@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@Chris said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@sparky said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

The side I'd pick is

1. De Groot
2. Taylor
3. Newell
4. S. Barrett
5. Holland
6. Vaii
7. A. Savea
8. Sititi
9. K. Preston
10. DMac
11. C.Clarke
12. J. Barrett
13. R. Ioane
14. W. Jordan
15. R. Love

---

16. Taukei'aho
17. T. Williams
18. Lomax
19. S. Darry
20. S. Parker
21. Lakai
22. Christie
23. Tupaea

Love at FB I am not sure that is a good idea you are throwing him in to a high pressure high ball game it might ruin his confidence.A hell of a big game to throw him in to.
A big call sink or swim scenario.

If he s good enough, how long do you keep him in cotton wool ?

Unless of course they don’t think he’s good enough, different story

But sometimes I think this conservative attitude we seem to have developed when it comes to selection is part of our downfall

Ruben Love is 24. 3 years older than Max Jorgensen and 2 years older than Suaalii. He played well vs France 3rd test.

Razor will continue to piss around with veterans who should be moved along, and more young players will be tempted to leave. Meanwhile those guys ensure that we don't get fresh blood in to improve in important positions

@Chris He's hardly a 19 year old rookie.

But I've little doubt the coaches will stick yet again to their preferred choice at Fullback which is Will Jordan.

@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

If he s good enough, how long do you keep him in cotton wool ?

That's the issue, isn't it?

Should have been given more game time against Argentina or France. Then it wouldn't be as much a risk in a must-win game and, importantly, less of a pressure situation for the player.

But sometimes I think this conservative attitude we seem to have developed when it comes to selection is part of our downfall

Robertson's inbuilt conservatism, lack of confidence or inability to develop a team at the highest level? NZR putting pressure on him to deliver results over development?

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@mohikamo said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Kevin de Klerk wouldn't last more than a few minutes on a rugby field to-day.

Pretty sure he was the bloke who hit Sid Going from behind. Showed a fair burst of speed when Sid turned around and went after him.

Would love to see some footage of the 6’6” lock running away from the diminutive Sid Going.
Seems a little implausible but makes for a good story

Have to check my books to be sure, but Van Heerden was a flat-track bully - once had a go at JPR Williams and instantly regretted it.

And don't forget Sid Going was one of the hardest bastards to ever pull on a black jersey. Rarely got involved in punch-ups, but when he did....

Not sure if previously posted:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Have to check my books to be sure, but Van Heerden was a flat-track bully - once had a go at JPR Williams and instantly regretted it.

And don't forget Sid Going was one of the hardest bastards to ever pull on a black jersey. Rarely got involved in punch-ups, but when he did....

I remember watching those games with my dad. Sid Going was larger than life. I thought he was super old because he was bald. Lol

Interesting observations regarding interaction between Boks attack and defense: https://www.planetrugby.com/news/how-the-springboks-changed-their-rugby-championship-plans-as-a-clear-theme-emerges

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

If he s good enough, how long do you keep him in cotton wool ?

That's the issue, isn't it?

Should have been given more game time against Argentina or France. Then it wouldn't be as much a risk in a must-win game and, importantly, less of a pressure situation for the player.

And he’s now running out of time before the World Cup if he even wanted to ease players in. The time to start doing that was a year ago. Unless there’s an injury, which is the only way emerging talent get a chance now, Love and others in a similar situation will go into the World Cup with a handful of games against second tier and B teams and won’t be considered as options against anyone other than the minnows.

@ShaquilleOatmeal the driest of powder.

Good chat about the considerable history of this fixture:

Stuffed reporting injury to Kyle Preston.
Sounds like good oil on a Fakatava joining squad - would be the prudent thing to do!

@nzzp said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Stuffed reporting injury to Kyle Preston.
Sounds like good oil on a Fakatava joining squad - would be the prudent thing to do!

View embedded content

@nzzp said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Stuffed reporting injury to Kyle Preston.
Sounds like good oil on a Fakatava joining squad - would be the prudent thing to do!

View embedded content

@nzzp said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Stuffed reporting injury to Kyle Preston.
Sounds like good oil on a Fakatava joining squad - would be the prudent thing to do!

View embedded content

7 HBs selected or training that must be a first for injuries in one position

@nzzp said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Stuffed reporting injury to Kyle Preston.
Sounds like good oil on a Fakatava joining squad - would be the prudent thing to do!

View embedded content

Kept out of NPC to avoid injury, misses out on valuable game time, gets injured at training.

TAB have us at $1.52, SA at $2.45. Surely that's worth loss insurance?

I wonder what options there are for Fakatava to turn it down (if he has decided he wants to play for Tonga) or if his NZR contract means he can't? He's only one injury away from restarting the clock again when it's been three years since he played for the ABs.

Tongue firmly in cheek. But this is a massive test for Razor.

Preston is out