A bit of discussion earlier in the thread about the ref, but it really should be about who the TMO is. He makes the actual big calls after all.
As an aside Ridley was the ref when our U20s were beaten by Wales in 2019. Some of the newer ABs will remember him fondly I’m sure. The TMO is Cronan, and the FPRO is our mate Damon. It was bad when Jonkers was “watching”* but it seems that things won’t improve.
*read “interfering”
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks v France 2:
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks v France 2:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v France 2:
@gt12 yeah, they've got a lock in Holland now that is built for test footy, and boy do we need his size. That added to Vaa'i completely outplaying Barrett last year has put them in a bit of a spot re: the three. Dropping Vaa'i when he's really come of age at test level would be crazy, and they can't drop their captain, but one of the shorter locks has to make way. The problems at 6 have given them a bit of an out so to speak, but it's dependent on Vaa'i making it work there, which is not that fair on him. If Vaa'i can make the transition from playing like a lock to more of a 6 then I can obviously see the big upside to that, but it's a risk.
If ardie looks impressive as captain in the rest of this series it could add a bit of spice to all this
Well Vaai was more effective at 6 last game than a lot of the 6s we have had over the past 2-3 years.
He's becoming a first rate player
Come on now, he wasn't all that good and the opposition were mediocre. He's become our best lock, but the jury is still out at 6.
Sorry I couldn’t get the back line for last week. Made up for it this week and getting Test 2’s nice and early.
Bench
21. C. Ratima
22. T. Tavatavanawai
23. D. McKenzie
Bench impact from Tavatavanawai and Dmac… top notch.
Stoked for Jim to be in line to get his debut. Awesome to see
@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France 2:
Sorry I couldn’t get the back line for last week. Made up for it this week and getting Test 2’s nice and early.
- C. Roigard
- B. Barrett
- C. Clarke
- J. Barrett
- B. Proctor
- R. Ioane
- W. Jordan
Bench
21. C. Ratima
22. T. Tavatavanawai
23. D. McKenzie
not huge changes and obvious injury based so im ok with it, pity Big Jim couldnt play last week in dunedin
Proctor and Ioane suck fat donkey dicks in test 1, but get to play again while the form midfielder of Super Rugby gets rissolled despite not putting a foot wrong when he got a chance.
These selectors are as cooked as they sound
Rieko looked sluggish in test 1 so he better show more attacking threat in this game. If the weather is shit there will be even more high balls.
The interest will be in the locks/loose forwards.
@mariner4life said in All Blacks v France 2:
Proctor and Ioane suck fat donkey dicks in test 1, but get to play again while the form midfielder of Super Rugby gets rissolled despite not putting a foot wrong when he got a chance.
These selectors are as cooked as they sound
I love a Chiefs fan rant as much as the next person who isn't a Chiefs fan but you have 3 quality 12s there and quite frankly they can't drop or bench Jordie after last week's effort, he was darn good.
So rotating QT and big Jim isn't that huge an insult, QT may play 13 but they probably see him as a 12. And they need to give Proctor another chance.
@george33 said in All Blacks v France 2:
Norris starting .
I suspect they're gonna try to run French forwards off their feet.
I just hope they don't kick/throw away too much ball to those French backs.
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France 2:
And they need to give Proctor another chance.
why? further proof this is not a high performance unit.
the old ideals are dead. RIP.
@mariner4life said in All Blacks v France 2:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France 2:
And they need to give Proctor another chance.
why? further proof this is not a high performance unit.
the old ideals are dead. RIP.
i admit i didn;t watch a lot of the canes play but i thought he generally played well this year? if so and we also admit that international is a big step up.....surely we need to give guys more than one game to complete that step up, first game is the reality check, we just want to see some improvement in the next outing
Got told to not be surprised to see a small bit of rotation in the forward pack as well. Didn’t manage to get names unfortunately.
@KiwiMurph he's not really a bench player, doesn't cover enough positions. Starts or not in the 23
@george33 said in All Blacks v France 2:
@KiwiMurph he's not really a bench player, doesn't cover enough positions. Starts or not in the 23
i get the feeling the coaches dont subscribe to the idea that at least some bench spots are almost specialist positions
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v France 2:
No QT looks like a pre planned change decided prior to last weekend.
How long did Tupaea get to play last weekend? Was it fifteen or so minutes? That doesn't seem significant enough to achieve much if players are going to be rotated. I really think they need to use the bench a bit better and start making changes earlier.
However, I do feel like they're looking for impact from the bench and Tavatavanawai looks like a good option potentially. it will be interesting to see how he goes. Hopefully they give him a decent run.
@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France 2:
Sorry I couldn’t get the back line for last week. Made up for it this week and getting Test 2’s nice and early.
- C. Roigard
- B. Barrett
- C. Clarke
- J. Barrett
- B. Proctor
- R. Ioane
- W. Jordan
Bench
21. C. Ratima
22. T. Tavatavanawai
23. D. McKenzie
Like that
@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France 2:
Got told to not be surprised to see a small bit of rotation in the forward pack as well. Didn’t manage to get names unfortunately.
Two changes to the bench in the forwards.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France 2:
@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France 2:
Got told to not be surprised to see a small bit of rotation in the forward pack as well. Didn’t manage to get names unfortunately.
Two changes to the bench in the forwards.
Keen to elaborate?
