Italy v All Blacks

[Mr Fish]

@brodean It does but it's hard to see Razor plumping for any other options given they're both part of the original EOYT squad and neither has seen significant minutes.

I don't really think AJ Lam is the long-term answer either so while I'd prefer to see him get a run ahead of Havili so he can at least prove me wrong, it's not something I'll be losing sleep over.

Would love to have had Billy Proctor, Quinn Tupaea or Riley Higgins in there as a better option but don't think they're with the squad.

Maybe (and I'm only half joking here) Chay Fihaki?

[frugby]

@booboo said in New Zealand v Italy:

@frugby said in New Zealand v Italy:

I am happy to give Lam a crack, but long-term I’m not sure he is the answer. Good player, but not really what we need at 12… another outside back. Need a good hard runner, who can distribute. Despite the criticism, the ABs were massively worse after taking J Barrett off

Not sure it was a choice

No, but that second half, I think showed how important he is to us (at least while we don’t have a gun 10)…

[nostrildamus]

@frugby said in New Zealand v Italy:

I am happy to give Lam a crack, but long-term I’m not sure he is the answer. Good player, but not really what we need at 12… another outside back. Need a good hard runner, who can distribute. Despite the criticism, the ABs were massively worse after taking J Barrett off

Um are we talking about Lam's game at 12? He can run pass and tackle. One thing I haven't seen enough of to judge is his kicking.

[nostrildamus]

@brodean said in New Zealand v Italy:

The starting midfield has a bit of a tang to it.

Tang? What do you mean? I thought it meant something sharp?

[frugby]

@nostrildamus said in New Zealand v Italy:

@frugby said in New Zealand v Italy:

I am happy to give Lam a crack, but long-term I’m not sure he is the answer. Good player, but not really what we need at 12… another outside back. Need a good hard runner, who can distribute. Despite the criticism, the ABs were massively worse after taking J Barrett off

Um are we talking about Lam's game at 12? He can run pass and tackle. One thing I haven't seen enough of to judge is his kicking.

Kicking a big issue I think… the other thing which we won’t know until tried also, is his running lines. Havili and ALB both struggle to carry straight up the guts at the top top level.

Lam in theory should be able to do it, but it does not always play out like that

[canefan]

@frugby said in New Zealand v Italy:

@nostrildamus said in New Zealand v Italy:

@frugby said in New Zealand v Italy:

I am happy to give Lam a crack, but long-term I’m not sure he is the answer. Good player, but not really what we need at 12… another outside back. Need a good hard runner, who can distribute. Despite the criticism, the ABs were massively worse after taking J Barrett off

Um are we talking about Lam's game at 12? He can run pass and tackle. One thing I haven't seen enough of to judge is his kicking.

Kicking a big issue I think… the other thing which we won’t know until tried also, is his running lines. Havili and ALB both struggle to carry straight up the guts at the top top level.

Lam in theory should be able to do it, but it does not always play out like that

Only one way to find out. Proctor is ahead, but he isn't there. So I'd like to see Lam get some time. I fear that Razor will waste minutes on DH instead

[frugby]

Team I’d personally pick (and I am fully aware the team won’t be anywhere near this):

1. de Groot
2. Bell
3. Tosi
4. Holland
5. Barrett
6. Lio-Willie
7. Cane
8. Lakai
9. Roigard
10. McKenzie
11. Tele’a
12. Lam
13. Ioane
14. Jordan
15. Love
16. Taylor
17. Williams
18. Newell
19. Lord
20. Savea
21. Perenara
22. Perofeta
23. Lienert-Brown

[Bones]

@frugby why Lio-Willie and why drop Sititi?

[canefan]

@frugby Too many noobs for me. It's still a test match

[sparky]

Williams, Aumua, Lomax, Vaii, Tuipolutu, Sititi, Cane (c), Savea, Roigard, DMac, Clarke, ALB, Reiko, Jordan, Love.

Bench: Bell, De Groot, Tosi, Holland, Lakai, TJP, B. Barrett, Tupaea.

[Mr Fish]

@sparky said in New Zealand v Italy:

Williams, Aumua, Lomax, Vaii, Tuipolutu, Sititi, Cane (c), Savea, Roigard, DMac, Clarke, ALB, Reiko, Jordan, Love.

Bench: Bell, De Groot, Tosi, Holland, Lakai, TJP, B. Barrett, Tupaea.

Suspect there'll be considerable more change than that.

I'm expecting a team closer to the one that faced Japan than the one that faced France.

[Jailbreak7]

Shit at this rate I'm pleased we're not playing Georgia. (watching Italy vs Georgia atm, and Georgia are smashing them all over the park)

[DaGrubster]

@Jailbreak7 said in New Zealand v Italy:

Shit at this rate I'm pleased we're not playing Georgia. (watching Italy vs Georgia atm, and Georgia are smashing them all over the park)

You are talking about the team that lost to our c team?

[Wurzel]

I’ll let you into a secret, Georgia couldn’t give a shit about playing C teams. They lift themselves when facing Test sides.

[Bones]

@Wurzel said in New Zealand v Italy:

I’ll let you into a secret, Georgia couldn’t give a shit about playing C teams. They lift themselves when facing Test sides.

Sounds like a stupid way to go about promoting yourself on the world stage. They'll always lose to Scotland and Wales in the 7 nations then.

[Jet]

I want Will Jordan to play any way.....

Closing in on Howletts record.

[Jet]

@canefan said in New Zealand v Italy:

@frugby said in New Zealand v Italy:

@nostrildamus said in New Zealand v Italy:

@frugby said in New Zealand v Italy:

I am happy to give Lam a crack, but long-term I’m not sure he is the answer. Good player, but not really what we need at 12… another outside back. Need a good hard runner, who can distribute. Despite the criticism, the ABs were massively worse after taking J Barrett off

Um are we talking about Lam's game at 12? He can run pass and tackle. One thing I haven't seen enough of to judge is his kicking.

Kicking a big issue I think… the other thing which we won’t know until tried also, is his running lines. Havili and ALB both struggle to carry straight up the guts at the top top level.

Lam in theory should be able to do it, but it does not always play out like that

Only one way to find out. Proctor is ahead, but he isn't there. So I'd like to see Lam get some time. I fear that Razor will waste minutes on DH instead

If he picks David Havili he should be sacked upon arrival back in NZ.

[Bones]

@Jet said in New Zealand v Italy:

I want Will Jordan to play any way.....

Closing in on Howletts record.

What I'd give to have Howlett instead.

[nostrildamus]

@frugby said in New Zealand v Italy:

Kicking a big issue I think… the other thing which we won’t know until tried also, is his running lines. Havili and ALB both struggle to carry straight up the guts at the top top level.

Lam in theory should be able to do it, but it does not always play out like that

Running lines? In theory? He can do it at Super level. Time to see at international level!

[Frye]

Happy to see Cane and TJ sit in the stands. No reason to waste even more minutes on these guys than they already have. They can present jersies and give a rousing speech in the sheds.