All Blacks vs Wales

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="583669" data-time="1464478639">
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Not sure about Crockett, he's still the second best loosehead in the country by a considerable margin.
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Crockett is 33, and Moody is now firmly established as the no.1 LH prop. I'd be looking at Goodes, Hames and Manu from next year.
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
 
And who's the next power lock in line?
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Tuipulotu to back up Retallick. I assume the ABs coaches use of "power lock" is code for a traditional TH lock. Romano offers bulk in the scrum and can be a strong tackler, but his lack of "power" as a ball carrier has been mentioned by myself and others often enough here. Tuipulotu has some issues himself as a scrummager but his ability with ball in hand far exceeds Romano's.
 
Romano will get his chance in the 1st test but I've always thought of him as a place-holder in the ABs.

Cookie

Well, the England B team surprised me there. Couldn't tell much from the highlights, but Joseph and Burrell seem a well balanced centre partnership. Clifford looks like he had a good game, great to see some pace at 8. Ford looks like he needs therapy.

sparky

I'm expecting the 23 for the First Test to be something like this:
 
1. Joe Moody
2. Dane Coles
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Rettalick
5. Luke Romano
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Sam Cane
8. Keiran Read Â
9. Aaron Smith
10. Aaron Cruden
11. Julian Savea
12. Ryan Crotty
13. Malakai Fekitoa
14. Waisaki Nahalo
15. Ben Smith
 
Reserves:
16. Codie Taylor
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Charlie Faumauina
19. Patrick Tuipolotu
20. Ardie Savea
21. TJ Perenara
22. Beauden Barrett
23. Seta Tamanivalu
 
Israel Dagg and Eliott Dixon might get in somewhere as well.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="583851" data-time="1464559935">
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Crockett is 33, and Moody is now firmly established as the no.1 LH prop. I'd be looking at Goodes, Hames and Manu from next year.
 
 
Tuipulotu to back up Retallick. I assume the ABs coaches use of "power lock" is code for a traditional TH lock. Romano offers bulk in the scrum and can be a strong tackler, but his lack of "power" as a ball carrier has been mentioned by myself and others often enough here. Tuipulotu has some issues himself as a scrummager but his ability with ball in hand far exceeds Romano's.
 
Romano will get his chance in the 1st test but I've always thought of him as a place-holder in the ABs.
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The Lions tour is next year, I don't want to throw a rookie prop into that if Moody goes down
 
any of those 3 props you mention will have to improve heaps if they want a shot at that.
 
I'd be looking at them the year after

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="583857" data-time="1464560619">
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The Lions tour is next year, I don't want to throw a rookie prop into that if Moody goes down
 
any of those 3 props you mention will have to improve heaps if they want a shot at that.
 
I'd be looking at them the year after
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I remember Romano bumping off one of the Irish props like he was nothing but that was some time ago and can't recall anything like that since.
 
I think "loose" and "tight" are better terms than "athletic" and "power". It's a shame Boric had his issues cos he was another who could do either role pretty decently.
 
Keith Robinson was a real "tight" lock in that he hit every single ruck possible but was hardly a "power" lock if that makes sense, certainly not like Brad Thorn was.

Canes4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="583814" data-time="1464547700">
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My conclusion from watching highlights of the England-Wales came is that Wales don't have a clue how to defend pace. What is the fastest backline the All Blacks could put out from the squad that has been selected?
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Fastest backline would have to be this:
9. Aaron Smith 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Julian Savea 12. Malakai Fekitoa 13. Charlie Ngatai 14. Waisaki Nahalo 15. Damian McKenzie

bobily

Yep, though Ngatai and Fekitoa would swap positions.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="583862" data-time="1464560904">
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Fastest backline would have to be this:
9. Aaron Smith 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Julian Savea 12. Malakai Fekitoa 13. Charlie Ngatai 14. Waisaki Nahalo 15. Damian McKenzie
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Tamanivula would be quicker than Ngatai surely, he's Fijian.

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="583860" data-time="1464560881">I remember Romano bumping off one of the Irish props like he was nothing but that was some time ago and can't recall anything like that since. 
I think "loose" and "tight" are better terms than "athletic" and "power". It's a shame Boric had his issues cos he was another who could do either role pretty decently. 
Keith Robinson was a real "tight" lock in that he hit every single ruck possible but was hardly a "power" lock if that makes sense, certainly not like Brad Thorn was.</blockquote>
Bro it's 2016!

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="583862" data-time="1464560904">Fastest backline would have to be this: 
9. Aaron Smith 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Julian Savea 12. Malakai Fekitoa 13. Charlie Ngatai 14. Waisaki Nahalo 15. Damian McKenzie</blockquote>
Well if we're doing that you'd probably throw Smith at 13.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="583867" data-time="1464561079">
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Bro it's 2016!
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If I wanna live in the past I should be allowed to.

Canes4life

Edit fastest backline: 9. Aaron Smith 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Julian Savea 12. Charlie Ngatai 13. Ben Smith 14. Waisaki Nahalo 15. Damian McKenzie

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="583865" data-time="1464561054">
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Tamanivula would be quicker than Ngatai surely, he's Fijian.
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He's the slow Fijian, that's why he plays centre and not on the wing.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="583878" data-time="1464561366">
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He's the slow Fijian, that's why he plays centre and not on the wing.
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Slow Fijian ? that's like a blockbusting tackle breaking midfielder who is white......

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="583877" data-time="1464561355">Edit fastest backline: 9. Aaron Smith 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Julian Savea 12. Charlie Ngatai 13. Ben Smith 14. Waisaki Nahalo 15. Damian McKenzie</blockquote>
Is Savea still faster than Dagg? 
Put Ardie at 12.

Canes4life

Julians still toey for a big guy. When he gets going he is nearly impossible to catch.

Provincial Stalwart

When he bursts into the front door of a KFC he is almost impossible to stop.

Canes4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="583889" data-time="1464562085">
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When he bursts into the front door of a KFC he is almost impossible to stop.
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I'm thankful hes in the All Blacks. K Fry would have had a field day if he didn't make the squad.

taniwharugby

was it Gatland that was coach of Wasps when Trevor Leota was there, and he said that Trevor loved him some KFC and would often turn up form a holiday back home about 20kg heavier than his playing weight due to over-indulging in the finger-licking-goodness

RoninWC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="583855" data-time="1464560326">
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I'm expecting the 23 for the First Test to be something like this:
 
1. Joe Moody
2. Dane Coles
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Rettalick
5. Luke Romano
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Sam Cane
8. Keiran Read Â
9. Aaron Smith
10. Aaron Cruden
11. Julian Savea
12. Ryan Crotty
13. Malakai Fekitoa
14. Waisaki Nahalo
15. Ben Smith
 
Reserves:
16. Codie Taylor
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Charlie Faumauina
19. Patrick Tuipolotu
20. Ardie Savea
21. TJ Perenara
22. Beauden Barrett
23. Seta Tamanivalu
 
Israel Dagg and Eliott Dixon might get in somewhere as well.
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Based on the selected squad and injuries, I think you have pretty much nailed it Sparky.
 
I can't see them putting both Dag and Barrett on the bench and I think that Ardie get's a run before Dixon.
 
Tamanivalu is a bit of a risk as the midfield cover but given Ngatai's egg is still a bit scrambled, not many other options.
 
And I agree with Bovidae in that I think that the selectors need to look past Crocket for the back up to Moody at Loose Head. And it needs to be done now so that the young up and commers like Goodes, Hames, etc get a good run of tests through the June and November tour so that they will have 5 or 6 (or more) test matches under their belts before the Lions.

The Silver Fern

All Blacks vs Wales