Recovering after minor op, and using time to reflect on selectors' conundrum. To me it will almost be an NZ XV vs French XV, rather than a full blooded AB game. With the famous five and hints from Shag I've pieced together a plan:
Barbarians (Guy Fawkes Day, NZT)
Hames/Taylor/Laulala/Cane/Romero/Barrett (S)/Squire/Kaino/Nugget/[Barrett (B)]/Laumape/Crotty [13]/Seta T/Naholo/Duffie
Bench: Ofa/Harris/JTA/Pat T/Todd/ThomasJP/Lima/ALB
Not sure state of BB's noggin. Shag has said ALB and Duffie will be involved, so latter at fullback to allow DMac a start against French. If BB in doubt, Lima to start and DMac to bench.
NZ Development XV
Perry/Harris/JTA/Savea/Pat T/Bird/Fifita/Kaino/TKB/DMac/ALB/Goodhue/Ioane/Duffie/Havili
Bench: Crockett/Aumua/Moli/Hunt/Whitelock/Drummond/Mo'unga/Seta T
Picking Ioane will get a run to blow out some cobwebs. Whitelock probably needs a tune so imagine 20 minutes at end. Matter for the Wise Men as to whether famous five start or on bench.








