All Blacks v Springboks I

@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?

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

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

I can’t see them doing that either.

@gt12 said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@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.

If that happens then any flak will be well deserved.

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

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?

That gets my goat that injury update - a guy is only available to play in 2 weeks time when he's already back playing? If he's not right, he shouldn't be playing. If he is right, he's available.

LF coming into the squad as injury cover.

@reprobate said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

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?

That gets my goat that injury update - a guy is only available to play in 2 weeks time when he's already back playing? If he's not right, he shouldn't be playing. If he is right, he's available.

He looked in pretty good nick yesterday, get him out there ffs. This is not a stab at Clarke because if he had the choice, I'm sure he would jump at the chance to play on Saturday, but how soft have the All Blacks become?

Razor's response to last week's loss against the Argies summed up the limp nature of this side atm. Instead of getting all available players on the park in the latest round of the NPC, he felt they needed a week off, time with their families to reset etc etc... fuck that. Most of the players just had a month off prior to the RC, unless injured, all players should have been on the paddock playing for their provinces. Clearly some players are short of gallop and would benefit with more time on the field. Some of these ABs have had far too much time not playing rugby lately.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@reprobate said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

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?

That gets my goat that injury update - a guy is only available to play in 2 weeks time when he's already back playing? If he's not right, he shouldn't be playing. If he is right, he's available.

He looked in pretty good nick yesterday, get him out there ffs. This is not a stab at Clarke because if he had the choice, I'm sure he would jump at the chance to play on Saturday, but how soft have the All Blacks become?

Razor's response to last week's loss against the Argies summed up the limp nature of this side atm. Instead of getting all available players on the park in the latest round of the NPC, he felt they needed a week off, time with their families to reset etc etc... fuck that. Most of the players just had a month off prior to the RC, unless injured, all players should have been on the paddock playing for their provinces. Clearly some players are short of gallop and would benefit with more time on the field. Some of these ABs have had far too much time not playing rugby lately.

Preston was lined up to play and was pulled because they expect he'll be needed this week. When was the last time he saw any significant game time?

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@reprobate said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

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?

That gets my goat that injury update - a guy is only available to play in 2 weeks time when he's already back playing? If he's not right, he shouldn't be playing. If he is right, he's available.

He looked in pretty good nick yesterday, get him out there ffs. This is not a stab at Clarke because if he had the choice, I'm sure he would jump at the chance to play on Saturday, but how soft have the All Blacks become?

Razor's response to last week's loss against the Argies summed up the limp nature of this side atm. Instead of getting all available players on the park in the latest round of the NPC, he felt they needed a week off, time with their families to reset etc etc... fuck that. Most of the players just had a month off prior to the RC, unless injured, all players should have been on the paddock playing for their provinces. Clearly some players are short of gallop and would benefit with more time on the field. Some of these ABs have had far too much time not playing rugby lately.

Preston was lined up to play and was pulled because they expect he'll be needed this week. When was the last time he saw any significant game time?

100%, there’s always a risk that a player gets injured, that’s just the nature of the game. The downside of them not playing is they’ll be undercooked if called upon. Case in point with Preston. Let’s hope Clarke gets another game for Auckland this week, better to have him getting minutes under his belt than just sitting on the sideline scratching his nuts.