All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.

[gollum]

I think its a good call for Smith to stand down for this one, means he'll return off shore where the NZ press wont be bleating so much & no clown in the stands will get pissed up & hiff a toilet seat at him.

[rotated]

Jumping to conclusions assuming that he isn't playing because of the media attention. He requested to be sent home from Argentina to deal with his personal issues. He certainly didn't seem to be in any state of mind to be playing coming off the plane.

If he is patching things up there is every chance that a 5 day camp prior to a one month tour wasn't the best timing for him personally.

[gollum]

@rotated

Literally everything written on here is jumping to conclusions. Zero difference between "he was stood down by Hansen" to "he's dodging media" to "He's focusing on his missus" in the "I'm just making this shit up" bucket.

The only non conclusion jump here is he ain't playing.

[Tim]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11730623

[nostrildamus]

How the hell can Aaron Smith voluntarily stand down? It has been reported in reputable media outlets that he has to use disabled toilets. At least give him a guard rail first.

[booboo]

@rotated said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:

Jumping to conclusions assuming that he isn't playing because of the media attention. He requested to be sent home from Argentina to deal with his personal issues. He certainly didn't seem to be in any state of mind to be playing coming off the plane.

If he is patching things up there is every chance that a 5 day camp prior to a one month tour wasn't the best timing for him personally.

Whatever his reasons a benefit is that he doesn't have to face the media.

[Tregaskis]

They'll be easy in comparison to a "woman scorned".

[taniwharugby]

so, are we expecting a full strength AB side, sans Smith?

[Donsteppa]

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:

so, are we expecting a full strength AB side, sans Smith.

Demanding it I reckon - some records are worth chasing!

[Tregaskis]

I would have thought we go full strength sans Smith (assuming Cane is also out). I agree the record (or "record" if you prefer) is worth chasing hard. I expect no real difficulty on the EOYT - other than the potential of a scare in Dublin - so this is the big one of our five left.

[rotated]

I can't see how they go with anything other than a full strength side injuries permitting given there is a rest week either side and the Argentina/Republic tour was hardly a physical war like in previous years.

[Tregaskis]

The short build-up (see my nervous nellying post from yesterday) would also make the full strength team seem logical to select.

[KiwiMurph]

I think I read a wee while back Cane was possibly targeting this game as his return match.

[ACT Crusader]

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:

I think I read a wee while back Cane was possibly targeting this game as his return match.

I recall reading something along those lines as well, and initially thought it was a little optimistic. But I read yesterday that Cane is back in the "mix" for selection. If he's fit, he plays.

[Tim]

Pulu has been called into the squad, which is rather poor timing for Counties ...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11731267

[booboo]

@Tim said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:

Pulu has been called into the squad, which is rather poor timing for Counties ...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11731267

Apparently still available as can fly down Sunday a.m. for arvo kickoff.

[Bovidae]

@Tim I thought they'd use Weber for the simple reason HB's season has finished.

[antipodean]

@Bovidae said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:

@Tim I thought they'd use Weber for the simple reason HB's season has finished.

Pulu was ahead of Weber before getting 7s fit.

[Rapido]

Pervy couple owe Counties an apology.

[KiwiMurph]

if Pulu is not required to play i'd say he'll be playing the Mitre 10 Cup semi on Sunday. There have been plenty of examples of ABs playing the day after a test this season (Tuipulotu and Ofa T are two that come to mind).