@akan004 said in All Blacks v France III:
@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.
That was almost a decade ago so it might be time to fail again.
I like the starting XV but injuries have really made the bench a dogs breakfast. No lock cover and 2 7's - what a mess, let us hope neither lock gets injured...
Hope Tupaea gets a good run and nice to see Love starting at 15, will be interesting to see how the mid-field and DMac/Love perform as a combination.
Hopefully the starting XV puts on enough points so the bench doesn't have to do much as I can't help but feel it's going to unravel quickly once the subs come on.
@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:
Bit of a stitch up for Papali'i. His only opportunity comes as a blindside/lock cover. Be interesting to see if the French stack their bench with experienced players again.
Or we go old school and he doesn’t get a run at all or comes on with 3 minutes left on the clock.
@ARHS said in All Blacks v France III:
Is that 7 Waikato players in starting lineup though?
Sevu, Hotham and Brodie also have links to the Tron.
Good luck to the Hamil Blacks
@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:
Bit of a stitch up for Papali'i. His only opportunity comes as a blindside/lock cover. Be interesting to see if the French stack their bench with experienced players again.
His selection seems pointless now, why have 3 7's in the squad plus Jacobsen who can cover there as well? Shoudl have gone with an extra lock especially considering they planned to play Vaa'i at 6 (when we all thought he was selected there to play lock).
Were they just playing Savea at 7 and "hoping it works out and if it doesn't were can shift him back to 8??" Which if it was is an odd attitude as it dosn't show much confidence in Savea's ability when he was in storming form all year.
@ARHS said in All Blacks v France III:
And Kirifi
Before he saw the light and signed with the good guys. 
@Canes4life said in All Blacks v France III:
@ARHS said in All Blacks v France III:
And Kirifi
Before he saw the light and signed with the good guys.
Nah, I meant before his niggly penalty magnet phase
@Windows97 doubt the latter given they started playing Savea at 7 last year and wanted to continue in this series.
I think you’re reading too much into the Papali’i selection. He was bought in as injury cover and then added to the squad late in the piece. He’s knows the systems etc and I think with this series the focus was on a couple of the other new faces as opposed to brining in another new one.
I don’t want to talk about the contract stuff, but that’s also a consideration too.
@ARHS said in All Blacks v France III:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks v France III:
@ARHS said in All Blacks v France III:
And Kirifi
Before he saw the light and signed with the good guys.
Nah, I meant before his niggly penalty magnet phase
Like last week?
@Windows97 said in All Blacks v France III:
@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:
Bit of a stitch up for Papali'i. His only opportunity comes as a blindside/lock cover. Be interesting to see if the French stack their bench with experienced players again.
His selection seems pointless now, why have 3 7's in the squad plus Jacobsen who can cover there as well? Shoudl have gone with an extra lock especially considering they planned to play Vaa'i at 6 (when we all thought he was selected there to play lock).
Were they just playing Savea at 7 and "hoping it works out and if it doesn't were can shift him back to 8??" Which if it was is an odd attitude as it dosn't show much confidence in Savea's ability when he was in storming form all year.
Well. Guess they see him as more than a 7. A player who can cover blindside and lock.
Maybe it's based off that 15 minutes at Lock he played for Counties last year?
@Canes4life said in All Blacks v France III:
If Beaudy is out, I wonder if they will bring in another option like Reihana?
Next Test is a month away. They might hold out with what they have
@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:
Well. Guess they see him as more than a 7. A player who can cover blindside and lock.
Maybe it's based off that 15 minutes at Lock he played for Counties last year?
Isn't it nice to see NPC form being rewarded with AB selection 
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
@Windows97 doubt the latter given they started playing Savea at 7 last year and wanted to continue in this series.
I think you’re reading too much into the Papali’i selection. He was bought in as injury cover and then added to the squad late in the piece. He’s knows the systems etc and I think with this series the focus was on a couple of the other new faces as opposed to brining in another new one.
I don’t want to talk about the contract stuff, but that’s also a consideration too.
Regardless it's still an odd selection given the make-up of the team, it'ds kinda like saying heres a square peg we are going to fit into a round hole, but at least the square peg understands the systems the round hole is supposed to use.
@MN5 said in All Blacks v France III:
@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
...but dont we normally use "easier" games to give guys experience....if we're not going to try this kind of thing against RSA....then why waste the opportunity?
