NZ vs. Aust - Japanese yawn edition

[Machpants]

Replacement kicker from the start of the match, too

[Frank]

@taniwharugby said in AB EOYT 2018:

Great to see Nepo Laulala, Big Joe Moody and Matt Todd back.

Matt Todd lost out to Ardie on the 2 foot height difference.

[antipodean]

@taniwharugby said in AB EOYT 2018:

Finally...bloody time zones!
New Zealand: Damian McKenzie, Ben Smith, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Kieran Read (c), Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody:
Reserves: Nathan Harris, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Nepo Laulala, Brodie Retallick, Matt Todd Todd, Aaron Smith, Richie Mo'unga, Anton Lienert-Brown.

That's a bloody strong team. If we lose it will be a disgrace.

[Nepia]

@billy-tell said in AB EOYT 2018:

The big Q

When Mo’unga comes on

a) Barrett to FB?
b) Barrett to the bench?

Mo'unga to 10, DMac to 14, BB to 15 and B Smith to replace which ever of the broken midfielders hasn't yet been replaced (ALB will already be on).

[Frank]

@antipodean said in AB EOYT 2018:

@taniwharugby said in AB EOYT 2018:

Finally...bloody time zones!
New Zealand: Damian McKenzie, Ben Smith, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Kieran Read (c), Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody:
Reserves: Nathan Harris, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Nepo Laulala, Brodie Retallick, Matt Todd Todd, Aaron Smith, Richie Mo'unga, Anton Lienert-Brown.

That's a bloody strong team. If we lose it will be a disgrace.

A NATIONAL FUCKIN' DISGRACE NO LESS

[Hooroo]

@tim said in AB EOYT 2018:

.

Ben Smith doesn't look like he can play 15 any more.

I completely disagree and think he has been excellent at 15 this year and a bit ordinary on the wing.

In saying that, I may be getting his good games mixed up but to me he is still our number one fullback

[Nepia]

@hooroo Yep, not sure where this myth of him not being a good 15 anymore sprung up from.

[mariner4life]

@machpants said in AB EOYT 2018:

(Goodhue) Going straight to England.

Team seems pretty fast, poor tiring Ozzies having to get BBBR some time in the second half! How much rugby has laulala had?

Looks fast except the midfield.

Shit midfield, are we just going to keep picking them hoping like hell they come good, but rely on ALB to come on and sort it all out? Shit at 10 as well. I wonder if Dmac starting negates his most obvious strength?

Ofa T is a bit of a loss late in the game.

Matt Todd is a bloody lucky boy.

[gt12]

The right team to try Dmac at FB, and a selection i hope will be successful.

If he/we can handle Folau, he's probably good enough against anyone.

[KiwiMurph]

@gt12 Folau is likely to be playing 13.

[Bovidae]

Does the naming of this team give us any indication of who will be on the early flight to Heathrow?

Maybe only Ofa and Pat T will be in the mix but Naholo is now likely to start vs Japan.

[No Quarter]

Good looking team, but agree with @mariner4life the midfield is slow - chuck Goodhue and ALB in there (I know Goodhue is ill) and it has a much better look to it.

Hoping DMac comes into first receiver a bit to allow Beauden to play a bit wider, particularly in the 2nd 40 when it opens up a bit.

[Machpants]

@bovidae The 22 on the early flight to Heathrow will pretty much be this 23 with someone individual staying, injuries aside.

Probably mo'unga so he can start vs Japan

Edit unless goodhue counts as one of the 22, in which case a midfielder will have to stay too. One of SBW or Crotty will be crocked so it'll be one of them

[Nepia]

@machpants said in AB EOYT 2018:

@bovidae The 22 on the early flight to Heathrow will pretty much be this 23 with someone individual staying, injuries aside.

Probably mo'unga so he can start vs Japan

Edit unless goodhue counts as one of the 22, in which case a midfielder will have to stay too. One of SBW or Crotty will be crocked so it'll be one of them

Well, aren't you the bloody optimist.

[Bovidae]

@machpants With Laumape and Proctor along with JB and Havili they should have enough midfield cover. ALB might draw the short straw.

[Machpants]

Yeah but they need some experience vs Japan, and the coaches mentioned wanting to see SBW-Goodhue combo. Crotty to stay for experience and ALB go as better bench option? Who knows, the midfield is a mess

[Steven Harris]

@machpants spoke to Jack Goodhue on Saturday,still looks ill to me..

[Machpants]

Yeah glandular fever can knock you back for ages, saps your energy, not ideal for pro athletes! Really he should be starting 13 for RWC, but he needs to get more game time!

[taniwharugby]

@steven-harris your have to think the AB drs wont let him play if he isn't right.

Expect he won't be able to do much fitness stuff either, so maybe a role off the bench v England?

The coaches might wanna see him and SBW in the mid field, I think most fans would wanna see ALB-Goodhue.

[taniwharugby]

@tim so Folau thinks his league experience will help his defence...12/13 are bloody tough positions defensively, and with Beale alongside him, potential for some big holes