All Blacks vs Fiji 2

Crucial

Looking at that backline it's full of midgets with 5 players that halfback sized. It's a shame RIoane isn't starting a head of Reece.

When Weber comes on they will be bigger than most halfbacks.

Joking aside, they aren't units but aren't exactly midgets either (DMac aside)

ACT Crusader

@toddy said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

About as good a team as they can pick at the moment.

Couple of question for me

Bower seems to get through quite a tackles in a game but I'd be interested to know if any of them are dominant tackles. Seems to have quite a low technique for a big fulla. Better than risking a card but you have to find a balance from your big men.

Barrett will help with the collisions where BBBR was like a wet paper bag but only if he stays on the park.

Savea is coming back from injury and has hardly played 7 since 2019. Are we going to have Savea and AIoane out on the wings with just Jacobson doing the donkey work or will Savea actually play like a 7.

Good to see Smith paired with RM. Seems pretty clear that RM is the number pick so hopefully he gets a sh*tload of game time there now. BB back to his impact role.

Looking at that backline it's full of midgets with 5 players that halfback sized. It's a shame RIoane isn't starting a head of Reece.

Yeah Bower is an interesting one. Surprised he actually made the ABs, but they must see something that I don’t.

I’m quietly excited to see how this loose forward trio will go. On paper there is a skill set that complements each other, but they haven’t played together which means we will probably see a little disjointed stuff.

With Havili at 12 and a genuine playmaker, I think this will free up Mo’unga to take on the line a bit more. Again on paper Havili / ALB could be exciting.

On the back 3, Will Jordan is a good 6’2, not Jordie height, but he has more size than most people think.

Bovidae

@act-crusader said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

Congrats to Frizell for making his debut. Good luck with your AB career young fella. Upwards and onwards

NZR must have ran out of numbers for Shannon.

Crucial

@bovidae said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

@act-crusader said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

Congrats to Frizell for making his debut. Good luck with your AB career young fella. Upwards and onwards

NZR must have ran out of numbers for Shannon.

Or debating whether to put down appearances or last chances?

Toddy

@chris said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

If you are regarding Havilli as one of the 5 midgets at (1.84m and 95kg ) I wouldn't regard him as a midget.Not massive but not a midget.
Pretty much the Same size as ALB at 96kg and 1.85m

That's the long way of saying midget

Nepia

@bovidae said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

The matchday 23 is (Test caps in brackets)

George Bower (2)

Codie Taylor (57)

Nepo Laulala (30)

Scott Barrett (41)

Samuel Whitelock (124) - captain

Akira Ioane (3)

Ardie Savea (49)

Luke Jacobson (4)

Aaron Smith (98)

Richie Mo’unga (23)

Sevu Reece (9)

David Havili (4)

Anton Lienert-Brown (49)

Will Jordan (4)

Damian McKenzie (29)

Dane Coles (76)

Ethan de Groot (1)

Angus Ta’avao (15)

Brodie Retallick (82)

Shannon Frizell

Brad Weber (8)

Beauden Barrett (90)

Rieko Ioane (35)

Sheesh, that's a team that's probably only 3 selections away from what I would pick.

Swap Reece out of the team, squad, country completely for Rieko, I'd even allow having both Barrett's on the bench in this scenario.

Swap Retallick and Barrett. Retallick needs game time, Barrett needs fewer chances to get carded.

Start our best hooker in Coles.

Bovidae

That's pretty much a Crusaders' tight five, which should help with combinations.

I think they are still rotating a few players so as SB wasn't involved last week he gets a chance in this test. We'll get to see the old guard in the 2nd half.

Taylor needs to step up. He played like Tarzan for the Crusaders and Jane for the ABs last season, so we can't afford another repeat of that.

bayimports

Is Bridge injured? Its going to make for a boring fern match day thread, without his availablility to distribute ..

mariner4life

and i put Stan Sport on last night so i will actually watch

Might watch last weeks to see what all the whinging was about

Crucial

@bayimports said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

Is Bridge injured? Its going to make for a boring fern match day thread, without his availablility to distribute ..

African Monkey

Hmmm, I think its closer to our strongest side but there's still plenty of spots up for grabs.

Kiwiwomble

@bayimports said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

Is Bridge injured? Its going to make for a boring fern match day thread, without his availablility to distribute ..

it will be his fault for not being there

Duluth

An important game for the loose forward combination

When Papali'i returns you'd assume SF drops out of the 23. Savea is an almost certain starter for the big matches given the lack of experienced loosies

The question for those big Tests will be does Savea start 7 or 8? Depending on where he starts it will be Jacobson or Papali'i on the bench

At the moment I think Papali'i has his nose on front but that could easily change

Frank

So DMac is regarded as being ahead of Jordie Barrett - or is Jordie injured?
Great to see Akira picked at 6 ahead of Frizell and Jacobsen ahead of Sotutu.

I guess they have to play Ardie, but I'd be surprised if he is up to speed (though certainly tall enough)

Nepia

@duluth said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

An important game for the loose forward combination

When Papali'i returns you'd assume SF drops out of the 23. Savea is an almost certain starter for the big matches given the lack of experienced loosies

The question for those big Tests will be does Savea start 7 or 8? Depending on where he starts it will be Jacobson or Papali'i on the bench

At the moment I think Papali'i has his nose on front but that could easily change

I think Jacobsen is locking up the 8 spot.

Crazy Horse

@duluth said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

An important game for the loose forward combination

When Papali'i returns you'd assume SF drops out of the 23. Savea is an almost certain starter for the big matches given the lack of experienced loosies

The question for those big Tests will be does Savea start 7 or 8? Depending on where he starts it will be Jacobson or Papali'i on the bench

At the moment I think Papali'i has his nose on front but that could easily change

I am wondering if we are ever going to see the best of Papali'i on a regular basis. He is one of those unlucky players with have going around at the moment who always seem injured.

MN5

@bayimports said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:

Is Bridge injured? Its going to make for a boring fern match day thread, without his availablility to distribute ..

I know, all Reece and Jordan can do is beat tacklers and score tries. Such limited players in comparison.

Yeetyaah

Excited to see this midfield combo. Great to see Dmac start over Jordie.

ARHS

Hoped to see Vaii on bench and Retallick starting and Taavao starting too. Can understand why not on both. Otherwise looks like our best available combo to me. We'll done coaches. Hoping to be there to see a higher level performance.

Tim

Prop depth is not great ...

The Silver Fern

All Blacks vs Fiji 2