@mariner4life said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

well look, a pleasant surprise, how nice.

My only minor quibble is the lineout could be a little shakey, so we'll need to be quick and smart. But other than that, alright

Haven’t you seen our 6’8’’ forward from Wellington at number 8. He’s Lebron James in a rugby jersey

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

@ACT-Crusader you missed 7 Crusaders

No place for that sort of provincialism.

I'm slightly surprised that they haven't gone with Cane at 6 and Papalii at 7, but my brain is probably too old school on that one.

Wow - really like that selection. I would have preferred Sotutu over Sowakula on bench, but fair to give him another run. The rest seems the best fit given covid and injuries. Easing Jordan in off the bench allows Jordie to cover 12 - which I really like. So pleased to see the stronger bench. I see our biggest weakness being an inability to stop Irish momentum in the tackle later in a game. When Cane goes off or is not there, it seems to be an issue for AB's. Ross and Fakatava are both aggressive defenders and will add starch in later stages. Papalii will add plenty in the early exchanges.

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

2 x on debut
3 x Barrett’s
3 x 7’s
4 x start with the letter A
5 x have an apostrophe in their surname
5 x who have captained the ABs
6 x played 50+ tests
6 x words in one name - Leicester Ofa Ki Wales Twickenham Fainga'anuku
8 x that have not played a test at Dunedin
10 x that have played less than 20 tests

This is amazingly committed ferning.

Hats off.

@MN5 said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

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

2 x on debut
3 x Barrett’s
3 x 7’s
4 x start with the letter A
5 x have an apostrophe in their surname
5 x who have captained the ABs
6 x played 50+ tests
6 x words in one name - Leicester Ofa Ki Wales Twickenham Fainga'anuku
8 x that have not played a test at Dunedin
10 x that have played less than 20 tests

This is amazingly committed ferning.

Hats off.

only thing that would make this better is if none of them were correct

@Donsteppa said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

I'm slightly surprised that they haven't gone with Cane at 6 and Papalii at 7, but my brain is probably too old school on that one.

I think they’ve got it right.

Plus we don’t want to give Stu Barnes theory any legs by not having Cane wear number 7…

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

@Donsteppa said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

I'm slightly surprised that they haven't gone with Cane at 6 and Papalii at 7, but my brain is probably too old school on that one.

I think they’ve got it right.

Plus we don’t want to give Stu Barnes theory any legs by not having Cane wear number 7…

True, I'm a much bigger fan of the Read and Kronfeld reply.

About time the trope that Ardie is a 7 playing at being an 8 is put to pasture isn't it?

The guy is an ex-7

It's like complaining that Nonu was a winger playing 12.

@Donsteppa said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

I'm slightly surprised that they haven't gone with Cane at 6 and Papalii at 7, but my brain is probably too old school on that one.

Paps is 6'4 so probs logical in a 'traditional' sense.

where teh fuck did Paddy T come from to get named in the squad?? where's Vaa??!

@Crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

About time the trope that Ardie is a 7 playing at being an 8 is put to pasture isn't it?

The guy is an ex-7

It's like complaining that Nonu was a winger playing 12.

not sure i agree, nonu became one of if not the best 12 in the world....do we think savea can say the same? or is he still playing largely as a 7 just from the back of the scrum

@WillieTheWaiter said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

@Donsteppa said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

I'm slightly surprised that they haven't gone with Cane at 6 and Papalii at 7, but my brain is probably too old school on that one.

Paps is 6'4 so probs logical in a 'traditional' sense.

where teh fuck did Paddy T come from to get named in the squad?? where's Vaa??!

covid

@Donsteppa said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

I'm slightly surprised that they haven't gone with Cane at 6 and Papalii at 7, but my brain is probably too old school on that one.

Papali'i has played plenty of rugby at 6. He largely was playing 6 for the Blues/Auckland when he first made the AB's

Before Sotutu arrived the Blues would sometimes have a trio of 7 Gibson, 8 Ioane, 6 Papali'i

I think the loosies later in the year will be Cane, Savea plus Dalton/Akira. Who starts and who is on the bench out of the Blues loosies will change depending on tactics/opposition

@Duluth said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

I think the loosies later in the year will be Cane, Savea plus Dalton/Akira. Who starts and who is on the bench out of the Blues loosies will change depending on tactics/opposition

sighs in Hoskins Sotutu

wait, that reads wrong...

@mariner4life said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

@Duluth said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

I think the loosies later in the year will be Cane, Savea plus Dalton/Akira. Who starts and who is on the bench out of the Blues loosies will change depending on tactics/opposition

sighs in Hoskins Sotutu

wait, that reads wrong...

definitely paints a picture

Good to see Ross given a go. Also, having the entire Chiefs front row come on (if it works) makes a lot of sense, especially in terms of combination anyway.

@Crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

About time the trope that Ardie is a 7 playing at being an 8 is put to pasture isn't it?

The guy is an ex-7

It's like complaining that Nonu was a winger playing 12.

2019 was the last year he played mostly at 7

@Crucial whether Ardie's best spot at 8 is irrelevent in the sense that him playing at 8 still affects the balance of our loosies, with those we have.

That said, the growth of DP in the past year as a player and leader, playing at 6 has some appeal, this could be awesome, or, well, not....

@WillieTheWaiter said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

@Donsteppa said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

I'm slightly surprised that they haven't gone with Cane at 6 and Papalii at 7, but my brain is probably too old school on that one.

Paps is 6'4 so probs logical in a 'traditional' sense.

where teh fuck did Paddy T come from to get named in the squad?? where's Vaa??!

Injured isn't he?

Edit:ah, see someone said COVID

@booboo said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

@WillieTheWaiter said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

@Donsteppa said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

I'm slightly surprised that they haven't gone with Cane at 6 and Papalii at 7, but my brain is probably too old school on that one.

Paps is 6'4 so probs logical in a 'traditional' sense.

where teh fuck did Paddy T come from to get named in the squad?? where's Vaa??!

Injured isn't he?

@booboo

@WillieTheWaiter said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

@Donsteppa said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

I'm slightly surprised that they haven't gone with Cane at 6 and Papalii at 7, but my brain is probably too old school on that one.

Paps is 6'4 so probs logical in a 'traditional' sense.

where teh fuck did Paddy T come from to get named in the squad?? where's Vaa??!

covid

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

@Crucial whether Ardie's best spot at 8 is irrelevent in the sense that him playing at 8 still affects the balance of our loosies.

That said, the growth of DP in the past year as a player and leader, playing at 6 has some appeal, this could be awesome, or, well, not....

Explain.
Seems to me that traditional loose forward roles have been moved past.