Match thread

ACT Crusader

@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:

@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.

I thought the first test he wasn’t too bad. Came on and did a number of things that had a positive impact.

Last weekend wasn’t great. He just needs one of those tests where he knuckles down and makes his tackles, create havoc at the tackle by playing quick off set piece and then provides at least 5-7 runs.

Bones

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

Are there any fit locks around if Patty is ruled out?

That's why I was trying to figure out what the issue would be with Ah Kuoi playing.

sparky

@booboo He's a very good player in form and confidence.

Roigard's clearly our top Half Back at the moment. But then it's very competitive between Ratima, Hotham and Fakatava for the back up spot. Nice problem to have.

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:

@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.

I thought the first test he wasn’t too bad. Came on and did a number of things that had a positive impact.

Last weekend wasn’t great. He just needs one of those tests where he knuckles down and makes his tackles, create havoc at the tackle by playing quick off set piece and then provides at least 5-7 runs.

Well he had to play lock. He was fine. He contributed well to the breakdown, lineout, scrum and was accurate.

Kirifi was more of worry. Came on and gave away 3 penalties and turned the ball over within 20 minutes.

ACT Crusader

@Bones said in All Blacks v France III:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

Are there any fit locks around if Patty is ruled out?

That's why I was trying to figure out what the issue would be with Ah Kuoi playing.

Haven’t heard anything concrete yet. At the very least we will need one new lock on the bench with Vaa’i out.

ACT Crusader

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:

@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.

I thought the first test he wasn’t too bad. Came on and did a number of things that had a positive impact.

Last weekend wasn’t great. He just needs one of those tests where he knuckles down and makes his tackles, create havoc at the tackle by playing quick off set piece and then provides at least 5-7 runs.

Well he had to play lock. He was fine. He contributed well to the breakdown, lineout, scrum and was accurate.

Kirifi was more of worry. Came on and gave away 3 penalties and turned the ball over within 20 minutes.

It wasn’t the position that was the problem as the set piece wasn’t the issue. It was more about what he was and wasn’t doing around the park.

Bones

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

@Bones said in All Blacks v France III:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

Are there any fit locks around if Patty is ruled out?

That's why I was trying to figure out what the issue would be with Ah Kuoi playing.

Haven’t heard anything concrete yet. At the very least we will need one new lock on the bench with Vaa’i out.

Might have been another thread where he was mentioned as an idiotic replacement (or some such) for PT.

antipodean

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:

@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.

I thought the first test he wasn’t too bad. Came on and did a number of things that had a positive impact.

Last weekend wasn’t great. He just needs one of those tests where he knuckles down and makes his tackles, create havoc at the tackle by playing quick off set piece and then provides at least 5-7 runs.

Well he had to play lock. He was fine. He contributed well to the breakdown, lineout, scrum and was accurate.

Kirifi was more of worry. Came on and gave away 3 penalties and turned the ball over within 20 minutes.

It wasn’t the position that was the problem as the set piece wasn’t the issue. It was more about what he was and wasn’t doing around the park.

Possibly because he's busy trying to come to terms with being a blindside flanker at this level and then was shoved into playing another.

It's this level of midwittery that has me worried about the coaches.

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:

@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.

I thought the first test he wasn’t too bad. Came on and did a number of things that had a positive impact.

Last weekend wasn’t great. He just needs one of those tests where he knuckles down and makes his tackles, create havoc at the tackle by playing quick off set piece and then provides at least 5-7 runs.

Well he had to play lock. He was fine. He contributed well to the breakdown, lineout, scrum and was accurate.

Kirifi was more of worry. Came on and gave away 3 penalties and turned the ball over within 20 minutes.

It wasn’t the position that was the problem as the set piece wasn’t the issue. It was more about what he was and wasn’t doing around the park.

Ok so you're saying the set piece wasn't an issue?

If a flanker is called to play lock and then the scrum is strong and stable, and we win all our lineout ball, then that's a win. We defended the maul well when he was on. His cleans were accurate and effective. He performed his core roles well as a lock.

Anything else is a bonus. He made some good tackles and a few carries. We didn't have a lot of possession for him to make 5 or 7 carries and that is not the primary role of a lock that comes on for 20 minutes.

He was involved in two breakdowns that won us penalties. He got his hand under the ball when Taofifenua busted over the line.

Not sure what else were you guys expecting? He makes a run down the side line like Issac Ross?

@brodean #Isaac Ross vs Matfield and Botha still give me nightmares.

With Paddy T, SB and Vaa'i all out.. does that mean Holland and Ah kuoi to start?

voodoo

@Nepia said in All Blacks v France III:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

Too many Chiefs

Too many Reece's.

Totally. Why Reece over Narawa? Surely not just “work rate”.

Hate the quantity of changes, totally agree with @mariner4life post earlier. Sets these poor buggers up for failure. Especially if we see a few changes in the forward pack leading to our ball being slow/messy

sparky

@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France III:

Here you go. Very early this week which is nice. Backline for week 3.

  1. Ratima
  2. Dmac
  3. Ioane
  4. Tupaea
  5. ALB
  6. Reece
  7. Love

Bench
21. Hotham
22. Tavatavanawai
23. B.Barrett

How about the following then?

  1. De Groot
  2. Taylor
  3. Newell (Lomax)
  4. Holland
  5. Tuipolutu
  6. Finau
  7. A. Savea (c)
  8. Jacobson
  9. Ratima
  10. DMac
  11. R. Ioane
  12. Tupaea
  13. ALB
  14. Reece
  15. Love

  1. Norris
  2. McAlister
  3. Tosi
  4. Ah Kuoi
  5. Kirifi
  6. Hotham
  7. Tavatavanawai
  8. B. Barrett
sparky

@Quarky Is it confirmed that Patrick T is out?

Bones

@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:

@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France III:

Here you go. Very early this week which is nice. Backline for week 3.

  1. Ratima
  2. Dmac
  3. Ioane
  4. Tupaea
  5. ALB
  6. Reece
  7. Love

Bench
21. Hotham
22. Tavatavanawai
23. B.Barrett

How about the following then?

  1. De Groot
  2. Taylor
  3. Newell (Lomax)
  4. Holland
  5. Tuipolutu
  6. Finau
  7. A. Savea (c)
  8. Jacobson
  9. Ratima
  10. DMac
  11. R. Ioane
  12. Tupaea
  13. ALB
  14. Reece
  15. Love

  1. Norris
  2. McAlister
  3. Tosi
  4. Ah Kuoi
  5. Kirifi
  6. Hotham
  7. Tavatavanawai
  8. B. Barrett

Jesus, you'd struggle to find a greener bench even in the French team.

voodoo

@Bones said in All Blacks v France III:

@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:

@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France III:

Here you go. Very early this week which is nice. Backline for week 3.

  1. Ratima
  2. Dmac
  3. Ioane
  4. Tupaea
  5. ALB
  6. Reece
  7. Love

Bench
21. Hotham
22. Tavatavanawai
23. B.Barrett

How about the following then?

  1. De Groot
  2. Taylor
  3. Newell (Lomax)
  4. Holland
  5. Tuipolutu
  6. Finau
  7. A. Savea (c)
  8. Jacobson
  9. Ratima
  10. DMac
  11. R. Ioane
  12. Tupaea
  13. ALB
  14. Reece
  15. Love

  1. Norris
  2. McAlister
  3. Tosi
  4. Ah Kuoi
  5. Kirifi
  6. Hotham
  7. Tavatavanawai
  8. B. Barrett

Jesus, you'd struggle to find a greener bench even in the French team.

It’s not called a “Bench” anymore bro, that’s our “Impact”

sparky

@Bones

Norris is worth persevering with IMHO and with experience he might offer more than De Groot.

Robertson has said all the squad originally named will play at some point so unless you're going to start McAlister, he will be on the bench. He's a better player than Bell IMHO.

I've read this morning that Lomax is in training so hopefully he starts or is on the bench.

With so many locks injured Ah Kuoi is next cab out of the bench. He might even be a starter if Patty T is injured with IWL the next cab off the rank, unless anyone has any better suggestions of uninjured NZ locks?

Papalii offers more than Kirifi IMHO but I think Kirifi will be given another chance.

Hotham and Big Jim have earned their opportunities.

Beauden Barrett has 136 international caps which is 76 more than the starting French XV last Saturday.

@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:

@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France III:

Here you go. Very early this week which is nice. Backline for week 3.

  1. Ratima
  2. Dmac
  3. Ioane
  4. Tupaea
  5. ALB
  6. Reece
  7. Love

Bench
21. Hotham
22. Tavatavanawai
23. B.Barrett

How about the following then?

  1. De Groot
  2. Taylor
  3. Newell (Lomax)
  4. Holland
  5. Tuipolutu
  6. Finau
  7. A. Savea (c)
  8. Jacobson
  9. Ratima
  10. DMac
  11. R. Ioane
  12. Tupaea
  13. ALB
  14. Reece
  15. Love

  1. Norris
  2. McAlister
  3. Tosi
  4. Ah Kuoi
  5. Kirifi
  6. Hotham
  7. Tavatavanawai
  8. B. Barrett

Give Taylor a rest and start Sami. If Lomax a 100, Fletch also gets a spell. Might reduce greenness to let Norris have a start and keep EDG or Bower to be old head amongst finishers. I'd like to see Paps get some minutes, although recognise that's unlikely.

sparky

@pakman

Taylor is our best player at the minute and with the disruption to the Locks I want Mr Reliable throwing into the lineout from our first one of the game.

Norris is still a bit behind De Groot but may have the higher ceiling.

Lomax if fit to go should either start or be on the bench.

Our experienced locks are broken so it's time to put faith in the depth chart there.

I'm a big fan of Dalton Papalii. He's a superb player but he seems to have done something to annoy the coaches.

Bones

@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:

@Bones

Norris is worth persevering with IMHO and with experience he might offer more than De Groot.

Robertson has said all the squad originally named will play at some point so unless you're going to start McAlister, he will be on the bench. He's a better player than Bell IMHO.

I've read this morning that Lomax is in training so hopefully he starts or is on the bench.

With so many locks injured Ah Kuoi is next cab out of the bench. He might even be a starter if Patty T is injured with IWL the next cab off the rank, unless anyone has any better suggestions of uninjured NZ locks?

Papalii offers more than Kirifi IMHO but I think Kirifi will be given another chance.

Hotham and Big Jim are earned their opportunities.

Beauden Barrett has 136 international caps which is 76 more than the starting French XV last Saturday.

I'm not arguing, just making an observation.

ACT Crusader

@antipodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:

@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.

I thought the first test he wasn’t too bad. Came on and did a number of things that had a positive impact.

Last weekend wasn’t great. He just needs one of those tests where he knuckles down and makes his tackles, create havoc at the tackle by playing quick off set piece and then provides at least 5-7 runs.

Well he had to play lock. He was fine. He contributed well to the breakdown, lineout, scrum and was accurate.

Kirifi was more of worry. Came on and gave away 3 penalties and turned the ball over within 20 minutes.

It wasn’t the position that was the problem as the set piece wasn’t the issue. It was more about what he was and wasn’t doing around the park.

Possibly because he's busy trying to come to terms with being a blindside flanker at this level and then was shoved into playing another.

It's this level of midwittery that has me worried about the coaches.

I don’t see the problem. We had subbed off Patty and moved Vaa’i to lock. Nothing we haven’t seen before and nothing that previous coaches haven’t done.

The unfortunate thing was losing Vaa’i to the HIA a few minutes later. Vaa’i failed his HiA and we had to being CLW back on.

The question is, was Patty injured and that’s why he didn’t come back on. He is now under a cloud for test 3.

That’s just unfortunate luck really. From a set piece perspective we were okay with Finau covering for the loss of two locks.

Victor Meldrew

@Canes4life said in All Blacks v France III:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks v France III:

Finau at 6 and Jacobson at no.7 or 8 for me.

Good shout, I think I'd prefer Jacobsen at 7 and Savea at 8, simply because Ardie's more explosive on attack.

If Jacobsen's the safe utility choice, use him in that role along with RD's ability to switch between 7 & 8.

Victor Meldrew

@antipodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks v France III:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks v France III:

Love might get a start at fullback.

Flanker/lock Tupou Vaa'i failed his HIA after his head knock in the late stages of Saturday's Test, and lock Patrick Tuipulotu and fullback Will Jordan have both suffered niggling knee injuries.

If Tuipolotu is down as well, that likely means Ah Koui starts and Finau comes into the reserves.

If Ah Kuoi is starting at lock I'd rather see Finau start at 6. At this stage they should bring another lock into the squad as cover.

Laughable that Ah Kuoi can be considered a replacement for what Tuipolotu brings.

These selections are fucking retarded.

Next cab off the rank? Unless they un-injure Scooter...

Bones

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v France III:

@antipodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks v France III:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks v France III:

Love might get a start at fullback.

Flanker/lock Tupou Vaa'i failed his HIA after his head knock in the late stages of Saturday's Test, and lock Patrick Tuipulotu and fullback Will Jordan have both suffered niggling knee injuries.

If Tuipolotu is down as well, that likely means Ah Koui starts and Finau comes into the reserves.

If Ah Kuoi is starting at lock I'd rather see Finau start at 6. At this stage they should bring another lock into the squad as cover.

Laughable that Ah Kuoi can be considered a replacement for what Tuipolotu brings.

These selections are fucking retarded.

Next cab off the rank? Unless they un-injure Scooter...

That's the one!

Victor Meldrew

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

Too many Chiefs

Totally OT but....

Working at a US bank in the '00's. Major issue with the software development guys from Bangalore. Heated meeting. My colleague Sajjad (Kashmiri) suddenly bangs his fist on the table and says...

. "The problem is... too many chief.s....not enough Pakistanis.."

"

Victor Meldrew

@Bones said in All Blacks v France III:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

@voodoo said in All Blacks v France III:

@Nepia said in All Blacks v France III:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

Too many Chiefs

Too many Reece's.

Totally. Why Reece over Narawa? Surely not just “work rate”.

Razor said he wanted to give every one in the original squad a run.

Reece only had a rrrr….

Had his body actually progressed past halfway, or did he just nod?

He lead with his head

Victor Meldrew

@Windows97 said in All Blacks v France III:

I just hope our midfield actually does something, though if Tupaea and ALB rips the French to shreds it will probably rasie more questions than answers.

But a nice problem to have considering the shit show the midfield has been for years.

Judging by press, Norris has got the start.

game_film

Not a fan of any more rotation talk. Given the number of injuries, a lot of guys have got game time… and have generally done quite well. Funny how that works, isn’t it?

Just put the best team out there, whatever Surfboard Jesus thinks that is, and pretend it’s a RWC quarter final.

They can’t give the frogs a reason to not be anything but absolutely miserable on the flight home.

taniwharugby

@game_film said in All Blacks v France III:

They can’t give the frogs a reason to not be anything but absolutely miserable on the flight home.

especially after thier Juniors lost as well, and hopefully they were made to visit the site of the Rainbow Warrior last week....