@jimmyb said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

I really don’t understand the continued selection of Carter. Thought he was woeful against the Bok and England last year and juts as woeful in the SR final. Not sure his speed makes up enough the the highball and positioning deficiencies

It confounds me that a guy like Stevenson who is great under the highball and has a massive boot got 1 opportunity while guys like Carter and Reece who can't catch to save themselves get do overs all the time

@Canes4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@george33 said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

8- 9 changes within 23 . Expect Vaii to start at 6.

Are you looking over the fence again at training @george33 ?

@canefan Yeah. I'd be starting Moorby and Fehi for this one.

@brodean it’s not necessarily the size. The bok operate with two small wingers. The difference is their technique and chase is v v good. Whereas Carter has shown in two finals in a row and an international season, he’s just not up to it

The jury is also out on Fineanganofo under the high ball.

@jimmyb yeah but at Wellington they had Hooker on the left wing and they quickly moved him to the right wing during the game when they realized how rubbish Carter was under the high ball.

Hooker proceeded to claim virtually every high ball that went down Carter's channel and generated scary momentum and field position which contributed to our utter capitulation and all time hiding.

They will pick Hooker or Moodie, as Rassie does a courses for courses approach, if they perceive we have a weakness under the high ball.

@No-Quarter said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

Really pleased they are continuing with the axis of 10. Love, 14. Jordan, 15. DMac. It's easily the best use of all three players talents, and gives us lots of options for the makeup of the bench. I think those three players are going to be critical to our chances in SA.

And Jordie.

His versatility created several opportunities last weekend. Plus for a guy that was fairly error prone early on in his test career, he’s as reliable as ever now.

@Landers92 said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

Just posted this in the wrong thread lol.

Haven’t heard anything that leads me to believe any injuries were picked up over the last 2 days so will post the backline below.

9. Roigard
10. Love
11. Carter
12. Barrett
13. Proctor
14. Jordan
15. McKenzie

Bench
21. Ratima
22. ALB
23. Moorby

Will be interesting to see how Beaudy goes at 12.

I had a thought regarding Fehi....cap him, give him a taste and then leave him out in the cold?

I can't see DR being that petty though.

Think Fehi must’ve picked up an injury, no way Rennie would be that harsh already. Especially with the game at his home stadium.

I can’t stress enough that this backline could be subject to change due to training sessions. I’m not too confident I will be updated if there are changes.

I will say this, info is a lot harder to get under this new regime. I know for a fact that a conscious effort has been made around it from management which i think is a good thing(not so good for us ferners). Getting late news/injury updates are going to be harder to come by.

@ShaquilleOatmeal Don’t worry. He’ll be Dirt Track Tony on the Boks tour. Perfect role for him.

@Landers92 said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

I can’t stress enough that this backline could be subject to change due to training sessions. I’m not too confident I will be updated if there are changes.

I will say this, info is a lot harder to get under this new regime. I know for a fact that a conscious effort has been made around it from management which i think is a good thing(not so good for us ferners). Getting late news/injury updates are going to be harder to come by.

I'm picking BB either bench or fullback.

@Jnr that’s what you would do or that’s what you think happens?

@upthelanders said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

Think Fehi must’ve picked up an injury, no way Rennie would be that harsh already. Especially with the game at his home stadium.

Fehi was clutching at the top of his arm/shoulder towards the end of the game againt France so maybe they don't want to risk anything.

Also, this game is officially SOLD OUT.

@canefan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@BerniesCorner said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Landers92 said in All Blacks v Italy, 2026:

Just posted this in the wrong thread lol.

Haven’t heard anything that leads me to believe any injuries were picked up over the last 2 days so will post the backline below.

9. Roigard
10. Love
11. Carter
12. Barrett
13. Proctor
14. Jordan
15. McKenzie

Bench
21. Ratima
22. ALB
23. Moorby

Is this backline better than the Canes?

WJ an upgrade. DMac playing well when he's not brainfarting. Carter<Fehi, ALB not an upgrade. It's a close one, but I'd say nah

As a child was your hair combed with a hammer? The addition of Jordan and McKenzie immediately make it better. By the length of the Flemington straight.

@Jnr said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

I'm picking BB either bench or fullback.

Personally I loved his distribution as waterboy.

On the plus side the AB's may finally win in Wellington, and if they lose I'm going to take up lawn bowls.

The myths attempt. One of us has been sent the wrong info unless there are injury changes I’m not aware of. Guess we will find out tomorrow

@Landers92 i wouldn't hate most of that, LJ has another run at 7, QT gets another run at 13....more experience in those positions

@Kiwiwomble yeah, it tends to make more "sense" in the context of it all, apart from no Beauden and no Ioane of course.

I'd be surprised if Ratima and Proctor drop out of the 23 entirely, unless they're injured.

@ShaquilleOatmeal also good points

Team naming update

@Number-10 said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

Team naming update

View image

It’s getting later and later. All teams should be forced to announce their teams at the same time like Super IMO.

@Canes4life isn't it earlier than last week?

@Bones said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Canes4life isn't it earlier than last week?

I thought it was 4pm last week. Anyway, should be announced on Wednesday’s. No need for it to be kept that long.

@Canes4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Bones said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Canes4life isn't it earlier than last week?

I thought it was 4pm last week. Anyway, should be announced on Wednesday’s. No need for it to be kept that long.

It was. In the above it mentions the team will be released at 3.30pm

@KiwiMurph you're more mature than i...i couldn't have helped myself opting for something more like "...and 3:30pm is earlier than 4pm....."

@Kiwiwomble said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@KiwiMurph you're more mature than i...i couldn't have helped myself opting for something more like "...and 3:30pm is earlier than 4pm....."

Apparently not.

@KiwiMurph said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Canes4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Bones said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Canes4life isn't it earlier than last week?

I thought it was 4pm last week. Anyway, should be announced on Wednesday’s. No need for it to be kept that long.

It was. In the above it mentions the team will be released at 3.30pm

Poor ol' c4l and his struggles with time. Is it 2027 yet?

@antipodean said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Kiwiwomble said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@KiwiMurph you're more mature than i...i couldn't have helped myself opting for something more like "...and 3:30pm is earlier than 4pm....."

Apparently not.

look at that you're right...i had no idea

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

I'd be surprised if Ratima and Proctor drop out of the 23 entirely, unless they're injured.

The team I was told has them included. Let’s see what gets announced tomorrow.

@Landers92 I'm with you . Still got Vaaii at 6 . Think he would have started there against France if available.

@Bones said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@KiwiMurph said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Canes4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Bones said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Canes4life isn't it earlier than last week?

I thought it was 4pm last week. Anyway, should be announced on Wednesday’s. No need for it to be kept that long.

It was. In the above it mentions the team will be released at 3.30pm

Poor ol' c4l and his struggles with time. Is it 2027 yet?

Who reads the fine print. And bring on the WC already. I think I'm getting to the stage that i might need glasses.

@Canes4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Bones said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@KiwiMurph said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Canes4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Bones said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Canes4life isn't it earlier than last week?

I thought it was 4pm last week. Anyway, should be announced on Wednesday’s. No need for it to be kept that long.

It was. In the above it mentions the team will be released at 3.30pm

Poor ol' c4l and his struggles with time. Is it 2027 yet?

Who reads the fine print. And bring on the WC already. I think I'm getting to the stage that i might need glasses.

If you could just go ahead and let us know the winner, that would be great.

@Landers92 said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Jnr that’s what you would do or that’s what you think happens?

I think they'll want to see what he's like outside the Auckland environment.

In theory Rennie's style suits him and he's said how impressive he's been at training.

If he can recapture form with the new style, great.

If he can't move on from his Super form that would enable them to make a call before SA to bring Mo'unga and maybe Harkin in and phase him out.

@Jnr it’s not just this year or the Blues environment where Barrett’s been poor and I wouldn’t say he'd recaptured his 2017 form based on a one-off performance against Italy.

I don’t want him playing any more test rugby at all but I’m a little curious to see if he can make it through a game against quality opposition without letting loose with a dozen useless chip kicks.

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Jnr it’s not just this year or the Blues environment where Barrett’s been poor and I wouldn’t say he'd recaptured his 2017 form based on a one-off performance against Italy.

I don’t want him playing any more test rugby at all but I’m a little curious to see if he can make it through a game against quality opposition without letting loose with a dozen useless chip kicks.

Curiosity killed the cat.

I don’t want to see BB in a test team again