Name Your AB Team

[Bovidae]

Ofa was on the outer at the RWC so it will be interesting to see if Ryan has changed his mind and he gets the no.17 jersey. Williams would offer more impact.

[ARHS]

I would start Christie with Ratima on bench while no Roigard. TJP played himself down last night in my eyes. Would also start Procter or ALB at 13 as I think Rieko off the pace currently. Hard call between Reece and Narawa on wing. Would be happy with Plummer at 22 if Love's injury gives 15 to BB
Wonder if George Dyer may be a smokey? Tuungafasi and De Groot not at their best. IWL impressed me last night so might be a bench option without Pat T or Lord.
The loosie cover is a real poser. Sititi may yet edge Lio Willie and Blackadder out and maybe Luke J edges Lakai.

[Gunner]

Assume we’re picking this as if it were being played this week?

De Groet
Aumua
Lomax
Barrett
Vai’i
Finau
Papali’i
Savea
Ratima
DMac
Tele’a
Barrett
Ioane
Narawa
Love

Taylor
Bower
Newell
Darry
Sotutu
Perenara
Plummer
ALB

[Tim]

@ARHS Tu'ungufasi has been in excellent form this season.

[Tim]

1 de Groot
2 Taylor
3 Lomax
4 S Barrett
5 Vaai
6 Finau
7 Papalii
8 Savea
9 Ratima
10 McKenzie
11 Clarke
12 J Barrett
13 R Ioane
14 Telea
15 Love

16 Aumua
17 Tu'ungufasi
18 Dyer
19 Darry
20 Sotutu
21 Christie
22 B Barrett
23 ALB

Finau will need to up his work rate a lot though.

[MN5]

Any way we can trade other countries a couple of surplus wings for decent locks to make things fair ?

The fact Vai’i is an absolute lock ( shit pun intended ) is not a glowing endorsement on this position.

[Tim]

A possible scenario that I hope doesn't play-out:

Robertson's squad to have some absolute shockers in it, and the team loses the first test after a red card. If he loses at Eden Park then it's all out war to have him removed.

Imagine this pack running out onto Forsyth Barr Stadium:

1 Bower
2 Taylor
3 Newell
4 Barrett
5 Strange
6 Grace
7 Blackadder
8 Savea

[KiwiMurph]

@MN5 said in Name Your AB Team:

Any way we can trade other countries a couple of surplus wings for decent locks to make things fair ?

The fact Vai’i is an absolute lock ( shit pun intended ) is not a glowing endorsement on this position.

Vaai had an excellent game yesterday. See if he can transfer it to the test level.

[Frank]

@KiwiMurph said in Name Your AB Team:

@MN5 said in Name Your AB Team:

Any way we can trade other countries a couple of surplus wings for decent locks to make things fair ?

The fact Vai’i is an absolute lock ( shit pun intended ) is not a glowing endorsement on this position.

Vaai had an excellent game yesterday. See if he can transfer it to the test level.

Busy and good in lineout.
I wish he didn't fold like a newspaper when carting it up.

[Frank]

@ARHS said in Name Your AB Team:

I would start Christie with Ratima on bench

Has it really come to this?

[booboo]

@Machpants said in Name Your AB Team:

My team, not who I think will be named

1 DeGroot
2 Taylor
3 Lomax
4 Barrett (c)
5 Vaa’i
6 Finau
7 Papali’i
8 Savea
9 TJ
10 McKenzie
11 Clarke
12 J Barrett
13 Ioane
14 Telea
15 Love

16 Newell/Ofa? Dunno about props
17 Williams
18 Amua
19 IWL
20 Sotutu
21 Ratima
22 Proctor
23 Beaudy

Usually 16 is hooker, 17 LH, 18 TH

[sparky]

1 De Groot
2 Taylor
3 Lomax
4 S Barrett
5 Vaa'i
6 Finau
7 Papalii
8 A Savea (c)
9 Ratima
10 DMac
11 C.Clarke
12 J. Barrett
13 Proctor
14 Telea
15 Love

16 Aumua
17 Ofa T
18 Newell
19 Darry
20 Sotutu
21 TJP
22 B.Barrett
23 R.Ioane

[Bovidae]

Those selecting Sotutu on the bench means there is no 6 cover unless that is Barrett. Savea and Papalii aren't test options in that position.

[Tim]

@Bovidae How about Beauden Barrett at fullback and a 6/2 split on the bench?

[Bovidae]

@Tim I think Barrett will be the starting fullback myself. I don't see a 6:2 split being used, however.

Sotutu either starts at no.8 or isn't in the 23. The reserve loose forward will need to cover multiple positions.

[Bones]

EDG
Taylor
Lomax
Barrett
Vaai
Finau
Papalii
Savea
Perenara
DMac
Telea
Jordie
Proctor
Reece
Love

Aumua
Ofa
Newell
Darry
Sotutu
Ratima
Plummer
Ioane

Really tough on Williams, Delaney, Jacobson, ALB, Clarke, Narawa.

Fairly tough on Bower, Blackadder, Christie, ENS, Stevenson.

Laughable on Millar, Rayasi, Strange.

[sparky]

@Bovidae Scott Barrett, Ardie and Paps have all played there. But we'll probably need a 6 who can play 80 minutes. I'm not sure Finau can yet.

[Bones]

Robertson and his inspiration/innovation can convince Vaai (or Delaney) to be that lock that covers 6. Vaai has had such a good season this year playing very similar to an in form Frizzel.

[sparky]

Getting Plummer in the squad and even in the 23 is not a bad idea. We need another Test First Five.

[nostrildamus]

If they start Sotutu at 8 would that open up the bench for a "utility" loosie like Jacobson or Blackadder?