The fact that Ennor gets selected in any AB team, regardless of injuries or lack of cattle, makes my balls shrink.
Japan
Match thread
All Blacks
Great to see Tupou Vaa'i get a start. I'm predicting him to become a world class Test forward in the next 12 months.
@sparky said in Japan v All Blacks:
Great to see Tupou Vaa'i get a start. I'm predicting him to become a world class Test forward in the next 12 months.
Because...?
I'm picking him to remain a small sized lock that plays like a bit of a journeyman.
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Japan v All Blacks:
The fact that Ennor gets selected in any AB team, regardless of injuries or lack of cattle, makes my balls shrink.
Jeez they must be pea sized by now. You fit in nicely around here.
@sparky said in Japan v All Blacks:
@Bones Courage, work rate and skills.
And he's a wee bit bigger than Maro Itoje say.
Yeah all Itoje has going for him is freakish athleticism and world class skills.
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Japan v All Blacks:
The fact that Ennor gets selected in any AB team, regardless of injuries or lack of cattle, makes my balls shrink.
Now that Bridge has gone he’s telling us all to hold his beer.
@sparky said in Japan v All Blacks:
And he's a wee bit bigger than Maro Itoje say.
Maybe some stats say that, but he definitely doesn't look or play like it.
@bayimports said in Japan v All Blacks:
"Foster said there could be a chance that Perofeta will move to first-five later in the game."
I wonder who will move where to fit this in
Havili to 15?
@Duluth said in Japan v All Blacks:
The 2018 match. Teams, highlights and top fern comments: https://www.thesilverfern.com/match/2018-11-03-japan-allblacks/
A number of unproven and new players in that side, a controversial captain selection and a midfield combo that is even more questionable than this one. And we put 60 on them.
@sparky said in Japan v All Blacks:
Great to see Tupou Vaa'i get a start. I'm predicting him to become a world class Test forward in the next 12 months.
It'll maybe take a bit longer than that. But, yeah, he has real potential (he's only 22) and good to see he's getting game time as he def. needs it.
@Crucial said in Japan v All Blacks:
@antipodean said in Japan v All Blacks:
@taniwharugby said in Japan v All Blacks:
30 mins after an AB team naming and only 5 posts about it...
Better side than I thought they'd name, the mid-field has potential, both ways!
We're going to leave a lot of points out there with Ennor as centre. I don't know why they persist with him there - he isn't a centre.
They reckon he has made huge progress during training over the year.
I’m a big critic as well but if they have managed to advance his abilities I would be happy. He’s a sizeable unit and could cover midfield/wing which is a good option to have (backup for Rieko).
I guess we will see.
I can understand the attraction: He's a big unit who is a very handy winger. More time at wing at Test level is difficult to find, especially in the last few years, so he'll have been stuck holding bags at training as they say.
@antipodean said in Japan v All Blacks:
@Crucial said in Japan v All Blacks:
@antipodean said in Japan v All Blacks:
@taniwharugby said in Japan v All Blacks:
30 mins after an AB team naming and only 5 posts about it...
Better side than I thought they'd name, the mid-field has potential, both ways!
We're going to leave a lot of points out there with Ennor as centre. I don't know why they persist with him there - he isn't a centre.
They reckon he has made huge progress during training over the year.
I’m a big critic as well but if they have managed to advance his abilities I would be happy. He’s a sizeable unit and could cover midfield/wing which is a good option to have (backup for Rieko).
I guess we will see.I can understand the attraction: He's a big unit who is a very handy winger. More time at wing at Test level is difficult to find, especially in the last few years, so he'll have been stuck holding bags at training as they say.
Lighter than Conrad Smith apparently.
Also struggles to tackle Irish midfielders.
@mariner4life said in Japan v All Blacks:
i didn't know the AB XV was playing Japan as well?
That's not a test team. That's disrespectful to the hosts. By fuck we're arrogant.
Yeah, when you take the Barrets out of the ABs we look decidedly weaker ay
@sparky said in Japan v All Blacks:
@MN5 said in Japan v All Blacks:
@antipodean said in Japan v All Blacks:
@taniwharugby said in Japan v All Blacks:
30 mins after an AB team naming and only 5 posts about it...
Better side than I thought they'd name, the mid-field has potential, both ways!
We're going to leave a lot of points out there with Ennor as centre. I don't know why they persist with him there - he isn't a centre.
For someone who’s not a centre he’s started there a lot at test level. 100% of the time if I’m not mistaken.
Ennor was dreadful at Centre against Italy last year.
And 1-12, 14-15 were any better? It wasn't until DC came on we actually played some footy.
Edit: DC started I see but the team was complete shit not helped by a ref who turned his arse cheeks to the ABs.
@Bones said in Japan v All Blacks:
@sparky said in Japan v All Blacks:
Great to see Tupou Vaa'i get a start. I'm predicting him to become a world class Test forward in the next 12 months.
Because...?
I'm picking him to remain a small sized lock that plays like a bit of a journeyman.
When PPP gets back they can upgrade to bloke with big frame.
@Joans-Town-Jones said in Japan v All Blacks:
@sparky said in Japan v All Blacks:
@MN5 said in Japan v All Blacks:
@antipodean said in Japan v All Blacks:
@taniwharugby said in Japan v All Blacks:
30 mins after an AB team naming and only 5 posts about it...
Better side than I thought they'd name, the mid-field has potential, both ways!
We're going to leave a lot of points out there with Ennor as centre. I don't know why they persist with him there - he isn't a centre.
For someone who’s not a centre he’s started there a lot at test level. 100% of the time if I’m not mistaken.
Ennor was dreadful at Centre against Italy last year.
And 1-12, 14-15 were any better? It wasn't until DC came on we actually played some footy.
Edit: DC started I see but the team was complete shit not helped by a ref who turned his arse cheeks to the ABs.
The first 30 minutes or so were scrappy as you would expect with so many new players. But we won 47-9 - which is about the average points spread against Italy since we started playing them. So hardly a "compete shit" performance, esp. since Foster was giving plenty of rookies like Lord, Vaa'i, QT, De Groot & Lomax starts. It was Christie who really excelled in that match.
I wouldn't be surprised to see something similar against Japan. I'm happy with that if it gives the new guys experience and an opportunity for the likes of Sotutu to build combinations.
PS: Did you know that Foster's AB's broke the world record for the most Test tries and points scored in a calendar year in that match?
@MN5 said in Japan v All Blacks:
@antipodean said in Japan v All Blacks:
@taniwharugby said in Japan v All Blacks:
30 mins after an AB team naming and only 5 posts about it...
Better side than I thought they'd name, the mid-field has potential, both ways!
We're going to leave a lot of points out there with Ennor as centre. I don't know why they persist with him there - he isn't a centre.
For someone who’s not a centre he’s started there a lot at test level. 100% of the time if I’m not mistaken.
some of us still claim savea isn't an 8 so im not sure where someone actually plays counts for much 
@Kiwiwomble said in Japan v All Blacks:
@MN5 said in Japan v All Blacks:
@antipodean said in Japan v All Blacks:
@taniwharugby said in Japan v All Blacks:
30 mins after an AB team naming and only 5 posts about it...
Better side than I thought they'd name, the mid-field has potential, both ways!
We're going to leave a lot of points out there with Ennor as centre. I don't know why they persist with him there - he isn't a centre.
For someone who’s not a centre he’s started there a lot at test level. 100% of the time if I’m not mistaken.
some of us still claim savea isn't an 8 so im not sure where someone actually plays counts for much
This is exactly the kind of sensible retort that I hoped no one would come up with.