@chris-b said in Bledisloe I:
@dogmeat The antipode of my place is the Valley of the Pig (Vale de Porco) in Portugal!
Tasty name
@chris-b said in Bledisloe I:
@dogmeat The antipode of my place is the Valley of the Pig (Vale de Porco) in Portugal!
the Hutt Valley of Europe
@mariner4life I live in the polar opposite - the local girls are stunners to a man...so to speak! 
@chris-b Small world - I have been there - or rather driven through on my way from Salamanca to Braganca in the mid 80's.
I have to say the locals were not an attractive bunch - neither physically nor socially. I had been in Portugal 5 minutes drove around a corner and a bunch of old pricks decided the funniest thing imaginable was to throw a cat under the wheels of my car.
@mariner4life said in Bledisloe I:
@shark said in Bledisloe I:
I'm obviously on the wind-up a little bit re ALB. But I am concerned about whether we have enough punch in midfield with ALB and Crotty together. In saying that, it worked ok in 2016 in a number of tests. I'll hardly throw my toys if they're named together though.
How about ALB at 12 with Goodhue as a long-term combination? I think ALB's size and jinking feet are possibly more suited to playing one further in, and his pace also might offer a counter-point if Goodhue is in fact found to be an ponderous as several people have suggested.
Is Goodhue slow? I was really hoping not.
ALB/Goodhue looks like the long term combo at this stage.
in open space he looks slow , but so did Conrad , he went ok
@shark said in Bledisloe I:
I'm obviously on the wind-up a little bit re ALB. But I am concerned about whether we have enough punch in midfield with ALB and Crotty together. In saying that, it worked ok in 2016 in a number of tests. I'll hardly throw my toys if they're named together though.
How about ALB at 12 with Goodhue as a long-term combination? I think ALB's size and jinking feet are possibly more suited to playing one further in, and his pace also might offer a counter-point if Goodhue is in fact found to be an ponderous as several people have suggested.
Wasn't it about 3 seasons ago when the midfield was Crotty/ALB for most of the tests? The best the midfield has looked since Nons and Connie.
@mariner4life it fits for them to be replaced by Ants and Ryzzaaaa.
Not sure pace is an issue for our midfield options. Other than when ALB played the Lions, all of our first choice options - Crotty, ALB, SBW have looked fine. Laumape hasn’t struggled for speed and I think Goodhues pace is fine.
Where our issues have been is with combination and fitness (ie not getting crook). I thought Crotty/ALB looked the goods a couple of years ago. ALB was young and eager and had a bit of edge to his game. Crotty was the organiser and Mr Reliable on defence.
A combination of Crottys injuries, ALBs second year form slump and SBW coming back, the selections have been a little all over the place and we have seen a few different combos that just quite haven’t hit the mark. Don’t get me wrong I think we are well served with these guys (although I worry about Laumapes defence) but we hope that guys can stay fit and build towards 2019 with the least interruption.
My concerns are backup hooker should Coles not get back to where he needs to be; loose forward bench option, back 3 combination.
@tim said in Bledisloe I:
Bones has been banned.
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@act-crusader said in Bledisloe I:
A combination of Crottys injuries, ALBs second year form slump and SBW coming back, the selections have been a little all over the place and we have seen a few different combos that just quite haven’t hit the mark. Don’t get me wrong I think we are well served with these guys (although I worry about Laumapes defence) but we hope that guys can stay fit and build towards 2019 with the least interruption.
I think we need to see a big hard running munter at 12. Like Laumape. I wouldn't be surprised to see 10 Barrett 12 Laumape 13 Crotty .
I guess that means 15 JB, 14 BFA, 11 God after a few weeks rest
@act-crusader yeah I really would have liked to see Makalio brought into the fold. Although I guess they've put their chips on Aumua so looking for him to make it back strong.
@mariner4life you got suckered.
@nzzp said in Bledisloe I:
@act-crusader said in Bledisloe I:
A combination of Crottys injuries, ALBs second year form slump and SBW coming back, the selections have been a little all over the place and we have seen a few different combos that just quite haven’t hit the mark. Don’t get me wrong I think we are well served with these guys (although I worry about Laumapes defence) but we hope that guys can stay fit and build towards 2019 with the least interruption.
I think we need to see a big hard running munter at 12. Like Laumape. I wouldn't be surprised to see 10 Barrett 12 Laumape 13 Crotty .
I guess that means 15 JB, 14 BFA, 11 God after a few weeks rest
Laumape definitely punches above his size, but he isn't big. Given he didn't make the original squad but was brought in because of SBW's injury, I'm not sure they see him as the answer.
@nzzp said in Bledisloe I:
@act-crusader said in Bledisloe I:
A combination of Crottys injuries, ALBs second year form slump and SBW coming back, the selections have been a little all over the place and we have seen a few different combos that just quite haven’t hit the mark. Don’t get me wrong I think we are well served with these guys (although I worry about Laumapes defence) but we hope that guys can stay fit and build towards 2019 with the least interruption.
I think we need to see a big hard running munter at 12. Like Laumape. I wouldn't be surprised to see 10 Barrett 12 Laumape 13 Crotty .
I guess that means 15 JB, 14 BFA, 11 God after a few weeks rest
I reckon 12. Crotty 13. ALB
DMac and Laumape on the bench for impact.
Everyone keeps moaning about our lack of right wings, while completely forgetting how good Beauds has been there. You're welcome.
If we want a stable centre pairing, then the solution is to stop picking SBW and Crotty. Neither are good for more than half the games, although SBW at least finishes when he starts, if he isn't red carded.
Picking the Crusaders pair to "give stability" sucks. Why not just pick Hall and Mo'unga as well? (which of course, some have asked for).
And picking Goodhue because our other centres are too small is beyond bizarre. He's exactly the same size as the other options.
@dogmeat said in Bledisloe I:
@barbarian said in Bledisloe I:
@mariner4life I'm in Switzerland, no idea how I'm going to watch the game.
After the last two Sydney Bledisloe matches I've decided that I am the problem. I'm the bad luck charm, and so have taken myself as far from the ground as feasibly possible.
Antipode of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
The opposite side of the world to Sydney is Relva, Azores, Portugal
If You're quick - there's still time
Mine
The opposite side of the world to Llandeilo is Papatowai, Otago, New Zealand.
Worth a trip?
@mikethesnow said in Bledisloe I:
@dogmeat said in Bledisloe I:
@barbarian said in Bledisloe I:
@mariner4life I'm in Switzerland, no idea how I'm going to watch the game.
After the last two Sydney Bledisloe matches I've decided that I am the problem. I'm the bad luck charm, and so have taken myself as far from the ground as feasibly possible.
Antipode of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
The opposite side of the world to Sydney is Relva, Azores, Portugal
If You're quick - there's still timeMine
The opposite side of the world to Llandeilo is Papatowai, Otago, New Zealand.Worth a trip?
Hell yeah, the Catlins are a sensational part of NZ. Chronically underrated.
@chester-draws said in Bledisloe I:
If we want a stable centre pairing, then the solution is to stop picking SBW and Crotty. Neither are good for more than half the games, although SBW at least finishes when he starts, if he isn't red carded.
Picking the Crusaders pair to "give stability" sucks. Why not just pick Hall and Mo'unga as well? (which of course, some have asked for).
And picking Goodhue because our other centres are too small is beyond bizarre. He's exactly the same size as the other options.
Goodhue is marginally bigger at 1.87m and 98kg but for some reason he looks a lot bigger than that. Possibly due to his guns. Which may also be why he appears ponderous to some.
@chester-draws said in Bledisloe I:
If we want a stable centre pairing, then the solution is to stop picking SBW and Crotty. Neither are good for more than half the games, although SBW at least finishes when he starts, if he isn't red carded.
Picking the Crusaders pair to "give stability" sucks. Why not just pick Hall and Mo'unga as well? (which of course, some have asked for).
And picking Goodhue because our other centres are too small is beyond bizarre. He's exactly the same size as the other options.
Sounds good.
J. Moody
C. Taylor
O. Franks
T. Chief
S. Whitelock
S. Barrett
M. Todd
K. Read
B. Hall
R. Mo’unga
T. Blue
R. Crotty
J. Goodhue
T. Lander
T. Cane
Every franchise represented.
@chester-draws Oddly, ALB looked quicker on his feet than ever before towards the end of the SR season, too.
@nzzp said in Bledisloe I:
@mikethesnow said in Bledisloe I:
@dogmeat said in Bledisloe I:
@barbarian said in Bledisloe I:
@mariner4life I'm in Switzerland, no idea how I'm going to watch the game.
After the last two Sydney Bledisloe matches I've decided that I am the problem. I'm the bad luck charm, and so have taken myself as far from the ground as feasibly possible.
Antipode of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
The opposite side of the world to Sydney is Relva, Azores, Portugal
If You're quick - there's still timeMine
The opposite side of the world to Llandeilo is Papatowai, Otago, New Zealand.Worth a trip?
Hell yeah, the Catlins are a sensational part of NZ. Chronically underrated.
Cheers. Looks uncannily like where I am
All Blacks team
ANZ Stadium, Sydney, 10.05pm
15: Ben Smith
14: Waisake Naholo
13: Jack Goodhue
12: Ryan Crotty
11: Rieko Ioane
10: Beauden Barrett
9: Aaron Smith
8: Kieran Read (c)
7: Sam Cane
6: Liam Squire
5: Sam Whitelock
4: Brodie Retallick
3: Owen Franks
2: Codie Taylor
1: Joe Moody
- Nathan Harris
- Karl Tu'inukuafe
- Ofa Tuungafasi
- Scott Barrett
- Ardie Savea
- TJ Perenara
- Damian McKenzie
- Anton Lienert-Brown
Ah. Read and Retallick. Just looks better than the French series.
Happy with that especially Goodhue starting. Only qualm is 14, but I prefer the guy from marketing (or is it IT or maybe accounts, I forget) at 15.
I feel a lot better with Smith at full back.
Just looked up the team that played in Dunners last year - this team isn't that far off at all - DMac at fullback, and the midfield are the real significant changes.
I can't really remember that game, but reading the player ratings it was the midfield that let us down / broke down early due to head knocks:
Ryan Crotty 6: Not up to his usual high standards, as went off twice for head assessments (second permanent). Left for dead by Foley in his try and early tackle on Folau rubbed one out for Ioane. Will bounce back.
Sonny Bill Williams 7: Poor start with four early handling errors. But tidied his play after that and came into his own in second half with some nice offloads in the tackle. A night when the chances came outside his channels.
Excited to see how Crotty and Goodhue work out with a different support cast around them.
@jaycee said in Bledisloe I:
I feel a lot better with Smith at full back.
Just looked up the team that played in Dunners last year - this team isn't that far off at all - DMac at fullback, and the midfield are the real significant changes.
wasn't Lima starting at 10 in Dunners ?
@mikethesnow said in Bledisloe I:
@dogmeat said in Bledisloe I:
@barbarian said in Bledisloe I:
@mariner4life I'm in Switzerland, no idea how I'm going to watch the game.
After the last two Sydney Bledisloe matches I've decided that I am the problem. I'm the bad luck charm, and so have taken myself as far from the ground as feasibly possible.
Antipode of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
The opposite side of the world to Sydney is Relva, Azores, Portugal
If You're quick - there's still timeMine
The opposite side of the world to Llandeilo is Papatowai, Otago, New Zealand.Worth a trip?
Be careful if you are planning on drilling through to get there. I think your map is a bit wonky. You’ll end up drowning in the southern ocean
Interesting calls on Goodhue and Naholo although I think the latter benefits from wanting BFA at 15.
Don’t mind Goodhue there just expected them to go for match experience.
ALB is possibly being looked at as the new Kahui. Might see him as center/wing cover
Two power wingers is not the AB norm nowadays, and vs Folau. I reckon they'll be peppered and turned, if the Ozzies have any sense. Interesting to see how goodhue goes again, at least he vs a crappy new Ozzie midfield. If they shut down Beale, it's all over in the midfield. Squire and cane better pick up their game vs pooper, we have the way better tight five, esp locks.
Naholo's complete meltdown in the quarter final rewarded with a start in the first Bledisloe.
I remember saying it in 2015 I think it was, but it's worth noting Naholo is actually pretty good under the high ball, at least as good as NMS. He's worthy of his selection and I'm sure will show that. Oh but wait what about when he played shit in a super game...
Also happy to see BFA at fullback. DMac will be injected in the 2nd half with Smith moving to the right wing.
My biggest concern is the loose forward cover, particularly if there was an early injury to Read or Squire. There are options using Cane or Barrett at 6 and Savea at 8 but none are ideal.