Thanks heaps @george33 for posting what you're hearing, despite certain posters taking issue with it for some reason.

On 6, that's a problem of their own making which is frustrating, but I can actually see the logic of Vai'i there. He definitely has the tools to go well, but it's a massive fucking gamble seeing he took a while to find his feet at lock at test level, now basically has to go back to the drawing board.

Also, the trio would look a LOT stronger (both ability and physically) with Hoskins at 8...

@Kiwiwomble disagree with this. Reiko is a winger! Ardie is a 7!

Think NZ Herald rugby writer has Reiko at 13 with Jordie 12 and Clarke 11

@george33 🤮

@george33 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Lio Willie 8

What I would do as a straight swap for Sititi keep Ardue where you want him.

The Vaai issue could have been dealt with if Razor actually had the guts to drop a Barrett, make Ardie captain and play TV in a position he has grown immensely in.

Vaa'i last played at 6 when he played against France in the RWC didn't he?

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Also, the trio would look a LOT stronger (both ability and physically) with Hoskins at 8...

Hot take, Lio Willie is a better fit than Sotutu for how we will play. Think Rodders.

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Also, the trio would look a LOT stronger (both ability and physically) with Hoskins at 8...

Hot take, Lio Willie is a better fit than Sotutu for how we will play. Think Rodders.

Hopefully how we will play won't be similar to the 2007 RWC quarter against France.

@brodean said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Also, the trio would look a LOT stronger (both ability and physically) with Hoskins at 8...

Hot take, Lio Willie is a better fit than Sotutu for how we will play. Think Rodders.

Hopefully the style of play won't be similar to the 2007 RWC quarter against France.

Given it’s not a RWC or Barnes, thinking June series 2007 where we put a hundred points on the French

@mariner4life said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@upthelanders said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

So going by @george33 the team is most likely:

Ethan De Groot
Codie Taylor
Tyrell Lomax
Fabian Holland
Scott Barrett
Tupou Vaa’i
Ardie Savea
Christian Lio-Willie

Cam Roigard
Beauden Barrett
Reiko Ioane
Jordie Barrett
Billy Proctor
Sevu Reece
Dmac/Ruben Love

…?

by fuck are we lucky that the real French team isn't coming, that seems just a little ordinary. A huge gamble on players finding form that might be years old, or immediately stepping up.

Probably just as good as the side that lost by a point in Paris !

And shouldve fucking won!

Holland is basically a young brodie retallick but heavier. Thats why they want him starting

Holland isn't as nasty as Guzzler was.

Holland's a big unit with a big engine but he isn't as menacing.

I don't think the Vaa'i selection is ideal but I'd agree with the selectors that drastic changes were needed for the loose forward-trio. Looking back at last year's Test matches, it's rather obvious now how underpowered they were, which severely hampered the way the ABs wanted to play.

And while I don't think Vaa'i is a particularly natural 6, what he does do well is carry and make metres around the ruck. He should work well together with someone like Lio-Willie in pressuring the French pillar defence. The AB coaches need to find ways to create more space out wide and condensing the defence by going up the middle is one typical way of doing it.

Liam Napier was suggesting four debuts: Holland, Lio-Willie, Kirifi, Tavatavanawai

I don't mind the Vaa'i selection it gives us a big forward pack with Holland starting,Vaa'i could be an imposing figure at 6, I am interested to see how it goes ,Vaa'i is a better player than he was when tried at 6 in that one game.

Vaa'i finished the game at 6 against SA in that Mt Smart test, which would seem a more sensible option than starting him there.

Shows they don't rate Finau much.

I am surprised Finau or CLW aren't there at 6.

@brodean said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Holland isn't as nasty as Guzzler was.

Holland's a big unit with a big engine but he isn't as menacing.

He’s also only 22… plenty of room for growth. No need him to compare him to a great AB lock before he’s even played 1 test

@nostrildamus that wasn’t a confirmed team so we don’t know yet