Already touched upon in here but sounds like Vaa'i is out and Tuipulotu and Will Jordan have niggles while Reece and Jacobson are in the frame for the third Test.
Also sounds like Love is seen as a fullback first and foremost and is unlikely to get too many minutes at 10 (which is not a shock, though somewhat disappointing).
Robertson's gone pretty much experimental for the first 2 Tests so I'd be tempted to stick with what works or looks to be working, Scooter for Pat T in the forwards (if fit) and some rotation in the front row. Start Ratima with DMac, and keep Reiko & Jordan in place.
Give QT, Hotham & Lakai plenty of time off the bench.
Did Billy P do enough in the second half to keep him there and does Robertson give Love a shot over BB?
Wow we now have substitutes for the substitutes who in at least one case were the originals substituted! (Scott Barrett). Would like a peek at another 6 and wing option (and maybe 8?) and hope we don't lose too much at 15.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v France III:
Robertson's gone pretty much experimental for the first 2 Tests so I'd be tempted to stick with what works or looks to be working, Scooter for Pat T in the forwards (if fit) and some rotation in the front row. Start Ratima with DMac, and keep Reiko & Jordan in place.
Give QT, Hotham & Lakai plenty of time off the bench.
Did Billy P do enough in the second half to keep him there and does Robertson give Love a shot over BB?
I know I'm a broken record on this, but every man and his dog knows exactly what BB offers. The only possible point in playing him in a dead rubber against France C is if you want continuity and are experimenting with other players around him. But we already know Jordie and Roigard are 9 and 12.
Playing him in this game - even ignoring my opinion that he shouldn't be there in the first place and was poor last game - would make no sense.
@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
Vaa'i is a major injury doubt so something like
1 De Groot
2 Taukei'aho
3 Newell (Lomax)
4 Tuipolutu
5 Holland
6 Jacobson
7 Kirifi
8 A. Savea (c)
9 Hotham
10 Love
11 R Ioane
12 J. Barrett
13 Q. Tupaea
14 Narawa
15 Jordan16 McAlister, 17 Norris 18 Tosi 19 Finau 20 Papalii 21 Roigard 22 Big Jim 23 DMac
If you're going to give Love a run, at least put him outside Roigard to start. Hotham would be good for a run off the bench.
@Bones said in All Blacks v France III:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v France III:
Lakai
Have I missed something?
Nah. I forgot he's out with injury.
Pretty much agree with all of that, but just don't think Robertson will ditch him from the 23 - should do though.
But we already know Jordie and Roigard are 9 and 12.
Which gives a good platform to try new players at 10 & 13, He's done that with Billy P, why not at 10?
@Bones said in All Blacks v France III:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v France III:
Lakai
Have I missed something?
Haven't heard what his injury actually was but it didn't look good at the time. I think someone mentioned 5-8 weeks.
@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
Vaa'i is a major injury doubt so something like
1 De Groot
2 Taukei'aho
3 Newell (Lomax)
4 Tuipolutu
5 Holland
6 Jacobson
7 Kirifi
8 A. Savea (c)
9 Hotham
10 Love
11 R Ioane
12 J. Barrett
13 Q. Tupaea
14 Narawa
15 Jordan16 McAlister, 17 Norris 18 Tosi 19 Finau 20 Papalii 21 Roigard 22 Big Jim 23 DMac
Jeez, can’t wait to see that massive loose forward trio knock blokes on their arse all game
@reprobate On domestic form DMac has been the best 10 for the past 2 years. I don't get it.
@MN5 said in All Blacks v France III:
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks v France III:
@canefan said in All Blacks v France III:
Razor is basically selecting how he should have last season
Yes
It was a fault.
We need to explore options at first five right now. Currently our first five tactical kicking and exits are poor. Still getting too many aimless up and unders.
Roigard showed outstanding skill with tactical kicking on Saturday and the 10 needs to do the same.Sititi-Roigard-?-Jordie is now strong. Who's going to grab the ? to take us to 2027.
He'll be thrilled getting a mention despite not playing this year. Charlie Ngatai never had it so good.
It's called extrapolation in my mind
@voodoo said in All Blacks v France III:
@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
Vaa'i is a major injury doubt so something like
1 De Groot
2 Taukei'aho
3 Newell (Lomax)
4 Tuipolutu
5 Holland
6 Jacobson
7 Kirifi
8 A. Savea (c)
9 Hotham
10 Love
11 R Ioane
12 J. Barrett
13 Q. Tupaea
14 Narawa
15 Jordan16 McAlister, 17 Norris 18 Tosi 19 Finau 20 Papalii 21 Roigard 22 Big Jim 23 DMac
Jeez, can’t wait to see that massive loose forward trio knock blokes on their arse all game
You will have to wait until the props have finished running rampant with the ball.
@reprobate said in All Blacks v France III:
But we already know Jordie and Roigard are 9 and 12.
That's a very big 9 and a small 12 you have there.
I'd be pretty keen to see the following 23 for Saturday:
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.
@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.
@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.
