All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour

[BerniesCorner]

12. Tupaea

[sparky]

@berniescorner said in AB Vs Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:

6 Blackadder

He's a hard-worker but Akira's power is a rarer gift.

[sparky]

@berniescorner said in AB Vs Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:

12. Tupaea

Fluffed his audition a bit in the first half today.

[BerniesCorner]

Big motor always better

[BerniesCorner]

Starting w Weber good idea

[Victor Meldrew]

@berniescorner said in AB Vs Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:

12. Tupaea

He wasn't good today and apart from 15 minutes against the Boks, has been pretty average for me. Def. potential for the future, but I don't want him starting against a good side - not least that being exposed at this stage could screw a promising career.

[cgrant]

@sparky said in AB Vs Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:

Looks like it could be a cracker.

I'd go with

1. Moody
2. Taylor
3. Ofa T
4. Retallick
5. S. Whitelock (c)
6. A. Ioane
7. D. Papail'i
8. A. Savea
9. B. Weber (if fit)
10. B. Barrett
11. R. Ioane
12. D. Havili
13. ALB
14. W. Jordan
15. J. Barrett
16. D. Coles
17. Karl T
18. Laulala
19. Vaa' i
20. Blackadder
21. TJP
22. R. Mo'unga
23. Tupaea

This is harsh for Taukei'aho. I wouldn't push him out of the 23. Coles or Taylor for me, not Coles + Taylor.

[broughie]

@cgrant I lean towards Coles and Taukei'aho myself.

[sparky]

@cgrant I want all of Coles experience and cunning in the last 20 against the wily Irish if it is close.

[sparky]

This post is deleted!

[Stag]

@sparky Ioane has regressed to type in his last couple of tests. Blackadder to start comfortably for me.

[Billy Tell]

I watched the first half of Ire vs Jap, and Ireland were very good. Including an offloading game. If we play like vs Italy, we lose.

[george33]

@sparky good side definitely akira at 6 adds more dynaminsm

[broughie]

@sparky I just think Coles is better.

[Machpants]

Weber almost certainly won't play, ABs normally give a week off even if the pass protocols with head knocks.

[Chris B.]

@sparky Even without Weber's head knock, I reckon TJ was likely penciled in to start.

I think Laulala is almost certain to start and most likely Blackadder.

Coles vs Samisoni could go either way.

I wonder if they're thinking about a bench spot for Sam Cane?

Not sure Tupaea covers enough positions for this team. But, if Reece isn't available, good options are a bit thin.

[Nepia]

@chris-b said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:

@sparky Even without Weber's head knock, I reckon TJ was likely penciled in to start.

I think Laulala is almost certain to start and most likely Blackadder.

Coles vs Samisoni could go either way.

I wonder if they're thinking about a bench spot for Sam Cane?

Not sure Tupaea covers enough positions for this team. But, if Reece isn't available, good options are a bit thin.

I assume it would come down to who on the field can cover those positions? If Ioane starts at centre it makes it easier to carry Tupaea as there's already wing cover.

[Chris B.]

@nepia Sevu hobbled off, so if he's not available we'd be looking at George or Braydon on the wing - if Rieko goes to centre.

From Sparky's team - Jordie would have to cover wing, which isn't a great option in itself - and if he shifted there, presumably Mo'unga would have to go to fullback, unless you did a big re-shuffle and shifted Havili.

[Bovidae]

@chris-b said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:

@sparky Even without Weber's head knock, I reckon TJ was likely penciled in to start.

I think the flow-on effect is that TJP plays more minutes if Weber isn't available.

[Nepia]

@chris-b said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:

@nepia Sevu hobbled off, so if he's not available we'd be looking at George or Braydon on the wing - if Rieko goes to centre.

From Sparky's team - Jordie would have to cover wing, which isn't a great option in itself - and if he shifted there, presumably Mo'unga would have to go to fullback, unless you did a big re-shuffle and shifted Havili.

I wasn't advocating for Rieko at centre, just mentioning where how Tupaea could theoretically be cover in a team (I hadn't looked at Sparky's team ).

I guess it would have to be Jordie back home to his right wing, and yep, it would be either Mo or BB to 15.

They might put DMac on the bench for better cover across the board though. Will piss off some on here but the coaches probably rate him higher than the Fern does.