All Blacks vs Wales
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="585764" data-time="1465422376"><p>Franks passing is much improved. His hands are a lot quicker and he is now used as one of our 'pop' passers with the forward interplay.</p></blockquote>
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What I've have seen of Frank's he should never be in a position to pass. Get out of the way son. You're a scrummager, lifter, tackler and clear out rucks. That your job description. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="585809" data-time="1465433831">
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<p>I think that is the most likely explanation. Taylor has it all over Harris based on the last 18 months, but Harris has obviously been injured for most of that time and is only a couple of starts for the Chiefs into his comeback. Harris needs to be integrated back into the team quickly with a view to he and Taylor slugging it out for the bench hooker spot for TRC and beyond. Had Harris not been injured, we would never have seen as much of Taylor or Hika Elliott last tear, and we wouldn't have seen James Parsons.</p>
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<p>Regardless of those machinations, we are in a good place at hooker, much more so than in 2012 when we had two aging hookers and no-one else at all (plus Mealamu had to be carefully managed through the 4 season cycle to RWC). Coles debuted on the 2012 EOYT and didn't come of age in test matches until the England series in June 2014 (I recall Bismarck du Plessis owned Coles in the test at Eden Park in 2013 prior to being sent off). </p>
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<p>I guess all will be revealed over the next couple of weeks.</p>
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<p>Definitely not short of hookers when Elliott can just be ignored - though I guess the real test will be seeing what Harris brings to the party.</p>
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<p>Right now, I think the only position we are light on options for is tighthead prop and I think I'm probably under-rating Charlie's capacity to start against tough opposition and Nepo Laulala's return would significantly improve things.</p>
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<p>Mind you - if Wales do the unthinkable and beat us tomorrow, there will be some humbling reassessments of our smugness. It's interesting that pretty much everyone (including me) is expecting us to just absorb our player losses without missing a beat.</p>
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<p>Not there for Saturday XV: Woodcock, Taylor, Laulala, Whitelock, Franklin, Messam, McCaw, Vito, TKB, Carter, SBW (11), Nonu, Smith, NMS, Dagg would give our starting XV headaches - especially the backs.</p> -
<p>I don't expect it to be smooth sailing, IIRC the majority of test losses the ABs have had over recent years have usually been when one of Richie or Conrad were not playing, maybe co-incidence, but I doubt it.</p>
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<p>While I don't think we will lose this test, there will no doubt be plenty of teeth gnashing and angst from a number of fans about Hansen being a muppet and shoulda picked this person or that person when we don't destroy them ;)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="586048" data-time="1465517526">
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<p>I guess all will be revealed over the next couple of weeks.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Definitely not short of hookers when Elliott can just be ignored - though I guess the real test will be seeing what Harris brings to the party.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Right now, I think the only position we are light on options for is tighthead prop and I think I'm probably under-rating Charlie's capacity to start against tough opposition and Nepo Laulala's return would significantly improve things.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mind you - if Wales do the unthinkable and beat us tomorrow, there will be some humbling reassessments of our smugness. It's interesting that pretty much everyone (including me) is expecting us to just absorb our player losses without missing a beat.</p>
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<p>Not there for Saturday XV: Woodcock, Taylor, <strike>Laulala</strike> Mealamu, Whitelock, Franklin, Messam, McCaw, Vito, TKB, Carter, SBW (11), Nonu, Smith, NMS, Dagg would give our starting XV headaches - especially the backs.</p>
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<p>Just had to correct one error for you... :hi:</p> -
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="586048" data-time="1465517526">
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<p>I guess all will be revealed over the next couple of weeks.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Definitely not short of hookers when Elliott can just be ignored - though I guess the real test will be seeing what Harris brings to the party.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Right now, I think the only position we are light on options for is tighthead prop and I think I'm probably under-rating Charlie's capacity to start against tough opposition and Nepo Laulala's return would significantly improve things.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mind you - if Wales do the unthinkable and beat us tomorrow, there will be some humbling reassessments of our smugness. It's interesting that pretty much everyone (including me) is expecting us to just absorb our player losses without missing a beat.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Not there for Saturday XV: Woodcock, Taylor, Laulala, Whitelock, Franklin, Messam, McCaw, Vito, TKB, Carter, SBW (11), Nonu, Smith, NMS, Dagg would give our starting XV headaches - especially the backs.</p>
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<p>What is of most interest to me is how Crotty, Fekitoa and Cane will go. Whilst all of these guys have had test experience, they have all played those tests knowing that the number one player in their respective position was still in the squad. They are now it (it appears) and it's a different kind of pressure I think. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="586139" data-time="1465548389">
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<p>Less than 24 hours to go until our first test of the season and one after a World Cup at that, farking quiet on here.</p>
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<p>It's cos it's Friday night, all the cool ferners will be out on the piss</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="586140" data-time="1465548481">
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<p>It's cos it's Friday night, all the cool ferners will be out on the piss</p>
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<p>best time to post!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="586140" data-time="1465548481">
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<p>It's cos it's Friday night, all the cool ferners will be out on the piss</p>
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<p>Well that could only be SammyC, everyone else is just an old, boring, white git.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sabalom Glitz" data-cid="586145" data-time="1465548857">
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<p>what else is there to say?</p>
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<p>Wales are a team of quality players, they will present the ABs with a stern test, and our boys will need to be on top form if they are to meet the challenge they present.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sabalom Glitz" data-cid="586145" data-time="1465548857">
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<p>what else is there to say?</p>
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<p>Sabalom can you give us your views on some of the individual match ups we'll be seeing tomorrow ie the AB 23 vs the Welsh 23 ?</p>
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<p>cheers.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="586148" data-time="1465549188">
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<p>Actually pick a combined 15, mine would be the All Blacks apart from Roberts, North and AWJ in for Crotty, Naholo and Romano. Warburton and Cane are a coin toss.</p>
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<p>That was fun.</p>
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<p>What if Naholo had dreadlocks though?</p>
