Under the 12-day World Rugby stand down protocols, Whitelock is now expected to be unavailable for the remainder of the series.

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks Vs Ireland - 2nd Test:

@Duluth Lord was ruled out a few days after squad naming wasnt he?

Jeez so we go from 3 locks in the starting XV, to having to bring a player straight from Japan on the bench!

@Tim I was just going to post that Whitelock would be out of the 3rd test too. Hopefully Vaa'i is back early next week to be available for Wellington.

@Chris-B said in All Blacks Vs Ireland - 2nd Test:

@Frank You're picking Gallagher above, but once Quinten was fit again for the Crusaders, Razor picked him as the bench lock for the Super final.

What does he know? I'm on the Fern.

Actually curious that given we had three locks also play in the MAB team (2 starting and one reserve) who also played well that none were considered

@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks Vs Ireland - 2nd Test:

@Crucial you still have to enter the ruck through the gate, like the Irish player is…SB has just walked up to the side or the ruck and touched it

He’s either bound legally but entered illegally or he’s not bound and offside

Must be a Taranaki gate

Whitelock is a big out for us given his high tackle rate and the fact he’s an 80 minute player. Assuming Ioane is still out I think we have to play Papali’i at 6 as a high workrate option.

Although I wonder if Fozzie is thinking of throwing Patty T straight into the starting lineup and leaving Barrett at blindside. Get 40-50 minutes out of Patty T and then bring on the impact?

@Bovidae said in All Blacks Vs Ireland - 2nd Test:

From Stuff: (I have corrected their typo).

Highlanders Josh Dickson and Shannon Frizell are training with the All Blacks but are not part of the official squad.

Well that f-ing sucks, that Frizell is still in the equation - I'd rather they bring in Grace, Jacobson or MMT.

@Nepia Grace would be prepping for the Maori match and given they are down south they just need someone to run so went with a local that knows the stuff to run against the starters.

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks Vs Ireland - 2nd Test:

@Nepia Grace would be prepping for the Maori match and given they are down south they just need someone to run so went with a local that knows the stuff to run against the starters.

Dickson is in the same boat with the Maori. And for the local, I covered that with the part local MMT.

I actually wouldn't be surprised if he was selected to start at 6 this week. Angry yep.

@ACT-Crusader Pat T & Brodie...yikes.

But yeah, this probably forces some shuffling in the lock / loosie dept.

@Nepia said in All Blacks Vs Ireland - 2nd Test:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks Vs Ireland - 2nd Test:

@Nepia Grace would be prepping for the Maori match and given they are down south they just need someone to run so went with a local that knows the stuff to run against the starters.

Dickson is in the same boat with the Maori. And for the local, I covered that with the part local MMT.

I actually wouldn't be surprised if he was selected to start at 6 this week. Angry yep.

I think Big Peter Gus will be starting now.

But, if something happens to him in the next few days - and assuming Akira's foot isn't 100% then Shannon is another big body and familiar with the systems.

So, "training with the squad but not part of it".

Whitelock nearly took out Retallick with friendly fire to his eye, so it could have been much worse.

In another twist, Dickson, who represented the New Zealand Māori against Ireland in their victory in Hamilton last week, is training with his phone on as his wife is expecting their child.

I wonder whether the MABs have brought in an extra lock as cover for Dickon?

@Bovidae said in All Blacks Vs Ireland - 2nd Test:

Whitelock nearly took out Retallick with friendly fire to his eye, so it could have been much worse.

...especially if Scott was banned for six weeks!!!

Since Sam is out, Scott needs to move back into lock. Patty T coming back from Japan should be slimmer and fitter than when he left which should help his ability to get around the park for 25-30mins if required.

If Akira's foot precludes him, I'd expect they'll look to have a backrow of Gus, Cane, Ardie.

None of this is ideal, we seem to be doing our best to give Ireland more than a fighting chance.

@Chris-B said in All Blacks Vs Ireland - 2nd Test:

@Nepia said in All Blacks Vs Ireland - 2nd Test:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks Vs Ireland - 2nd Test:

@Nepia Grace would be prepping for the Maori match and given they are down south they just need someone to run so went with a local that knows the stuff to run against the starters.

Dickson is in the same boat with the Maori. And for the local, I covered that with the part local MMT.

I actually wouldn't be surprised if he was selected to start at 6 this week. Angry yep.

I think Big Peter Gus will be starting now.

But, if something happens to him in the next few days - and assuming Akira's foot isn't 100% then Shannon is another big body and familiar with the systems.

So, "training with the squad but not part of it".

I don't think being a big body and familiar with the systems really matters if your boy is hopeless at using his big body and is average within in the system.

@Stargazer Who? MSR would start with Hicks on the bench.

Given the way Fozzie was talking last week I'd say it's more likely Papalii is at 6 and Sowakula is on the bench (Sowakula came on at 8 didn't he?). I'd like to see PGS get a crack at 6 though.

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks Vs Ireland - 2nd Test:

In breaking news, Cane’s injury from earlier this season has flared up and he’s been ruled out, Whitelock has caught COVID, Ardie has symptoms - Scott Barrett has been named AB captain

You can piss off too, Nostradamus!