@george33 said in All Blacks v France 2:
@KiwiMurph he's not really a bench player, doesn't cover enough positions. Starts or not in the 23
i get the feeling the coaches dont subscribe to the idea that at least some bench spots are almost specialist positions
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v France 2:
No QT looks like a pre planned change decided prior to last weekend.
How long did Tupaea get to play last weekend? Was it fifteen or so minutes? That doesn't seem significant enough to achieve much if players are going to be rotated. I really think they need to use the bench a bit better and start making changes earlier.
However, I do feel like they're looking for impact from the bench and Tavatavanawai looks like a good option potentially. it will be interesting to see how he goes. Hopefully they give him a decent run.
@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France 2:
Sorry I couldn’t get the back line for last week. Made up for it this week and getting Test 2’s nice and early.
- C. Roigard
- B. Barrett
- C. Clarke
- J. Barrett
- B. Proctor
- R. Ioane
- W. Jordan
Bench
21. C. Ratima
22. T. Tavatavanawai
23. D. McKenzie
Like that
@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France 2:
Got told to not be surprised to see a small bit of rotation in the forward pack as well. Didn’t manage to get names unfortunately.
Two changes to the bench in the forwards.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France 2:
@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France 2:
Got told to not be surprised to see a small bit of rotation in the forward pack as well. Didn’t manage to get names unfortunately.
Two changes to the bench in the forwards.
Keen to elaborate?
With the move away from Rieko at center, we've got three 12s and one 13.
It would be nice if Big Jim or Tupaea could cover 13.
Both are going to be dropped if ALB is still in favor.
@Frank said in All Blacks v France 2:
With the move away from Rieko at center, we've got three 12s and one 13.
It would be nice if Big Jim or Tupaea could cover 13.
Both are going to be dropped if ALB is still in favor.
ALB seems be a nice guy but they kept shifting him when he was in form, and now I wonder if he really has his nose in front.
I think their bigger problem than ALB at 13, would be Leicester coming back in form.
Oddly this would be an ideal time for Ennor (who I rate at AB level less highly than some on here), but he has all the robustness of Ethan Blackadder.
How about for series 3 they remove the people who can't catch, we were outplayed in the air Test 1 and credit to France but I think it was a major problem.
@Frank said in All Blacks v France 2:
With the move away from Rieko at center, we've got three 12s and one 13.
It would be nice if Big Jim or Tupaea could cover 13.
Both are going to be dropped if ALB is still in favor.
If Proctor becomes the regular centre and Ioane a regular on the wing, I'm sure they'd still see Ioane as injury cover for centre, so Tavatavanawai could cover wing and second five from the bench. If Tupaea is a second five only, Jordan would have to cover wing.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v France 2:
No QT looks like a pre planned change decided prior to last weekend.
I think if it was pre-planned TT would surely have played in Dunedin. I suspect it is in response to the fact they weren't happy with being forced to move Jordan to the wing when Reece went down.
I'd wager if Clarke goes down in the first minute this week, TT would come on rather than DMac.
@frugby I think Reece provides a bit of what TT does around the breakdown, he works hard on and off the ball, usually reads the game pretty well, so him going down so early, while planned for in terms of subs, threw a spanner in the early game plan.
If we could have someone with Ioanes size and pace getting around the park like Reece, sheesh!
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks v France 2:
Hopefully, the 2024 Clarke version makes an appearance this weekend.
He was very good early in the season, then was out injured for 3 - 4 weeks, and didn't come back as strong after that. Hoping some time in the AB camp has gotten him back into some good form and good frame of mind given he's been dealing with some off field shit. We are so much more dangerous with him on the field in form.
@frugby said in All Blacks v France 2:
I think if it was pre-planned TT would surely have played in Dunedin.
I wouldn't be so sure. 4 debutants was already plenty for week 1 and not all rookies are the same - i.e. some could use an extra week or 2 in camp before debuting. Razor has made it clear that he intends to give everybody game.time across the series.
@mariner4life said in All Blacks v France 2:
Proctor and Ioane suck fat donkey dicks in test 1, but get to play again while the form midfielder of Super Rugby gets rissolled despite not putting a foot wrong when he got a chance.
These selectors are as cooked as they sound
Superb, sir.
@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks v France 2:
How long did Tupaea get to play last weekend? Was it fifteen or so minutes? That doesn't seem significant enough to achieve much if players are going to be rotated.
Possibly more like they saw what they wanted to see and can now move onto seeing if their other options can also deliver.
@frugby said in All Blacks v France 2:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v France 2:
No QT looks like a pre planned change decided prior to last weekend.
I think if it was pre-planned TT would surely have played in Dunedin. I suspect it is in response to the fact they weren't happy with being forced to move Jordan to the wing when Reece went down.
I'd wager if Clarke goes down in the first minute this week, TT would come on rather than DMac.
Why? It doesn’t really matter what location the game is played at. This isn’t some sentimental selection exercise.
I agree they may go with TNT if Clarke goes down, however will they go with TNT if say Ioane went down in the first minute? I suspect not.
@ACT-Crusader course they will, we all know Jordie is right wing cover.
@Bones said in All Blacks v France 2:
@ACT-Crusader course they will, we all know Jordie is right wing cover.
On the weekend he ran more freely and elusively than we ever saw from him than when he was experimented on the wing!
@fghg said in All Blacks v France 2:
@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France 2:
There’s also a slim chance that Tuipulotu comes in for Barrett and starts, Vai’i stays at 6 and Ah Koi is used off the bench in jersey 19, he has been in camp as injury cover the whole time. Would be between Finau or Kirifi who drops out then. Slim chance, but still another option they could use is Jacobson isn’t fit.
I can't understand why Josh Behree isn't the injury cover with Darry and Lord unavailable, he was a clear standout in Super Rugby and is only 23 younger than Lord and Ah Kuoi.
Let’s be patient as you say he is still very young. His time will come, I’m pretty confident about that.
