@frugby said in All Blacks v France III:
but this is not a top rate French team.
It's the team France Rugby chose to send. It's the team that wears the French jersey. It's team that has the cockerel badge. It's the team for whom the Tricolore flies during the game. It's the team for whom La Marseillaise is played before the match.
It's two nil down currently and looking at the prospect of a humiliating 0-3 zip whitewash. Can it salvage any French pride before the long journey home?
My preference would be to make two changes to the starting backline, Reece back from HIA stand down, and Jordie rotated out for Quinn. This assumes Jordan is fit to play. If he’s not, a direct swap with Love.
Hotham and Love come on to the bench (or DMac keeps his bench spot) and TNT keeps his bench position.
Roigard
Barrett
Ioane
QT
Proctor
Reece
Jordan (Love)
Hotham, Love (DMac), TNT
@pakman said in All Blacks v France III:
A backline of Ratima, DMac, Tuapea, ALB, Narewa, Rieko and Jordan will tick the home ground and cohesion boxes.
Bench backs then Hotham, Love and Big Jim.
ALB hasn't played since forever so he can come off the bench and can cover 12/13. I would also start Love at 15, sounds like Jordan has a niggle anyway.
I think the ABs will go somewhere close to this: 9. Ratima, 10. DMac 11. Ioane 12. Tupaea 13. Proctor 14. Reece 15. Love, with the impact players being Hotham, ALB and Jordie, with Jordie having the ability to cover 11-15.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
My preference would be to make two changes to the starting backline, Reece back from HIA stand down, and Jordie rotated out for Quinn. This assumes Jordan is fit to play. If he’s not, a direct swap with Love.
Hotham and Love come on to the bench (or DMac keeps his bench spot) and TNT keeps his bench position.
Roigard
Barrett
Ioane
QT
Proctor
Reece
Jordan (Love)Hotham, Love (DMac), TNT
I think Beaudy definitely drops out for this test match. DMac will get a chance at home and Love will get gametime, Roberston has already said that all players will get some time in this series.
@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:
With Scott Barrett injured I can't see them resting JB given he's the vice captain but I guess we will see. Plus there are no games for month after Saturday.
If they are not resting JB then Tupaea on the bench over Tavatavanawai.
An AB XV without a single Barrett seems unthinkable.
Here you go. Very early this week which is nice. Backline for week 3.
Bench
21. Hotham
22. Tavatavanawai
23. B.Barrett
lol fuck.
If this goes sideways as it normally does when you change literally everyone then every single one of these poor fluffybunnies can kiss their year goodbye.
@Landers92 Any idea on the pack this week?
I was really hoping they wouldn't make that many changes. I can see things getting pretty sloppy, especially if they do the same with the forwards. Not sure they'll be able to accurately assess individual players well.
@Landers92 thanks
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks v France III:
I was really hoping they wouldn't make that many changes. I can see things getting pretty sloppy, especially if they do the same with the forwards.
IMO Jordie was going to get a rest this game given his season and the fact we selected two other 2nd 5s.
The Chiefs 9-10-12-13 may help plus there are still some decent AB experience in there
