All Blacks vs Fiji

[MN5]

@pakman said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

Pakman team:

Bower
Taylor
Laulala
BBBR/Vaa'i
Whitelock (c)
Frizell
A Savea/Blackadder
Sotutu
Smith
B Barrett/Mo'unga
Reece
Havili
Ioane
Bridge
J Barrett

Bench:

Coles/De Groot/Ta'avao/Vaa'i(or BBBR)/Blackadder(Jacobson)/Christie/Mo'unga(BB)/Tupaea

Exciting stuff. We’ll get to see how good Bridges distribution is when the play swings to the right.

[Tim]

Physical training session?

[Machpants]

@tim Moving to US Football?

[Stargazer]

@tim BB's wife in one of the comments:

hannahlaity: Note to self - stay clear of Ethan Blackadder

[MN5]

@stargazer said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@tim BB's wife in one of the comments:

hannahlaity: Note to self - stay clear of Ethan Blackadder

Maybe revenge for Smiley rucking Toddy a bit hard during a game between the Naki and Canterbury back in the 90s ?

[gt12]

My insta showing Smith as captain

[gt12]

[Duluth]

George Bower (1)
Codie Taylor (56)
Nepo Laulala (29)
Patrick Tuipulotu (37)
Brodie Retallick (81)
Shannon Frizell (13)
Ethan Blackadder (1)
Hoskins Sotutu (5)
Aaron Smith (97) - captain
Beauden Barrett (89)
George Bridge (11)
David Havili (3)
Rieko Ioane (35)
Sevu Reece (8)
Jordie Barrett (24)
RESERVES:
Dane Coles (75)
Ethan de Groot – new cap
Tyrel Lomax (7)
Samuel Whitelock (123)
Luke Jacobson (3)
Finlay Christie (1)
Damian McKenzie (28)
Will Jordan (3)

[Machpants]

@gt12 said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

Without the ‘tap to view products ‘ extra

[Machpants]

BB and BBBR - Huzzah! All over a stronger team than last week, and with Smith, BB, Havili and Bridge, the distribution will be awesome

[Nepia]

That might be my least favourite back three ever to play for the ABs.

Non controversial fern fan favourites Bridge and RIoane the only two starters from last match retained?

[KiwiMurph]

Makes sense - the theme being those who didn't start last week start this week with a few exceptions.

[Machpants]

@kiwimurph said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

Makes sense - the theme being those who didn't start last week start this week with a few exceptions.

So who, apart from the injured, has missed a start?

[KiwiMurph]

@machpants not counting injuries/returning from injury De Groot (rookie), Vaai (injured?) and Finlay?

I'm counting Aumua as injured.

[Machpants]

@kiwimurph Thanks yeah sounds right, De Groot as a rookie and 3rd string (only there due to injuries) prop and Finlay the same, fair enough too

[KiwiMurph]

If Aaron Smith plays next week then test 100 for him looks like it will be at Eden Park first Bledisloe.

[Stargazer]

Brodie is back. That's all!

[Stargazer]

@kiwimurph said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

Makes sense - the theme being those who didn't start last week start this week with a few exceptions.

So with this rotation, could this mean that Dmac will start at 10, with Mo'unga in the 22 jersey, next week? And BB getting a rest? That seems to be the pattern? Would be a bit strange to start the best 10 against the weakest team (Tonga) and not getting a start against Fiji! Or will they go for the strongest line-up next week (whatever they see as the strongest team)? E.g., Whitelock and Retallick both starting.

[Machpants]

@stargazer Nah it is not set in stone like that, IMO, they will put the players on when and where they need to see more or improvement or whatever

[KiwiMurph]

@stargazer More likely than starting I reckon is DMac getting time at 10 later in the game (either this week or next). They'll also want to give some injured players a start next week (ALB, Ardie, Vaai) although those 2 of those 3 probably feature in the 'strongest' team anyway. It was interesting to hear Foster say that so many positions are up for grabs.