All Blacks vs Wales
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<p>As Stargazer points out, the coaches have been entirely clear on this. If the vice captain needs to go to the wing or is injured, then Dagg becomes the starting fullback.</p>
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<p>McKenzie isn't going to play in this series unless we thump Wales in the first two and then only from the bench.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="585192" data-time="1465105750">
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<p>When Hansen explained the selection of Dagg and McKenzie, he literally said that Dagg's selection was "pretty much a no-brainer really". "He has been an outstanding All Black in the past; he had a season last year that was really affected by injury and he ran out of time to prove to us that he was ready to go to the World Cup. He has come back and - like a lot of guys who get a decent off-season - he has come back and has played extremely well; he looks really sharp; he has always been good under the high ball and he has continued to do that; his defence has improved from where it was. So he is really enjoying his rugby and I think he realises after that little break - I wouldn't say he took it for granted, but there is a new-found enthusiasm because of that break - and we are expecting him to come back in and really lift his game to another level as well here."</p>
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<p>He said from McKenzie that he "has been in form, he is exciting, but he still has a lot of things in his game that he needs to grow and work on. But you would expect that of a young guy, so it is an opportunity for us to not just look at the now, but also the future (...) We get a month to work with him and over that time we will slowly but surely see him grow; the experience of being in [the team] will surely help him grow ."</p>
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<p>With that in mind, I'm not sure whether McKenzie will get any game time. Maybe in the third game, most likely off the bench.</p>
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<p>To me, Dagg's selection wouldn't make much sense, if they didn't give him (substantial) game time. You don't select Dagg for injury cover; Barrett can do that fine. So I see Dagg starting at least one game. Depending on Naholo's fitness and performance on the wing, Dagg will either replace Ben Smith at fullback, with Smith not playing that game at all (maybe the third game); or they will move Ben Smith to the right wing (that could be the 1st or 2nd game as well). I only see Dagg on the bench if they are running out of impact players, or if they want to try him again at the wing (which hasn't worked well at the Crusaders in the past; not sure whether the All Blacks have ever tried him at the wing).</p>
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<p>Edited to add that Dagg is also a reasonably good kicker. Which would come in handy if Cruden/Barrett is not kicking well. Wasn't that what happened in the All Blacks game v Argentina in Napier?</p>
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<p>Because they didnt pick another winger , I saw Dagg as cover for an injury to the back 3 as a starter , leaving Barrett where he is </p> -
<p>If it were up to me it would be.....<br><br>
- Tu'ungafasi<br>
- Coles<br>
- Faumuina<br>
- Retallick<br>
- Tuipoluto<br>
- Kaino<br>
- Cane<br>
- Squire<br>
- A. Smith<br>
- A. Cruden<br>
- J. Savea<br>
- Fekitoa<br>
- Tamanivalu<br>
- Naholo<br>
- B. Smith<br><br>
- Harris<br>
- Crockett<br>
- Franks<br>
- Dixon<br>
- A. Savea<br>
- Perenara<br>
- Barrett<br>
- Moala<br><br>
Wrap Moody, Taylor, Whitelock, Romano, Read, Crotty, Dagg up in cotton wool. They've got a big campaign ahead of them [emoji41]</p>
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I think Test 1 will be the most 'conservative' selected, and then we will see changes after that.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="585229" data-time="1465120202"><p>
Because they didnt pick another winger , I saw Dagg as cover for an injury to the back 3 as a starter , leaving Barrett where he is</p></blockquote>
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Hansen said in the interviews when the squad was announced that dagg can play wing -
Nigel yalden reckons tuipolotou to start , Dixon and Ardie on the bench , with read moving to lock if needed .
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
<p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">All Blacks Sam Whitelock and Charlie Ngatai are set to be ruled out of Saturday's first Test against Wales due to injury.</span></p>
<br><span style="margin:0px;font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);">Read more: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.newshub.co.nz/sport/all-blacks-set-to-miss-first-test-2016060712#ixzz4AqvMZaEP'>http://www.newshub.co.nz/sport/all-blacks-set-to-miss-first-test-2016060712#ixzz4AqvMZaEP</a></span></blockquote> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="585252" data-time="1465160266">
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<p>Hansen said in the interviews when the squad was announced that dagg can play wing</p>
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<p>I also think if NMS was available , Dagg would still be there , DMac wouldnt , </p>
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<p>Dagg is a ready to go test player , Dmac is more your project type IMO. </p> -
<p>One good thing about Hansen is that he doesn't fuck around in his press releases.</p>
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<p>Going back to April when asked about the 2016 squad for wales, he mentioned Dixon, Savea and McKenzie and voila. I don't thnk he threw in too many red herrings</p>
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<p>So when he says he's going for a conservative first team selection, well we pretty much know what we're getting.</p> -
<p>yeah I bet other teams wish they could pick a conservative team with the likes of A & B Smith, Naholo, BB, Coles, Savea etc</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="585413" data-time="1465263658">
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<p>yeah I bet other teams wish they could pick a conservative team with the likes of A & B Smith, Naholo, BB, Coles, Savea etc</p>
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<p>Conservative in the sense of those with tenure getting bumped up and given first crack rather than style of play I would imagine.</p> -
<p>yeah I realize that, I even posted as such yesterday....</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="585436" data-time="1465268615">
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<p>George North was on the radio saying if he and his teammates can each outplay the 15 guys against them then Wales will win.</p>
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<p>That kid has supercoach written all over him when he retires. What a gifted rugby mind.</p>
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<p>Yeah, but, he hasn't accounted for the 8 guys on the bench. So still some work to do on the tactical side of things - I'm sure that will develop as he matures.</p> -
I've never been so bored in the lead-up to a test match.<br><br>
Just sayin' -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="585458" data-time="1465272365">
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<p>I've never been so bored in the lead-up to a test match.<br><br>
Just sayin'</p>
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<p>I hear ya! I'm finding the "Sydneysider catch up" thread more interesting in who will turn up! </p> -
<p>Found this, didn't know their record was that bad.</p>
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<p><img src="http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/infographics/424/walessouth.jpg" alt="walessouth.jpg"></p>
