@Landers92 I like the look of that. Ratima will need a much better game than he had last weekend.
The AB coaches are obviously adding some extra locks for their training sessions. Laghlan McWhannell and Dylan Eti were shown on TV tonight, and I am sure Hugo Plummer was there in Wellington. There will be other bodies to make up the numbers.
@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France III:
I don’t mind seeing different combinations. In my opinion though, if the backline has that many changes we better not have too many in the forward pack or else it could all be quite clunky.
We moan we don’t rotate and get other players/combinations out there, when that does happen we moan about who gets rotated and we don’t see certain players in certain positions. It’s a pretty hard balancing act.
I’m happy with this backline if all we see is a swap for Vaa’i and maybe a rotation at the prop positions. Bold if Razor is going for heavy rotation in the pack too.
FWIW, I’ll continue to post any AB oil I hear for this match in this match thread. I promise I’m not actually in the AB camp in any capacity
I don’t know. They could have their first choice backline and, for example, swap out one inside and one outside back each week or just swap out the halfback and first five or the two midfielders. Two players not in their favoured starting lineup each week and if someone stands out while amongst the core group, they might stay on for the next week. No need for wholesale changes every third or fourth week.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks v France III:
The AB coaches are obviously adding some extra locks for their training sessions. Laghlan McWhannell and Dylan Eti were shown on TV tonight, and I am sure Hugo Plummer was there in Wellington. There will be other bodies to make up the numbers.
Never heard of Eti. Plummer is vaguely familiar.
@Landers92 cheers landers, would hope Narawa gets another shot in the championship would hate too see him get 1 cap for 3 years straight
@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:
Never heard of Eti. Plummer is vaguely familiar.
Eti is a Chiefs U20/Chiefs NDC/NZ U20 player. Plummer plays for Wellington.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks v France III:
@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:
Never heard of Eti. Plummer is vaguely familiar.
Eti is a Chiefs U20/Chiefs NDC/NZ U20 player. Plummer plays for Wellington.
Plummer also plays for the Canes.
On the pack I’m thinking Savea, Holland and Taylor will start - captain, only 100% fit lock, need to keep some experience in there.
Tosi could do with more game time. Bower is an option also.
Are there any fit locks around if Patty is ruled out?
If Luke J is fit, I would bring him in. Add in Finau as they obviously see him as the number two #6 for this series.
@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.
In general, I'd favour as few changes in the forwards and picking as strong a pack as possible given injuries. Beating France (even without the players to choose to keep in Europe) in all three Tests will be a sweet achievement.
@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.
I thought the first test he wasn’t too bad. Came on and did a number of things that had a positive impact.
Last weekend wasn’t great. He just needs one of those tests where he knuckles down and makes his tackles, create havoc at the tackle by playing quick off set piece and then provides at least 5-7 runs.
@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
@Landers92 I like the look of that. Ratima will need a much better game than he had last weekend.
Went well Test I
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
Are there any fit locks around if Patty is ruled out?
That's why I was trying to figure out what the issue would be with Ah Kuoi playing.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.
I thought the first test he wasn’t too bad. Came on and did a number of things that had a positive impact.
Last weekend wasn’t great. He just needs one of those tests where he knuckles down and makes his tackles, create havoc at the tackle by playing quick off set piece and then provides at least 5-7 runs.
Well he had to play lock. He was fine. He contributed well to the breakdown, lineout, scrum and was accurate.
Kirifi was more of worry. Came on and gave away 3 penalties and turned the ball over within 20 minutes.
@Bones said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
Are there any fit locks around if Patty is ruled out?
That's why I was trying to figure out what the issue would be with Ah Kuoi playing.
Haven’t heard anything concrete yet. At the very least we will need one new lock on the bench with Vaa’i out.
@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.
I thought the first test he wasn’t too bad. Came on and did a number of things that had a positive impact.
Last weekend wasn’t great. He just needs one of those tests where he knuckles down and makes his tackles, create havoc at the tackle by playing quick off set piece and then provides at least 5-7 runs.
Well he had to play lock. He was fine. He contributed well to the breakdown, lineout, scrum and was accurate.
Kirifi was more of worry. Came on and gave away 3 penalties and turned the ball over within 20 minutes.
It wasn’t the position that was the problem as the set piece wasn’t the issue. It was more about what he was and wasn’t doing around the park.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
@Bones said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
Are there any fit locks around if Patty is ruled out?
That's why I was trying to figure out what the issue would be with Ah Kuoi playing.
Haven’t heard anything concrete yet. At the very least we will need one new lock on the bench with Vaa’i out.
Might have been another thread where he was mentioned as an idiotic replacement (or some such) for PT.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.
I thought the first test he wasn’t too bad. Came on and did a number of things that had a positive impact.
Last weekend wasn’t great. He just needs one of those tests where he knuckles down and makes his tackles, create havoc at the tackle by playing quick off set piece and then provides at least 5-7 runs.
Well he had to play lock. He was fine. He contributed well to the breakdown, lineout, scrum and was accurate.
Kirifi was more of worry. Came on and gave away 3 penalties and turned the ball over within 20 minutes.
It wasn’t the position that was the problem as the set piece wasn’t the issue. It was more about what he was and wasn’t doing around the park.
Possibly because he's busy trying to come to terms with being a blindside flanker at this level and then was shoved into playing another.
It's this level of midwittery that has me worried about the coaches.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.
I thought the first test he wasn’t too bad. Came on and did a number of things that had a positive impact.
Last weekend wasn’t great. He just needs one of those tests where he knuckles down and makes his tackles, create havoc at the tackle by playing quick off set piece and then provides at least 5-7 runs.
Well he had to play lock. He was fine. He contributed well to the breakdown, lineout, scrum and was accurate.
Kirifi was more of worry. Came on and gave away 3 penalties and turned the ball over within 20 minutes.
It wasn’t the position that was the problem as the set piece wasn’t the issue. It was more about what he was and wasn’t doing around the park.
Ok so you're saying the set piece wasn't an issue?
If a flanker is called to play lock and then the scrum is strong and stable, and we win all our lineout ball, then that's a win. We defended the maul well when he was on. His cleans were accurate and effective. He performed his core roles well as a lock.
Anything else is a bonus. He made some good tackles and a few carries. We didn't have a lot of possession for him to make 5 or 7 carries and that is not the primary role of a lock that comes on for 20 minutes.
He was involved in two breakdowns that won us penalties. He got his hand under the ball when Taofifenua busted over the line.
Not sure what else were you guys expecting? He makes a run down the side line like Issac Ross?
@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:
Issac
I still don't understand how that is the go-to spelling.
@Nepia said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
Too many Chiefs
Too many Reece's.
Totally. Why Reece over Narawa? Surely not just “work rate”.
Hate the quantity of changes, totally agree with @mariner4life post earlier. Sets these poor buggers up for failure. Especially if we see a few changes in the forward pack leading to our ball being slow/messy
@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France III:
Here you go. Very early this week which is nice. Backline for week 3.
- Ratima
- Dmac
- Ioane
- Tupaea
- ALB
- Reece
- Love
Bench
21. Hotham
22. Tavatavanawai
23. B.Barrett
How about the following then?
- De Groot
- Taylor
- Newell (Lomax)
- Holland
- Tuipolutu
- Finau
- A. Savea (c)
- Jacobson
- Ratima
- DMac
- R. Ioane
- Tupaea
- ALB
- Reece
- Love
- Norris
- McAlister
- Tosi
- Ah Kuoi
- Kirifi
- Hotham
- Tavatavanawai
- B. Barrett
@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France III:
Here you go. Very early this week which is nice. Backline for week 3.
- Ratima
- Dmac
- Ioane
- Tupaea
- ALB
- Reece
- Love
Bench
21. Hotham
22. Tavatavanawai
23. B.BarrettHow about the following then?
- De Groot
- Taylor
- Newell (Lomax)
- Holland
- Tuipolutu
- Finau
- A. Savea (c)
- Jacobson
- Ratima
- DMac
- R. Ioane
- Tupaea
- ALB
- Reece
- Love
- Norris
- McAlister
- Tosi
- Ah Kuoi
- Kirifi
- Hotham
- Tavatavanawai
- B. Barrett
Jesus, you'd struggle to find a greener bench even in the French team.
@Bones said in All Blacks v France III:
@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France III:
Here you go. Very early this week which is nice. Backline for week 3.
- Ratima
- Dmac
- Ioane
- Tupaea
- ALB
- Reece
- Love
Bench
21. Hotham
22. Tavatavanawai
23. B.BarrettHow about the following then?
- De Groot
- Taylor
- Newell (Lomax)
- Holland
- Tuipolutu
- Finau
- A. Savea (c)
- Jacobson
- Ratima
- DMac
- R. Ioane
- Tupaea
- ALB
- Reece
- Love
- Norris
- McAlister
- Tosi
- Ah Kuoi
- Kirifi
- Hotham
- Tavatavanawai
- B. Barrett
Jesus, you'd struggle to find a greener bench even in the French team.
It’s not called a “Bench” anymore bro, that’s our “Impact”
Norris is worth persevering with IMHO and with experience he might offer more than De Groot.
Robertson has said all the squad originally named will play at some point so unless you're going to start McAlister, he will be on the bench. He's a better player than Bell IMHO.
I've read this morning that Lomax is in training so hopefully he starts or is on the bench.
With so many locks injured Ah Kuoi is next cab out of the bench. He might even be a starter if Patty T is injured with IWL the next cab off the rank, unless anyone has any better suggestions of uninjured NZ locks?
Papalii offers more than Kirifi IMHO but I think Kirifi will be given another chance.
Hotham and Big Jim have earned their opportunities.
Beauden Barrett has 136 international caps which is 76 more than the starting French XV last Saturday.
@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France III:
Here you go. Very early this week which is nice. Backline for week 3.
- Ratima
- Dmac
- Ioane
- Tupaea
- ALB
- Reece
- Love
Bench
21. Hotham
22. Tavatavanawai
23. B.BarrettHow about the following then?
- De Groot
- Taylor
- Newell (Lomax)
- Holland
- Tuipolutu
- Finau
- A. Savea (c)
- Jacobson
- Ratima
- DMac
- R. Ioane
- Tupaea
- ALB
- Reece
- Love
- Norris
- McAlister
- Tosi
- Ah Kuoi
- Kirifi
- Hotham
- Tavatavanawai
- B. Barrett
Give Taylor a rest and start Sami. If Lomax a 100, Fletch also gets a spell. Might reduce greenness to let Norris have a start and keep EDG or Bower to be old head amongst finishers. I'd like to see Paps get some minutes, although recognise that's unlikely.
Taylor is our best player at the minute and with the disruption to the Locks I want Mr Reliable throwing into the lineout from our first one of the game.
Norris is still a bit behind De Groot but may have the higher ceiling.
Lomax if fit to go should either start or be on the bench.
Our experienced locks are broken so it's time to put faith in the depth chart there.
I'm a big fan of Dalton Papalii. He's a superb player but he seems to have done something to annoy the coaches.
@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
Norris is worth persevering with IMHO and with experience he might offer more than De Groot.
Robertson has said all the squad originally named will play at some point so unless you're going to start McAlister, he will be on the bench. He's a better player than Bell IMHO.
I've read this morning that Lomax is in training so hopefully he starts or is on the bench.
With so many locks injured Ah Kuoi is next cab out of the bench. He might even be a starter if Patty T is injured with IWL the next cab off the rank, unless anyone has any better suggestions of uninjured NZ locks?
Papalii offers more than Kirifi IMHO but I think Kirifi will be given another chance.
Hotham and Big Jim are earned their opportunities.
Beauden Barrett has 136 international caps which is 76 more than the starting French XV last Saturday.
I'm not arguing, just making an observation.
@antipodean said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.
I thought the first test he wasn’t too bad. Came on and did a number of things that had a positive impact.
Last weekend wasn’t great. He just needs one of those tests where he knuckles down and makes his tackles, create havoc at the tackle by playing quick off set piece and then provides at least 5-7 runs.
Well he had to play lock. He was fine. He contributed well to the breakdown, lineout, scrum and was accurate.
Kirifi was more of worry. Came on and gave away 3 penalties and turned the ball over within 20 minutes.
It wasn’t the position that was the problem as the set piece wasn’t the issue. It was more about what he was and wasn’t doing around the park.
Possibly because he's busy trying to come to terms with being a blindside flanker at this level and then was shoved into playing another.
It's this level of midwittery that has me worried about the coaches.
I don’t see the problem. We had subbed off Patty and moved Vaa’i to lock. Nothing we haven’t seen before and nothing that previous coaches haven’t done.
The unfortunate thing was losing Vaa’i to the HIA a few minutes later. Vaa’i failed his HiA and we had to being CLW back on.
The question is, was Patty injured and that’s why he didn’t come back on. He is now under a cloud for test 3.
That’s just unfortunate luck really. From a set piece perspective we were okay with Finau covering for the loss of two locks.
@voodoo said in All Blacks v France III:
@Nepia said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
Too many Chiefs
Too many Reece's.
Totally. Why Reece over Narawa? Surely not just “work rate”.
Razor said he wanted to give every one in the original squad a run.
Reece only had a rrrr….
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
@voodoo said in All Blacks v France III:
@Nepia said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
Too many Chiefs
Too many Reece's.
Totally. Why Reece over Narawa? Surely not just “work rate”.
Razor said he wanted to give every one in the original squad a run.
Reece only had a rrrr….
Had his body actually progressed past halfway, or did he just nod?
@Canes4life said in All Blacks v France III:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks v France III:
Finau at 6 and Jacobson at no.7 or 8 for me.
Good shout, I think I'd prefer Jacobsen at 7 and Savea at 8, simply because Ardie's more explosive on attack.
If Jacobsen's the safe utility choice, use him in that role along with RD's ability to switch between 7 & 8.
@antipodean said in All Blacks v France III:
@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks v France III:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks v France III:
Love might get a start at fullback.
Flanker/lock Tupou Vaa'i failed his HIA after his head knock in the late stages of Saturday's Test, and lock Patrick Tuipulotu and fullback Will Jordan have both suffered niggling knee injuries.
If Tuipolotu is down as well, that likely means Ah Koui starts and Finau comes into the reserves.
If Ah Kuoi is starting at lock I'd rather see Finau start at 6. At this stage they should bring another lock into the squad as cover.
Laughable that Ah Kuoi can be considered a replacement for what Tuipolotu brings.
These selections are fucking retarded.
Next cab off the rank? Unless they un-injure Scooter...
@Canes4life said in All Blacks v France III:
12 Tupaea 13. Proctor
Very untested combo. Dead Rubber. Will Robertson chance his arm?