I am heading along to this and very much looking forward to it but...

It appears both this game and the All Blacks match are being played at the same time?

What the actual fuck!

Seems very odd to schedule it that way as I and most others going would want to see the game

The All Blacks XV team has been named to play the Barbarians at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday 13 November, kick-off at 2.00PM GMT (3.00AM Monday 14 November NZDT).

The matchday 23 is as follows (Province/Super Rugby Club)

1. Aidan Ross (26, Bay of Plenty / Chiefs)

2. Brodie McAlister (25, Canterbury / Crusaders)

3. Tamaiti Williams (22, Canterbury / Crusaders)

4. Josh Dickson (27, Otago / Highlanders)

5. Patrick Tuipulotu – Captain (29, Auckland / Blues)

6. Dominic Gardiner (21, Canterbury / Crusaders)

7. Tom Christie (24, Canterbury / Crusaders)

8. Luke Jacobson (25, Waikato / Chiefs)

9. Brad Weber (31, Hawke’s Bay / Chiefs)

10. Damian McKenzie (27, Waikato / Chiefs)

11. Leicester Fainga’anuku (23, Ta$man / Crusaders)

12. Alex Nankivell (26, Ta$man / Chiefs)

13. Levi Aumua (28, Ta$man / Moana Pasifika)

14. Bryce Heem (33, Auckland / Blues)

15. Shaun Stevenson (25, North Harbour / Chiefs)

16. Andrew Makalio (30, Ta$man / Highlanders)

17. Finlay Brewis (22, Canterbury / Crusaders)

18. Pouri Rakete-Stones (27, Hawke's Bay / Hurricanes)

19. Zach Gallagher (21, Canterbury / Crusaders)

20. Christian Lio-Willie (24, Otago / Crusaders)

21. Cortez Ratima (21, Waikato / Chiefs)

22. Josh Ioane (27, Otago / Chiefs)

23. Bailyn Sullivan (24, Waikato / Hurricanes)

All Blacks XV Head Coach Leon MacDonald has named strong team to challenge the Barbarians in their closing match at Tottenham Spur Stadium this Sunday. Following a win against Ireland ‘A’, the side sees the return of key combinations, alongside a mix of experience and rising talent with nine All Blacks XV players set to take field for the first time.

The All Blacks XV starting front row features loosehead prop Aidan Ross, tighthead prop Tamaiti Williams and Brodie McAlister at hooker. Andrew Makalio, Finlay Brewis and Pouri Rakete-Stones will provide impact off the bench.

Josh Dickson and Captain Patrick Tuipulotu make up the locking duo, with Dominic Gardiner, Tom Christie and Luke Jacobson the loose forward trio. With Crusaders players Zach Gallagher and Christian Lio-Willie on the bench.

In the backs, the experienced combination of Chiefs duo Brad Weber and Damian McKenzie will take the field at nine and ten, alongside Alex Nankivell and Levi Aumua in the mid-field at 12 and 13. Young Chiefs half-back Cortez Ratima will provide impact off the bench.

The back three is made up of Leicester Fainga’anuku on the left wing, Bryce Heem on the right and Shaun Stevenson starting at fullback. With Josh Ioane and Bailyn Sullivan named to be injected off the bench.

All Blacks XV Head Coach Leon MacDonald said: “To go out last weekend and win against Ireland A was special, especially given it was our first match as the All Blacks XV. We need to build on that performance against the Barbarians on Sunday.”

“This is going to be an exciting and intense match, the Barbarians have a squad filled with international experience, there are a number of key players currently at the top of their game. We have kept some combinations from last week and added in new players, it has also been great to have the talented Brad Weber and Leicester Fainga’anuku join us from the All Blacks.”

“It’s going to be an incredibly proud moment for the players and their whanau, especially the players who will be wearing the All Blacks XV jersey for the first time,” added MacDonald.

@Number-10 WTF, no MMT? One of the best last week, and out of the squad entirely? Thompson gone, too. He got only 10 minutes.. :angry_face:

@Davesofthunder if you have Prime there should be a full replay of the ABs match available....

@Stargazer imho MMT at 8 was better than Luke J at 6.

@Number-10 Apart from no MMT and McAllister, it's a pretty good looking team. Pleased for Levi A and Christie, who get to show their class plus Chiefs combo DMac and Weber. MF Will be interesting with Levi and Nankivell.

@nostrildamus Luke J played at 7, last week. Dom Gardiner started at 6 and will, again, this weekend. I blame this on the Christie selection, but based on last week's performance, they should have dropped either Jacobson, or Lio-Willie (who shouldn't have been named in the squad in the first place).

@Jailbreak7 McAlister had a good game, last week, but IMO they should have given Makalio the start and Thompson again the bench spot. That's assuming they want to give all squad members game time.

Stevenson at fullback. I hope Sullivan gets some decent time off the bench.

@Bovidae Hopefully more than Thompson's 10 minutes.

With only two games there was never going to be merit based selection from first to second game

@Crucial Which again brings into question the purpose of this squad and tour.

Really like the backline, shame I won't bloody get to watch it! Might head across the Ta$man again for a download.

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@Crucial Which again brings into question the purpose of this squad and tour.

ProMotion and a chance to see some other players in an overseas environment. Remember that we have a couple of years where we haven’t had some opportunities to develop depth. Big pity that they couldn’t secure more games but at least NZR didn’t can the idea entirely.

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@Jailbreak7 McAlister had a good game, last week, but IMO they should have given Makalio the start and Thompson again the bench spot. That's assuming they want to give all squad members game time.

They will want to see as much of McAlister as possible.

@ACT-Crusader If that's the reason, you'd think they'd given MMT another start as well. or at least the bench spot instead of Lio-Willie, who can't even be close to consideration for ABs.

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@ACT-Crusader If that's the reason, you'd think they'd given MMT another start as well. or at least the bench spot instead of Lio-Willie, who can't even be close to consideration for ABs.

Not all players or position options are equal in the eyes of the coaches

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

They will want to see as much of McAlister as possible.

For the same reason Aumua would be a good chance to be on the bench for the ABs this weekend, as he wasn't released to the AB XV.

I assume Harmon is injured?

@Bones He's still with the ABs.

@Bovidae could even be a smokey for a start

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@Bovidae could even be a smokey for a start

Would probably be an idea if they're dead set on the Savea as a position. Or looking at a more traditional trio with him at 7 and a bigger 8.

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@nostrildamus Luke J played at 7, last week. Dom Gardiner started at 6 and will, again, this weekend. I blame this on the Christie selection, but based on last week's performance, they should have dropped either Jacobson, or Lio-Willie (who shouldn't have been named in the squad in the first place).

@Jailbreak7 McAlister had a good game, last week, but IMO they should have given Makalio the start and Thompson again the bench spot. That's assuming they want to give all squad members game time.

sorry my bad, I did know that

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@ACT-Crusader If that's the reason, you'd think they'd given MMT another start as well. or at least the bench spot instead of Lio-Willie, who can't even be close to consideration for ABs.

I was hoping MMT might get a spell at 6 but I guess Gardiner made it his own.

@Bones said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@Bovidae could even be a smokey for a start

Would probably be an idea if they're dead set on the Savea as a position. Or looking at a more traditional trio with him at 7 and a bigger 8.

I was referring to Aumua.

I think Harmon could make the bench if they start Akira.

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@Bones said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@Bovidae could even be a smokey for a start

Would probably be an idea if they're dead set on the Savea as a position. Or looking at a more traditional trio with him at 7 and a bigger 8.

I was referring to Aumua.

I think Harmon could make the bench if they start Akira.

Don't expect me to read posts

@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Reckon the ABs XV will win this by 15 to 20 points.

Surely not with the dream team coaching the Barbarians? ABs XV lucky to get within 15-20 points.

@antipodean said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Reckon the ABs XV will win this by 15 to 20 points.

Surely not with the dream team coaching the Barbarians? ABs XV lucky to get within 15-20 points.

Robertson to make a surprise on field appearance to take a shot at goal from a penalty after the final hooter, from 70m out with the Baabaas on 98.

Barbarians:

Really annoyed that Roigard only got 10 mins last week and is now dropped entirely.

Also, why the hell does Asafo Aumua not get any minutes for either the All Blacks XV or the main side?

The selection of both these sides is just completely odd to me.

Expect XV to get shunted in scrums, so lineouts will be key.

The La Rochelle 10 isn't someone I've really seen, and much will turn on him.

@Stargazer for all the complaining about the death of the baabaas, that's a bloody handy side.

Would Stevenson make a good transition to 13? Is he good enough defensively? He runs beautiful lines. Wondering if that would translate well to 13.

@pakman said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Expect XV to get shunted in scrums, so lineouts will be key.

Based on what?

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Really annoyed that Roigard only got 10 mins last week and is now dropped entirely.

Also, why the hell does Asafo Aumua not get any minutes for either the All Blacks XV or the main side?

The selection of both these sides is just completely odd to me.

It's pretty frustrating honestly.

Both Asafo Aumua and Harmon are well suited to an open game against the BaaBaas but instead they're left to hold tackle bags in the freezing rain of some dreary northern "country" and try and not freeze as they sit in the stands in darkness at 2pm in the afternoon.

Meanwhile Tom Christie, as good a player as he is, is a tackle machine but not at all suited to a BaaBaas game. And where is MMT? Is he injured? Dumb.

Camille Chat.

I think that the selection of this AB XV team also gives some indication of the pecking order of players in some positions. Aumua, for example, must be rated ahead of Sullivan as a centre by the AB selectors. Gardiner seems to be their guy at 6 at the moment. MMT is unlucky to be dropped but I would also be disappointed if Jacobson wasn't played in either of his preferred positions. He was the openside against Ireland A by default.

@Frye said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Really annoyed that Roigard only got 10 mins last week and is now dropped entirely.

Also, why the hell does Asafo Aumua not get any minutes for either the All Blacks XV or the main side?

The selection of both these sides is just completely odd to me.

It's pretty frustrating honestly.

Both Asafo Aumua and Harmon are well suited to an open game against the BaaBaas but instead they're left to hold tackle bags in the freezing rain of some dreary northern "country" and try and not freeze as they sit in the stands in darkness at 2pm in the afternoon.

Meanwhile Tom Christie, as good a player as he is, is a tackle machine but not at all suited to a BaaBaas game. And where is MMT? Is he injured? Dumb.

London isn't a massive distance from the "country" of Scotland.

@Frye said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@pakman said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Expect XV to get shunted in scrums, so lineouts will be key.

Based on what?

Very gnarly BaaBaas front row. Patty T never pushes his weight.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Really annoyed that Roigard only got 10 mins last week and is now dropped entirely.

Also, why the hell does Asafo Aumua not get any minutes for either the All Blacks XV or the main side?

The selection of both these sides is just completely odd to me.

Why is it odd? It’s quite obvious that the AB selectors want TJ and Weber kept going and the other halfbacks would get a bench role each.