All Blacks vs Fiji

[Bones]

@family-man yeah makes sense, just with the wing stocks we have, I can't help but feel he's best utilised on the wing, especially with Smith starting and those lovely wide balls that Havili can throw (and that we saw DMac throwing today).

[Bones]

@kiwimurph who?

[sparky]

@family-man I think I'd try to give the whole of the squad who are fit at least part of a game inside these first two Tests.

[Hooroo]

DMac moves to LRO??? I thought he played well last night

[nzzp]

@hooroo said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

DMac moves to LRO??? I thought he played well last night

I think they'll swap almost the entire first 15 - if you ddn't start yesterday, you're probably starting

[taniwharugby]

I think it best to give Smith another week off which means Webber or Christie play again, the latter likely to start.

[Crucial]

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@hooroo said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

DMac moves to LRO??? I thought he played well last night

I think they'll swap almost the entire first 15 - if you ddn't start yesterday, you're probably starting

De Groot
Taylor
Laulala
BBBR
Vaa’i
Frizzell
Savea
Sotutu
Smith
BB
Havili
Ioane
Reece
Jordan
JB

[pakman]

@family-man said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

Who knows how many changes there will be next week but I’m going to have a go at picking the side.

15.Jordie Barrett
14.sevu Reece
13 rieko ioane
12.Quinn tupaea
11.George bridge
10.Richie mounga
9.Aaron smith
8.Hoskins sotutu
7.ardie savea
6.Ethan blackadder
5.Sam whitelock
4.Brodie retallick
3.nepo laulala
2.Cody Taylor
1.Karl tu’uinukuafe

Replacements
Dane coles
Ethan de groot
Tyrel lomax
Scott Barrett
Shannon frizell
Finley Christie
Beuden Barrett
David havili

Think Havilli will get a run if fit. Tupaea maybe bench. Think they'll look to balance one scrummaging prop with one carrier, so Bower to start, and Karl T or Ta'avao bench. Frizell to start if fit, with Blackadder on bench. Vaa'i for bench.

[booboo]

@crucial said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@hooroo said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

DMac moves to LRO??? I thought he played well last night

I think they'll swap almost the entire first 15 - if you ddn't start yesterday, you're probably starting

De Groot
Taylor
Laulala
BBBR
Vaa’i
Frizzell
Savea
Sotutu
Smith
BB
Havili
Ioane
Reece
Jordan
JB

Who's your skipper?

[Crucial]

@booboo Taylor I guess.

[Canes4life]

Not sure about Savea, he might be further away than we think.

[ARHS]

Disappointing lack of accuracy from Tuinukuafe and Lomax yesterday. Prop is our real position of concern in my view. Not wing or reserve halfback.

[sparky]

@crucial Not sure I'd start De Groot, but something like that is what I think we'll see on Saturday.

[sparky]

My team for Fiji

Karl T
Taylor (c)
Laulala
BBBR
Patrick T
Frizell
A Savea
Sotutu
Weber
B Barrett
J Barrett
Havili
R. Ioane
Reece
D. Mac

Aumua, De Groot, Angus T, Vaii, Papalii, Christie, Mo'unga, Tupaea

[Duluth]

@sparky

Yeah probably not far off. A lot of changes

I think Christie might start given he subbed on with Barrett last night. They might keep that combo going. Particularly if Sotutu is at eight

[Bovidae]

@arhs said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

Disappointing lack of accuracy from Tuinukuafe and Lomax yesterday.

It was a strange game. Big Karl was gaining more ground than usual with his carries, and then getting himself isolated.

I think Whitelock remains captaining the team and the other 2 locks are rotated around him.

[family man]

@duluth good point! That could well happen

[Canes4life]

@sparky J Barrett as a left wing, ewww. Did we not learn anything from last year?

Drop Tupaea, start J Barrett at 15, DMac on the bench. J Barrett can cover 12/13.

I’d go with:
Karl T
Taylor
Laulala
BBBR
Whitelock (c)
Frizell
A Savea/DP
Sotutu
Weber
B Barrett
Reece
Havili
Ioane
Jordan
J Barrett

Aumua, De Groot, Angus T, Vaii, DP/Jacobsen, Christie, Mo'unga, DMac/Tupaea

[Duluth]

I see Richard Knowler thinks Papali'i and Frizell won't be risked because they have niggles. I assume that would be the same for Savea

A backrow of Blackadder, Sotutu & Akira? Not sure if you could start Jacobson and Sotutu in the same trio

[Duluth]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-all-blacks-to-audition-for-starting-roles-this-month/PJJJMDC4TIHAORQ5MYHMEGHBSY/

Scott McLeod confirmed fellow loose forward Shannon Frizell is yet to be cleared to return from his high ankle sprain, and that Blues openside Dalton Papalii sustained a calf strain against Tonga, leaving the All Blacks light in this department.

"We have to wait until Tuesday. They're both in a similar boat in terms of their availability," McLeod said of Savea and Frizell. "We just have to test them a little bit more - it's not as if they're available as of today.

"Dalton came off as a precaution. Length or term we're not too sure we'll have to see how he unfolds over the next couple of days."

Also Aumua is concussed and Taukei’aho has been added as cover