@mariner4life said in All Blacks v France III:

Team is not as bad as i thought with Patty T available. I hope Jacobson finally shows why the coaches have so much faith in him. Finau has big shoes to fill. Sami T gets big minutes. Great to see Lomax back.

While i am not stoked about the backs, at least they have all played together a lot.

I still think it's going to be a messy performance.

Agree mostly though hopefully some of the performance will be good like last week for 40 minutes.

The Chiefs backs have a good combination. Norris and Taukei'aho have familiarity as do Jacobson and Finau.

The tight five on paper is still strong at set piece time. Maybe with Norris, Taukei'aho, and Tuipulotu starting there is a bit too much of a carry focus in the tight five?

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

The tight five on paper is still strong at set piece time. Maybe with Norris, Taukei'aho, and Tuipulotu starting there is a bit too much of a carry focus in the tight five?

Que?

As opposed to what?

@antipodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France III:

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

So Papali'i covers lock.

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

My thoughts too. Imagine having a 6'3" lock these days.

PT won't be playing for 80 minutes. At some point Finau will move into lock around the 50 - 60 min mark. If there is an injury to Finau or Holland then Papali'i covers lock.

Last week Finau had Papali'i's role on the bench and he was forced to move into lock when Tuipulotu and Vaa'i had injuries/HIA so obviously this scenario is not outside the realms of possibility. In the case of injury/HIA to two of Holland, Tuipulotu, and Finau, then Papali'i covers lock. That is part of the role of 19.

I don't like it but it is what it is.

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@antipodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France III:

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

So Papali'i covers lock.

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

My thoughts too. Imagine having a 6'3" lock these days.

PT won't be playing for 80 minutes. At some point Finau will move into lock. If there is an injury to Finau or Holland then Papali'i covers lock.

Last week Finau had Papali'i's role on the bench and he was forced to move into lock so obviously this scenario is not outside the realms of possibility. In the case of injury to two of Holland, Tuipulotu, and Finau, then Papali'i covers lock. That is part of the role of 19.

I don't like it but it is what it is.

I don't know what you think your post was meant to elucidate or expand upon. I've quite clearly stated that I think having someone of Papali'i's stature covering lock is poor coaching.

I hope we get to see some decent minutes from Love. Time some new blood in the 10 or 15 role, even as the bench option. I'm not convinced yet Jordan is not better on the wing, for example.

And Dmac is a 15 IMO.

The Myth of Damian Mckenzie facebook page sure likes to be taking credit for the "leaked" backline.

@antipodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@antipodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France III:

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

So Papali'i covers lock.

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

My thoughts too. Imagine having a 6'3" lock these days.

PT won't be playing for 80 minutes. At some point Finau will move into lock. If there is an injury to Finau or Holland then Papali'i covers lock.

Last week Finau had Papali'i's role on the bench and he was forced to move into lock so obviously this scenario is not outside the realms of possibility. In the case of injury to two of Holland, Tuipulotu, and Finau, then Papali'i covers lock. That is part of the role of 19.

I don't like it but it is what it is.

I don't know what you think your post was meant to elucidate or expand upon. I've quite clearly stated that I think having someone of Papali'i's stature covering lock is poor coaching.

Sorry it wasn't so clear for me.

@hikastags said in All Blacks v France III:

The Myth of Damian Mckenzie facebook page sure likes to be taking credit for the "leaked" backline.

Had a look and they aren't taking credit - just said they had been "sent a leaked backline" and also that they "didn't think it was legit."

Hah and then in another post askes for "apologies from those who doubted his leaked team".

What a porkchop after even doubting it himself

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

So Papali'i covers lock.

Don't think so. It'll be Finau.

@JK said in All Blacks v France III:

Hah and then in another post askes for "apologies from those who doubted his leaked time".

What a porkchop

Haha yeah, that's the comment I saw and was referring to.

I actually got sent the whole team late last night but also didn't think it was legit as BB was out and Jordan on the bench, which differed from what we already knew.

@mariner4life said in All Blacks v France III:

I hope Jacobson finally shows why the coaches have so much faith in him.

Well it is the Chieftyblacks

@SBW1 he's a godsend the big Dutchman, another 80mins of Test rugby on the cards

@Grooter said in All Blacks v France III:

@SBW1 he's a godsend the big Dutchman, another 80mins of Test rugby on the cards

Feels like he's been an AB lock regular for ages, already

@antipodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

The tight five on paper is still strong at set piece time. Maybe with Norris, Taukei'aho, and Tuipulotu starting there is a bit too much of a carry focus in the tight five?

Que?

As opposed to what?

Yeah who needs guys who can get over the gainline regularly. So overrated.

FFS, no lock reserve.

Locks are 6's and 6's are locks now.

@Nepia said in All Blacks v France III:

FFS, no lock reserve.

Locks are 6's and 6's are locks now.

It's only France C

@Nepia said in All Blacks v France III:

FFS, no lock reserve.

Locks are 6's and 6's are locks now.

We haven't learnt from the failed Kaino experiment in Chicago.

Still feel the French learnt more about us than we did about them, their test 3 team will be interesting.

@Nepia said in All Blacks v France III:

FFS, no lock reserve.

Locks are 6's and 6's are locks now.

And all loose forward positions are interchangeable so all opensides are blindsides and all opensides are locks. Kirifi is lock cover.