France v All Blacks
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@Tregaskis said in France:
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.
I found a good article about Van der Flier. It says he has Dutch (paternal) grandparents who moved from the Netherlands to Ireland in the 1950s.
Leinster flanker Josh van der Flier living the dream
Former Wesley College student braced for upcoming battle with Munster
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I think it will be
10. Cruden
15. BarrettDon't forget that Cruden still hasn't signed his long term agreement. Whatever they do, they want him to stay on, so a start against a tier 1 nation makes sense.
Yes, I am a cynic. No, I don't think they do this if they didn't really rate Crudes.
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Any chance of Cruden at 10 and Barrett at 12? Probably won't happen but it would be interesting to see. I'd love to see Jodie thrown in but they won't risk that.
Can't be arsed going through the team lists for each game, but this must be some kind of record for changes in the centre pairing. Reckon if ALB hadn't been such a revelation we might have been in a bit of strife.
I really want Luatua back at 6. Reckon they need his mongrel there. I just don't think Squire is the answer.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel
Kaino should be fit for the clash against France. -
@allblackfan2 said in France:
I don't mind the new away strip actually
Neither do I, although a pity they can't wear the usual all black kit. Am going to the game, so just happy to be there in with the passionate French rugby fans. This is a treat to self at the end of a challenging 12 months workwise. And first time travelling alone the whole trip. Any ferners heading to the game? Am hoping Cane citation isn't supported so he can play, Fekitoa's was clearly too high so fair cop if he gets sidelined. Naholo and Savea on the wings, I hope Crotty's back. When is the team announced?
I'll be there, going on a work trip from London
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Re: Cruden, has he struggled to reach his pre-RWC/injury form, or is it just that Barrett has hit even higher heights?
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in France:
Any chance of Cruden at 10 and Barrett at 12? Probably won't happen but it would be interesting to see. I'd love to see Jodie thrown in but they won't risk that.
Can't be arsed going through the team lists for each game, but this must be some kind of record for changes in the centre pairing. Reckon if ALB hadn't been such a revelation we might have been in a bit of strife.
I really want Luatua back at 6. Reckon they need his mongrel there. I just don't think Squire is the answer.
I think the concern is the physicality loss if Luatua and Savea are both on. Both good strong players, both lack that impact in the collision.
I doubt much will change for this game. This is the last hurdle for the year and not a time for trying something new.
My guess (assuming Fekitoa out)
Moody
Coles
Franks
BBBR
Whitelock
Kaino
Todd
Read
TJP
BB
Crotty (if available) otherwise Seta
ALB
Savea
Naholo
Dagg -
@mariner4life said in France:
I'm really surprised they are going with that away strip
at least it's not grey
It is still very ordinary though and why introduce it right before a match with France...
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@mariner4life said in France:
I'm really surprised they are going with that away strip
at least it's not grey
It is still very ordinary though and why introduce it right before a match with France...
Don't worry. Aura is back after bitch-slapping that skank Mystique back where she came from.
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@SimonAdd_2 said in France:
Re: Cruden, has he struggled to reach his pre-RWC/injury form, or is it just that Barrett has hit even higher heights?
Bit hard to reach the heights when you aren't getting the chances. BB has deserved his chances so no complaints there.
Could see the scenario in this game with Bender out injured that BB starts at 15 with Cruden at 10, especially if Crotty isn't available. This would allow Dagg to play the second fullback role instead of having two wingers and could see an all Chiefs 10/12/13 combo.
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IIRC, Crotty looked to be running about pretty freely in the warm up/down in Italy. Is his a concussion issue?
Calf wasn't it? Good news then.
Crotty ALB in the midfield.
Now, do you change the policy of having two guys in the back three that can act as fullback? It has worked very well for us and was shown up in Chicago when we changed from that.
If you want the two fullback thing then, given the available cattle, it's either Dagg/BB with Cruden at 10, or Dagg/DMac with BB at 10
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@SimonAdd_2 said in France:
the two most egregious,
Oh puhlease.
You mean the two that have have been committed by the murderous most tweeted about most publicized nasty fuckstick All Black offensive incidents?
THE most egregious was Sexton on Barrett where he went DELIBERATLY (did I spell that correctly?) for the head.
You claim to be "neutral" and I make a "joke" about non-AB fans being haters. But you perpatuate bullshit like that and "joke" is reality.
