All Blacks vs Wales

sparky

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="582235" data-time="1464080887">
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North? Haha he's done fuck all since the Lions. Biggar? Really? 
AWJ is their best player in my opinion
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AWJ is a very good player, but I wouldn't swap him for Retallick or Whitelock. Biggar was outstanding against England in RWC and has had a very good season.
 
North was excellent for Wales in this year's 6 Nations, arguably the best back in a very dour tournament:
 
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ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="582237" data-time="1464080987">Possibly, I think by ABs 5-10. The All Blacks have a superb squad of players to choose from but will they have enough time to gel before the First Test?</blockquote>
 
You make it sound like they will be meeting each other for the first time coming into the opening test. If Hansen goes with the 23 I posted earlier in the thread - and he should [emoji41] - then there are established combos all over the park. Even the midfield have played tests together. 
Because of the limited time prior, then I think they will keep things simple and focus on building defensive pressure.

MajorPom

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="582234" data-time="1464080873">
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I'd say Masoe and Messam were quite different players. The ABs didn't miss a beat IMO when Messam started at blindside while Kaino was away. I like Messam's game. To me he was more Rodders like, doing a lot of the little stuff to open up the play for McCaw and Read.
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Agreed, but Masoe always had his bench spot because he covered the entire back row. I always felt Messam was perfect for that role - and you are right that when he started at 6 with Kaino away, he made a good fist of it. But the second Kaino was back, he was starting again.
 
For me, Messams career has been defined by Cruden's last minute kick to win the Ireland match. That was real hand-on leadership, right there.

sparky

Scotty Stevenson thinks there will be little room for newcomers and I agree. The usual suspects are playing well so no need for any experimental selections or massive bolters. Steven Lautau and Reggie Goodes are probably the only names he has missing that would be in my First Test 23.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11643969'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11643969</a>

MiketheSnow

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="582233" data-time="1464080675">
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ABs by 15
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I'll take that :)

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="582234" data-time="1464080873">
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I'd say Masoe and Messam were quite different players. The ABs didn't miss a beat IMO when Messam started at blindside while Kaino was away. I like Messam's game. To me he was more Rodders like, doing a lot of the little stuff to open up the play for McCaw and Read.
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So basically, our next blindside should be someone who's flashy and wide ranging, now like Kaino and Messam were in their younger days, and will be hard working machines in a couple of years.

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="582231" data-time="1464079246">
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The first test has banana skin written all over it. A massive chance for the Welsh to record their first win against the ABs in 63 years.
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Astute scheduling by NZR to play it at Eden Park then. :)

sparky

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="582248" data-time="1464083300">
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Astute scheduling by NZR to play it at Eden Park then. :)
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England nearly won at Fortress Eden in the First Test a couple of years ago. Conrad Smith's late try denied them glory:
 
Sparkyâ€s Team for 1st test with number of caps
 
1 Moody (11) 2 Coles (36) 3 Owen Franks (78) 4 Retallick (47) 5 S Whitelock (73) (or Tuipulotu (7) if he canâ€t recover in time) 6 Kaino (67) 7 Cane (31) 8 Read (84) Â 
9 A Smith(47) 10 Cruden (37) 11 J Savea (41) 12 Crotty (15) 13 Fekitoa (13) 14 Naholo (3) 15 B Smith (48)
 
16 Goodes (0) 17 Taylor (4) 18 Faumuina (33) 19 Luatua (14) 20 A Savea (0) 21 Weber (1) 22 Barrett (36) 23 Ngatai (1) (or Dagg (48) if he canâ€t recover in time)

KiwiMurph

Not sure there is much use having both Barrett and Dagg on the bench - if Ngatai can't go then someone like Moala would be useful (covers wing, midfield)

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="582235" data-time="1464080887">
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North? Haha he's done fuck all since the Lions. Biggar? Really? 
AWJ is their best player in my opinion
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No love for Roberts or Davies ? best midfield partnership in the game surely......

pooler fan

A lot of the Welsh players will have had a fair few weeks off which could work for us or against us. 
Gats biggest mistake IMHO is not selecting on form (again), I understand his arguments that NZ is the last place you blood rookies but it could also be the best. I mean what better yardstick could you have to measure yourself against than a 3 test tour against the Blacks ? 
Seems shortsighted to me, we've one genuine 7 in Warburton on tour but a couple of others playing really well here in Ellis Jenkins & James Davies (little brother of centre Jonathan). 
A blindside in Olly Cracknell who's been keeping Lydiate on the bench at the Ospreys. 
At least 2 of these should be touring.

TeWaio

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="582233" data-time="1464080675">
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ABs by 15
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*30

kiwiinmelb

I think we will win 3-0, 
 
First test being the tight one ,us pulling away in the last 20 when we empty the bench ,
 
 by the time the 3rd test comes around, I can see us putting quite a few points on them

leytonandamanda

If the likes of taufua,goodes,Elliott Dixon and McKenzie don't make the squad then I hope they have a extended training squad to get them involved 
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taniwharugby

when is the team named?

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="582251" data-time="1464084606">
<div>1 Moody (11) 2 Coles (36) 3 Owen Franks (78) 4 Retallick (47) 5 S Whitelock (73) (or Tuipulotu (7) if he canâ€t recover in time) 6 Kaino (67) 7 Cane (31) 8 Read (84) Â 9 A Smith(47) 10 Cruden (37) 11 J Savea (41) 12 Crotty (15) 13 Fekitoa (13) 14 Naholo (3) 15 B Smith (48)
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For a "rebuilding year" that is an incredibly strong hand to start with. Almost the perfect formation in terms of measured experience in the tight five, proven halves and then some wildcards in the outside backs. Only quibble would be an center combination with little experience together - but a much stronger hand that Clarke/Mayerhoffler or whatever we rolled into 1998 with.

Smudge

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="582298" data-time="1464125411">
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when is the team named?
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Sunday, I've heard.

Bovidae

SS1 has the live announcement listed for 10 am.
 
And then every Thursday... :)

Provincial Stalwart

I really enjoyed it last year when we played in Apia on a Wednesday and so they named the team on a Monday (Samoan time), which is also Monday NZ time.
 
Changed it up beautifully.

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="582324" data-time="1464127919">I really enjoyed it last year when we played in Apia on a Wednesday and so they named the team on a Monday (Samoan time), which is also Monday NZ time. 
Changed it up beautifully.</blockquote>
I'm thinking there's something wrong here...

The Silver Fern

All Blacks vs Wales