RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2)
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It will likely be trotted out this centre combo have only started two tests together one against Namibia and one where Goodhue pulled up lame in the first 20 minutes.
But they've played two tests in the last TRC where Crotty was injured in the first 20 against Aus and Argentina and played the final 20 against England and Ireland last year and SA this year.
So of the options available they probably have played the most together over the past couple of years (at test level) and played some high intensity fixtures (with mixed results).
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Pretty shocked not to see Bender on the bench. No way on earth anyone can convince me that Jordie is a better option. Unless he is injured that is a real head scratcher.
@DMX said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
Pretty shocked not to see Bender on the bench. No way on earth anyone can convince me that Jordie is a better option. Unless he is injured that is a real head scratcher.
That's just pig-headedness though when he is the best option.
Has Reiko played his last game for the AB's? (Barring injury to the incumbents) Does that mean he may poke off overseas?
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@rotated said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@antipodean said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@rotated said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
Experience, experience, experience.... then somehow we end up with four guys in the backline who had ~10 starts collectively in 2018 in Goodhue, ALB, Bridge and Reece.
So much for forward planning.
So your argument would be if form and talent demand selection, fuck 'em because they didn't start enough Tests the year before?
Quite the opposite - weight form more throughout the cycle rather then crapping on about experience the whole time only to abandon it after Perth, two games from squad announcement.
Form can fall off a cliff despite being great for three years prior to a RWC. Perth wasn't 2018.
@antipodean yeah I think maybe we (fans) are reading more into the Perth failure and the EP success than the coaches?
That said, I am surprised it isnt Crotyy/ALB starting in the mid-field.
This team is quite some way away from what most would have predicted midway through the Super season!!
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Hansen is saying all players were fit and available for selection. I can only assume that the selection of JB is for a continuation of the duel playmaker roles if injury forced BB or Mo'unga off the field, and his performance vs Namibia convinced them of that.
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So from Dublin a year ago, six guys hold their spots in the starting XV (Taylor, Retallick, Whitelock, Cane, Read and Goodhue) plus Ardie and Beaudy have positional shifts.
Laulala, Mo'unga and ALB are promoted from the bench, while Coles, Tu'ungafasi, Barrett, Todd and Perenara retain their bench spots.
Only two selections that are a bit surprising.
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As I previously mentioned - Jordie in ahead of Bender - I reckon that's because Jordie is a better option to carry on with the two play-makers thing if either Richie or Beauden get hurt.;
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Jack Goodhue in ahead of Ryan Crotty. My theory on this is that Crotty is more of a facilitator than an outright weapon - Goodhue's extra size provides a bit more punch. And with Aaron Smith, Mo'unga, Reece and Beaudy all in the team - Crotty would be yet another smallish back.
So it's a trade-off between Ryan's cool head and experience against a bit more physicality from Jack. Might be a little bit of looking ahead towards England in this selection as well.
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@KiwiMurph said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
No Ben Smith and no Crotty. Reminds me of no Doug Howlett in 07.....
I felt the same thing but didn’t want to be the first to say it .
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@KiwiMurph said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
No Ben Smith and no Crotty. Reminds me of no Doug Howlett in 07.....
I felt the same thing but didn’t want to be the first to say it .
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@jegga although 2007 would mean Bender was in at 13 too...
@taniwharugby said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@jegga although 2007 would mean Bender was in at 13 too...
Yeah that was a weird fixation we seem to have grown out of . I was thinking more of the lack of caps . Sexton is a limited enough player to probably enjoy using Trailles kicking tactics from 2007 .
Not that I remember the game of course , a few sessions of ECT took care of that.
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@KiwiMurph said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
No Ben Smith and no Crotty. Reminds me of no Doug Howlett in 07.....
Hopefully not, with there being two of them and Japan's thriving car industry this may not end well.
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good to see these edited prior to releasing
Also, Ireland not appealing Aki's suspension.
"We are disappointed with the outcome and believe that Bundee's time will be best served helping prepare the squad for its remaining RWC19 fixtures."
Arent we the ones usually counting chickens?
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@Frank said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
So Dane Coles as impact.
I think this is the best use of Taylor and Coles now. Coles provides the better impact.
@Bovidae said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
@Frank said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
So Dane Coles as impact.
I think this is the best use of Taylor and Coles now. Coles provides the better impact.
I would prefer our best hooker play the most minutes, I don't think Taylor has been performing at his usual high standards this year.
Would also prefer a tighter loose forward still than having three 7s in the team. Puts up his anti Cantab shield.
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Not overly surprised to see Smith miss out, as he's never been a big 1st receiver type fullback, whereas Jordie is - despite being a far inferior fullback. I can see the theory, but wouldn't have done it myself, as under pressure jordie can make really bad mistakes, and you don't verify that's fixed against Namibia.
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I'm good with the starters. I like ALB at 12, I want the ball in his hands more than he'd see if outside Crotty or SBW. And I trust the brains trust re Goodhue. Expect SBW to play 30mins at 12.
Don't mind Taylor starting, he's been more accurate at lineout time IMO, and Coles does give more punch off the bench - but have no strong feeling either way
I'd have taken BS over JB
Is anyone else concerned about the lineout if/when Brodie gets gassed at 60mins? We could have Coles throwing to SW, S Barret (6cm shorter than Brodie) and Read as only targets. One of the downsides of of having a traditional big 6.
Or am I just looking for problems?
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I'm good with the starters. I like ALB at 12, I want the ball in his hands more than he'd see if outside Crotty or SBW. And I trust the brains trust re Goodhue. Expect SBW to play 30mins at 12.
Don't mind Taylor starting, he's been more accurate at lineout time IMO, and Coles does give more punch off the bench - but have no strong feeling either way
I'd have taken BS over JB
Is anyone else concerned about the lineout if/when Brodie gets gassed at 60mins? We could have Coles throwing to SW, S Barret (6cm shorter than Brodie) and Read as only targets. One of the downsides of of having a traditional big 6.
Or am I just looking for problems?
@voodoo he was due 60 mins v Italy?
Was listening to something the other day and they said the training session/game situations the ABs did Friday was brutal and intense, so I expect had he started, they'd be looking at >70 mins for him this week.
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@voodoo he was due 60 mins v Italy?
Was listening to something the other day and they said the training session/game situations the ABs did Friday was brutal and intense, so I expect had he started, they'd be looking at >70 mins for him this week.
@taniwharugby yeah, that sounds right - fingers crossed!
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My boy Jordie made the team!!!
@No-Quarter said in RWC: All Blacks v Ireland (QF2):
My boy Jordie made the team!!!
A pity his other Dad @Rancid-Schnitzel isn't here to enjoy it as well.
