From the team announcement for ozzie game, big guns mostly

The players that will travel to New Zealand on Tuesday are Steven Kitshoff (prop), Malcolm Marx (hooker), Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager (both locks), Franco Mostert and Jean-Luc du Preez (both utility forwards), Kwagga Smith (loose forward), Faf de Klerk (scrumhalf), Cheslin Kolbe and Makazole Mapimpi (both wings), Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel (both centres), and Kolisi. Jasper Wiese (loose forward) will join those players in New Zealand later in the week following the birth of his child on Monday..

How is Fozzie still the coach after losing to Argentina not only for the first time but at home and now in Mendoza?

@Joans-Town-Jones aged well...

As good as we were and as poor as Argentina were, particularly in the 1st half, next week will give us a better idea of where we are at.

Question is, who gets dropped?

Scott was excellent but we know the preference is BR and SW, and Lord stuck his hand up too (and we need to see him against a team like the Boks)

Samisoni is surely the only change to the front row?

I'd still like Finau to get a run at 6, think he is likely to bring a bit more physicality that Frizzel seems to lack against stronger sides.

In the backs, only change to start is likely if Telea is fit?

Then a few changes to bench with starting changes.

Stevenson in for Narawa

@Yeahtheboys said in All Blacks Vs Springboks RC Week 2:

Stevenson in for Narawa

Telea should be fit to play

@taniwharugby I would imagine there's some pre planned changes for this test already decided before they left NZ. I would think Mo'unga will start at 10 for example

What state are LF and Jordan in?

@KiwiMurph for sure...but not sure they will be changing too much, win or lose today.

Have to think next week is what might be closer to the 1st 15 (of those fit)

Williams and Newell on the bench please.

How about time to stop tinkering?

You get in because you’re the best in your position

Or the best in that position gets injured / has a shocker

I hope DMac and Narawa start again with Williams and Roigard getting minutes.

So, a nice start, something to build off

So what's the bet we throw it all out and start again with some serious rotation to get everyone game time

The joys of modern elite rugby.

@mariner4life said in All Blacks Vs Springboks RC Week 2:

So what's the bet we throw it all out and start again with some serious rotation to get everyone game time

The joys of modern elite rugby.

I know it's never coming back, but I will always miss the days when we could name THE All Blacks at any time of year. Dowd, Fitzpatrick, Brown, I. Jones, R. Brooke... and so on out to 15...

@Donsteppa said in All Blacks Vs Springboks RC Week 2:

@mariner4life said in All Blacks Vs Springboks RC Week 2:

So what's the bet we throw it all out and start again with some serious rotation to get everyone game time

The joys of modern elite rugby.

I know it's never coming back, but I will always miss the days when we could name THE All Blacks at any time of year. Dowd, Fitzpatrick, Brown, I. Jones, R. Brooke... and so on out to 15...

Me too. My default position is always that elite players are rested too often

But

We are victims of our disjointed calendar. Guys can't get meaningful game time except at test level, so you need to play different guys just to stop them going off the boil.

@booboo said in All Blacks Vs Springboks RC Week 2:

What state are LF and Jordan in?

I would think that Jordan is available as Chch to Auckland isn't a long distance flight.

You'd want your best scrummaging props for this game.

@Joans-Town-Jones said in All Blacks Vs Springboks RC Week 2:

How is Fozzie still the coach after losing to Argentina not only for the first time but at home and now in Mendoza?

Upvote for your possession of a time machine. Downvote for getting the result wrong...

I’d play something like:

Jordan, Stevenson, R. Ioane, J.Barrett, Leicester F, DMac, A.Smith, A. Savea, Cane (c), S. Barrett, S.Whitelock, Retallick, Lomax, Sami T, De Grott

Bench: Coles, Newell, Williams, Lord, Papali’i, Roigard, B.Barrett. A. Leinert-Brown

Whitelock and BBBR to start with Lord on the bench. Sami T to come in. Think backline will basically stay the same but Jordan and RM may start or get serious game time.

Halfback is an issue. Ideally you'd want an easier game than the Boks to get your debut but I hope Roigard is on the bench. Christie used to be solid coming on but no more - take a bit of a risk and give the new bloke a run.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks Vs Springboks RC Week 2:

long distance flight

Is that an/the issue? (Genuine question)

The only change I'd make to the backline is slotting Jordan in at 14 if he's available, otherwise leave as is, backs don't need rest as much as forwards, and they also need more time together than forwards do to gel as they are running plays at high pace so it has to be instinctive. I'll be very disappointed if there's wholesale changes there - only other change I can accept is RM at 10 to see what he can do with that backline.

Please Fozzie and co. (I know you are reading as most coaches get their tactics from this forum) give these guys as much time to gel as possible before the RWC knock-out stages.