All Blacks v France Test 3
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@bovidae If there's an embargo, then that article from Sumo comes very close to breaking it.
@stargazer said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@bovidae If there's an embargo, then that article from Sumo comes very close to breaking it.
I would say that the media manager for the ABs wouldnโt be doing his job if he didnโt drop a couple of names to keep the public interested and the media on side.
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From Stuff, using Midi Olympique as its source:
France are set to rest captain Mathieu Bastareaud from the dead rubber third test against the All Blacks in Dunedin. French rugby media have reported that halfback Morgan Parra will take over as skipper for Saturday night's match with Bastareaud not expected to be part of the match day squad. Clermont teammates Wesley Fofana and Rรฉmi Lamerat will be paired in midfield with Geoffrey Doumayrou, who tweaked an ankle in the second test defeat in Wellington also dropping out.Midfield apart, France are expected to field the same team that started in Wellington.If true, this would be a much better French midfield!
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@bovidae If there's an embargo, then that article from Sumo comes very close to breaking it.
We'll have to wait and see who is correct out of Sumo and Knowler (Savea or Todd). Both would have attended the same training sessions to observe combinations.
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We'll have to wait and see who is correct out of Sumo and Knowler (Savea or Todd). Both would have attended the same training sessions to observe combinations.
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I'm just bloody stunned by how thin we are two full seasons after a RWC. Losing half a dozen all timey greats was never goin to be easy to recover from but there was depth at the time at 10, in midfield and at loose head prop but now we're thin as fuck and even worse when it comes to combinations involving those positions plus in the loose forwards. We've had something like 30 tests since the last RWC yet where are the proven loose forwards after Reado (also aging) and a bit of depth at 7? Kaino was never gonna make another RWC cycle yet we don't have a clear successor at 6. Squire is close but didn't cover himself in glory last week. No quality 8 back up either. We're lucky at hooker that Taylor has really stepped up in Coles' absence of that'd be another problem position. Back up props are an issue also with Faumuina and Crockett gone. Massive stroke of luck that Karl T has come outta nowhere or we'd be in all sorts. And Ofa ain't a long term solution. At lock we have a stunning top trio when fit and two world class half-backs. No dramas in the outside backs aside from settling on a top combination. Midfield is messy. We've had plenty of unavailability for various reasons but at times SBW and Crotty have looked good together and also Crotty and ALB in 2016. But I don't think SBW is a certainty to make it to the RWC and that leaves us really scratching unless we bring another grunty AND rounded midfielder in (this isn't Laumape) and give him a dozen games so we have someone to compliment Crotty and ALB. At 10 we need now to give Mo'unga minutes and as many as possible. D Mac isnt the back up option there, but could be a third option as a utility come RWC time with another Super Rugby season under his belt.
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@shark said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
We're lucky at hooker that Taylor has really stepped up in Coles' absence of that'd be another problem position.
I don't get this. Bemoan the fact the coaches haven't found players/backups in certain positions, then when there's a spot they have, it's just luck?
@bones said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@shark said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
We're lucky at hooker that Taylor has really stepped up in Coles' absence of that'd be another problem position.
I don't get this. Bemoan the fact the coaches haven't found players/backups in certain positions, then when there's a spot they have, it's just luck?
This. I am not willing to write the development of both Coles and Taylor off to luck. Someone in that set up knows how to get the best out of hookers.
If that leaked stuff is correct? eesh
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We'll have to wait and see who is correct out of Sumo and Knowler (Savea or Todd). Both would have attended the same training sessions to observe combinations.
So, whats it gonna be, some spots not sure we can afford to start the rookies...
Moody, Taylor, Franks - no choice really??
Whitelock, Romano
Squire, Whitelock, Todd
Smith, Mounga?
SBW, Goodhue
Rieko, Smith, Naholo
bench is more interesting...
Coltman (he is available isn't he, I forget with all the comings and going) Billy T, Ofa, Hemopo, Frizzel, TJP, DMac, JB -
So, whats it gonna be, some spots not sure we can afford to start the rookies...
Moody, Taylor, Franks - no choice really??
Whitelock, Romano
Squire, Whitelock, Todd
Smith, Mounga?
SBW, Goodhue
Rieko, Smith, Naholo
bench is more interesting...
Coltman (he is available isn't he, I forget with all the comings and going) Billy T, Ofa, Hemopo, Frizzel, TJP, DMac, JB@taniwharugby Squire is injured too, hence the stories that Frizzel will start.
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@taniwharugby Squire is injured too, hence the stories that Frizzel will start.
@bovidae ah true...so Ardie back on the bench.
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Who wrote the Ardie article on the front page? Good read, great to get some rewatch analysis often my perspective is obscured at the time due to beer, emotion or a players stupid haircut.
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It was @gt12
@duluth said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
It was @gt12
If I have a few free hours Sunday or Monday, I might try to do the โRewatchโ again for this weekend too. Iโll base my single player analysis on the fuss generated by the game thread

So, probably Ardie again

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@billy-tell that's priceless. Is he blaming the AB's for the fall

@wreck-diver said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@billy-tell that's priceless. Is he blaming the AB's for the fall

He implies that the brush with ALB on his way through was the reason Fall failed to leave the ground like the Saturn rocket that he clearly is.
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@duluth said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
It was @gt12
If I have a few free hours Sunday or Monday, I might try to do the โRewatchโ again for this weekend too. Iโll base my single player analysis on the fuss generated by the game thread

So, probably Ardie again

@gt12 said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@duluth said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
It was @gt12
If I have a few free hours Sunday or Monday, I might try to do the โRewatchโ again for this weekend too. Iโll base my single player analysis on the fuss generated by the game thread

So, probably Ardie again

Mystery man Frizell would be a good candidate if he starts!
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@bones said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@shark said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
We're lucky at hooker that Taylor has really stepped up in Coles' absence of that'd be another problem position.
I don't get this. Bemoan the fact the coaches haven't found players/backups in certain positions, then when there's a spot they have, it's just luck?
This. I am not willing to write the development of both Coles and Taylor off to luck. Someone in that set up knows how to get the best out of hookers.
If that leaked stuff is correct? eesh
@mariner4life said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@bones said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@shark said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
We're lucky at hooker that Taylor has really stepped up in Coles' absence of that'd be another problem position.
I don't get this. Bemoan the fact the coaches haven't found players/backups in certain positions, then when there's a spot they have, it's just luck?
This. I am not willing to write the development of both Coles and Taylor off to luck. Someone in that set up knows how to get the best out of hookers.
Shit yeah. The coaches deserve a fucking heap of credit for Taylor especially - they picked him from relative obscurity as they really liked what they saw in terms of attitude and work ethic, and have developed him into a world class hooker. Other coaches would have picked the likes of Hika Elliot ahead of him at the time.
Same can be said of Coles really, when he was first selected he was seen as someone that shirked the tight stuff to look good on the wings. They got him not only pulling his weight in the tight, but consistently outstanding in this regard without sacrificing any of his loose play.
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@wreck-diver said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@billy-tell that's priceless. Is he blaming the AB's for the fall

He implies that the brush with ALB on his way through was the reason Fall failed to leave the ground like the Saturn rocket that he clearly is.
@marty the brush with ALB that was a good 4m prior to him getting off the ground and didn't seem to affect the path he was running or his ability to run straight to the point where BB was, surely if ALB was a factor he'd not have gotten to the exact jump point, but more likely wide of it.
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@gt12 said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@duluth said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
It was @gt12
If I have a few free hours Sunday or Monday, I might try to do the โRewatchโ again for this weekend too. Iโll base my single player analysis on the fuss generated by the game thread

So, probably Ardie again

Mystery man Frizell would be a good candidate if he starts!
@no-quarter said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@gt12 said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@duluth said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
It was @gt12
If I have a few free hours Sunday or Monday, I might try to do the โRewatchโ again for this weekend too. Iโll base my single player analysis on the fuss generated by the game thread

So, probably Ardie again

Mystery man Frizell would be a good candidate if he starts!
I'll do the Rewatch/"Reuben Thorne" watch on him. Now, can some one send me a picture of him so I know what he looks like?
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@marty the brush with ALB that was a good 4m prior to him getting off the ground and didn't seem to affect the path he was running or his ability to run straight to the point where BB was, surely if ALB was a factor he'd not have gotten to the exact jump point, but more likely wide of it.
@taniwharugby Quite right, but Reason doesn't like to let irritating things like physics or facts get in the way of a good fairytale.
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@shark personally think we're suffering an unprecedented injury crisis that I can't remember having to go through before.
Our depth is currently shit at prop yes?
Doesn't help that Hames, Laulala and Moli are out. All of a sudden that'd put Karl Mo outside the squad and leave one of our current THs out too.
Coles, Aumua. And suddenly Rikitikitavi is 6th choice.
Romero's injury meant he was down the pecking order. Still 4th choice. After that there's a drop off true. Combine that with Tuipulotu's form drop post drug test. I'm a fan of Lousi though.
Read. Have a feeling there's some potential 6/8s around who are injured (like Seu and others I can't think of).
Think our backs are looking pretty good though.
@booboo said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@shark personally think we're suffering an unprecedented injury crisis that I can't remember having to go through before.
Our depth is currently shit at prop yes?
Doesn't help that Hames, Laulala and Moli are out. All of a sudden that'd put Karl Mo outside the squad and leave one of our current THs out too.
Read. Have a feeling there's some potential 6/8s around who are injured (like Seu and others I can't think of).
Tim Perry is also missing from the loosehead props, but I'm inclined to think that might have been a blessing in disguise.
A No. 8 who could really come from "nowhere" is Whetu Douglas. He'll have to do it the hard way - through NPC later this year, but I reckon Hansen will be watching the Crusaders games prior to the play-offs if Whetu is playing.
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@booboo said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@shark personally think we're suffering an unprecedented injury crisis that I can't remember having to go through before.
Our depth is currently shit at prop yes?
Doesn't help that Hames, Laulala and Moli are out. All of a sudden that'd put Karl Mo outside the squad and leave one of our current THs out too.
Read. Have a feeling there's some potential 6/8s around who are injured (like Seu and others I can't think of).
Tim Perry is also missing from the loosehead props, but I'm inclined to think that might have been a blessing in disguise.
A No. 8 who could really come from "nowhere" is Whetu Douglas. He'll have to do it the hard way - through NPC later this year, but I reckon Hansen will be watching the Crusaders games prior to the play-offs if Whetu is playing.