwise this concept is hypothetical at best. Rivez should get a call up anyway.

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GP 1 hour ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

I agree.

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G
GP 1 hour ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Gregor Paul wants Razor to dig deeper in to the Chiefs back catalogue of collective chokers. Simon Parker. Come on. Ethan Blackadder is in great form , as shown by his magnificent contribution to the championship winning Crusaders. Cullen Grace should be talked about ahead of Parker. Cullen had a great year for the red and blacks. This dipping in to the runners up in Super Rugby is getting ridiculous. In this case , the further suggestion of it.

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B
BA 1 hour ago
Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us

That was their success good athletes great scramble chopped down ABs quickly often

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Hellhound 1 hour ago
Steve Hansen: The Boks are 'rolling the dice and so far they’ve got away with it'

Remember in ‘23 when the Boks smashed the AB's at Twickenham just before the WC? Yeah we all remember. What does any of that got to do with these 2 Tests 2 years later? The AB's is marginally better than they were in ‘23. The Boks is far better than they were then. In fact, this is the strongest and the best the Boks have ever been. The Boks is 4-0 up on the AB's in the last 4 games. So what? That doesn't matter. Interesting yes, but no guarantee of a win. When these two teams collide, they always play on another level. Nothing matters. Not experience and definitely not past results. It's more than just about winning for both.

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B
BA 1 hour ago
Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us

In NZ high school rugby which is top level quality, tackles have to be under the nipple line closer to the sternum, do u know this? I would expect it is the same in Oz too

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B
BA 1 hour ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

No doubt even Georgia France Italy played well but all those teams could only maintain it for certain amount of time, expect a lot of what the Boks and ABs will do will kind of cancel out obvious dominance in most aspects of the game and I’m sure both coaching teams keeping some powder dry

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B
BA 1 hour ago
Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us

Yea shorten the Chanpions cup by moving SA teans with Super & co and by taking games out you could block them better preferably end of season which if French top 14 are going to do with World club cup maybe they would consider for Champions ?? Idk I understand they have not wanted to previously but they are going to for the WCC, think SA rugby fans would like to get a small taste of the old Suoer foes at some point in the season and everybody playing in the Challenge and a equivalent competition in SH would be playing for rankings in WCC year so everyone still playing, something like that anyhow

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H
Hammer Head 1 hour ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Never heard of him. How many caps for ABs?

76 Go to comments
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