All Blacks vs Tonga

Crucial

@JC I do, but a fair bit of what could be gained is lost if Mounga can't play. That system still needs practice. Likewise midfield combos, and 9/10, and lifting with nepo etc. Lots of stuff that needs to bed in.

Agree. Calculated risk to bed in some of the training field work. Can't go into the SA game wondering if the work you are doing will pay off.
It may risk some players' bodies but will benefit their minds.

Bovidae

As Hansen has said, some players need to play as the gap between Bled II and the SA game is too long. There is a risk of injury in any game or training.

I'd rather be playing Tonga than be Wales and Ireland playing each other again this weekend.

DrivingMaul

@Bovidae Sorry I don't. I get media access for Mitre 10 Cup but not Super Rugby or All Blacks

Chris B.

Yeah - the Bled test was 17 August - the SA pool game is 21 September.

Can't go into that game having not played for a month.

I think we will see something close to the top team - minus injuries (Mo'unga, Goodhue and Retallick).

Moody, Coles, Laulala
Whitelock, Barrett
Savea, Cane, Read
Smith, Barrett
SBW, Crotty
Bridge, R. Ioane, Smith

Tuúngafasi, Taylor, Taávao, Tuipolotu, Todd, Perenara, Josh Ioane, Lienert-Brown

Stargazer

New Zealand Barbarian Legends team in alphabetical order: *

Mana Ashford
Monty Betham
Jason Chandler
Loki Crichton
Dave Dillon
Rhys Duggan
Ross Filipo
Troy Flavell
Corey Flynn
Rico Gear
Craig Glendinning
Jarod Hoeata
Tony Koonwaiyou
Tone Kopelani
Wairangi Koopu
Johnny Leo'o
Slade McFarlane
Cameron McIntyre
Matt Mustchin
Sonny Parker
Matua Parkinson
Kevin Senio
Chris Smylie
Carlos Spencer
Sherwin Stowers
Rua Tipoki
Ofisa Tonu’u
Tane Tu’ipolotu
Scott Waldrom
Ruben Wiki

*Teams not limited to this list

Coach: Sir Michael Jones
Team Support: Mils Muliaina
Team Support: Eroni Clarke
Team Doctor: Jeremy Stanley

A star-studded line-up of mates will join forces on the field and reconnect off it in a bid to raise awareness of diabetes and obesity in Maori and Pacific Islanders when the NZ Barbarian Legends take on the Pacific Legends in Hamilton on Saturday 7 September.

The highly anticipated spectacle will see 11 former All Blacks and multiple past New Zealand internationals take the field against an outstanding team of ex-Pacific internationals in the curtain raiser to the All Blacks v Tonga match at 12.10pm at FMG Waikato Stadium.

League legends Monty Betham, Ruben Wiki and Wairangi Koopu will turn their hands to rugby in what is expected to be a highly physical encounter.

http://www.allblacks.com/News/34658/eleven-former-all-blacks-lace-up-for-nz-barbarian-legends

mariner4life

looking at the team lists, i am honestly more interested in watching the curtain raiser then the "test"

This is a tune up game. The top 23 have to play as much as possible. But then we have to hope no one gets hurt. Everything to lose, fuck all to gain. A necessary evil.

That horrible mix of going through the motions without revealing anything, but not going soft enough that you get hurt (or lit the fuck up by a fired up Tongan).

Bovidae

The NZ Barbarian legends have 4 halfbacks in their squad. 20 mins each I suppose as Tonu'u hasn't gotten any smaller in retirement.

Rembrandt

Damn I would be super keen to watch the curtain raiser, any word of it being televised?

Bovidae

@Rembrandt Live on SS1 before the AB test.

Hooroo

It's going to rain all week this week with rain on Saturday.

AB's are going to have a nice pitch to play on after that curtain raiser...

Yeetyaah

@Hooroo Welcome to Hamilton

taniwharugby

@Bovidae maybe he is propping?

Stargazer

For Ferners living in Australia:

The curtainraiser between the NZ Barbarians Legends and Pacific Legends, as well as the All Blacks v Tonga test, will be live on Fox Sports 503.

https://www.foxtel.com.au/tv-guide/Live-Pacific-Island-v-NZ-Barbarians/106106601
https://www.foxtel.com.au/tv-guide/Live-Rugby-Test-Match/106106602

Nepia

@Stargazer said in All Blacks vs Tonga:

For Ferners living in Australia:

The curtainraiser between the NZ Barbarians Legends and Pacific Legends, as well as the All Blacks v Tonga test, will be live on Fox Sports 503.

https://www.foxtel.com.au/tv-guide/Live-Pacific-Island-v-NZ-Barbarians/106106601
https://www.foxtel.com.au/tv-guide/Live-Rugby-Test-Match/106106602

Cheers! I'll be able watch fatties running around to raise awareness about not being fatties on Kayo.

Rembrandt

@Stargazer said in All Blacks vs Tonga:

For Ferners living in Australia:

The curtainraiser between the NZ Barbarians Legends and Pacific Legends, as well as the All Blacks v Tonga test, will be live on Fox Sports 503.

https://www.foxtel.com.au/tv-guide/Live-Pacific-Island-v-NZ-Barbarians/106106601
https://www.foxtel.com.au/tv-guide/Live-Rugby-Test-Match/106106602

Outstanding..now all I have to do is not be too obvious when timetabling this in with date night with the Mrs and visiting with her folks

Stargazer

@Rembrandt I hope you are aware of the fact that the curtain raiser starts at 10.00am AEST? And the test at 12.35pm AEST?

mariner4life

with kids soccer at 10.30 and 12.30 this saturday, i don't reckon i'll be watching either.

Rembrandt

@Stargazer said in All Blacks vs Tonga:

@Rembrandt I hope you are aware of the fact that the curtain raiser starts at 10.00am AEST? And the test at 12.35pm AEST?

Damn..delayed coverage it is!

dK

@Stargazer said in All Blacks vs Tonga:

@Rembrandt I hope you are aware of the fact that the curtain raiser starts at 10.00am AEST? And the test at 12.35pm AEST?

That's great new for me, as I'm eating hot wings in Dee Why at the normal kick off time of 5.30pm!

Bovidae

I guess the ABs don't want anyone watching their practices.

The Silver Fern

All Blacks vs Tonga