All Blacks v Springboks I

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

If it is about balancing skillsets within the current squad and what is required to play against the Boks both defensively and in attack, my back three would be

15: J. Barrett
14: W. Jordan
11: C. Clarke

This has the best chance of attacking the midfield bombs whilst still covering the back when they do. It has the running game to challenge the Boks defence which has been shown up to be porous against the Aussies.

But back to reality…..

I would like to see a change in the midfield but not necessarily Jordie. I think Razor needs to get Jordie and Quinn together.

Narawa is decent in the air but needs to up his workrate.

Who would you play in the midfield with that back three?

@Frank said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

If it is about balancing skillsets within the current squad and what is required to play against the Boks both defensively and in attack, my back three would be

15: J. Barrett
14: W. Jordan
11: C. Clarke

This has the best chance of attacking the midfield bombs whilst still covering the back when they do. It has the running game to challenge the Boks defence which has been shown up to be porous against the Aussies.

But back to reality…..

I would like to see a change in the midfield but not necessarily Jordie. I think Razor needs to get Jordie and Quinn together.

Narawa is decent in the air but needs to up his workrate.

Who would you play in the midfield with that back three?

The trade off would be retaining Proctor and having Quinn at 2nd 5.

No time like the present Razor.

Or Jordie QT midfield.
Wings Jordan, Clarke and Love fullback.
I would go with this combination

I think Jordan is equally effective at wing or fullback.
Love deserves a chance

I dunno whether QT can defend that well at 13, I've never really felt comfortable with him there for the Chiefs.

He has played there on occasion, and he does likely have the speed to defend the outside there, but he's a traditional 12 in my eyes and I'm not sure that extra space would really suit his game.

. It could be a bit of a Bernie selection though if he was moved there and really flourished. It would also make him very useful as we really don't have any midfielders comfortable at 12 and 13 - that's essentially why ALB is still pretty much undroppable as a squaddie.

@gt12 said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

.
. It could be a bit of a Bernie selection though if he was moved there and really flourished. It would also make him very useful as we really don't have any midfielders comfortable at 12 and 13 - that's essentially why ALB is still pretty much undroppable as a squaddie.

I'm not sure if that is your opinion or your view hof the coaches, but I personally think ALB is no longer enough of a useful glue player at 12 or 13, no longer safe enough, speedy enough or sharp enough...

I'd go:

11 Caleb Clarke
14 Will Jordan
15 Ruben Love

But I think we'll see the same back 3 as against Argentina.

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@gt12 said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

.
. It could be a bit of a Bernie selection though if he was moved there and really flourished. It would also make him very useful as we really don't have any midfielders comfortable at 12 and 13 - that's essentially why ALB is still pretty much undroppable as a squaddie.

I'm not sure if that is your opinion or your view hof the coaches, but I personally think ALB is no longer enough of a useful glue player at 12 or 13, no longer safe enough, speedy enough or sharp enough...

ALB has turned into a penalty / YC magnet so I'm not sure I'd select him, but I'm not sure there is another player in NZ who can easily shift midfield positions (probably only Lam would be the only real option), so I can see why the coaches may like keeping him around.

@gt12 said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

ALB has turned into a penalty / YC magnet so I'm not sure I'd select him, but I'm not sure there is another player in NZ who can easily shift midfield positions (probably only Lam would be the only real option), so I can see why the coaches may like keeping him around.

I totally agree. Cards and alternatives. Lam doesn't have the experience, especially at 13, but I thought he deserved more of a chance. My guess is they see him as a 12 and 12 is a bit of a logjam at the moment. I'd have thought he'd go ok at 13 but I haven't seen him play there.

Not having Clarke is a big risk as he looked pretty sharp yesterday. With rain forecasted there's going to be plenty of contestable kicking from Williams and Pollard, and the game will be a little bit slower which would have suited Clarke after a long layoff.

Yip why not play Clarke? Giving him another chance to pick up an injury at NPC....

@pakman said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

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Could have done with seeing Tavatavanawai start in one of the 5 games we played already this year.

For god sake.

Released to NPC to get injured.

@Jet said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Released to NPC to get injured.

Aren't we all complaining players should all be playing NPC not put in cotton wool?

Lomax hasn't played at all but he gets selected, while Clarke at least had a game and looked fairly decent yet he's been left out. It doesn't add up. Wouldn't bet against an unchanged backline again. Looks like there will be a party at Tony Brown's place this Saturday.

It all points to the only changes for Saturday will be Lomax back in the 23 and a change at HB if Ratima is ruled out.

Edit
and if that is the case and the ABs lose massive meltdown all over the place.

@Chris said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

It all points to the only changes for Saturday will be Lomax back in the 23 and a change at HB if Ratima is ruled out.

Edit
and if that is the case and the ABs lose massive meltdown all over the place.

Pretty deservedly so if they roll out the same team and get humped at Eden Park. TBH, there should be have big conversations about the whole coaching team in that case.

However, if they roll out (roughly) the same team and the team beats the Boks, it should take a lot of pressure off the coaching team.

Ballsy.

@Chris I would think Narawa at least would come into reckoning at wing

The recent All Blacks social media injury update post states Clarke is only available for the second South Africa test. Does that guarantee Ioane on the left wing and Proctor at centre this week?