All Blacks v Springboks I

All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets; * denotes debutant)

1. Ethan de Groot (34)
2. Codie Taylor (100) 
3. Fletcher Newell (27)
4. Scott Barrett (83) (Captain)  
5. Tupou Vaa’i (42)
6. Simon Parker (1)
7. Ardie Savea (99) (Vice-Captain)
8. Wallace Sititi (11)
9. Finlay Christie (25)
10. Beauden Barrett (138) 
11. Rieko Ioane (85)
12. Jordie Barrett (73) (Vice-Captain) 
13. Billy Proctor (6)
14. Emoni Narawa (3)
15. Will Jordan (46)

16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (35)
17. Tamaiti Williams (19)
18. Tyrel Lomax (45)
19. Fabian Holland (5) 
20. Du’Plessis Kirifi (4)
21. Kyle Preston *
22. Quinn Tupaea (17)
23. Damian McKenzie (66)

Unavailable for selection: Patrick Tuipulotu (minor facial fracture), Cortez Ratima (rib fracture), Timoci Tavatavanawai (fractured radius), Cam Roigard (foot stress fracture), Noah Hotham (high ankle sprain)

Fuck me we look pretty mediocre in the backs.
2 loosies underdone, one in his first big match, and they've flogged our lock success story until he needs to go onto the bench, and replaced him with the guy they've flogged at 6. Front row looks good these days at least.

KiwiMurph

@reprobate said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@Yeetyaah said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets; * denotes debutant)

1. Ethan de Groot (34)
2. Codie Taylor (100) 
3. Fletcher Newell (27)
4. Scott Barrett (83) (Captain)  
5. Tupou Vaa’i (42)
6. Simon Parker (1)
7. Ardie Savea (99) (Vice-Captain)
8. Wallace Sititi (11)
9. Finlay Christie (25)
10. Beauden Barrett (138) 
11. Rieko Ioane (85)
12. Jordie Barrett (73) (Vice-Captain) 
13. Billy Proctor (6)
14. Emoni Narawa (3)
15. Will Jordan (46)

16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (35)
17. Tamaiti Williams (19)
18. Tyrel Lomax (45)
19. Fabian Holland (5) 
20. Du’Plessis Kirifi (4)
21. Kyle Preston *
22. Quinn Tupaea (17)
23. Damian McKenzie (66)

Unavailable for selection: Patrick Tuipulotu (minor facial fracture), Cortez Ratima (rib fracture), Timoci Tavatavanawai (fractured radius), Cam Roigard (foot stress fracture), Noah Hotham (high ankle sprain)

Fuck me we look pretty mediocre in the backs.
2 loosies underdone, one in his first big match, and they've flogged our lock success story until he needs to go onto the bench, and replaced him with the guy they've flogged at 6. Front row looks good these days at least.

Flogged at 6 is a stretch. Vaai didn't play a game for a month between France test 2 and Argie test 1.

BorderJB

I like Parker in the loose still, after 4 games they put Vaa’i at lock, bit odd.
Gunna be interesting with Sititi and Savea as wide ranging loosies, SA will go straight through middle.

kiwiinmelb

Some great memories in this

pakman

Mr Fish

Really like the look of the forward pack. I'm glad that Vaa'i has been getting some good minutest at 6 but think Parker is a more natural fit in that position and I'm looking forward to seeing how the loose forward trio fronts up.

The backs are at least one step in the right direction... If Razor makes one sensible change every match for the rest of the season then we'll finish up with a good backline by the year's end.

ACT Crusader

@BorderJB said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

I like Parker in the loose still, after 4 games they put Vaa’i at lock, bit odd.
Gunna be interesting with Sititi and Savea as wide ranging loosies, SA will go straight through middle.

Sititi isn’t really wide ranging defensively though.

frugby

Gut-feeling this test comes down to how the Barrett brothers go. If they don’t turn up, we are toast - and I think it is the beginning of the end for Beauden and Scott if they don’t

ACT Crusader

@frugby kick our goals, win the test.

Despite some poor patches, we certainly create enough opportunities in front of the sticks to win

PN

AB Forward and Replacement Forwards look incredible. I'd rather take the Bok backline though - Am I living in the upside down?

MN5

@akan004 said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Can we trust Rassie? Is this really going to be their matchday 23 or will he pull a last minute selection suprise? If RG Snyman is not injured then his non selection is perplexing. He's one of the best impact tight forwards in the world.

Boks locks are either steroid freaks or massive Vikings.

Nortje looks like a runt compared to them.

Frank

Was feeling pretty confident, then clicked on a video of Mr Corporate Speak Scott Hansen.
He may well be a very good coach, but by god he doesn't come across well in interviews.
Cliche factory.

frugby

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@frugby said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Gut-feeling this test comes down to how the Barrett brothers go. If they don’t turn up, we are toast - and I think it is the beginning of the end for Beauden and Scott if they don’t

Scooter is Robertson's man and Robertson is Mark Robinson's man.

Can't see him being dropped.

I think with Holland on the bench there is nowhere to hide. The fact that Darry is also smashing the door down in the NPC will only add to the noise.

Every player has a used by date - I don’t think Robertson is stupid.

I’m not suggesting S Barrett is done either, but after an underwhelming start to the year, if he fires a blank and we lose, someone’s head is going to have to roll, and he along with Scott Hansen and Jason Holland looks like an onvious one.

BerniesCorner

You can't get away from the cliche that forwards are more important than backs and we have a great set of forwards.
BB is going to have a massive impact on this game hopefully in a positive way. The biggest mistake will be shovelling crap ball to his brother. on the outside.

nostrildamus

@frugby said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Gut-feeling this test comes down to how the Barrett brothers go. If they don’t turn up, we are toast - and I think it is the beginning of the end for Beauden and Scott if they don’t

He may be a better player now than them but arguably Jordie has more competition for his spot.

The Silver Fern

All Blacks v Springboks I

BOMBSHELL | Siya Kolisi starts against All Blacks but NOT as captain