Ok just had the message that Holland is in fact on the bench this weekend.
All Blacks
Match thread
Springboks I
hilarious that the attack is absolute dogshit so precisely one winger gets axed.
Vaai at 6 has been THE success story of the year and they blink at the first set back?
All the Facebook experts had me believing that Leicester Fainganuku was walking right back into the starting line up…..
@canefan said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
The pack are going to have to front up physically big time. I'm hoping they surprise me.
They probably will
And the backs are going to have to show a level of competency that we haven't seen all year
They probably won't.
@MN5 said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
All the Facebook experts had me believing that Leicester Fainganuku was walking right back into the starting line up…..
Far out, you get dumber after reading expert opinions on Facebook.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
9-10-11, too many Blues…..
Never too early to get the excuses in
@Bovidae said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@pakman Must be geo-blocked as it isn't behind a paywall.
If accurate, I'm off to get odds on that last name coming on and losing the match due to ill-discipline.
That all makes a fair degree of sense.
They've pretty much been fielding variations on what they think is their best team, so it was pretty unlikely they were going to throw babies out with bathwater - thankfully!!!!
A big part of their attack is going to be constructed around Jordan, so I'm sure there's massive reluctance to shift him to the wing - but, if they did for this match it would have been DMac rather than Love that makes most sense to play 15.
Wing is a bit of a mess, so I had no prediction on what they might do. Actually, I thought Clarke might play, but that got ruled out earlier. Narawa gets his chance over Reece. Rieko needs to show some weaponry!
They've hitched the wagon so far to Beauden, Jordie, Billy so no surprise that's who we've got. for the big game
If Ratima is even close to fit, I think he'll play (and start). Ten minutes from him at the start will be more use than 10 minutes at the end from Preston.
Thought Sititi was certainty to play 8 (meaning Ardie plays 7). I'm happier seeing Parker at 6, which is his best position - a slight dice roll on SBarrett, Vaa'i, Parker vs SBarrett, Holland, Vaaí. Don't mind it.
We've got our match fit props starting - EDG and Newell vs our (probably still) No. 1s Williams and Lomax, coming off the bench. I did wonder whether Tosi might still get the bench spot ahead of Tyrell.
Kirifi and ALB on the bench. I hope to see impact from Kirifi and no dumb shit from ALB.
Having outlined this logic, they'll probably name something completely different at the big naming... 
@pakman said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
If that’s the starting XV, bench ex locks will be Wessels, Van de Merwe, TDT, Quagga, Reinach, SFM.
The issue is TH lock where the usual suspects are out. LH would be choice of Nortje or Lood de Jager.
My hunch is that Nortje might start, with RGS providing impact off bench. Alternative being PSDT switching to TH lock and someone like Mostert coming off bench.
@Frank said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
They obviously love Parker
Helps he looks suspiciously like Graham Henry .
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
9-10-11, too many Blues…..
Never too early to get the excuses in
As a point of principle I'd love to reject this as humour or provincialism.
But I am afraid I agree with you.
On the starting locks though I am concerned we are losing a bit of height. Darry might have been useful. Glad Wallace is at 8. Happy with a Crusaders front row.
@Bones said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Helps he looks suspiciously like Graham Henry .
Parker = Laurie Mains.