Pumas vs All Blacks

[Victor Meldrew]

Crazy Horse said:

I wonder where Goodhue sits in the view of the selectors? Surely he has to be the number one 13. SBW and Crotty fighting it out to partner him.?

Think Hansen & co. might be seeing Goodhue & ALB as one pair and Crotty/SBW as the other pair (with ALB coming on for Crotty after 15 minutes....)

[Victor Meldrew]

Donsteppa said:

Hansen seems determined to live dangerously.

Better now than in 12 months time in Japan.

[Machpants]

Donsteppa said:

Hansen seems determined to live dangerously.

Now's the time for some spreading of experience and rolling of the die. But Hansen is always talking about the faith in our squad, and it's not like it was the dirty dirties who stuffed up in Welly. Amazing to think only two, I think, guys also started the RWC final 3 years ago!

[booboo]

Chris B. said:

Duluth said:

Bones said:

Wow, good on Ta'avao! What a year for him. I'm not that worried about the FR, apart from hooker. Perry has shown he deserves to be there so far, Ta'avao has been very good this year.

Every prop is either a current or former Blues player. Three of them deserve to be there. Perry is a steaming pile of poo

That's a bit harsh on Perry.

I'm no great fan of him and still somewhat amazed that he's risen to All Black heights, but he's not let us down in any of his AB starts - not yet anyway. Steaming pile of poo is a bit shit!

Has to be said, though, that Tu'inukuafe has been the find of the season and I reckon Hansen is breathing considerably easier seeing him make every post so far a winner.

He can plan around Moody and Franks being his big game starters, with Tu'inukuafe and Tu'ungafasi capable of playing both sides at a pinch (though I'd rather not see the theory on Ofa at loosehead tested in a big game) and then, hopefully, fit Laulala and Hames in the mix next year plus Perry, Toomaga-Allen and Ta'avao as somewhat dodgy options if necessary.

Moli

[Machpants]

booboo said:

Chris B. said:

Duluth said:

Bones said:

Wow, good on Ta'avao! What a year for him. I'm not that worried about the FR, apart from hooker. Perry has shown he deserves to be there so far, Ta'avao has been very good this year.

Every prop is either a current or former Blues player. Three of them deserve to be there. Perry is a steaming pile of poo

That's a bit harsh on Perry.

I'm no great fan of him and still somewhat amazed that he's risen to All Black heights, but he's not let us down in any of his AB starts - not yet anyway. Steaming pile of poo is a bit shit!

Has to be said, though, that Tu'inukuafe has been the find of the season and I reckon Hansen is breathing considerably easier seeing him make every post so far a winner.

He can plan around Moody and Franks being his big game starters, with Tu'inukuafe and Tu'ungafasi capable of playing both sides at a pinch (though I'd rather not see the theory on Ofa at loosehead tested in a big game) and then, hopefully, fit Laulala and Hames in the mix next year plus Perry, Toomaga-Allen and Ta'avao as somewhat dodgy options if necessary.

Moli

Sorry I'm now in full Powers mode...

[booboo]

Chris B. said:

@crazy-horse I reckon Hansen and Co still regard SBW and Crotty as their top combo - and ALB is their best midfield utility (actually it's Crotty, but he's down to start).

I'd say they see Goodhue as their second best centre and Crotty as their best centre and second best second five.

IMO...

2nd five
SBW
Crotty
Laumape (possibly generous)
ALB
Goodhue (possibly generous)

Centre
Crotty
Goodhue
ALB
SBW (possibly generous)
Laumape (probably generous)

I wonder if that was what they thought they thought at the start of yhe season and they're doing their thing of letting the incumbents prove themselves (or otherwise).

Have yo say Goodhue looks number 1 midfielder to me.

[akan004]

I think they most probably already see Goodhue as their no 1 centre or at least see him as being their no1 at the Rwc. He's had a lot of rugby this year so this break was always coming. Will be surprised if he doesn't start next week.

[mariner4life]

Chris B. said:

@mariner4life Where do you want to put your man ALB?

I hope it's not ahead of Jack at centre!

12 bro. Put the sicknotes out to pasture

[Rapido]

Rocky Rockbottom said:

booboo said:

Moli

oh snap I didnt even see that wft, great minds etc etc

Ah , his was a serious post about Atu Moli.

[Chester Draws]

Bones said:

I'm more worried about what happens when SBW and Crotty disappear before halftime and Naholo/Smith gets an injury. TJP to the wing again I guess.

Nah, Ardie to 12.

[ACT Crusader]

@chris-b I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Perry’s AB form so far. Been less than impressed by some of his Crusader form but he’s stepped up and hasn’t made any clangers.

Good AB side. Argies outside backs are in great form so big opportunity for Naholo and Ioane to step it up against quality opposition.

Like the balance of our loosies, but it will be interesting how we close the test match and how the bench will be used. Frizell played 80 last time and I somehow think that wasn’t the plan.

[sparky]

Disappointed to see Aaron Smith and Jack Goodhue who are clearly the best players in their positions not starting. Argentina are a very good side and beating them in Argentina is becoming increasing tough. The Rugby Championship trophy is still up from grabs. After the worst All Blacks home performance in nearly a decade, I'd have showed the Pumas respect and chosen the best side available.

[taniwharugby]

@act-crusader yeah I think you saw the drop off in Frizell who had probably not played 80 all year, but he finished strong, but all going to plan he may not play another 80

[Bovidae]

Hansen said Frizell would have been subbed, but BBBR's early injury meant he couldn't.

[Stargazer]

Pumas

15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Matías Moroni, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou,
8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustín Creevy (capt.), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro

Replacements:
16 Julián Montoya, 17 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Matías Orlando, 23 Sebastián Cancelliere

Argentine Head Coach Mario Ledesma has made two personal changes and two further positional changes for the match. Up front this sees Ramiro Herrera flown straight in to the starting team from France. Having played on Sunday against Pau the Stade Français Tight Head will play his first test match in a year, or 364 days to be precise.

Herrera replaces Santiago Medrano who drops to the bench. He will join Juan Pablo Zeiss with Santiago García Botta dropping out. This follows Gastón Cortés also being dropped earlier in the competition by Ledesma.

The back-row replacement will again be Juan Manuel Leguizamón as Tomás Lezana continues to mend following injury suffered in round three.

In round four Ramiro Moyano was forced off early. Having suffered a fractured rib he will not face New Zealand on Saturday. This has seen a reshuffle in the backs. Matías Moroni moves to start on the wing with Jerónimo de la Fuente playing outside center and Bautista Ezcurra elevated from the bench to play inside center.

On the bench this sees two new inclusions with Matías Orlando and Sebastián Cancelliere involved for the first time in the tournament. Cancelliere will make his Rugby Championship debut should he receive game time.

http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2018/09/27/rugby-championship-preview-argentina-vs-new-zealand/

[Rapido]

3 Ramiro Herrera

That's quite a big change (improvement) from Nelson.

[pakman]

Their front row will be much stronger with Herrera at TH and Tetaz Chaparro swapping to LH where he is much better.

[akan004]

sparky said:

Disappointed to see Aaron Smith and Jack Goodhue who are clearly the best players in their positions not starting. Argentina are a very good side and beating them in Argentina is becoming increasing tough. The Rugby Championship trophy is still up from grabs. After the worst All Blacks home performance in nearly a decade, I'd have showed the Pumas respect and chosen the best side available.

Rest and rotation bro. We'll still beat them by 15+. Besides, the replacements aren't exactly mugs themselves.

[MG]

I would've been more nervous if these okes were available for the Argies: Marcos Ayerza(prop), Juan Figalo(prop), Facunda Isa(No.8), Marcelo Bosch(Centre) and Juan Imhoff(Wing)

[Bones]

Two wingers with the best names for a wing would be Wylie Human and Imhoff.