@ShaquilleOatmeal said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@antipodean said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@shaquilleoatmeal said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@antipodean said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@shaquilleoatmealthere's still the three fixtures before the first Test.

Is that enough time to find the best blindside option - two games max each?

I think six fixtures is sufficient time to determine your best loose forward trio and bench - training and game data should give you enough to go on.

I mean if not by then, when?

I think it would be if you already had a rough idea of your best trio - and Rennie might - but whether Lakai, Sititi, Vaa’i or Parker is the right option at blindside could take some time to work out if they’re starting with a clean slate. There could be an obvious standout before the first South Africa test though. They might already be able to rule out Sititi.

This is the thing, it looks kinda like they really don't know because those players are all pretty different.

Sititi is an okay lineout forward. A medium sized wide volume carrier and tackler. Not a ruck hitter.
Lakai is not really a lineout forward, a medium sized solid generalist, a bit of a jackal threat. A medium-low ruck hitter.
Parker is a good lineout target, a medium volume tackler, not a carrier. Is a ruck hitter.
Vaa'i is a very good lineout target, not a volume tackler or carrier, is a ruck hitter.
Segner is a decent lineout target, not a volume carrier or tackler. Accurate generalist, a bit of a jackal threat. A medium-low ruck hitter.

Rennie says he wants complementary skillsets, but then he's selected a squad without like-for-like replacements, and he's picked Jacobson and Savea to start then matched them with different skillsets. That makes it look like the skillset balance remains unknown. Maybe there are two separate horses-for-courses plans, one with Vaai/Parker, and one with Sititi/Lakai. But even Sititi and Lakai don't really play the same game.

It's also interesting that after Jacobson, the best ruck numbers - by quite a way - belong to Parker. That might point to Parker playing if Jacobson doesn't.

Landers mate.
Where's the team?

@Frank said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Landers mate.
Where's the team?

I had it locked and ready to go but the Jordie injury has thrown a spanner in the works.

I’ll post what it was going to be anyway, I’m sure it will spark some discussion.

9. Roigard
10. Love
11. Moorby
12. J. Barrett
13. Tupaea
14. Jordan
15. Dmac

Bench
21. Ratima
22. ALB
23. Clarke

All subject to change now due to the JB injury obviously.

@Landers92 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Frank said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Landers mate.
Where's the team?

I had it locked and ready to go but the Jordie injury has thrown a spanner in the works.

I’ll post what it was going to be anyway, I’m sure it will spark some discussion.

9. Roigard
10. Love
11. Moorby
12. J. Barrett
13. Tupaea
14. Jordan
15. Dmac

Bench
21. Ratima
22. ALB
23. Clarke

All subject to change now due to the JB injury obviously.

If Barrett is out, logic says we'll see a Tupaea/ALB midfield with Proctor on the bench.

But Rennie could throw a spanner in the works and keep Tupaea at 13 if he wants him to clock up more miles there. I'm not a fan of ALB at 12 so would rather this doesn't happen.

Or ALB could remain bench cover with Proctor coming in at 13.

And just want to say I'm very pleased that we've not seen Beauden Barrett at all during the series. Already a big tick for Rennie in my books.

It's a real bugger about that JB injury, I would have liked to see that backline.

One thing I would like to see tried if we are persisting with the 5-3 with a wing option on the bench, is using Clarke as a battering ram for the first 40, just get as many hard carries as he can at their inside backs.

@Landers92 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Frank said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Landers mate.
Where's the team?

I had it locked and ready to go but the Jordie injury has thrown a spanner in the works.

I’ll post what it was going to be anyway, I’m sure it will spark some discussion.

9. Roigard
10. Love
11. Moorby
12. J. Barrett
13. Tupaea
14. Jordan
15. Dmac

Bench
21. Ratima
22. ALB
23. Clarke

All subject to change now due to the JB injury obviously.

On the news last night it sounded like JB would be fine.

@Bovidae said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Paul Cully is predicting that Vaa'i will be named at 6.

Probably because a few other pundits have been talking it up. I’ve heard something quite different.

@ACT-Crusader said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Bovidae said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Paul Cully is predicting that Vaa'i will be named at 6.

Probably because a few other pundits have been talking it up. I’ve heard something quite different.

What have you heard?

@Landers92 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Frank said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Landers mate.
Where's the team?

I had it locked and ready to go but the Jordie injury has thrown a spanner in the works.

I’ll post what it was going to be anyway, I’m sure it will spark some discussion.

9. Roigard
10. Love
11. Moorby
12. J. Barrett
13. Tupaea
14. Jordan
15. Dmac

Bench
21. Ratima
22. ALB
23. Clarke

All subject to change now due to the JB injury obviously.

That lineup tells us two things: Tupaea is the clear favourite for the centre spot ahead of Proctor, although I’m not convinced about having Lienert-Brown there; and Beauden Barrett doesn’t appear likely to be part of the top 23 moving forward and may not make a regular-sized squad once Mo’unga returns. I’m fairly happy with both of those outcomes.

A back three, all with fullback credentials. The high ball really should be taken care of. Clark, who has made the high ball his forte, also in reserve to defuse opposition shenanigans. I like it.

@ACT-Crusader said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Bovidae said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Paul Cully is predicting that Vaa'i will be named at 6.

Probably because a few other pundits have been talking it up. I’ve heard something quite different.

Dominic Gardner, Ethan Blackadder or Corey Kellow?

Jordie all good to start.

@george33 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Jordie all good to start.

Thank fuck, he has been in stellar form of late.

@Landers92 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Frank said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Landers mate.
Where's the team?

I had it locked and ready to go but the Jordie injury has thrown a spanner in the works.

I’ll post what it was going to be anyway, I’m sure it will spark some discussion.

9. Roigard
10. Love
11. Moorby
12. J. Barrett
13. Tupaea
14. Jordan
15. Dmac

Bench
21. Ratima
22. ALB
23. Clarke

All subject to change now due to the JB injury obviously.

Lol myth posted this same backline on his FB page moments after you posted it here.

@akan004 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Landers92 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Frank said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Landers mate.
Where's the team?

I had it locked and ready to go but the Jordie injury has thrown a spanner in the works.

I’ll post what it was going to be anyway, I’m sure it will spark some discussion.

9. Roigard
10. Love
11. Moorby
12. J. Barrett
13. Tupaea
14. Jordan
15. Dmac

Bench
21. Ratima
22. ALB
23. Clarke

All subject to change now due to the JB injury obviously.

Lol myth posted this same backline on his FB page moments after you posted it here.

Myth, if you're reading this, you're a cock mate

@akan004 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Landers92 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Frank said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Landers mate.
Where's the team?

I had it locked and ready to go but the Jordie injury has thrown a spanner in the works.

I’ll post what it was going to be anyway, I’m sure it will spark some discussion.

9. Roigard
10. Love
11. Moorby
12. J. Barrett
13. Tupaea
14. Jordan
15. Dmac

Bench
21. Ratima
22. ALB
23. Clarke

All subject to change now due to the JB injury obviously.

Lol myth posted this same backline on his FB page moments after you posted it here.

The Myth is definitely amongst us, there was the same trend last year when @landers92 posted and then all of a sudden the same team showed up on the Myth site.

Someone ban the bloke.

@akan004 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Landers92 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Frank said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Landers mate.
Where's the team?

I had it locked and ready to go but the Jordie injury has thrown a spanner in the works.

I’ll post what it was going to be anyway, I’m sure it will spark some discussion.

9. Roigard
10. Love
11. Moorby
12. J. Barrett
13. Tupaea
14. Jordan
15. Dmac

Bench
21. Ratima
22. ALB
23. Clarke

All subject to change now due to the JB injury obviously.

Lol myth posted this same backline on his FB page moments after you posted it here.

I’ll be toning it back on the SA tour that’s for sure. Still have bits of oil but tone back the line ups, especially for the tests.

@Landers92 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@akan004 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Landers92 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Frank said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Landers mate.
Where's the team?

I had it locked and ready to go but the Jordie injury has thrown a spanner in the works.

I’ll post what it was going to be anyway, I’m sure it will spark some discussion.

9. Roigard
10. Love
11. Moorby
12. J. Barrett
13. Tupaea
14. Jordan
15. Dmac

Bench
21. Ratima
22. ALB
23. Clarke

All subject to change now due to the JB injury obviously.

Lol myth posted this same backline on his FB page moments after you posted it here.

I’ll be toning it back on the SA tour that’s for sure. Still have bits of oil but tone back the line ups, especially for the tests.

Now look what you've done!!! 'Shakes fist at whoever you are'

@Canes4life said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Someone ban the bloke

Isn't the forum public?

@Landers92 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@akan004 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Landers92 said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

@Frank said in NC: All Blacks v Ireland:

Landers mate.
Where's the team?

I had it locked and ready to go but the Jordie injury has thrown a spanner in the works.

I’ll post what it was going to be anyway, I’m sure it will spark some discussion.

9. Roigard
10. Love
11. Moorby
12. J. Barrett
13. Tupaea
14. Jordan
15. Dmac

Bench
21. Ratima
22. ALB
23. Clarke

All subject to change now due to the JB injury obviously.

Lol myth posted this same backline on his FB page moments after you posted it here.

I’ll be toning it back on the SA tour that’s for sure. Still have bits of oil but tone back the line ups, especially for the tests.

Definitely don't want to be advertising where the boys are eating and drinking meals....

🤮