@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.

@nepia with all those tackles Mounga and Goodhue miss those Crusaders must be a bit shit

where are our Australian brethren to come on here all faux-morose about their chances? But low-key braying about their chances at the same time.

Come on @barbarian and @NTA you blokes are deadset favourites. What sports coat are you wearing to the stadium this week? The lucky navy? Or the hopeful charcoal?

Controversial opinion: Jordie is now our number one fullback, and BFA is fighting it out with Naholo for the right wing spot.

@no-quarter said in Bledisloe I:

Controversial opinion: Jordie is now our number one fullback, and BFA is fighting it out with Naholo for the right wing spot.

wow. edgy stuff edge lord

Mils said BFA should be the starting fullback. But what does he know...

As long as there's no loopy intercept passes from the likes of Sopoaga and DMac, we'll do pretty well.

@bovidae probably about the same as DC when asked about Mounga...

@taniwharugby His comments were made in the series of articles when former ABs were asked about the contenders for the AB squad before the announcement.

Mils doesn't have a history with any of the contenders so I read it as a former AB fullback saying who he thought should be starting in a position he knows well. Hansen will have other ideas I believe.

@bovidae was tongue in cheek comment...at the end of the day, ex-AB's opinions carry about as much weight as ours (except Grant Fox) although they probably have a better insight than us.

Sorry if this has been covered...

I see Vaea Fafita has commited career suicide by basically calling team management liars for leaving him out.

@raznomore said in Bledisloe I:

Sorry if this has been covered...

I see Vaea Fafita has commited career suicide by basically calling team management liars for leaving him out.

nah, his "performances" did that for him

his mouth certainly hasn't helped the cause though

@mariner4life said in Bledisloe I:

Come on @barbarian and @NTA you blokes are deadset favourites.

Fuck off Shag, you unfunny fluffybunnny.

Forwards and halves pick themselves. Infact 1 - 11 do.

Moody, Taylor, Franks
BBBR, Whitelock
Cane, Squire, Read

Smith, Barrett
Ioane

After that I confuse myself. Multiple options, none of which are bad.

I suspect it will be ALB and Crotty in midfield But Goodhue gives me good vibes and Laumape may be the like for like for Dubs.

With BFA off his game slightly I'm inclined to go Giraffe at the back and BFA 14. Would not be devastated with BFA at 15, Naholo 14. Wouldn't like Jordie/Naholo.

Bench ... again 16-22 reasonably straightforward:
Harris (meh ... but can't see them picking Coltman)
Karl T
Ofa
Barrett
Savea
TJ
DMac
and 23.

23 will depend on selections 12-15. Someone who offers something different.

I'll bracket Jordie/Goodhue/Laumape.

@mariner4life the quote where he basically said he preferred to seagull and run out on the wing over doing his core duties and "running into a brick wall and getting your body tired. Then you can't do anything," was hilarious.

He was here for a good time not a long time, not with comments like that.