Scotland v All Blacks
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Changes?
I'm expecting the two Barretts out at least.
So start with the midfield and locks that finished v Ireland.
Darry and Rioane to the XXIII.
Personally I'd swap Sititi and Lakai. And I'd really consider Finau in for Parker. But that's just me.
Unfortunately can't see them changing to 10, so can't squeeze some game time for Love. I'd be tempted.
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@booboo said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
Unfortunately can't see them changing to 10, so can't squeeze some game time for Love. I'd be tempted.
I have this horrible feeling that we might see DM at 10 in the upcoming tests, but with BB back at 15. The pessimist in me says the coaches will have liked the duel playmaking that occurred in last 20 against Ireland.
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Interesting question. I'd suspect Beauden is a little banged up. Lakai-not sure about, he worked hard, but I just don't really see him as nailing down that 8 position. I can see Sititi starting at 6 or 8 and Parker out of the 23, thought he lacked presence and impact.
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@nostrildamus said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
Interesting question. I'd suspect Beauden is a little banged up. Lakai-not sure about, he worked hard, but I just don't really see him as nailing down that 8 position. I can see Sititi starting at 6 or 8 and Parker out of the 23, thought he lacked presence and impact.
Yeah me too I though Parker was disappointing a bit passive ,highlighted by a soft tackle attempt on Furlong when he scored.
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@Chris said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
@nostrildamus said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
Interesting question. I'd suspect Beauden is a little banged up. Lakai-not sure about, he worked hard, but I just don't really see him as nailing down that 8 position. I can see Sititi starting at 6 or 8 and Parker out of the 23, thought he lacked presence and impact.
Yeah me too I though Parker was disappointing a bit passive ,highlighted by a soft tackle attempt on Furlong when he scored.
We've been screaming for more size in the loosies but he doesn't appear to throw his weight around like he should being the biggest in the squad.
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@MN5 said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
@Chris said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
@nostrildamus said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
Interesting question. I'd suspect Beauden is a little banged up. Lakai-not sure about, he worked hard, but I just don't really see him as nailing down that 8 position. I can see Sititi starting at 6 or 8 and Parker out of the 23, thought he lacked presence and impact.
Yeah me too I though Parker was disappointing a bit passive ,highlighted by a soft tackle attempt on Furlong when he scored.
We've been screaming for more size in the loosies but he doesn't appear to throw his weight around like he should being the biggest in the squad.
No he doesn't, I had high hopes when he was picked big body at 6 but no impact for a big man so far.
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Be an interesting team this. Be surprised if there are any changes in the front row. I'd be very surprised if Barrett is fit so Lord starts, Darry onto the bench. Thought Parker was crap, I can see Jacobson... Sititi provided great impact off the bench, so why not leave him there? Not sure why Lakai is copping heat - at least he was active.
Backline has a few moving parts. Fainga'anuku comes in for J Barrett, and the other question is DMac. Given they are losing LF off their bench, I think they will want to leave DMac there for impact, as Carter hasn't done anything to warrant being left out.
Possible Team: de Groot, Taylor, Newell, Lord, Holland, Jacobson, Savea, Lakai, Roigard, B Barrett, Clarke, Tupaea, Fainga'anuku, Carter, Jordan, Bench: Taukei'aho, Williams, Tosi, Darry, Sititi, Ratima, McKenzie, Ioane
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@Chris sadly this is something I've always noticed on Parker.
Is the big body the ABs need, but needs to add some mongrel to his game.
I think with the impact Sititi bought form the bench, Razor is likely to continue with him there, given our late game struggles, this was one of the few times against a quality opposition we have won the final quarter.
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@Chris said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
@MN5 said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
@Chris said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
@nostrildamus said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
Interesting question. I'd suspect Beauden is a little banged up. Lakai-not sure about, he worked hard, but I just don't really see him as nailing down that 8 position. I can see Sititi starting at 6 or 8 and Parker out of the 23, thought he lacked presence and impact.
Yeah me too I though Parker was disappointing a bit passive ,highlighted by a soft tackle attempt on Furlong when he scored.
We've been screaming for more size in the loosies but he doesn't appear to throw his weight around like he should being the biggest in the squad.
No he doesn't, I had high hopes when he was picked big body at 6 but no impact for a big man so far.
I agree. Was he used much in the lineout? I mean they were throwing to Ardie so it would be a bit strange not to also throw to the much taller Parker.
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Yeah I was gonna ask what people's thoughts on Parker were. I haven't really noticed him a lot yet, but as no one's banging down the door to replace him, I guess he'll get a fair shot at being the guy.
I think the pressure gets to Scotland this week with them never beating us and we grind out another ugly win by about 7-10 points.
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@African-Monkey said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
Yeah I was gonna ask what people's thoughts on Parker were. I haven't really noticed him a lot yet, but as no one's banging down the door to replace him, I guess he'll get a fair shot at being the guy.
I think the pressure gets to Scotland this week with them never beating us and we grind out another ugly win by about 7-10 points.
100%. As I've mentioned before if they actually got off their pompous arses and toured NZ more regularly than once every 25 years ( as it stands currently ) they'd have more of a chance.
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He’s giving Squire Vibes a bit at the moment, as tbf, does Finau. Might be able to bully around against the less physical packs but might lack the edge against really physical sides.
In Parker’s defense, unlike the Chiefs, the ABs don’t have a clean-up specialist and don’t seem to take advantage of his strengths. He’s anonymous at LO time, and hardly used with ball in hand.
I’m becoming less and less convinced about Ryan - I cant think of a player, maybe Newell excepted, who actually looks the same or better at this level - that’s been a trademark of great ABs, as the level of play goes up, their performance rises alongside.
Despite his scoring achievements, for that reason I’m not prepared to say that Jordan is nearing ‘great AB’ status. Jordie can get there, maybe Clark if he stays healthy, Taylor might be the only other forward, but I don’t know if he is ‘better’.
Definitely none of the loosies are playing at ‘great’ level.
Beauden was a great AB, and Dmac will never get the chance.
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@Chris said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
@MN5 said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
@Chris said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
@nostrildamus said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
Interesting question. I'd suspect Beauden is a little banged up. Lakai-not sure about, he worked hard, but I just don't really see him as nailing down that 8 position. I can see Sititi starting at 6 or 8 and Parker out of the 23, thought he lacked presence and impact.
Yeah me too I though Parker was disappointing a bit passive ,highlighted by a soft tackle attempt on Furlong when he scored.
We've been screaming for more size in the loosies but he doesn't appear to throw his weight around like he should being the biggest in the squad.
No he doesn't, I had high hopes when he was picked big body at 6 but no impact for a big man so far.
Feels the same as most players picked for the ABs for a while
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@nostrildamus said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
@Chris said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
@MN5 said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
@Chris said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
@nostrildamus said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
Interesting question. I'd suspect Beauden is a little banged up. Lakai-not sure about, he worked hard, but I just don't really see him as nailing down that 8 position. I can see Sititi starting at 6 or 8 and Parker out of the 23, thought he lacked presence and impact.
Yeah me too I though Parker was disappointing a bit passive ,highlighted by a soft tackle attempt on Furlong when he scored.
We've been screaming for more size in the loosies but he doesn't appear to throw his weight around like he should being the biggest in the squad.
No he doesn't, I had high hopes when he was picked big body at 6 but no impact for a big man so far.
I agree. Was he used much in the lineout? I mean they were throwing to Ardie so it would be a bit strange not to also throw to the much taller Parker.
No he doesn’t seem to be a lineout option.
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@gt12 said in Scotland Vs All Blacks, 8th November 2025:
Big difference between Crusaders side to side and Chiefs style fast ruck rugby. I look at these guys are being used and I wonder if the roles suits the skill set. Sounds like a good question for @Mauss
Part and parcel with being an AB. I look at a guy like Rodders and as an AB he played very different to how he played for the Canes and probably what was expected. And to me he was a class number 8 in his mix with Jerry and McCaw.
If we are building around Ardie then someone like Jacobson to me is the perfect sort of player to have in the mix.
