@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.

@Crucial 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.

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.

A year is a long time until the WC. I feel Roigard is already playing better than both Weber and Perenara. I’d be giving him game time personally.

Roigard will really benefit from regular game time at Super Rugby level. He's got a good skillset but he needs to quicken some aspects of his game up - could see vs Ireland A he didn't have the time and space he was offered at NPC level.

As for Aumua and Harmon, unfortunately they are needed in the AB camp in case of a late injury. Can't be in two places at once.

@mikedogz said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Camille Chat.

View image

That's a Sontaran in disguise. That would be a pretty good physique for judo and resisting stranglers.

@Joans-Town-Jones said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

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.

Would he distribute well?

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@Joans-Town-Jones said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

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.

Would he distribute well?

He just looks like a huge running threat in the midfield. Just seems to be able to carve up defenders in narrow spaces and it looks so effortless. I just haven't seen enough of him to know if he can pass but he can offload.

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Barbarians:

View image

RIP they are going to get destroyed, one of the weakest babaa's team i've seen.

@kiwi_expat said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Barbarians:

View image

RIP they are going to get destroyed, one of the weakest babaa's team i've seen.

They don't look that weak to me.

Cue the praise of Razor when they don't get destroyed.....

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@kiwi_expat said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Barbarians:

View image

RIP they are going to get destroyed, one of the weakest babaa's team i've seen.

They don't look that weak to me.

Cue the praise of Razor when they don't get destroyed.....

Ohhhh shit I hadn't figured out why he was saying that. Thanks!

It's definitely a handy side to face a B/C team.

@Bones said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@kiwi_expat said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Barbarians:

View image

RIP they are going to get destroyed, one of the weakest babaa's team i've seen.

They don't look that weak to me.

Cue the praise of Razor when they don't get destroyed.....

Ohhhh shit I hadn't figured out why he was saying that. Thanks!

It's definitely a handy side to face a B/C team.

Lots of capped Baabaas players. 18 of them I think. So far more experience than the NZ XV shorn of Aumua Harmon TJ and Telea. And smart work by Razor and OGara filling all the last spots with La Rochelle players to bring familiarity all round.

Should be an interesting match.

@kiwi_expat Some sauces say it's more or less a done deal that Razor and O'Gara will be in charge of England after the 2023 RWC.

Why is this game taking place at the exact same time as the All Blacks Scotland test? Crap work from the scheduling department.

@sparky ABs on Prime only (should be a full match replay) and ABs XV on Viaplay only.

@sparky said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@kiwi_expat Some sauces say it's more or less a done deal that Razor and O'Gara will be in charge of England after the 2023 RWC.

The Barbarians gig is just a sideshow, the primary reason Razor travelled to London was to meet with RFU.

@Jailbreak7 said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@sparky ABs on Prime only (should be a full match replay) and ABs XV on Viaplay only.

I'll see if I can get a copy of the Baabaas match if anyone's interested.

@Bones Yes please, count me in bro.

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

Roigard will really benefit from regular game time at Super Rugby level. He's got a good skillset but he needs to quicken some aspects of his game up - could see vs Ireland A he didn't have the time and space he was offered at NPC level.

As for Aumua and Harmon, unfortunately they are needed in the AB camp in case of a late injury. Can't be in two places at once.

Aumua sure.
Harmon, no. Sotutu could easily come in if there was an injury to a loosie. Even if the injury was to a 7 there'd still be sufficient cover.

@kiwi_expat said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@sparky said in All Blacks XV v Barbarians:

@kiwi_expat Some sauces say it's more or less a done deal that Razor and O'Gara will be in charge of England after the 2023 RWC.

The Barbarians gig is just a sideshow, the primary reason Razor travelled to London was to meet with RFU.

No that’s speculation,Razor has always made it clear he would like the AB job after the 2023 WC,
He has also held talks with the NZR before he flew to USA to attend a coaching seminar in San Diego 2 weeks ago,then he travelled to England for the Babas gig.

@Chris yes, it was a joke.

At game. Bryce Heem scores!

@Jailbreak7
What’s the score please?