2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations)

KiwiMurph

@Duluth Rieko scored a hat-trick last night and created another try with a 'magic' pass.

Stargazer

@Duluth I agree with Ioane starting, but not because he's an incumbent. Don't think you can call a player an incumbent after he's started just two tests. If he gets the start, it will be because of what he's shown on the field.

mimic

@Stargazer said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):

@Duluth I agree with Ioane starting, but not because he's an incumbent. Don't think you can call a player an incumbent after he's started just two tests. If he gets the start, it will be because of what he's shown on the field.

He was their first choice left winger against the British and Irish Lions. If that doesn't make you the incumbent then I don't know what does. It's not like he was first choice in a 3 match series against Australia.

Crucial

I originally had Ioane starting but that stuffed up the bench a bit now JB isn't there.
The other factor was that he showed signs of struggling to get into a tight game. I'm no big Naholo fan but I would possibly go with him to bust a tight game open then bring on Ioane to capitalise

booboo

@Crucial said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):

I originally had Ioane starting but that stuffed up the bench a bit now JB isn't there.
The other factor was that he showed signs of struggling to get into a tight game. I'm no big Naholo fan but I would possibly go with him to bust a tight game open then bring on Ioane to capitalise

Did you allow thst Rieko/ Reiko covers 13?

Crucial

@booboo said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):

@Crucial said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):

I originally had Ioane starting but that stuffed up the bench a bit now JB isn't there.
The other factor was that he showed signs of struggling to get into a tight game. I'm no big Naholo fan but I would possibly go with him to bust a tight game open then bring on Ioane to capitalise

Did you allow thst Rieko/ Reiko covers 13?

Yeah, from the bench.

9 covered
10 covered
12 covered by Crotty
13 covered by Ioane
11/14 covered by Ioane
15 covered by Dagg

ACT Crusader

@Crucial said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):

13 covered by Ioane

Gulp!

If SBW, Crotty and ALB are in the 23 we won't need Ioane to move into 13 just yet. Let the boy develop on the wing where he's going well.

Stargazer

From the All Blacks twitter account:

Taranaki hooker Ricky Ricitelli has been called into #AllBlacks as cover for Dane Coles who suffered a head knock in #Gameof3Halves .  1/4

Head Coach Steve Hansen said Coles left the field as a precaution. Would not be considered this week. 2/4

Coles will be further assessed by #AllBlacks medical staff during Sydney Test week. 3/4

Meanwhile, All Blacks backs Nehe Milner-Skudder and David Havili have been released for the week and will rejoin the team in Dunedin. 4/4

What this doesn't say is whether NMS and Havili will be allowed to play Mitre 10 Cup for Manawatu & Ta$man, respectively.

Does anyone know whether Parsons is injured? If not, does this mean that Riccitelli has leapfrogged Parsons?

Cantab79

So am hearing that Dane Coles will miss Bledisloe 1 with concussion symptoms. Only precautionary, but must be a real worry for all concerned given how much Rugby Coles has missed with concussion in 2017. Hope it's nothing major and that he's ready for our next test match. As much as I like Codie Taylor, Coles is the world's best hooker and a big loss.

Tim

Time to retire.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/95735977/dane-coles-out-of-bledisloe-cup-test-with-head-knock-teammate-ricky-riccitelli-called-up

Tim

Riccitelli looked out of his depth during much of the season. Parsons and Funnell would be better choices.

Cantab79

@Tim said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):

Riccitelli looked out of his depth during much of the season. Parsons and Funnell would be better choices.

Yeah I would agree with that sentiment. As a Crusaders fan I watched all of Funnell's minutes in SR this year, he has trimmed down (was always prone to carrying a bit of baby fat) and his set piece work is accurate. In saying the 3rd hooker won't get much game time and Riccitelli has been in camp previously. Hopefully Coles will be back to full training and playing duty very soon.

Stargazer

@Cantab79 Riccitelli hasn't been in camp previously.

I'd also prefer Funnell, considering he has a lot more experience than Riccitelli and has been very good this season (much better than Parsons). Riccitelli has only just played his first, full season of SR, so obviously that has been noticeable in some games. Don't agree that he looked out of his depth during much of the season, though. Anyway, it will be a good experience for him and the coaches will have the opportunity to have a closer look at him and see what is made off. Only 22 years old, so he has time on his side.

Bones

@Stargazer plus, Riccitelli is no longer HB, so Canterbury takes precedence.

Stargazer

@Bones
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Bones

@Stargazer well it's not me picking Canterbury every time...

Stargazer

@Bones said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):

@Stargazer well it's not me picking Canterbury every time...

Selective reading .. I was actually defending Riccitelli in my post.

taniwharugby

with all due respect, we are in a bit of strife if we are calling in Parsons.

Hopefully Taylor & Harris will remain uninjured and Coles will be sweet anyway...

Crucial

Is Coltman injured?

He may not fit exactly what they are after but is a hard player and a good scrummager.

mikedogz

@Crucial Coltman is injured and out for the rest of the year.

The Silver Fern

2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations)