All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3
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It's not often we have an AB team announced where nothing but the odd bench spot is remotely controversial, so I'm enjoying this. The Fern collective knows best!
Feel for Rieko but I think he's a victim of experience rather than form alone. With Laumape and JB starting (due to injuries) they've opted for a 52 test veteran who happens to play for the same franchise, so I can understand the Jules selection.
Laumape is a big call. He's green but has all the skills to be a wonderful 12 for the ABs long term. Made out of rock but has super silky skills, he and ALB could be very hard to contain if they click.
JB at fullback... I'm a fan of JB but I don't even see 15 as his long-term position, so am a little nervous about that. He's good under the high ball and is a big lad so will handle the physicality.. but gezz if he makes a mistake or two early his confidence may be shot. Dagg is much better at 14 though so I can see why they wanted to move him back and return to the "two fullbacks" option.
Despite all that this match will be won or lost by the pack which picks itself. We get the dominance we had in test 1 up front then life becomes a lot easier for our inexperienced backline.
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They've bottled that.
Made a big conviction selection in Ioane, then at smallest hurdle in the most adverse of circumstances drop him completely. On a smaller scale they have also done this with Naholo.
Cruden rendered us rudderless for the final 20 minutes and was a turnover machine - yet somehow is retained over Sopoaga?
If he was retained simply to play his 50th test that is a very poor reason.
Still may win, but somehow with five franchises full of firepower we've selected a bench that will stall our backline rather than up the ante.
@rotated said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
They've bottled that.
Made a big conviction selection in Ioane, then at smallest hurdle in the most adverse of circumstances drop him completely. On a smaller scale they have also done this with Naholo.
Cruden rendered us rudderless for the final 20 minutes and was a turnover machine - yet somehow is retained over Sopoaga?
If he was retained simply to play his 50th test that is a very poor reason.
Still may win, but somehow with five franchises full of firepower we've selected a bench that will stall our backline rather than up the ante.
I like Sopoaga, but if you watch the last ten or so of the Highlanders Lions he made Crudes look like Mr. Reliable!
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It's not often we have an AB team announced where nothing but the odd bench spot is remotely controversial, so I'm enjoying this. The Fern collective knows best!
Feel for Rieko but I think he's a victim of experience rather than form alone. With Laumape and JB starting (due to injuries) they've opted for a 52 test veteran who happens to play for the same franchise, so I can understand the Jules selection.
Laumape is a big call. He's green but has all the skills to be a wonderful 12 for the ABs long term. Made out of rock but has super silky skills, he and ALB could be very hard to contain if they click.
JB at fullback... I'm a fan of JB but I don't even see 15 as his long-term position, so am a little nervous about that. He's good under the high ball and is a big lad so will handle the physicality.. but gezz if he makes a mistake or two early his confidence may be shot. Dagg is much better at 14 though so I can see why they wanted to move him back and return to the "two fullbacks" option.
Despite all that this match will be won or lost by the pack which picks itself. We get the dominance we had in test 1 up front then life becomes a lot easier for our inexperienced backline.
@No-Quarter yeah I think Ioane is more likely a victim of circumstances....
Having a 2 test veteran on the bench when we already have a debutant and a single test veteran starting, and then there is ALB with his massive 12 caps...for a match against tier 1 opposition, this must the most inexperienced team we have had.
Even opting for Fekitoa on the bench, he has only had 23 caps, but I guess that's still a big step up form Ioane.
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The two out and out wingers have cost the ABs in the last two games so I can absolutely see the logic of bringing Jordie in. Iaone did pretty much nothing in the last game, I can barely remember him playing, except when he almost made a hash of the cross kick. I felt Savea deservedly lost his place but under the circumstances his recall made sense as does Fekitoas though he really should have been in the squat from day 1. Naholo ran hard but was completely unreliable fielding kicks.
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Ok teams have been named so time for me to pee or get off the bookie's pot.
Heart wins out with the head half-nodding in agreement. I'm going for a Lions win. No handicap. Just two bets on a straight win by 1-6 points and 6-10 points.
Despite that, I hope the best team wins and no arguing about refs afterwards is necessary.
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@Pot-Hale said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
Laumape will be the key. He made large inroads against Sexton/Farrell. If SOB is tied up back marking him, it creates space elsewhere.
I'm surprised that Gatland didn't go with Te'o again - Farrell's defence is squeaky.
Would Lions have scored those two tries on Saturday had they had Farrell/Teo on pitch instead of Sexton/Farrell? I suspect not, so I think the (relatively) weaker S/F defence is worth carrying
@Disgusted-of-TW said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
@Pot-Hale said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
Laumape will be the key. He made large inroads against Sexton/Farrell. If SOB is tied up back marking him, it creates space elsewhere.
I'm surprised that Gatland didn't go with Te'o again - Farrell's defence is squeaky.
Would Lions have scored those two tries on Saturday had they had Farrell/Teo on pitch instead of Sexton/Farrell? I suspect not, so I think the (relatively) weaker S/F defence is worth carrying
All to play for. I would have made changes but Gatland's been in this position before so we have to trust him and his selections to get the job done.
Come on the Lions -
@rotated said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
They've bottled that.
Made a big conviction selection in Ioane, then at smallest hurdle in the most adverse of circumstances drop him completely. On a smaller scale they have also done this with Naholo.
Cruden rendered us rudderless for the final 20 minutes and was a turnover machine - yet somehow is retained over Sopoaga?
If he was retained simply to play his 50th test that is a very poor reason.
Still may win, but somehow with five franchises full of firepower we've selected a bench that will stall our backline rather than up the ante.
I like Sopoaga, but if you watch the last ten or so of the Highlanders Lions he made Crudes look like Mr. Reliable!
@pakman said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
@rotated said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
I like Sopoaga, but if you watch the last ten or so of the Highlanders Lions he made Crudes look like Mr. Reliable!Sopoaga also made very poor decisions late which cost the Highlanders in both losses to the Crusaders this season
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@pakman said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
@rotated said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
I like Sopoaga, but if you watch the last ten or so of the Highlanders Lions he made Crudes look like Mr. Reliable!Sopoaga also made very poor decisions late which cost the Highlanders in both losses to the Crusaders this season
@KiwiMurph TBF he needs more game time in a Black jersey!
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Backline defense worries me....
Can't understand Fekitoa on the bench, he's no impact player.
He will probably come on and be super ball greedy, trying to prove a point like he did in the Highlanders game. If that's the case why not pick Mackenzie?
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Me, nervous? Fuckyeah.
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@Chris-B won't be happy with all the Canes players starting for the decider.
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@Chris-B won't be happy with all the Canes players starting for the decider.
@No-Quarter Nah, he'd be more concerned if there were Canes players wearing nos 1-8 (Coles excepted).
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Backline defense worries me....
Can't understand Fekitoa on the bench, he's no impact player.
He will probably come on and be super ball greedy, trying to prove a point like he did in the Highlanders game. If that's the case why not pick Mackenzie?
@SammyC said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
Backline defense worries me....
Can't understand Fekitoa on the bench, he's no impact player.
He will probably come on and be super ball greedy, trying to prove a point like he did in the Highlanders game. If that's the case why not pick Mackenzie?
Because Fekitoa can defend at centre.
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guess it is a ballsy play, but really one that was forced upon them, if not for injuries and suspension only sees Smith, BB & Dagg remain, as I expect Ioane would have kept his spot if SBW, Crotty & Smith are all available.
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At least Laumape is in the position where he has shown great form at Super Rugby, not finding himself in no-man's land on the wing.
Genuinely concerned about young Jordie at the back.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
@Wreck-Diver Don't be so sure. JB would the best option for a long range penalty.
Moreso than Dagg?
@rotated said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
@Wreck-Diver Don't be so sure. JB would the best option for a long range penalty.
Moreso than Dagg?
Yes. Barrett the younger will be handed the ball before Dagg.
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@Tim said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
The inexperienced backline has got me thinking ... 2003 ...
Our forwards didn't front that day , I still believe if they did it would've been a different story
