France v All Blacks
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@Billy-Tell said in France:
One more test for the year.
What do the selectors do?
One more time out for the First XV? Or tinkering around the edges?
I'm inclined to hope for the former.
Expect TJP to start.
How is Cane's ankle? So does Todd start? Ardie looked handy in his cameo.
JK back at 6 surely.
Crotty back and available?
BFA was apparently knocked. His availability or otherwise could shake up the back three. Dagg would have to be 15 but what yo do on the wings in that eventuality?
Not going to posit a team until we know who is available. Which will make it difficult for Shag not havIng suitable guidance ... but am sure he'll manage.
WRT France. Who has watched them? I didn't take all that much notice of the game this morning but it was obviously close. How ate they looking as a team.
I did think they blew that last play (despite Hometown refusing to award a penalty). If they were going to go for the dg they should have worked the pick and go to the posts a bit more rather than trying from 35m out.
I watched the Fra vs Australia game: France are still a bit willy-nilly at times, but they counter-attacked a lot, and their 2 Fijian flyers on the wing can be every bit as deadly as Savea and Naholo. Their centre Fofana is class. The French were off-loading more than NZ...definitely not a walk-over, but I suspect they wilt against a structured game.
My wishes for the game: Luatua is given one more shot. TJP to start. Sopoaga to start. Crotty to return, with ALB. Rieko Ioane given a start.
Looking forward to the Lions, and I really think Akira Ioane needs to be brought into the ABs - yes there are concerns about being a dick at times, work-rate, and maybe being a bit ball-greedy, but he brings mongrel and go-forward. In the backs, we need to get the midfield sorted (return from injuries should do that), and our "South Sea Islander" wingers have vulnerabilities in their game. NMS returning will help, and I wish Piutua would cut his Ulster contract short, but that ain't going to happen.
Anyone else concerned we don't have another test after this before the First Lions test?
The lineup v Ireland, test 2, with probably Kaino in midfield and Crotty or SBW in midfield is likely our #1...Will NZRU arrange a test vs an Island side in advance like the past? is it of any benefit.
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@westcoastie said in France:
@Billy-Tell said in France:
One more test for the year.
What do the selectors do?
One more time out for the First XV? Or tinkering around the edges?
I'm inclined to hope for the former.
Expect TJP to start.
How is Cane's ankle? So does Todd start? Ardie looked handy in his cameo.
JK back at 6 surely.
Crotty back and available?
BFA was apparently knocked. His availability or otherwise could shake up the back three. Dagg would have to be 15 but what yo do on the wings in that eventuality?
Not going to posit a team until we know who is available. Which will make it difficult for Shag not havIng suitable guidance ... but am sure he'll manage.
WRT France. Who has watched them? I didn't take all that much notice of the game this morning but it was obviously close. How ate they looking as a team.
I did think they blew that last play (despite Hometown refusing to award a penalty). If they were going to go for the dg they should have worked the pick and go to the posts a bit more rather than trying from 35m out.
I watched the Fra vs Australia game: France are still a bit willy-nilly at times, but they counter-attacked a lot, and their 2 Fijian flyers on the wing can be every bit as deadly as Savea and Naholo. Their centre Fofana is class. The French were off-loading more than NZ...definitely not a walk-over, but I suspect they wilt against a structured game.
My wishes for the game: Luatua is given one more shot. TJP to start. Sopoaga to start. Crotty to return, with ALB. Rieko Ioane given a start.
Looking forward to the Lions, and I really think Akira Ioane needs to be brought into the ABs - yes there are concerns about being a dick at times, work-rate, and maybe being a bit ball-greedy, but he brings mongrel and go-forward. In the backs, we need to get the midfield sorted (return from injuries should do that), and our "South Sea Islander" wingers have vulnerabilities in their game. NMS returning will help, and I wish Piutua would cut his Ulster contract short, but that ain't going to happen.
Anyone else concerned we don't have another test after this before the First Lions test?
The lineup v Ireland, test 2, with probably Kaino in midfield and Crotty or SBW in midfield is likely our #1...Will NZRU arrange a test vs an Island side in advance like the past? is it of any benefit.
The important thing is that the ABs play for their super rugby sides imo. The Lions will have an excellent 1st XV, but we see if they have enough squad depth to have a very good 2nd XV and also the ability to cover injuries.
We are going to need maximal mongrel in our pack, the Lions have the likes of Itoje at lock, and some of those Irish backrow forwards.
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Didn't realise we don't have any warm up games. I guess they will be relying on Super rugby form/injuries to answer any questions over selections.
Question marks for me are:- Savea vs Naholo for 11.
- Whether SBW will force his way into the midfield with ALB/Crotty being the first choice as it stands. Think Ngatai's chances are pretty slim and would hope Fekitoa has been passed over by then.
- Dagg vs NMS for 14. With Ioane an outside chance for 11/14. If he has a big season.
Would think NMS will need a big Super season to get ahead of Dagg even though he was the starter when he got injured. Dagg has been pretty good this year.
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Didn't realise we don't have any warm up games. I guess they will be relying on Super rugby form/injuries to answer any questions over selections.
Question marks for me are:- Savea vs Naholo for 11.
- Whether SBW will force his way into the midfield with ALB/Crotty being the first choice as it stands. Think Ngatai's chances are pretty slim and would hope Fekitoa has been passed over by then.
- Dagg vs NMS for 14. With Ioane an outside chance for 11/14. If he has a big season.
Would think NMS will need a big Super season to get ahead of Dagg even though he was the starter when he got injured. Dagg has been pretty good this year.
Yes to all of the above.
Then, can A.Smith recapture his form?
Will Kaino & Read hold it together? -
be surprised if a smith doesn't start - forster in the post match said something along the lines of 'more game time' when asked what he needed to do to improve.
be good to see lima get a decent run, likewise one of the other loosies in an otherwise full strength team.
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Selecting Savea and Naholo against Ireland in Chicago was a big tactical mistake.
Selecting both of them once again against France could be a good choice since the French flyhalves nor Machenaud don't know how to kick effectively.
My team would be (assuming Kaino and Crotty are fit) :Moody
Coles
Franks
Retallick
Whitelock
Kaino
Todd
Read
TJP
BB
Savea (remember his outing against Naikataci at the WC)
Crotty
ALB
Naholo
DaggSub : Taylor, Crockett, Faumuina, Barrett, Savea, Smith, Sopoaga, Ioane.
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Looking at 2019, we definitely have some areas of concern. We must find a replacement for Read, Kaino, BFA and improve on our propping depth. Don't see too many no 8s coming through at this stage and that a bit of a worry as I seriously doubt if Read will be still deemed good enough come 2019. Hopefully Piatau comes back and that will help increase the back three depth.
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BFA and Cane out
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11751917And I see @SimonAdd_2 's hashtag campaign worked. Cane cited, which is ridiculous, as is Fekitoa, which is not.
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BFA and Cane out
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11751917And I see @SimonAdd_2 's hashtag campaign worked. Cane cited, which is ridiculous, as is Fekitoa, which is not.
The Irish doing their best to turn the game into football. Soft on any contact while encouraging all sorts of hysterics at the referee...
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BFA and Cane out
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11751917And I see @SimonAdd_2 's hashtag campaign worked. Cane cited, which is ridiculous, as is Fekitoa, which is not.
Bleat about it all you want, World Rugby released an unequivocal announcement prior to the November internationals that they would be cracking down on high shots of all types. Only a fool would have thought they wouldn't take a look at Cane's.
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@SimonAdd_2 said in France:
BFA and Cane out
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11751917And I see @SimonAdd_2 's hashtag campaign worked. Cane cited, which is ridiculous, as is Fekitoa, which is not.
Bleat about it all you want, World Rugby released an unequivocal announcement prior to the November internationals that they would be cracking down on high shots of all types. Only a fool would have thought they wouldn't take a look at Cane's.
Apparently the fine print states " unequivocal except when being distracted by decisions about grounding the ball over the try line"
Goose and gander no?
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@SimonAdd_2 said in France:
BFA and Cane out
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11751917And I see @SimonAdd_2 's hashtag campaign worked. Cane cited, which is ridiculous, as is Fekitoa, which is not.
Bleat about it all you want, World Rugby released an unequivocal announcement prior to the November internationals that they would be cracking down on high shots of all types. Only a fool would have thought they wouldn't take a look at Cane's.
Apparently the fine print states " unequivocal except when being distracted by decisions about grounding the ball over the try line"
Goose and gander no?
Go look at what I said in the other thread. Sextons's should have been a penalty and possibly a YC. There were a bunch of other high shots in the game too - Dagg on Stander, Coles (I think) got pinged in the second half. The commissioner decided to pick just the two most egregious, which wouldn't have been my approach but I guess is understandable.
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You know shits getting serious when someone says egregious
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@Billy-Tell Don't worry, Gatland will pick Warburton as captain and stack the loose forwards with Welsh.
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@Tregaskis said in France:
@Billy-Tell Don't worry, Gatland will pick Warburton as captain and stack the loose forwards with Welsh.
I think that's a cliche. It's all the Irish ever go on about is gatland choosing Wales players, conveniently forgetting Wales were in good form back in 2013.
The lions will be mainly England & ireland this time. Warburton might be there but that is because he is actually quite good. However SOB and maybe VDF if he keeps up just form will be right in the mix
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@SimonAdd_2 said in France:
@SimonAdd_2 said in France:
BFA and Cane out
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11751917And I see @SimonAdd_2 's hashtag campaign worked. Cane cited, which is ridiculous, as is Fekitoa, which is not.
Bleat about it all you want, World Rugby released an unequivocal announcement prior to the November internationals that they would be cracking down on high shots of all types. Only a fool would have thought they wouldn't take a look at Cane's.
Apparently the fine print states " unequivocal except when being distracted by decisions about grounding the ball over the try line"
Goose and gander no?
Go look at what I said in the other thread. Sextons's should have been a penalty and possibly a YC. There were a bunch of other high shots in the game too - Dagg on Stander, Coles (I think) got pinged in the second half. The commissioner decided to pick just the two most egregious, which wouldn't have been my approach but I guess is understandable.
So its gone from unequivocal to (understandably) the 2 most egregrious.
These rugby directives that only a fool doesnt see seem to be rather inconsistent
Im begining to think you dont actualy represent world rugby and are just some rugby follower with a chip.....
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The Irish loosies were magnificent in the series. SOB I already rated highly, he came back in and monstered us. Heaslip I don't rate as much but he was really good in yesterday's game.
Stander and VDF are just top quality hard bastards, with the Dutchie blood helpingout there. Stander is an Afrikaner I know, but is VDF one too? Or an Irishman with Dutch parentage?
I guess Ireland's forwards are at the front of the queue given their obvious success against us this month, but plenty of Gatland's selections will depend on the 6N.
