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

@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.

So he did a good job in the circumstances and hence the criticism would be misplaced, to put it mildly.

Question is, what will the make up be of the locks/loose forwards with Barrett, Tuipulotu and Vaa'i unavailable?

With Mcwhannel being around the squad I'd go.

1. Norris
2. Taukei'aho
3. Lomax
4. Holland
5. Ah Kuoi
6. Finau
7. Savea
8. Jacobson

\16. McAlister
17. De Groot
18. Tosi
19. McWhannel
20. Papali'i

Ah Kuoi is probably the same height and weight as Finau. I'd like to see a bit of extra height in the loose forwards so that means CLW and Kirifi can have a rest. After giving away 3 penalties in twenty minutes Kirifi should cool his heels anyway.

They might have Jacobson at 6 and Lio Willie at 8 with Finau on the bench covering lock but I think it's a mistake going into a test with a guy debuting and not a proper lock cover.

That kind of scenario reminds me of when we played Kaino at Soldier Field. Incidentally Finau did a better job covering lock last week than what Kaino did in Soldier Field though to be fair Ireland had that 2.1m lock Toner in that game.

Ryan and Robertson had that history of playing Grace and Gardiner at lock for the Crusaders and I'm not convinced playing loose forwards at lock is something that will translate at test level in the long run. They might have an idea in their head that Papali'i could cover lock if they don't want to bring in Mcwhannel.

@pakman said in All Blacks v France III:

When’s the team named?

Posted on social media around Thursday midday. Backline is posted above though

@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France III:

@pakman said in All Blacks v France III:

When’s the team named?

Posted on social media around Thursday midday. Backline is posted above though

Accepted answer is "Thursday".

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

Ryan and Robertson had that history of playing Grace and Gardiner at lock for the Crusaders and I'm not convinced playing loose forwards at lock is something that will translate at test level in the long run. They might have an idea in their head that Papali'i could cover lock if they don't want to bring in Mcwhannel.

If that was to be their coaching and selection genius then David Kirk should give Mark Robinson 24hours to hold them to account before sacking the lot of them.

@brodean interesting paper on ligament rupture after a concussion Effect of a concussion on anterior cruciate ligament injury risk in a general population

Grace has only been used at lock at super rugby level in emergencies. Barrett, Tuipoluto, Vaa’i, Darry, Lord all out, options are stretched, but with the MABs back we do have a couple of options that are at least match fit.

@Landers92 No sneaky preview of the forwards yet?

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

Grace has only been used at lock at super rugby level in emergencies. Barrett, Tuipoluto, Vaa’i, Darry, Lord all out, options are stretched, but with the MABs back we do have a couple of options that are at least match fit.

I'd like to see Ah Kuoi replacing Vaa'i but think he's gonna have to don the 5 jersey.

In days gone by ah kuoi would be a solid Super Rugby cult hero.
The fact he's in line for a test is a sign of where we're at.

Hes jonno gibbes from wish

@Quarky said in All Blacks v France III:

@Landers92 No sneaky preview of the forwards yet?

No sorry.

I see the backline has made it to Facebook on a fan page so I might have to tone it back or may not find out at all moving forward if word gets back.

I know I sound like a hypocrite and understand it’s a forum and we all love to share the inside word but if anyone is sharing it, please make sure it isn’t being sent to a social media fan page or to someone you think could send it to something like that.

It may not have been from anyone on here but I just wanted to comment anyway on the off chance that it was. Want to be able to keep the sauce coming if possible and would hate to not be able to share it due to further leaks like that. Again, I know it sounds hypocritical but I hope you all understand where I’m coming from.

Appreciate the understanding. Cheers.

@Landers92 name and shame!

@Landers92 Maybe use a spoiler?

@mariner4life said in All Blacks v France III:

In days gone by ah kuoi would be a solid Super Rugby cult hero.
The fact he's in line for a test is a sign of where we're at.

Hes jonno gibbes from wish

I will accept Temu Tanerau but won’t accept DSW comparisons lol

It seems like the mainstream NZ Rugby media have been briefed that there will be more changes than a toddler's mood in an afternoon.

So

Norris/Sami/Lomax/Patty T/Holland/Jacobson/Finau/RD
Bench: EDG/ McAlister/Tosi/Ah Kuoi/Paps

@mariner4life said in All Blacks v France III:

In days gone by ah kuoi would be a solid Super Rugby cult hero.
The fact he's in line for a test is a sign of where we're at.

Hes jonno gibbes from wish

Even when 5 capped locks are out injured.?

Barrett
Tuipolotu
Vaa'i
Lord
Darry

@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France III:

@Quarky said in All Blacks v France III:

@Landers92 No sneaky preview of the forwards yet?

No sorry.

I see the backline has made it to Facebook on a fan page so I might have to tone it back or may not find out at all moving forward if word gets back.

I know I sound like a hypocrite and understand it’s a forum and we all love to share the inside word but if anyone is sharing it, please make sure it isn’t being sent to a social media fan page or to someone you think could send it to something like that.

It may not have been from anyone on here but I just wanted to comment anyway on the off chance that it was. Want to be able to keep the sauce coming if possible and would hate to not be able to share it due to further leaks like that. Again, I know it sounds hypocritical but I hope you all understand where I’m coming from.

Appreciate the understanding. Cheers.

The Fern isn't completely private ...

@booboo I am well aware of that. Hence why I said it may not be someone who’s actually on here and just commented on the off chance it was. Could be a non registered person just browsing. Either way, you get the point.

@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France III:

@booboo I am well aware of that. Hence why I said it may not be someone who’s actually on here and just commented on the off chance it was. Could be a non registered person just browsing. Either way, you get the point.

Yeah, totally.

Maybe you've got to scale back to being enigmatic and darkly hinting at "rumours" ... makes no difference in the end, the team is the team even if we want to know it earlier.

@Landers92 that lashes guy read out exact backline yesterday on Radio and didn't mention any forwards .

@george33 said in All Blacks v France III:

@Landers92 that lashes guy read out exact backline yesterday on Radio and didn't mention any forwards .

Forget about who may have shared it on social media, the biggest mystery is have lashes and Landers92 ever been seen in the same room together……

Or Landers could just say that this is... "my guess at the team... "

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

@george33 said in All Blacks v France III:

@Landers92 that lashes guy read out exact backline yesterday on Radio and didn't mention any forwards .

Forget about who may have shared it on social media, the biggest mystery is have lashes and Landers92 ever been seen in the same room together……

The team is going to be named at 10:30 NZ time apparently so in 23 minutes.

The forwards are apparently:

De Groot, Taukei'aho, Lomax, Tuipolutu, Holland, Finau, Savea (c), Jacobson

All Blacks squad to play France

1- Ethan de Groot, 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Samipeni Finau, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Luke Jacobson, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Rieko Ioane 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Ruben Love.

Reserves
16. Brodie McAlister, 17. George Bower, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Dalton Papali’i, 20. Du Plessis Kirifi, 21. Noah Hotham, 22. Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23. Will Jordan.

Big test for Finau. Let's see if he is the goods.

Can some nerd tell me out of interest the last time an AB match day squad had zero Barretts in it ?

So Papali'i covers lock.

@MN5 said in All Blacks v France III:

Big test for Finau. Let's see if he is the goods.

We know that PT won't last the game so the plan will be for Finau to move to lock and for Papali'i to cover Finau if he gets injured.

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

So Papali'i covers lock.

I assumed they'd move Finau and shuffle the loosies maybe?

Biggest call for me is no Taylor

Interesting there is no BB on the bench. So Love covers 10.

Personally I would have gone with Lio Willie over Kirifi. Lio Willie has been accurate and performed his core role although a bit quite.

Not a very big backline. But 4 7s in the 23..

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France III:

Not a very big backline

Yes though probably France's won't be big either.

A late change with BB not on the bench. Have just asked why that changed

It's surprising that they didn't include Ah Kuoi in the team. Ah Kuoi and Papali'i makes more sense

Yes it was an opportunity to test another lock/6 methinks.
They seem to like Finau and want to give Kirifi another chance