@frugby said in All Blacks v Japan:

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Landers92 said in All Blacks v Japan:

Stoked for Proctor, more than deserved. Ruben Love should be starting at 15 imo, to think he’s been around the squad since the England series and hasn’t had a single minute and now he’s getting capped off the bench. Dont see him getting a lot of time against the big teams in the UK so why not get big minutes now.

I struggle to get the forward pack line up but I have been told that there is a real chance an AB XV player that is training with the team will be named in the 23.

I'm very hopeful it is one of our lads Haig or Holland. Will be so cool to see one of those two debut.

Hard to imagine it won't be Haig or CLW, but Holland a chance if they really want to rest their locks.

Yeah looking at the players unavailable, I'm leaning towards it being Haig. That might just be hopeful thinking on my behalf. He also looks like a potential option to be the final player added to the full squad too. The locks seem relatively settled and untouched by injury. Probably depends on how they have performed in front of the coaches this week too.

@ARHS Lakai?

@Tim said in All Blacks v Japan:

@ARHS Lakai?

He will likely start if they don't utilise Cane.

Lakai is now part of the AB squad, so will be involved. Rooming with Cane.

@Machpants how is he obvious first choice when Dmac has started all bar one game
To me Dmac is the first choice and will start the big games

All Blacks team vs Japan:

1. Tamaiti Williams

2. Asafo Aumua

3. Pasilio Tosi

4. Scott Barrett (c)

5. Patrick Tuipulotu

6. Samipeni Finau

7. Sam Cane

8. Wallace Sititi

9. Cam Roigard

10. Damian McKenzie

11. Mark Tele'a

12. Anton Lienert-Brown

13. Billy Proctor

14. Sevu Reece

15. Stephen Perofeta

16. George Bell

17. Ethan de Groot

18. Fletcher Newell

19. Sam Darry

20. Peter Lakai

21. Cortez Ratima

22. David Havili

23. Ruben Love

Scott Barret presumably plays all big tests.
Not sure why he starts against Japan.
(You were wrong on that one)
Great to see Roigard starting and Sititi at 8.
Hope Lakai gets some good minutes.

@darylmitchell said in All Blacks v Japan:

All Blacks team vs Japan:

1. Tamaiti Williams

2. Asafo Aumua

3. Pasilio Tosi

4. Scott Barrett (c)

5. Patrick Tuipulotu

6. Samipeni Finau

7. Sam Cane

8. Wallace Sititi

9. Cam Roigard

10. Damian McKenzie

11. Mark Tele'a

12. Anton Lienert-Brown

13. Billy Proctor

14. Sevu Reece

15. Stephen Perofeta

16. George Bell

17. Ethan de Groot

18. Fletcher Newell

19. Sam Darry

20. Peter Lakai

21. Cortez Ratima

22. David Havili

23. Ruben Love

Is this a confirmation or an assumption of what you think the team will be?

This would seem bizarrely strong in the forwards... makes the selection of Lord a little puzzling, because if he wasn't to play this game, then when else would he play? Also thought they would have wanted to give Ofa a run.

Disappointing forward selections if this is true.

Pretty happy with that. Have to remember they haven't played a game in quite a while, and this is the only warm-up. Complete rest for Vaai, Lomax, Taylor, Savea who have had the heaviest workload I'd think. Good opportunity for the other front rowers to start. Hopefully Ethan is just doing lots of running. Expect Lord on for Barrett early.
If we had a rapid traditional style 7 there, you'd just about be looking at a balanced trio, but Cane is a long way from that now - still, good to see Samipeni get another run and Sititi at 8. Be nice to see them operate with Lakai on for Cane early - although Sititi coming off would be better for managing minutes.

Chuckling that this coaching staff can't find it in themselves to give a player a debut start vs Japan.

Fairly predictable.

@Bovidae That team will take care of Japan no problem.

Suggests they (currently) see Ratima as their number one halfback.

The advance party leaves on Friday so maybe we get to know who they are at the press conference.

@Frank said in All Blacks v Japan:

Suggests they (currently) see Ratima as their number one halfback.

I think they will be happy for him to start while giving Cam plenty of time to build his fitness

@darylmitchell said in All Blacks v Japan:

All Blacks team vs Japan:

1. Tamaiti Williams

2. Asafo Aumua

3. Pasilio Tosi

4. Scott Barrett (c)

5. Patrick Tuipulotu

6. Samipeni Finau

7. Sam Cane

8. Wallace Sititi

9. Cam Roigard

10. Damian McKenzie

11. Mark Tele'a

12. Anton Lienert-Brown

13. Billy Proctor

14. Sevu Reece

15. Stephen Perofeta

16. George Bell

17. Ethan de Groot

18. Fletcher Newell

19. Sam Darry

20. Peter Lakai

21. Cortez Ratima

22. David Havili

23. Ruben Love

Yeah nah. Cf actual team named.

@canefan said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Frank said in All Blacks v Japan:

Suggests they (currently) see Ratima as their number one halfback.

I think they will be happy for him to start while giving Cam plenty of time to build his fitness

I don't think fitness is the issue, it's more getting his confidence back by playing minutes. I think there's nothing wrong with Ratima starting on this tour with Cam coming off the bench but I feel that role will be reversed once Roigard is back up to speed again.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks v Japan:

View image

Dunn how they can call the bench "Impact" when Havili is involved

Impact: Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Fletcher Newell and George Bell

Some stupid penalties, 1m of carries, and increased belief in the red and black bias

@Machpants said in All Blacks v Japan:

Impact: Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Fletcher Newell and George Bell

Some stupid penalties, 1m of carries, and increased belief in the red and black bias

hopefully Bell's improved and the barn door is now in danger

It isn’t much, but it’s honest work.

See you again next week for another early announcement.

A bolder selector would have started Peter Lakai and Ruben Love.

I would have preferred to see AJ Lam or Quinn Tupaea as the midfield sub ahead of David Havili.

No complaints about the rest. A good side.

@reprobate said in All Blacks v Japan:

@frugby said in All Blacks v Japan:

We won't know who they see as the first choice 10 until the team is named to play England.

Entirely possible, that they want to give DMac and Roigard a run together because they've never played together.

I think it is probable that Ratima and Barrett will start next week with DMac and Roigard on the bench, but far from certain.

I think I'm correct in saying McKenzie started every game except the last one, which was a dead rubber against the Aussies - and Robertson said specifically that it was always planned to give Beauden a run at 10.
I reckon that makes it abundantly clear who the first choice 10 is, and I won't have you messing with my mental health.

And yet here you are!

@JK said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks v Japan:

View image

Dunn how they can call the bench "Impact" when Havili is involved

Since Niggles isn't there DH offers dominant injury cover.

Wings looks slow with little speedy cover - IMO Lam would have been more valuable bench cover than DH, and they certainly have enough FB cover..

Last chance saloon for Finau IMO. He needs to show some smash em bro.

@sparky said in All Blacks v Japan:

A bolder selector would have started Peter Lakai and Ruben Love.

Perhaps they're spooked by the thought of the being the coach that lost to Japan?

Interesting to speculate the loosies had Paps, Niggles, Iron Thumb and Hoss not all been injured.

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v Japan:

Wings looks slow with little speedy cover - IMO Lam would have been more valuable bench cover than DH, and they certainly have enough FB cover..

Agreed. I’m guessing for this game wing cover is ALB, they have used him there a few times before.

@Landers92 Steve Borthwick says hi and thanks

@Landers92 The second coming of Kahui

@nostrildamus have to agree with that. This tour will be make or break for the six position. But the issue is that the depth is non existent. Two out and out six’s in the squad. I suspect this tour will be a patch work job for the back row and next year will see Sititi at 8, Lakai at 7, and a shootout for six for the rest

@antipodean said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Bovidae That team will take care of Japan no problem.

But if they don't

LOOK OUT

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v Japan:

Last chance saloon for Finau IMO. He needs to show some smash em bro.

I’m sure some puny Japanese first five will get the ball in a vulnerable position and get poleaxed

@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks v Japan:

@nostrildamus have to agree with that. This tour will be make or break for the six position. But the issue is that the depth is non existent. Two out and out six’s in the squad. I suspect this tour will be a patch work job for the back row and next year will see Sititi at 8, Lakai at 7, and a shootout for six for the rest

Haig. I could well be wrong (oh such early days) but I think he could become a good AB 6.

@MN5 said in All Blacks v Japan:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v Japan:

Last chance saloon for Finau IMO. He needs to show some smash em bro.

I’m sure some puny Japanese first five will get the ball in a vulnerable position and get poleaxed

@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks v Japan:

@nostrildamus have to agree with that. This tour will be make or break for the six position. But the issue is that the depth is non existent. Two out and out six’s in the squad. I suspect this tour will be a patch work job for the back row and next year will see Sititi at 8, Lakai at 7, and a shootout for six for the rest

No such thing as a 6 anymore, 6s and 8s are one and the same.