2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations)
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@number9
No need to experiment ? But who could play on the LH side if another LHP is injured ? Graham, Manu ? None of them looks like having what the international game requires. On the other side of the scrum, JTA and Moli are both big, strong and very mobile, the type of props the All Blacks are fond of. That is why shifting Ofa T to the LH side could be interesting. -
SA v NZ game in Cape Town (55k seater) sold out in 15 min today.
A bit of backstory as to why this match hasnt been played here in around 10 years is because of the strong support for the All Blacks in this region. Cape Town has also been an easy sell, so less appealing matches were brought this way, without negatively affecting ticket sales.
With the main Bok sponsor pulling out last year, SARU were left scrambling as the French incoming series was played without an anchor sponsor. This, coupled together with the poor crowd attendances due to poor results meant that SARU execs had little choice but to bring this encounter back to Newlands to ensure a bit of a payout.
Fortunately there should be no survivors in the Bok squad from the 0-19 whitewash inflicted in August of 2008. Unfortunately there are a number of players who were drubbed 15-57 in Durban who are still there.
But first up, Albany, where things will hopefully remain a contest for the first 60 this weekend before nature takes it's course.
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@cgrant To be brutally honest, If Ofa also does not have the LH skills of what us required at an International level. These are specialised positions not something to be trifiled with. You can move backs all over the shop but leave the tight 5 alone.
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@PN said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
But first up, Albany, where things will hopefully remain a contest for the first 60 this weekend before nature takes it's course.
Not sure the ABs have the right or experienced bench combination to bring that final quarter spark that we've seen in the last 2-3 years. Hansen has tried a number of different players this year with very mixed results.
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The test veteran has trained with the side at Alexandra Park this morning but isn't expected to return to the side to face the Springboks on Saturday night. Kaino is instead set to play for Auckland in Invercargill on Friday.So Squire or Fifita to start ...
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@Stargazer I expect it to be Squire, if not for Kainos personal issues, Fifita probably would not have got the start last week.
Yes he took his chance with both hands, but Squire also looked pretty good in his outings too.
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@taniwharugby Yes, that's what I expect, too. It will be interesting who of Fifita, Barrett, Romano & Savea will miss out on a bench spot (assuming both Retallick & Whitelock will start). My guess is Fifita and Romano ... I wonder whether Fifita could cover 7 in the longer term?
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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11921534
The positivity in the face of misfortune is relentless but the All Blacks will do well to put a brave face on should Israel Dagg be ruled out of contention this week. The veteran wing is thought to be touch and go to be passed fit to play the Boks. The knee that has troubled him all year, and kept him out of the two Bledisloe Cup tests, has stiffened up again after his 55 minutes against the Pumas.
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Reckon that gives even more reason to push BB to fb...is Reiko fit? Back 3 of him, BB and NMS....
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Injured Jaco Kriel to return home
Kriel has a shoulder labrum tear. No replacement has been called up.
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After watching last nights Canterbury v Counties-Manukau Shield Challenge, I was interested in the LH Prop matchup between the Blues Teammates Hodgman and Manu. I would have to say that Pauliasi Manu was a non-entity in a game where both sets of forwards needed to make their presence felt. Apart from the couple of penalties that Hodgman gave away, he was dominant all over the paddock. He is definitely a very athletic LHP who deserves a call up maybe on the All Blacks end of year Tour.
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Considering Canterbury totally dominated Counties Manukau, as evidenced by the scoreline, the matchup was a non-event. All the CM forwards got dominated. Manu was not playing the Canterbury forward pack by himself.
Of course Hodgman looked better than Manu. -
@Number-10 said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
Considering Canterbury totally dominated Counties Manukau, as evidenced by the scoreline, the matchup was a non-event. All the CM forwards got dominated. Manu was not playing the Canterbury forward pack by himself.
Of course Hodgman looked better than Manu.Also very impressed by Oliver Jager he has a very high work rate. This is the difference between the Canterbury Front Row and every other Front Row in the Mitre 10 Cup. These guys are not just saving themselves for scrum time, extremely different fitness levels.
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