Argentina v All Blacks

[Duluth]

@Mr-Fish said in Argentina v All Blacks:

15 Stevenson

I think they'll go with an experienced player at 15. McKenzie or one of the Barretts.

[Dan54]

I think somehow that the coaches would of noticed Stevenson's 'catch and release' trick in final etc, just his little slip that happens in his game at times.

[Chris B.]

@Duluth I'll be pretty surprised if it's not Beaudy.

He's been fullback for four of the last 6 tests and wasn't available for one of the others (Japan).

He's pretty much the incumbent.

[Dan54]

@Bovidae said in Argentina v All Blacks:

I hope that the return travel plans from Argentina are more organised than what was required to get there. Although the majority of the squad left yesterday, others were spread over three other flights from Friday.

I wouldn't mind betting some will leave even befoe the test?

[KiwiMurph]

If you have 2 of Richie/DMac/Beaudie in the starting XV that opens up Stevenson as a bench option that covers wing/fullback and another bench player covering midfield

[Chris B.]

@KiwiMurph said in Argentina v All Blacks:

If you have 2 of Richie/DMac/Beaudie in the starting XV that opens up Stevenson as a bench option that covers wing/fullback and another bench player covering midfield

Possibility, but I'm inclined to think they'll stick DMac on the bench.

I'm expecting:
Smith, Moúnga, Clarke, JBarrett, Ioane, Narawa, BBarrett
Christie, DMac, Ennor

With likelihood of others making the bench - in order - Roigard for Christie, McLeod for Ennor, Stevenson for DMac.

If DMac starts at 10, Stevenson probably makes the bench.

[Bovidae]

@Chris-B said in Argentina v All Blacks:

I'll be pretty surprised if it's not Beaudy.

Yes, expect the conservative selection.

I don't see the point of having DMac on the bench if Mo'unga starts at 10 and BB is at fullback. That only tells me that they don't rate BB as a 10, and reduces the options in the 23.

[KiwiMurph]

@Chris-B Yeah fair call. They only have 2 tests to take a look at Stevenson before Telea returns.

[taniwharugby]

I think they are likely to go SS at 14, they do like thier wing/fb, whereas I reckon Narawa off the bench could be lethal.

And as above, if you have 2 of RM, Dmac and BB in the 23 not to mention JB, you have plenty of room for SS and Narawa.

[SBW1]

@Mr-Fish We are looking at five debutants. Has Lord been capped?

[Chris B.]

@KiwiMurph I guess it depends on how keen they are to have a look at Stevenson in a test compared with him just being in the environment - and how keen they are to give their stalwarts as much game time as possible.

I guess Argentina is a more likely place to give the rookies a run vs against SA, but I have a hunch that Fozzie will want to get the season off to a winning start after the heat he took last year.

Personally, I'd prefer he picked Roigard and McLeod over Christie and Ennor.

Without knowing what they're planning at fullback it's hard to know about Stevenson. They've got lots of fullbacks in the squad already, so if they're not really planning on picking him for RWC then not much point giving him a run for the sake of it. Harsh though that is - time is short.

[Kiwiwomble]

@Chris-B said in Argentina v All Blacks:

Personally, I'd prefer he picked Roigard and McLeod over Christie and Ennor.

me too, conservative starting XV, new guys in the bench

[SBW1]

@SBW1 Says he has two, caps.

[kiwiinmelb]

Hope the boys are up for a big challenge early , in front of their home crowd there will be an attempted ambush , nothing surer ,

we dont want one of those slow clumsy starts

[Machpants]

@kiwiinmelb hardly an ambush, we've lost the first game of the year versus Argentina more times than not under foster

[Victor Meldrew]

@Chris-B said in Argentina v All Blacks:

I guess Fozzie could do anything - but, I'm inclined to think he'll run out what he thinks is close to his strongest available team. Which isn't too much different to what you've got here.

Thinking strongest XV with Ritchie at 10 and BB at 15. DMac to get a fair bit of game time. Finau, SS and poss. Roigard on the bench

[broughie]

I'm tired of trying to understand what Fozzie's going to do. When does the Cantaberian take over?

[Billy Tell]

@broughie said in Argentina v All Blacks:

I'm tired of trying to understand what Fozzie's going to do. When does the Cantaberian take over?

What cantaberian? I think there’s some guy from the bay of plenty lined up.

[BerniesCorner]

I pray for a competitive forward pack

[DaGrubster]

@Chris-B

I think Barratt will be starting 6 but go into lock in the 2nd half of games.

He tends to be an 80 minute player and it means we can bring on another loose forward.