This is the team that Knowler thinks could be selected.
Possible All Blacks starting XV: Damian McKenzie, Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Braydon Ennor, Stephen Perofeta, Finlay Christie, Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papali'i, Akira Ioane, Tupou Vaa'i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, George Bower.
I'd select a stronger XV by starting Mo'unga and having Perofeta at fullback myself. DMac on the bench.
@Bovidae That is the potentially weakest team I have seen for a long time. Won't happen. Might have if the coaching changes hadn't happened.
The unbalanced Blues loose trio, three completely out-of-form tighties, RTS AND Ennor, holy smokes!
Anyway, talking about a reporter's imaginary team so wasting my time.
i didn't know the AB XV was playing Japan as well?
That's not a test team. That's disrespectful to the hosts. By fuck we're arrogant.
When I read Knowler's team my immediate thought was that he had simply listed the players that hadn't had much game time in black.
For starters I think that BBBR will be playing and be captain (or either Cane or Ardie will start and BBBR will take over)
The AB XV players will only get used where necessary (eg DMac on bench with RM starting and Perofeta at 15 then moving to 10 later and DMac coming on)
Clarke still needs experience so Ennor sits on the bench for me.
Some front rowers also need time under the belt and experience against different styles.
So.
Not sure of the front row mix
BBBR at lock (PT on bench)
One of either Cane or Savea to start
Christie starting but Smith to get 20 minutes
RM starting with Perofeta to swap in
RTS/ ALB starting with Reiko on bench
Clarke and Reece
Perofeta at 15 with DMac on bench.
On the positive side, if Taylor stays in the main squad which unfortunately it looks like, he needs more practice than anyone
That suggested team also reflects the thought that players can't play 3 big games in a row. If some of these fringe players don't get an opportunity to play against Japan when do they play on this tour?
@Victor-Meldrew said in Japan v All Blacks:
@Crucial I hope/think Perofeta will get some serious game time. Much as though I like DMac, I think Perofeta is the better choice and deserves the chance more
I think Perofeta will get 80, just that he will move positions. We need him (or DMac) as a backup option for the current BB role.
@Bovidae said in Japan v All Blacks:
That suggested team also reflects the thought that players can't play 3 big games in a row. If some of these fringe players don't get an opportunity to play against Japan when do they play on this tour?
It should be a balance of game time for those that need it whether in a 'A' team of not. I also don't want our main players going into the NH tour cold.
@Bovidae said in Japan v All Blacks:
can't play 3 big games in a row
i still think this is complete bullshit and makes test players look weak as piss
@mariner4life agreed, and we should be doing everything to build that kind of strength
@Bovidae said in Japan v All Blacks:
That suggested team also reflects the thought that players can't play 3 big games in a row. If some of these fringe players don't get an opportunity to play against Japan when do they play on this tour?
Kind of a pre requisite for anyone wanting to win a World Cup I woulda thought.
@mariner4life yep, if that really is the case, then why is that the case?
That was at the heart of Henrys Rotation policy wasnt it?
players can't play 3 big games in a row
I know it’s said like this often but “can’t” is too strong. They were just referencing a slight but measurable drop in performance (gps/software tracking speeds, total distance etc)
I would like to here it discussed by current coaches. Is this still relevant? Is it more forwards than backs? Is it because of niggles that are specific to rugby because of the variety of angles and unpredictable timing of contact etc
As for this game I think one reason you’d pick a ‘weak’ side is because the coaches want the EOYT to mimic a RWC. So this is the equivalent of a weaker pool match. Injuries happen a lot in rugby and can derail a tournament.. so it makes sense expose the top xv slightly less but also get game time into the potential injury replacements
I don’t really understand the negativity. This has been happening for decades and every major side does it.
@Duluth said in Japan v All Blacks:
players can't play 3 big games in a row
I know it’s said like this often but “can’t” is too strong. They were just referencing a slight but measurable drop in performance (gps/software tracking speeds, total distance etc)
I would like to here it discussed by current coaches. Is this still relevant? Is it more forwards than backs? Is it because of niggles that are specific to rugby because of the variety of angles and unpredictable timing of contact etc
As for this game I think one reason you’d pick a ‘weak’ side is because the coaches want the EOYT to mimic a RWC. So this is the equivalent of a weaker pool match. Injuries happen a lot in rugby and can derail a tournament.. so it makes sense expose the top xv slightly less but also get game time into the potential injury replacements
I don’t really understand the negativity. This has been happening for decades and every major side does it.
Agree. Decisions are now informed by a lot of data and it is not a generalisation but individual player based.
It is also not so much that players can't play but that effectiveness shows a decrease or that the risk of a player having a 'flat' game is increased. If you plan for this and have the players available to rest others then why not as a risk mitigation strategy.
I agree that perceptions are based on old coach comments and observations and it would be interesting to hear an updated take on it.
For the next RWC we only have to worry about 3 in a row and not 4 anyway.
The draw for us is
Tough, easy, easy, easy, tough, tough, tough if we make the final.
