AB EOYT 2018

[Chris B.]

@nevorian Possibly Coles, but probably Luke Whitelock IMO. He's been an AB captain before.

I think that selection is all about getting past Japan, but ensuring we are ready to go against England.

[Chris B.]

@kiwimurph I can't really see them going into a test match with Jordie as the back-up 10 - but, that's what McKendry is suggesting. At a minimum, I reckon Cameron on the bench - but, won't surprise me if they leave both McKenzie and Mo'unga in Japan.

They're going to need to leave one of Ofa or Big Karl in Tokyo to cover both sides of the scrum in case of a late injury and I don't see why that guy wouldn't play. It makes more sense to leave Ofa (since they have Nepo Laulala in the 32), but I'd rather see Lomax on the bench than O'Neill - so that suggest leaving big Karl.

I reckon they'll leave one of the top 3 locks as well - and Hansen dropped a hint that it will be BBBR.

[African Monkey]

I'd assume that both Hall and Drummond will get a run with TTT getting a run against the Aussies next time out and then more gametime in Europe otherwise I don't see the point in taking both the Crusaders halfbcks.

[Chris B.]

@african-monkey You need a third halfback in case one goes down in the warm-ups.

I reckon it will be TTT starting and one of Hall or Drummond on the bench.

[Rapido]

@taniwharugby said in AB EOYT 2018:

@chris-b I think 10 of the main squad will stay in Japan after the Aus game with the newbie-19, with the 10 then following after the Japanese test and the newbie-19 either go home or join up with the Maori.

So 22, rather than a matchday 23 go early to England? Strange number.

In that case, I'd keep the 10.

But, maybe not ..... we do need to actually blood a 4th 10 before the world cup. Hmmmmmm.

Edit. Scratch this musing. I see McKendry agrees with my original hypothesis.

[Rapido]

Watching The Breakdown.

Has their researcher added and inch or 2 to Dalton Papalii's height? Panel going on about him as 1.97 PSDT style lock/blindside. He's actually shorter than Kaino, Fafita, Frizzell (two of whom are a actually locks/6s) .

But then some panelists talking about him as the (more accurate) 7/6 hybrid, a new breed etc.

That was a confusing segment

[Rancid Schnitzel]

@mariner4life said in AB EOYT 2018:

@tim said in AB EOYT 2018:

Here's a new one for you:

Jordie Barrett, what the fuck has he done this year?

ooooh good

3/8s of fuck all really. Cost us a test.

And as far as i can see from the Fern, has gone from being the ABs nailed on fullback for the next 10 years (except for the loons who think he's a 12) to being overtaken by some bloke called Jordan in 18 months.

I really hope you choke on that dildo some day. I hope you choke on it and the final thing you see is the Barrett brothers starting an AB test together while your little blonde NZ Schweinsteiger watches from the stands.

[Rancid Schnitzel]

@nepia said in AB EOYT 2018:

@tim said in AB EOYT 2018:

Here's a new one for you:

Jordie Barrett, what the fuck has he done this year?

Threw that cracker pass to the Boks that half the Fern tried to blame an Ioane for?

Writing "an Ioane" suggests that the other one actually ever gets picked. You wouldn't write "a McKenzie" would you?

[African Monkey]

@chris-b They could always just leave Smith or Perenara there then to save an airfare

[Chester Draws]

@kiwimurph said in AB EOYT 2018:

Sorry if already posted but this is McKendry's 23 for the Japan test
Possible All Blacks team for test against Japan in Tokyo on November 3

15. Jordie Barrett
16. Nehe Milner-Skudder
17. Anton Lienert-Brown
18. Ngani Laumape
19. George Bridge
20. Damian McKenzie
21. Te Toiroa Tahuroirangi
22. Luke Whitelock
23. Dalton Papalii
24. Jackson Hemopo
25. Patrick Tuipulotu
26. Luke Romano
27. Angus Ta'avao
28. Dane Coles
29. Tim Perry

Reserves: Liam Coltman, Tyrel Lomax, Reuben O'Neill, Gareth Evans, Dillon Hunt, Mitchell Drummond, Matt Proctor, David Havili.

Is Japan playing a reduced strength side? Because otherwise I would not be surprised if that team got smoked by them.

It's not that any player there isn't deserving, but the team as a whole looks like a mid-ranked Super side (hardly surprising given that almost two entire teams of players are selected above them).

A forward pack with hardly any grunt go-forward, including guys just back from long injuries and complete noobs. It's unbalanced towards defensive players and grinders.

Inside backs that look solid enough, but wingers that aren't really going to break the game open.

Where are they going to make breaks? McKenzie needs to stop trying to win games by himself, so shouldn't be expected to make everything happen. Barrett Jr and Laumape better bring their A games -- it's lucky that both have been in such outstanding form recently and won't have to shake off any rust (uggh!).

But if the game is going badly, we'll at least be able to roll some experienced and reliable game breakers off the bench. Not.

If Japan play their #1 side against that lot, then I'm off to the TAB.

[ACT Crusader]

@chester-draws is that one of those “I don’t watch a lot of rugby but I’ll post anyway” posts?

Not that I think that will be the side, but if it is, that 4,5,6,7 will provide plenty of go forward if they all play their natural games. We’ll get punch from the midfield and Skudder and Jordie know how to work together in attack.

Front row a little concerning.

[Bones]

@act-crusader I especially liked Dalton Papalii, Jackson Hemopo, Patrick Tuipulotu, Luke Romano, Angus Ta'avao, Dane Coles being considered in either the defensive player or grinder category. I mean, who doesn't look at those players and think, shit the defence will be solid but where are the ball runners?

And then being so spot on about Bridge too. Did he even make any breaks, score any tries or beat any defenders in super rugby? Absolute failure against the ABs themselves too and we know the ABs aren't as strong as Japan.

[Chester Draws]

@act-crusader

Nope, it's because I remember that a better side struggled to put away the Blave Blossoms not that long ago. A side that had at least played together some.

Once reserves come on, that pack would be half debutantes. Lucky they'll have the grunt of Luke Whitelock and Liam Coltman to carry them over the line.

Edit

We’ll get punch from the midfield and Skudder and Jordie know how to work together in attack.

You're delusional if you think NMS is going to add anything at all. His long standing combination with Jordie isn't helpful when he's as slow as he currently is.

[KiwiMurph]

Japan are expected to be understrength aren't they.

[Chris B.]

@african-monkey said in AB EOYT 2018:

@chris-b They could always just leave Smith or Perenara there then to save an airfare

They could - but, they're leaving 10 of the main squad in Japan and are bringing over 19 - so they could potentially save on 6 airfares using the same logic! Those six guys are pretty much there to cover last minute injuries.

Hansen said the Japanese are paying us to play them - so they're picking up the tab on all the extras

[Machpants]

@kiwimurph Yeah it's outside the window, so will their big clubs release? I think the big thing is it their first test, no prep time, with a new coaching group - they'll be shambolic. Not a highly tuned machine with heaps of build up like the RWC.

[Rapido]

@kiwimurph said in AB EOYT 2018:

Japan are expected to be understrength aren't they.

I'm not expecting that.

Its outside window, but Japan dont have their players overseas.

Expect JRFU and clubs have worked something out. They're not at war with each other.

Plus sunwolves mean dine are centrally contracted anyway probably?

[mariner4life]

@rancid-schnitzel said in AB EOYT 2018:

@mariner4life said in AB EOYT 2018:

@tim said in AB EOYT 2018:

Here's a new one for you:

Jordie Barrett, what the fuck has he done this year?

ooooh good

3/8s of fuck all really. Cost us a test.

And as far as i can see from the Fern, has gone from being the ABs nailed on fullback for the next 10 years (except for the loons who think he's a 12) to being overtaken by some bloke called Jordan in 18 months.

I really hope you choke on that dildo some day. I hope you choke on it and the final thing you see is the Barrett brothers starting an AB test together while your little blonde NZ Schweinsteiger watches from the stands.

not bad. Big on bile, and so butt hurt.

Just really loses for points for assuming i am actually a fan of DMac.

(actually i could quite happily be NZ Bastion Schweinsteiger given his money and his missus).

I liked you Hurricanes supporters more when you actually knew your team was a flakey joke.

[Dice]

I listened to the radio this morning and Brad Weber got interviewed, and he thought he was going to make the team. He even texted Foster to talk about it. He seemed a bit emotional when talking about it.

[taniwharugby]

@rapido arent the Sunwolves separate from the Clubs, otherwise the Sunwolves could in theory be a stronger outfit if they had access to the top Japanese players?

It will still come to the Japanese coaches asking for players to be released I expect, similarly as Hansen has with Todd.