Webb would be the fullback no question and he makes a difference to NZ. Not sure about Motu, he would get in ahead of Hohaia but think Luke and Fien would be ahead of him in the hooking role. He would make the squad though.

NZ have always had this problem, if Stacey Jones does not play 7 they have noone to get them around the field. Considering the finish to the season NZW had with Fien playing at 7 then I thought they would go with him there.

Marshall is an amazing player, some of his 'no look' balls are amazing, However he was playing with no SH and behind a beaten pack so he had no room to work with.

Could the same not be said about TL though? Cant make excuses for one half back and not the other.

Would a joint Pacific Island franchise work? Just wondering whether their national identities would accept a combined team and it could work financially, logistically and on the field?

Not to sure of a Samoa /Tonga franchise

If you want to compare TL and BM then be my guest. Of course its the same for both but the difference is Marshall is a quality player at any level and TL just isn't.

Looks like we'll see Calderwood against the Aussies, terrible luck for Smith. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 692459.stm

Looks like we'll see Calderwood against the Aussies, terrible luck for Smith. news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 692459.stm

Im not comparing them, my point was that if you are saying Marshall was annonymous because of a beaten pack it can be said about why TL was poor too.

TL is taking a hammering in the Aussie press so much so that Adrian Lam is even discussing who will replace him at 7 for the game against PNG!

Very few Kiwis made any impression on the game so to make Tommy the scape goat is pretty harsh IMO.

Marshall is still a bit of a golden boy I reckon. Hasnt played many internationals so probably getting more slack because of this.

Would expect if his performances dont improve over the next couple of games that the pressure will be on him. The PNG game this weekend is a massive one for both countries.

Fien could play at 7 and he did run his blood to water yesterday but again I dont think he has the quality in that position to compete against the Aussies.

Like I said I agree about that but TL just is not good enough to play 7 for NZ. Marshall has been hit and miss this season after coming back from a horrendous run on injuries. However as the season went on he started to show some of the brilliance that he is known for. He should be back to his best next season I would have though with a full offseason behind him. He has drifted in and out of games this season but Kearney will know he can be a gamebreaker and there is no way he will be dropped.

Think this replies for me too



Marshall appears to be a golden boy with no substance at international level. He needs to turn it on soon.

He is regarded as a golden boy due to his performances in the NRL at a very young age. Before he got injured he was THE most exciting player in world rugby. He has finally got back playing this season and its taken him time to get his confidence back.

Nobody has ever said he is proven at International level and whether or not he produces his best in this comp he will still be the no.6 for NZ next year. I would strongly doubt there is any timescale for him to 'turn it on soon' in all honesty.

He can do things that no one else in the NZ team can, all he needs is the right platform.

That is the Kiwis problem. Since Stacey Jones they have not had a world class scrum half. Marshall is an out and out stand off who probably has the weight of the Kiwi expectation on his shoulders...or he will have if they dont improve this weekend with a different 7 next to him.

Losing the experince in the pack and the sheer class of SBW leaves the Kiwis looking fairly ordinary to me.