@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.

@nostrildamus oh I’m 100% on the Haig bandwagon but not this tour. That’s a baptism of fire

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks v Japan:

@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.

hmmmmmmmm

@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks v Japan:

@nostrildamus oh I’m 100% on the Haig bandwagon but not this tour. That’s a baptism of fire

oh yeah. Not for awhile, maybe another season or two.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks v Japan:

@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.

Roigard is the future.

Freak of a player.

@Jet said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks v Japan:

@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.

Roigard is the future.

Freak of a player.

I’ll just tag @Canes4life so he can get on the bandwagon

@MN5 said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Jet said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks v Japan:

@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.

Roigard is the future.

Freak of a player.

I’ll just tag @Canes4life so he can get on the bandwagon

He's driving the bandwagon!

Is there room for a camshaft joke here?

Sititi-Roigard-DMac. Plenty of go forward there.
Might have a new no 8 by years end.
Razor needs to look after Ratima too. The guy has been brilliant for us this year.

This is the only match on this tour that I am feeling fully confident about. Japan are poor and not really going anywhere at the moment. I think we could lose any and all of the other four Test matches.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks v Japan:

Fuck Roigard is the man.

I hate to ask where a comma would go.

@sparky said in All Blacks v Japan:

This is the only match on this tour that I am feeling fully confident about. Japan are poor and not really going anywhere at the moment. I think we could lose any and all of the other four Test matches.

Maaaaaaaaaaate Japan are going to push NZ hard, maaaaaaaaaaate, maybe even a win maaaaaaaaaaaaate

Can anyone summarize UK viewing options
Thanks

Interesting to see Malo Tuitama on the wing, the Wellington Lion that got away.

Good test for Proctor actually, really rate Riley.

@Bones said in All Blacks v Japan:

Good test for Proctor actually, really rate Riley.

He's no Riley Higgins.....

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Bones said in All Blacks v Japan:

Good test for Proctor actually, really rate Riley.

He's no Riley Higgins.....

Well yeah he can tackle as well as run!

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Machpants I expect to see Ratima and McKenzie in the halves still...

As mentioned here, DMac starting in Japan means razor see'experienced' ten Beaudy as top choice

@Machpants said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Machpants I expect to see Ratima and McKenzie in the halves still...

As mentioned here, DMac starting in Japan means razor see'experienced' ten Beaudy as top choice

View embedded content

Underwhelming

@Machpants said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Machpants I expect to see Ratima and McKenzie in the halves still...

As mentioned here, DMac starting in Japan means razor see'experienced' ten Beaudy as top choice

View embedded content

I disagree, I think they're giving McKenzie a run against Japan so that he doesn't go into the England match having not played decent minutes in over a month.

Could be wrong!

On the broadcast situation in the UK, I've heard that one of the paid platforms will have the match (presumably TNT or Sky).

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Machpants said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Machpants I expect to see Ratima and McKenzie in the halves still...

As mentioned here, DMac starting in Japan means razor see'experienced' ten Beaudy as top choice

View embedded content

I disagree, I think they're giving McKenzie a run against Japan so that he doesn't go into the England match having not played decent minutes in over a month.

Could be wrong!

That would mean 4 games in a row, can't see it. There's a reason why the to team went to UK, so they can prepare for a torrid 3 weeks

@Machpants said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Machpants said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks v Japan:

@Machpants I expect to see Ratima and McKenzie in the halves still...

As mentioned here, DMac starting in Japan means razor see'experienced' ten Beaudy as top choice

View embedded content

I disagree, I think they're giving McKenzie a run against Japan so that he doesn't go into the England match having not played decent minutes in over a month.

Could be wrong!

That would mean 4 games in a row, can't see it. There's a reason why the to team went to UK, so they can prepare for a torrid 3 weeks

So you don't think Sam Cane or Wallace Sititi are in the top team either then?

McKenzie played five games in a row for the Chiefs to round out the Super season, had one weekend off and then played three more in a row for the All Blacks. I suspect he can handle four games in a row now after a four week break.

There is no way they see BB as first choice 10

No chance

Zero way

(if I say it enough times….)

@Bones said in All Blacks v Japan:

Good test for Proctor actually, really rate Riley.

The Japan midfield is pretty robust with both Riley and McCurran.

Thank goodness a crippling injury rate has allowed the likes of Lakai and Love to finally get a chance...

Surely the creaking Razor bandwagon will be empty if they name Beauden at 10 against England after playing DMac all year, just because he looked OK against an awful Wallabies team at home.

That Japanese team would have one of the higher number of non-Japanese born players in recent years.