AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?

[ACT Crusader]

@KiwiMurph said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@mariner4life was it the 06 End of Year Tour where they basically alternated between two separate starting XVs?

I think 06 also was when ABs played one squad in Argentina (captained by Collins?) the same weekend (or very close to) another test the ABs had with a totally different squad (think it was a test in NZ).

That was the mid year schedule. The ABs had their 2nd test against Ireland at Eden Park on 17 June. On 24 June they had a test against Argentina in BA.

Ireland match
Dermody, Mealamu, Hayman, Jack, Flavell, Kaino, McCaw, So’oialo, Kelleher, McAllister, Rokocoko, Mauger, Laulala, Howlett, Muliaina

Argentina match
Woodcock, Oliver, Somerville, Eaton, Williams, Collins, Masoe, Tuiali'i, Weepu, Carter, Hamilton, Tuitupou, Toeava, Gear, MacDonald

[Machpants]

@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

Nothing says experiment like All Black Ben Blair.

I raise you

@ACT-Crusader said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

Argentina match
Woodcock, Oliver, Somerville, Eaton, Williams, Collins, Masoe, Tuiali'i, Weepu, Carter, Hamilton, Tuitupou, Toeava, Gear, MacDonald

[Bones]

@taniwharugby what was the game where Blair was in the clear but then mowed down then?

[Nepia]

@Machpants said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

Nothing says experiment like All Black Ben Blair.

I raise you

@ACT-Crusader said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

Argentina match
Woodcock, Oliver, Somerville, Eaton, Williams, Collins, Masoe, Tuiali'i, Weepu, Carter, Hamilton, Tuitupou, Toeava, Gear, MacDonald

I'd take Bubbles any day over Blair.

[ACT Crusader]

@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@taniwharugby what was the game where Blair was in the clear but then mowed down then?

Was that the Argentina test in 01? The one that Razor scored late in the match for the win.

[Bones]

@ACT-Crusader I thought it was kinda what TR described but my memory had it the other way around.

[taniwharugby]

@Bones nah think it was just bundled into touch too easily v England after a Howlett break.

[MN5]

@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@taniwharugby what was the game where Blair was in the clear but then mowed down then?

By Ben Cohen if memory serves. Judging from recent pics of him the only running he’s been doing is to the front of the line at Maccas.

[Bones]

@MN5 this is getting confusing, that's my memory, Blair in space out wide with the tryline open, but couldn't even run it in and got bundled into touch. I've no recollection of him missing a tackle on Cohen.

[MN5]

@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@MN5 this is getting confusing, that's my memory, Blair in space out wide with the tryline open, but couldn't even run it in and got bundled into touch. I've no recollection of him missing a tackle on Cohen.

I love it when we’re both right

[Bones]

@MN5 hah both occurred! Good memory @taniwharugby !

[taniwharugby]

@Bones illegal tackle today, sad really!

[MN5]

@taniwharugby said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@Bones illegal tackle today, sad really!

In that case let’s all prepare to laud Damian McKenzie as the greatest Rugby player to ever lace boots

[Chris B.]

@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

Nothing says experiment like All Black Ben Blair.

http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/teamsheet.asp?MT_ID=2072

Decent AB debut for Benny!

[Bones]

@Chris-B that's a fucked up backline!

[Chris B.]

@Bones The whole starting XV looks slightly ropey while Jerry was in the bin.

A bit of cavalry on the bench!

[Bones]

@Chris-B swap Miller and Waller out and the forward pack looks pretty respectable I reckon.

[Chris B.]

@Bones Some workhorses - not quite as damp a squib as the backline, but not many in the conversations about AB greats.

[antipodean]

@Bones said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@Chris-B that's a fucked up backline!

Ireland clearly had no depth back then. Giving up that many points to a backline with the collective speed of an asthmatic ant carrying shopping.

[junior]

@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

@BerniesCorner said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:

N Laumape has to start at 12

Laumape doesn't pass, kinda important skill for second five-eighth.

which is a bit of a bugger, because all our others can pass, and have nice light feet, but aren't physical units. So we give a bit somewhere no matter what.

Which makes playing someone like a Laumape at 12 OK (not ideal but still OK) because his deficiencies are made out both inside and outside him.