Buck’s call on ABS No8 contenders NBL Showdown:
Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford has delivered his verdict on the candidates to replace Kieran Read and panned the modern trend for playing loose forwards all across the back row, declaring that new All Blacks captain Sam Cane doesn’t have the hands to play No 8.
‘‘Some of the skills the No 8 needs are different to a flanker’s skills,’’ Shelford told Stuff.
‘‘Every time Richie Mccaw went back there he looked out of sync. He wasn’t a No 8.
‘‘You put Cane back there, and he’s exactly the same. It does not suit them.
‘‘They don’t have that finesse and the hand skills they need. Even Kieran Read struggled at times with controlling the ball at the back of the scrum.’’
The Blues’ Hoskins Sotutu has been putting his hand up with some strong performances and Shelford, who keeps a close eye on all the contenders, said he had the potential to be a test player.
However, the legendary hardman sounded a distinct note of caution, warning the 21-year-old was enjoying a honeymoon period that wouldn’t last.
‘‘He’s a good footballer, that’s Shelford said.
‘‘He’s powerful and pretty quick and gets around the field, and gets involved in the game a lot.
‘‘[But] we’re pretty good at putting guys in high places, and then they struggle with all the media and they fall over.
‘‘He’s good enough to go all the way, but he needs a couple of good seasons with the Blues.
‘‘He’s just the new boy on the block at the moment, and once everybody gets to know how he plays, next year he’ll have quiet year.’’
In recent years, New Zealand has produced a number of ‘utility’ back row forwards who can play No 6, No 7, or No 8.
Ardie Savea, Cane, Dalton Papali’i and Luke Jacobson have all played across the back row, for sure,’’ while Marino Mikaele-tu’u and Cullen Grace have the ability to cover No 6 and No 8.
Cane was due to start the season at No 8 for the Chiefs before a back injury ruled him out.
However, it’s a development that Shelford dislikes, arguing that it robs athletes of developing the specialist skills they need to flourish at the back of the scrum.
‘‘I still think many of the No 8s are still playing like flankers,’’ Shelford said.
‘‘Coaches have made the No 8 a generic position.
‘‘A lot the No 8s struggle to control the ball with their feet and a lot of them struggle to get off the back of the scrum.
‘‘Sometimes I don’t think they know how because they haven’t been taught those skills.
‘‘It takes years to learn how to control the ball with the scrum going forward.
‘‘They keep experimenting. So, someone comes back from injury they chuck him into No 6 or No 7.
‘‘So, you don’t get repetition, game after game in the boot and you’re not learning your game properly.’’
Ardie Savea remains the favourite to wear the No 8 jersey for the All Blacks this year, although Shelford noted that in addition to returning from injury, the Hurricanes flanker is now a marked man.
‘‘Even Ardie at the weekend, he didn’t shine that much at all,’’ Shelford said. ‘‘I didn’t see much football out of him. He played quite well, but he didn’t play a big game of football.’’
Shelford also still held high hopes for Blues flanker Akira Ioane, noting that he had all the physical attributes to be an All Black.
‘‘If his head is in the right space and it’s all about the team and not about him, he could go a long way as well,’’ Shelford said.
‘‘He’s got the ability, but it’s whether his head is in the right space. ‘‘Strong boy, good runner, and basically he needs to play some football and get his hands on the ball as much as he can.’’
The seven team, NBL Showdown, tips off tonight, running for the next six weeks. BRENDON EGAN assesses how the sides stack up.
AUCKLANDHUSKIES Coach: Kevin Braswell
Squad: Izayah MauriohoohoLe’afa, Tohi Smith-milner, Leon Henry, Taine Murray, Rashid AlKaleem, Tinashematambanadzo, Ana Haku, Johnny Fesolai, Marvin Williams-dunn, Jaylen Gerrand, Nick Brophy, Nathan Wilson.
TAB title odds: $3.70
The lowdown: Point guard Izayah Mauriohooho-le’afa returns after a four-year college stint at Sacramento State University andwill be a crucial figure for the Kevin Braswellcoached Huskies. Pronounced ‘Mo-dee-oh-ho-ho Lee-ah-fuh’, the 23-year-old is the son of former NBL point guard George Le’afa, and looks set to make amajor impact. Add in improved power forward Tohi Smith-milner, NBL stalwart Leon Henry, rising teenage talent Tainemurray, and the experience of Rashid AlKaleem, the Breakers’ director of player development, it’s not hard to see why the Huskies are title favourites at the TAB. ‘‘I’m expecting a fast team. They’re young, they’re energetic, they’ll be fast, pretty dynamic, and a lot of the workloadwill rely on some young shoulders,’’ Kiwi hoops legend Dillon Boucher toldstuff.
FRANKLIN BULLS
Coach: Liam Simmons
Squad: Dom Kelman-poto, Sam Timmins, Everard Bartlett, Jackson Stubbins, Isaac Davidson, Nick Barrow, Joel Vaiangina, Nikaumccullough, Connor Woodbridge, Joe Reddish, Chris Mcintosh, DruLeo Leusogi-ape.
TAB title odds: $4.50
The lowdown: The first-year Franklin Bulls’ hopes will rest heavily on the ‘big three’ of 2.01m forward Dom Kelman-poto, centre Sam Timmins, and NBL veteran Everard Bartlett. Boucher says Kelman-poto is in the best shape of his career and will be a handful during the NBL Showdown. All eyes will be on the 23-year-old Timmins, who returns following fours years at the University of Washington, where he played in 132 games for the division one Pac-12 Huskies. Bartlett is among the senior statesmen of New Zealand basketball at 34, debuting for the Hawke’s Bay Hawks in 2005. A reliable three-point shooter, Bartlettwill provide the Bulls with strong scoring punch.
TARANAKI MOUNTAIN AIRS
Coach: Doug Courtney
Squad: Derone Raukawa, Marcel Jones, Shane Temara, Tai Wynyard, Mitch Dance, Francis Mulvihill, Kenneth Tuffin, Denhym Brooke, Zach Easthope, Oscar Robertson, Carlin Davison, Baxter Fenwick.
TAB title odds: $10
The lowdown: The Mountain Airsmight be the least favoured team at the TAB, but Boucher expects them to pick up some wins. ‘‘I think they’ve got two of the best scorers in the league in Marcel Jones and Derone Raukawa. I think they’ll be a team that can definitely put the ball in the hole.’’ Jones, a USborn, naturalised Kiwi, could lead the league in scoring and always hauls down plenty of boards. Few players have more to prove than Tai Wynyard. Still only 22, Wynyard was once dubbed the next Steven Adams when he headed to the University of Kentucky in 2016, but hasn’t lived up to that lofty billing. ‘‘It hasn’t panned out the way he wanted it to, but he’s aman mountain, and he’s got some size on his side,’’ Boucher says. ‘‘Being a smaller league, he should impose himself on this league as well.’’
MANAWATUJETS Coach: Tim Mctamney
Squad: Tom Vodanovich, Hyrum Harris, Jayden Bezzant, Taane Samuel, Nick Fee, Haize Walker, Tia Temata-frost, Ashton Mcqueen, Matangirei Hipango, Josiah Laracy, Nelson Kirksey, Kalib Mullins.
TAB title odds: $9
The lowdown: The Manawatu Jets are Boucher’s tip for the title. They struck gold in the NBL Showdown draft, landing Tall Black and Breakers forward Tom Vodanovich in the