@chris-b cant recall who I was listening to yesterday, but was in the ALB @13 JB @15 camp.

TBF, as has been the way the past few years, it all but picks itself, with JB over BFA the most contentious call I reckon.

I think BFA is a better International wing than Naholo, and JB is a better Int FB than Naholo is wing, so for me it makes sense to go that way.

ALB shades Goodhue on experience and he's been in good form too, but it wouldnt surprise if Goodhue is slotted in alongside Crotty, although at some point I'd like Goodhue moved in to 12...could make things interesting then

@taniwharugby said in Bledisloe I:

but it wouldnt surprise if Goodhue is slotted in alongside Crotty

I'll throw my fucking toys fair out of the cot.

Would be as disgusting as Mark Robinson over Tana

@mariner4life haha pretty sure you have yawned at most team namings for the past couple of years, and now you are gonna go postal if that call is made, isnt that what you want

@taniwharugby said in Bledisloe I:

@mariner4life haha pretty sure you have yawned at most team namings for the past couple of years, and now you are gonna go postal if that call is made, isnt that what you want

I am trying to re-engage with the game i love. Spittle-flecked outrage on a sports forum seems to be the way to do it these days. Even if i have to manufacture it.

The All Blacks having a 1998-esque year could actually be a lot of fun

yea i know i know, 3 week ban

@taniwharugby said in Bledisloe I:

I think BFA is a better International wing than Naholo

Then we don't have many right wingers running around, because he was pretty pants on the wing against France.

@antipodean said in Bledisloe I:

@taniwharugby said in Bledisloe I:

I think BFA is a better International wing than Naholo

Then we don't have many right wingers running around, because he was pretty pants on the wing against France.

We don't.

@antipodean who BFA or Naholo (or both...)

I think you are right though, we are light on quality on that right side, Naholo has struggled at the higher level, BFA is usually reliable but is looking old form time to time....NMS is alot slower.

Need to find another option.

@taniwharugby said in Bledisloe I:

@antipodean who BFA or Naholo (or both...)

I think you are right though, we are light on quality on that right side, Naholo has struggled at the higher level, BFA is usually reliable but is looking old form time to time....NMS is alot slower.

Need to find another option.

i fucking hate myself for saying this but

that Bridge looks alright.

Should have splashed the cash on RTS.

I think Hansen will go with his tried and true options to get the Bledisloe wrapped up and then we'll see a bit of experimentation.

Starting team pretty much picks itself aside from the two slight question marks above.

Bench probably does as well. Big Karl probably gets the nod over Perry. Harris, Ofa, Barrett, Ardie, TJP, DMac, Goodhue - with a slight possibility of Laumape.

@mariner4life Bridge could be an option although @Chris-B might allow Alaimalo now that he's a Ta$man-ian.

@mariner4life I know it's only standing wide and catchign and running, but Bridge plays mostly 11 doesnt he?

@taniwharugby said in Bledisloe I:

@mariner4life I know it's only standing wide and catchign and running, but Bridge plays mostly 11 doesnt he?

good enough for me. Bridge you're goooorn

Be interesting to see how Bridge and Alaimalo go on Friday night Ta$man v Canterbury.

@kiwimurph Alaimalo is the kind of player they like as the wing/FB, and he is about 6ft 5, so he and Jordie at the back would point toward a high ball game.

@mariner4life said in Bledisloe I:

@taniwharugby said in Bledisloe I:

but it wouldnt surprise if Goodhue is slotted in alongside Crotty

I'll throw my fucking toys fair out of the cot.

Would be as disgusting as Mark Robinson over Tana

ALB has done a great job coming off the bench, so I wouldn't go mental is it were Crotty/Goodhue with ALB coming on with whatever is left on the clock when Crotty inevitably gets a head knock.

Would love for someone with more time on their hands than me to review ALBs tackle stats. My impression of him is he's good on attack, but lets through a few.

@kirwan said in Bledisloe I:

Would love for someone with more time on their hands than me to review ALBs tackle stats. My impression of him is he's good on attack, but lets through a few.

shit impression. rock of Gibraltar. See his stop on the line v the Highlanders. Great defender. The best.

I have no idea actually, but can't say i've ever had the impression he's leaky. Has quick feet to make up for any positional errors.

Edit: plus stats are a shit prism to view rugby through.

@kirwan said in Bledisloe I:

Would love for someone with more time on their hands than me to review ALBs tackle stats. My impression of him is he's good on attack, but lets through a few.

According to Fox SR stats he misses less tackles per match than Goodhue (but makes less tackles as well).

@mariner4life said in Bledisloe I:

The All Blacks having a 1998-esque year could actually be a lot of fun

I'm not into your kind of fun, but I reckon this year could be where the injuries last season pay off. We had massive number of new players blooded, and it's got to be good.

Also, if Dane comes back well, I'll be absolutely stoked. Decent bastard, and would be welcomed back into the ranks (even though Codie is goign along really well)

@nzzp said in Bledisloe I:

@mariner4life said in Bledisloe I:

The All Blacks having a 1998-esque year could actually be a lot of fun

I'm not into your kind of fun, but I reckon this year could be where the injuries last season pay off. We had massive number of new players blooded, and it's got to be good.

Also, if Dane comes back well, I'll be absolutely stoked. Decent bastard, and would be welcomed back into the ranks (even though Codie is goign along really well)

come on, a perverse part of me wants to witness (and join in) the wailing and gnashing of teeth. The fingers of blame arranged neatly by provincial lines would be a thing to behold.

Coles was a massive point of difference for the ABs. A great set piece hooker with the pace of a centre. It's not so much his upside to Taylor, but his gargantuan up side to Harris.