All Blacks v Wales Test #3
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="590611" data-time="1466630786"><p>
Is Dixon really cover for 7 ? he looks like a 6/8 and nothing else any day of the week to me.</p></blockquote>
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How many tests would Robshaw and Haskell have between them at 7? They have managed despite never looking likely as genuine opensides. I'd probably rate Dixon a better player to boot as well. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SouthernMan" data-cid="590644" data-time="1466635678"><p>Dixon has started quite a few games on the openside for the Highlanders. Has always played quite well. But it's a change to international footy!</p></blockquote>
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Funnily enough I always feel like Cane plays more like a 6 than a 7. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="590712" data-time="1466643391">
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<p>How many tests would Robshaw and Haskell have between them at 7? They have managed despite never looking likely as genuine opensides. I'd probably rate Dixon a better player to boot as well.</p>
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<p>Brand Haskell would NOT like some nobody who isn't even an AB yet being spoken of as being better than him.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="590717" data-time="1466643962">
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<p>Brand Haskell would NOT like some nobody who isn't even an AB yet being spoken of as being better than him.</p>
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<p>and rightly so to be fair. While not a traditional 7, Haskell's performance in Brisbane is the best of all 7s in the June test matches so far (in my opinion). He wasn't too bad in Melbourne either.</p>
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<p>Having said that i'm very excited to see how Dixon goes - you get the sense his playing style suits test match rugby. Shall be fun.</p>
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<p>Pretty happy with the rest of the team, it's going to be interesting to see how these new ABs react - as we've seen in test 1 and 2 Wales have been right in the mix with the ABs up to the second half of these tests - these newer test players are going to be put under pressure I think - which is going to be great to watch.</p>
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<p>With Ngatai and SBW lurking for returns in the near future, Moala may not get too many more opportunities to stake his claim - it will be a big night for him.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="DMX" data-cid="590716" data-time="1466643717">
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<p>Funnily enough I always feel like Cane plays more like a 6 than a 7.</p>
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<p>as had McCaw for the past few seasons....or maybe McCaw just decided that was how a 7 should play :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="590720" data-time="1466644350">
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<p>and rightly so to be fair. While not a traditional 7, Haskell's performance in Brisbane is the best of all 7s in the June test matches so far (in my opinion). He wasn't too bad in Melbourne either.</p>
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<p>Having said that i'm very excited to see how Dixon goes - you get the sense his playing style suits test match rugby. Shall be fun.</p>
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<p>Pretty happy with the rest of the team, it's going to be interesting to see how these new ABs react - as we've seen in test 1 and 2 Wales have been right in the mix with the ABs up to the second half of these tests - these newer test players are going to be put under pressure I think - which is going to be great to watch.</p>
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<p>With <strong>Ngatai</strong> and SBW lurking for returns in the near future, Moala may not get too many more opportunities to stake his claim - it will be a big night for him.</p>
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<p>Referring more to his personality which is pretty polarizing obviously.......</p>
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<p>As for Ngatai let's actually see him play more than a couple of minutes test rugby before putting him in that bracket huh ?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="590730" data-time="1466644806">
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<p>Re Romano. Am wondering if he is there instead of Pat T as he is a better scrummager to assist Ofa?<br><br>
More changes than I'd have gone for. Shag never listens to me... but despite that he's done ok to date. So I'll trust him this once.</p>
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<p>He completely ignored my post about having a strong ball runner at 12. Grrr, the man just never listens.</p> -
<p>Quite a sign of the times that the AB's have no real opportunities to test out new players under the current test fixture structure.</p>
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<p>A form of rotation is essential in the modern environment because otherwise there's always a question mark on how well a new AB will actually perform. More so now that it's a team of 23 and the replacements have just as many core roles as the run on side</p>
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<p>A tick for 3 test series I guess</p>
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<p>Also pretty much as well handled by the coaches as they could but the Welsh must smell a better than chance here than the previous games.</p> -
Naholo to cover midfield apparently says shag ???
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="590740" data-time="1466645848">
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<p>Quite a sign of the times that the AB's have no real opportunities to test out new players under the current test fixture structure.</p>
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<p>A form of rotation is essential in the modern environment because otherwise there's always a question mark on how well a new AB will actually perform. More so now that it's a team of 23 and the replacements have just as many core roles as the run on side</p>
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<p>A tick for 3 test series I guess</p>
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<p>Also pretty much as well handled by the coaches as they could but the Welsh must smell a better than chance here than the previous games.</p>
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<p>I guess we can look to the recent past of Hansen taking a punt per se on new players and throwing them into the test arena. That 2012 Ireland home test that was mentioned earlier being a case in point. J. Savea, A. Smith and B. Retallick all making their AB debuts as starters. </p>
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<p>I actually don't think the changes are that drastic. For the starters we've made one forced (Fekitoa), precautionary (Cruden) and a 'resting' (Kaino). Faumuina and J. Savea starting are hardly in the 'wow' category considering their relative paths thus far. </p>
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<p>They certainly could've been far more adventurous when you consider what Henry did under his watch. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="590732" data-time="1466644954">
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<p>Referring more to his personality which is pretty polarizing obviously.......</p>
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<p>As for Ngatai let's actually see him play more than a couple of minutes test rugby before putting him in that bracket huh ?</p>
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<p>Given the coaches said prior to the series that Crotty/Fekitoa would get first crack, I do wonder if the plan was to give Ngatai/Tamanivalu second crack.</p>
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<p>Moala appears to be in a fortunate position with Ngatai still crook and Fekitoa now injured. Plus Tamanivalu got an extended run last week and displayed a mixed bag. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="590743" data-time="1466645964">
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<p>Naholo to cover midfield apparently says shag ???</p>
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Tony Brown has said it before for the Highlanders too. He said the only thing that stopped Naholo playing at centre for them is fact they wanted to keep his wheels outwide.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="590757" data-time="1466647738">
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<p>Given the coaches said prior to the series that Crotty/Fekitoa would get first crack, I do wonder if the plan was to give Ngatai/Tamanivalu second crack.</p>
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<p>Moala appears to be in a fortunate position with Ngatai still crook and Fekitoa now injured. Plus Tamanivalu got an extended run last week and <strong>displayed a mixed bag. </strong></p>
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<p>That was a fucken embarrassing hand off he was on the end of. It's not like Davies is Lomu and Tamanivula is Merhts or O'Gara. Really poor.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="590740" data-time="1466645848">
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<p>Quite a sign of the times that the AB's have no real opportunities to test out new players under the current test fixture structure.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>A form of rotation is essential in the modern environment because otherwise there's always a question mark on how well a new AB will actually perform. More so now that it's a team of 23 and the replacements have just as many core roles as the run on side</p>
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<p>A tick for 3 test series I guess</p>
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<p>Also pretty much as well handled by the coaches as they could but the Welsh must smell a better than chance here than the previous games.</p>
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<p>dunno, still reckon test 1 was their best shot.</p>
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<p>Shag apparently considered rolling out the same side...</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="590753" data-time="1466647339">
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<p>I actually don't think the changes are that drastic.</p>
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<p>In a way not - but, in the wider context - this is quite a different team to that which played the World Cup final (three tests ago).</p>
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<p>Thirteen of the match day 23, but I think only six guys in the starting XV playing in the position they did in November.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="590771" data-time="1466650467"><p>
In a way not - but, in the wider context - this is quite a different team to that which played the World Cup final (three tests ago).<br><br>
Thirteen of the match day 23, but I think only six guys in the starting XV playing in the position they did in November.</p></blockquote>
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The changes are very much about the RWC cycle that is a feature for all test nations I think. <br><br>
Look at Wales, they've only got 6 in their starting lineup for Saturday that also started in the QF loss to the Boks. -
<p>Mike? Poolerfan? I see the whole coaching team has now been re-signed to the 2019 RWC and beyond. Happy or not with that? I'd have thought staleness might be a problem with a tenure of that length?</p>
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<p>If we can't experiment Year 1 after a WC in the third rubber of a test series already won, when can we. I could see us losing this, which OK, wouldn't be great, but it wouldn't be the end of the world either.</p>
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<p>Be good to put some players under some proper pressure. I reckon one of the reasons they bought Savea back was to put some seniority back in the team that would have been lacking starting with Naholo.</p>
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<p>This years RC looks like it's going to be a strange affair to me with some topsy turvy results, none of the SH teams will be established or at full strength. </p>
