Now that the Rest & Rotation tour is half done, who gets a rest this week? I was thinking Read may get a game off, but I think that will be the Italy EOY Tour game.

So here's my 23 for the South Africa test.

1. Moody
2. Coles
3. Faumauina
4. Romano
5. Whitelock
6. Kaino
7. Todd
8. Read
9. A.Smith
10. Sopoaga
11. Naholo
12. Crotty, or maybe ALB
13. Fekitoa
14. Dagg
15. B.Smith
16. Taylor
17. Crockett
18. Tu'ungafasi
19. Retallick
20. Savea
21. TKB
22. Barrett
23. Moala

Franks, J.Savea, Perenara to get a rest. A. Savea to come off the bench.
D-Mac out. Maybe Coltman in for Taylor
Would actually prefer Tuipolutu over Romano. Can't see Dixon or Squire getting another go, unless they spell Ardie altogether.
Would also prefer Barrett starts, but need to give Sopoanga a crack eh...

Resting Barrett ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

They could sub Jordie in and nobody would even notice.

@westcoastie said in Springboks v All Blacks, whos in?:

Now that the Rest & Rotation tour is half done, who gets a rest this week? I was thinking Read may get a game off, but I think that will be the Italy EOY Tour game.

So here's my 23 for the South Africa test.

1. Moody
2. Coles
3. Faumauina
4. Romano
5. Whitelock
6. Kaino
7. Todd
8. Read
9. A.Smith
10. Sopoaga
11. Naholo
12. Crotty, or maybe ALB
13. Fekitoa
14. Dagg
15. B.Smith
16. Taylor
17. Crockett
18. Tu'ungafasi
19. Retallick
20. Savea
21. TKB
22. Barrett
23. Moala

Franks, J.Savea, Perenara to get a rest. A. Savea to come off the bench.
D-Mac out. Maybe Coltman in for Taylor
Would actually prefer Tuipolutu over Romano. Can't see Dixon or Squire getting another go, unless they spell Ardie altogether.
Would also prefer Barrett starts, but need to give Sopoanga a crack eh...

That would be 9 changes from todays starting 15, cant see it.

Maybe give Whitelock a run with PT, Kaino back, Smith back, that would be all I'd change.

@taniwharugby they made 9 between the last two tests...

After this morning you'd have to be a crazy person to change that midfield. Fekitoa can earn his way back in.

@westcoastie said in Springboks v All Blacks, whos in?:

@taniwharugby they made 9 between the last two tests...

really? Didnt realise there were that many...still cant see them ringing that many again.

@Unco big picture... I think they'll looking at the South Africa game as a trial, because they'll be targetting that next game against Australia.

Smith is definitely coming back in for Perenara. Makes sense to pair him with Sopoaga, Naholo & Fekitoa and B.Smith - effectively a Highlanders backline.

Being so far up allowed the coaching staff the opportunity to give guys a longer rest than usual. Barrett definitely could use a spell - he was down a level today.

@taniwharugby may have been 8 across the 23.

9 seems like a lot, but Smith/Sopoaga v Perenara/Barrett - neither here nor there..
Naholo w/ Savea - neither here nor there.
Whitelock for Retallick - neither here nor there.
Crotty probably gets the 12 jersey (forgot hes been out with concussion, his combo with Fekitoa has been pretty good tbh. So Fekitoa in for ALB neither here nor there..
Pretty clear Kaino is coming back in, or why bring him to SA.
A. Savea could use a spell to freshen up before we blitz the Aussies.
O Franks hasn't had a spell.

I don't think the changes are that much of a big deal.
Maybe Barrett stays at 10, just let him keep on keepin' on.

@westcoastie said in Springboks v All Blacks, whos in?:

@Unco big picture... I think they'll looking at the South Africa game as a trial, because they'll be targetting that next game against Australia.

Smith is definitely coming back in for Perenara. Makes sense to pair him with Sopoaga, Naholo & Fekitoa and B.Smith - effectively a Highlanders backline.

Being so far up allowed the coaching staff the opportunity to give guys a longer rest than usual. Barrett definitely could use a spell - he was down a level today.

I'm not against giving Sopoaga or Naholo runs but I really don't like the idea of chopping and changing by far the best midfield combo we've seen this season. Give the combo more time to settle.

Barrett doesn't need a rest. He hasn't had years of test rugby that would require it. If he was down on form (I thought he was fine) then it would be reason to say we want to see an improvement on X and Y.

Is Fekitoa fully fit?

I would start A. Savea again. He's the number 2 openside in the coaches eyes, so if the number 1 isn't fit, you don't rest the number 2.

I wouldn't be against seeing Squire get another run.

I'd be tempted to give Dixon some minutes, maybe even at 7. I think despite the different positions he's logically more read, and squire is more kaino - but captains play all the time, so to get some playing time into him they need to change the loose balance, and I don't think losing kainos grunt is a great idea against the boks - even these relatively lightweight boks.
Lima has to be a good chance for a run given his last performance over there, but I'd keep Barret starting. Get naholo in asap, but both midfielders have earned another shot.

Yeah, I can't quite see why A Savea would need a rest.

Moody, Coles, Faumuiana
Tuipolotu, Whitelock
Kaino Savea, Read

Smith, Sopoaaga
Crotty, ALB
Naholo, Smith, Dagg

Res forwards: Crockett, Taylor, Tu'agafasi, Retallick, Dixon (or Dixon, Todd)
Res backs: TJP or TKB, Barrett, Moala

Test rugby is a funny thing eh. Loads of people talking up ardie beforehand, and sure he's done okay, but nobody really talking up injury replacement Al B, and he just quietly comes in and nails it.

@taniwharugby said in Springboks v All Blacks, whos in?:

@westcoastie said in Springboks v All Blacks, whos in?:

Now that the Rest & Rotation tour is half done, who gets a rest this week? I was thinking Read may get a game off, but I think that will be the Italy EOY Tour game.

So here's my 23 for the South Africa test.

1. Moody
2. Coles
3. Faumauina
4. Romano
5. Whitelock
6. Kaino
7. Todd
8. Read
9. A.Smith
10. Sopoaga
11. Naholo
12. Crotty, or maybe ALB
13. Fekitoa
14. Dagg
15. B.Smith
16. Taylor
17. Crockett
18. Tu'ungafasi
19. Retallick
20. Savea
21. TKB
22. Barrett
23. Moala

Franks, J.Savea, Perenara to get a rest. A. Savea to come off the bench.
D-Mac out. Maybe Coltman in for Taylor
Would actually prefer Tuipolutu over Romano. Can't see Dixon or Squire getting another go, unless they spell Ardie altogether.
Would also prefer Barrett starts, but need to give Sopoanga a crack eh...

That would be 9 changes from todays starting 15, cant see it.

Maybe give Whitelock a run with PT, Kaino back, Smith back, that would be all I'd change.

I'm with TR. Reckon it will be much closer to the 1st xv/xxiii.
Charlie back to bench?
Ofa to lh bench maayybee?
PT & SW to start. BBBR to bench.
JK to start if ok.
Smith at 9.

...

@booboo Ofa is NOT a test LH. I personally don't see Todd featuring, barring accidents. Expect Kaino will start. Think a lock will be on bench and Squire/Dixon, depending on what they see as the requirements for versatility. Naholo to start if fit. Would like to see Lima get some real game time. I see ALB as Crotty-swappable. So if Crotty crocked, then ALB/Fekitoa/Moala in 23. Not likely, but I'd like to see George have gametime at 12.

The Springboks won't be easy meat this time. They are always hard to beat in their garden. So expect a full strength AB team to face them :
Moody Coles Franks
Whitelock Retallick
Kaino Savea Read
Smith Barrett
Savea Crotty ALB Dagg
Smith

Maybe Naholo for Savea or Dagg.

Reserves :
Crockett Taylor Faumuina
Tuipolutu Squire
TJP Sopoaga Moala

@pakman that's why I qualified Ofa with the "maaybee". I can't really see it but given they're trying to get him to cover both sides they may (may) want to try that for development.

But yeah, nah.

@cgrant said in Springboks v All Blacks, whos in?:

The Springboks won't be easy meat this time. They are always hard to beat in their garden.

Yes they will.
Not any more.

Retrograde step to go back to the first XV out of "fear factor".