All Blacks vs Fiji

@Winger said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@Winger said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@reprobate said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

We are missing Samisoni. He is powerful enough to make yards and get momentum against a set defence. I'd love to see him start and Aumua come on late. But then if we keep Taylor and drop Aumua we don't gain that much anyway.

Unsure why they don't bring on Aumua earlier. Especially when Taylor is having a poorish game

Team needs better ball carriers. And passers.

Gotta say Aumua has looked good so far, and I think lineouts were better when he arrived? But I might have got that wrong..

Don't think he's lost a lineout so far. Hope he starts this week.

He did in test one. When he went to throw and stopped

True, he’s done what’s asked of him so far though tbh. Taylor seems to be struggling with form like Barrett and Savea so would be good to give Aumua a run.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@Winger said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@Winger said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@reprobate said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

We are missing Samisoni. He is powerful enough to make yards and get momentum against a set defence. I'd love to see him start and Aumua come on late. But then if we keep Taylor and drop Aumua we don't gain that much anyway.

Unsure why they don't bring on Aumua earlier. Especially when Taylor is having a poorish game

Team needs better ball carriers. And passers.

Gotta say Aumua has looked good so far, and I think lineouts were better when he arrived? But I might have got that wrong..

Don't think he's lost a lineout so far. Hope he starts this week.

He did in test one. When he went to throw and stopped

True, he’s done what’s asked of him so far though tbh. Taylor seems to be struggling with form like Barrett and Savea so would be good to give Aumua a run.

I don't know if Taylor is struggling with form? The lineout wasn't functioning in the second Test but that can hardly be attributed solely to Taylor.

That doesn't mean it's not worth giving Aumua a go by any means.

@Winger said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

Gotta say Aumua has looked good so far, and I think lineouts were better when he arrived? But I might have got that wrong..

Don't think he's lost a lineout so far. Hope he starts this week.

He did in test one. When he went to throw and stopped

yes sorry I was really thinking about test 2, should have qualified.

1. Tamaiti Williams (7)

2. Asafo Aumua (8)

3. Fletcher Newell (15)

4. Scott Barrett (71) (Captain)

5. Tupou Vaa’i (27)

6. Luke Jacobson (20)

7. Ethan Blackadder (10)

8. Ardie Savea (83) (Vice Captain)

9. Cortez Ratima (1)

10. Damian McKenzie (49)

11. Caleb Clarke (20)

12. Anton Lienert-Brown (72)

13. Billy Proctor (0)*

14. Sevu Reece (25)

15. Beauden Barrett (125)

16. George Bell (0)*

17. Ethan De Groot (24)

18. Pasilio Tosi (0)*

19. Sam Darry (0)*

20. Wallace Sititi (0)*

21. Noah Hotham (0)*

22. Jordie Barrett (59) (Vice Captain)

23. Emoni Narawa (1)

6 Newbies, is that a recent record?

Or did we have that in that Japan test a few years back.

Will likely be messy but still happy to see the debutants

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

Will likely be messy but still happy to see the debutants

It's definitely a more exciting 23 than the first 2 tests.

7 Crusaders
7 Chiefs
5 Canes
3 Blues
1 Highlander

Noah's parents are currently in the UK watching the eldest son in the Touch World Cup before heading to Paris for the sevens. I wonder if they will be making a quick trip to San Diego now.

I'm really liking that loose forward trio. Probably better balanced than the first two tests IMO. Sititi coming off the bench for impact will be awesome.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

I'm really liking that loose forward trio. Probably better balanced than the first two tests IMO. Sititi coming off the bench for impact will be awesome.

By balance you mean three 7.5s ?

I see we no longer have a bench, we have "Impact"

Sounds pretty good

@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

I'm really liking that loose forward trio. Probably better balanced than the first two tests IMO. Sititi coming off the bench for impact will be awesome.

Ethan at 7 feels slow. Hope he goes well, but I'd swap him and Luke.

My concern rests largely with the bench which is short of the experience required to steady the ship if this is in the balance with 20 to go.

@antipodean said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

I'm really liking that loose forward trio. Probably better balanced than the first two tests IMO. Sititi coming off the bench for impact will be awesome.

By balance you mean three 7.5s ?

It will be interesting to see who goes where when Sititi comes on. Does Savea move to 7? Blackadder can't be a realistic option at 6 if he isn't starting there.

This will be a mess with so many changes and debutants, should be too good for Fiji - who are struggling to get their team together - but messy open test. As long as not too error strewn it should be a fun one

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

I'm really liking that loose forward trio. Probably better balanced than the first two tests IMO. Sititi coming off the bench for impact will be awesome.

Ethan at 7 feels slow. Hope he goes well, but I'd swap him and Luke.

Richie McCaw was slow, he was still effective. Considering Ethan's the GOAT, I think he'll do just fine.

I like it. However I agree that Jordie and Proctor in the centres would have made more sense.

That explains who the 2nd 6 in the squad is then

@antipodean said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

I'm really liking that loose forward trio. Probably better balanced than the first two tests IMO. Sititi coming off the bench for impact will be awesome.

By balance you mean three 7.5s ?

i am looking forward to caners hammering A Savea next year when he is a Blues player

@mariner4life said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@antipodean said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

I'm really liking that loose forward trio. Probably better balanced than the first two tests IMO. Sititi coming off the bench for impact will be awesome.

By balance you mean three 7.5s ?

i am looking forward to caners hammering A Savea next year when he is a Blues player

Rancid bait!

@chimoaus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

6 Newbies, is that a recent record?

Only 84 caps on the bench impact would be a low for some time.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

I'm really liking that loose forward trio. Probably better balanced than the first two tests IMO. Sititi coming off the bench for impact will be awesome.

Ethan at 7 feels slow. Hope he goes well, but I'd swap him and Luke.

Richie McCaw was slow, he was still effective. Considering Ethan's the GOAT, I think he'll do just fine.

he slowed down late career, but early on he was quick to teh breakdown. My memory was he wasn't top tier speed, but he certainly was up there when he was younger.

Look, I hope you're right ... but we've got 3x7.5 in the trio. Should b einteresting with all the new players coming through

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

I'm really liking that loose forward trio. Probably better balanced than the first two tests IMO. Sititi coming off the bench for impact will be awesome.

Ethan at 7 feels slow. Hope he goes well, but I'd swap him and Luke.

Richie McCaw was slow, he was still effective. Considering Ethan's the GOAT, I think he'll do just fine.

he slowed down late career, but early on he was quick to teh breakdown. My memory was he wasn't top tier speed, but he certainly was up there when he was younger.

Look, I hope you're right ... but we've got 3x7.5 in the trio. Should b einteresting with all the new players coming through

I think this trio will go fine against Fiji, would be different if we were playing a bigger pack.

@Daffy-Jaffy said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

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What a rise for Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula. He was in the Hurricanes Under 20s behind Harry Godfrey not long ago and now he's the starting 10 for both the Drua and the Fijian national side. Awesome to see.

@Canes4life watched him live a couple of times and for a smallish 1st 5 he plays a robust style. Has quick feet like his uncle too!

Has TAB released odds on the different types of injuries that Blackadder might pick up?

Predictable team. No surprises.

How good is afternoon Rugby ? Perfect excuse to tuck into the home brew instead of doing chores. Can’t wait !

@antipodean said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

My concern rests largely with the bench which is short of the experience required to steady the ship if this is in the balance with 20 to go.

Eleven changes to the starting XV from last week, but it doesn't look like a massive step down in quality. There's half a dozen who could easily play better than the guy they've replaced.

Will be pretty uncomfortable if it's close with 20 minutes to go - we've got de Groot and Jordie to steady the ship, but not much else.

Hopefully, I won't need to be shouting advice at my TV. Even though Fiji has knocked off some big teams in recent times, I think we know how to play them better than most. Wouldn't want an early red card - though maybe it's now 20 minute red cards in tests?

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@Canes4life watched him live a couple of times and for a smallish 1st 5 he plays a robust style. Has quick feet like his uncle too!

Yeah it sucked seem him leave the Canes but awesome to see him play for his Fijian sides. They’ll be a lot stronger for it when he develops further.

@Chris-B said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@antipodean said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

Jordie to steady the ship,

Even that’s a stretch at times.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@Chris-B said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@antipodean said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

Jordie to steady the ship,

Even that’s a stretch at times.

Made me grin a bit.

A bit harsh.

If things are close, I'll be pretty pleased to see Jordie running out

That seems an under strength Fijian team too. No Botia Tuisova Matavesi Masi Ravutaumada etc. Are both teams treating this like a bit of an exhibition match? Could be plenty of action if they do. But not so good for the diehard fans who want to see all the best players from both teams.

This AB team excites me. Big congrats to all the new caps.

Heading to the match on Friday so hopefully there's plenty of running action! Definitely the teams for it...

@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

Richie McCaw was slow, he was still effective

Mary Holah was slow.

McCaw wasn't