All Blacks vs Wales

SabalomG

think the Kieran Read concussion a couple of years ago when the Crusaders and All Blacks weren't selecting him shows that NZ considers player safety really important

nostrildamus

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="584270" data-time="1464666022">
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Hype machine? Am i missing your irony emoticon?
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Is that his new nickname? Hypelock?

Immenso Rapido

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="584340" data-time="1464684168">
Haha yes, head cheerleader Sparky... 
I dunno about world leaders, but NZ seem to be making moves in the right direction down to club level with a blue card system in what will hopefully be adopted by all NZ provinces, first trialled by Northland in 2014, approved by NZRU and recently adopted by Wellington. <a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/9754445/Northland-leads-concussion-fight-with-blue-card">http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/9754445/Northland-leads-concussion-fight-with-blue-card</a> <a class="bbc_url" href="https://cjsmblog.com/2015/03/14/a-blue-card-for-rugby/">https://cjsmblog.com/2015/03/14/a-blue-card-for-rugby/</a> <a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11646090">http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11646090</a> 
edit - I thought it had been adopted by all provinces already</blockquote>
 
Cheers for the link. The blue card, and subsequent clearances required, look like a good system.

pukunui

Ok seems like nz rugby talk has dropped off a cliff since the squad was announced and thefust settled. So the team for the first test. Who will it be? Are they going to roll with the top team first up then give others a shot in the second and third games? 
Would guess the first team is pretty settled with the only question marks being Crockett vs Moody. Sam Whitelocks replacement if he doesnt play and the right wing, although Naholo would have to be front runner. With Ngatai out it delays that midfield question. 
I guess the bench is where we might see a new guy for that wing/midfield spot. 
Most importantly when is the team named?

KiwiMurph

I think the comment has been made from the coaches that they are going to run a conservative 23 for Test 1.
 
I saw somewhere today that Whitelock is progressing well and is becoming an option for Test 1.

pukunui

Would make sense to keep the team as settled as possible given the time since they were last together and the players missing. Then have guys make their debut/return from the bench. Might be that Ardie is the only guy likely to make his debut in the first test unless they go with Tamanivalu to cover that bench spot.
 
The other question mark is who they go with at 10. I would be very surprised if Cruden didn't get first go however.

taniwharugby

I'd be surprised if there are too many surprises...
 
Only one I might be inclined to make to give someone a kick up the arse would be put Dagg at 15, Smith to 14 and Naholo to 11.....
 
But what I thnk they'll go with:
 
Moody, Coles, Franks
Whitelock (if fit) BBBR
Kaino, Read, Cane
Smith, Cruden
Crotty, Fekitoa
Savea, Smith, Naholo
 
Taylor, Crocket, Tuipulotu, Savea, TKB, Moala, BB

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="584979" data-time="1464945650">I'd be surprised if there are too many surprises... 
Only one I might be inclined to make to give someone a kick up the arse would be put Dagg at 15, Smith to 14 and Naholo to 11..... 
But what I thnk they'll go with: 
Moody, Coles, Franks 
Whitelock (if fit) BBBR 
Kaino, Read, Cane 
Smith, Cruden 
Crotty, Fekitoa 
Savea, Smith, Naholo 
Taylor, Crocket, Tuipulotu, Savea, TKB, Moala, BB</blockquote>

Faumauina ?

SabalomG

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="584979" data-time="1464945650">
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I'd be surprised if there are too many surprises...
 
Only one I might be inclined to make to give someone a kick up the arse would be put Dagg at 15, Smith to 14 and Naholo to 11.....
 
But what I thnk they'll go with:
 
Moody, Coles, Franks
Whitelock (if fit) BBBR
Kaino, Read, Cane
Smith, Cruden
Crotty, Fekitoa
Savea, Smith, Naholo
 
Taylor, Crocket, Tuipulotu, Savea, TKB, Moala, BB
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plus Charlie F on the bench.
 
Only debatable one is Moala, and even then he'd probably be the logical choice if Shag keeps picking BB + midfield cover as the backs on the bench. I'd like to see Sopoaga and Dagg/McKenzie as the two on the bench, but that's unlikely

taniwharugby

oh yeah, I am missing a man on the bench! 
 
Charlie it is...

Catogrande

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="584979" data-time="1464945650">
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I'd be surprised if there are too many surprises...
 
Only one I might be inclined to make to give someone a kick up the arse would be put Dagg at 15, Smith to 14 and Naholo to 11.....
 
But what I thnk they'll go with:
 
Moody, Coles, Franks
Whitelock (if fit) BBBR
Kaino, Read, Cane
Smith, Cruden
Crotty, Fekitoa
Savea, Smith, Naholo
 
Taylor, Crocket, Tuipulotu, Savea, TKB, Moala, BB
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That seems just plain strange without McCaw (c) there.

Provincial Stalwart

Moala is only an injury cover, and tamanivalu was picked in the original squad. So I'm not sure why you'd pick moala on the bench over tamanivalu. 
Dixon is a strong possibility for the bench, he gives better cover than ardie. Kaino will surely come off so cane would have to go to 6 if ardie is in the bench.

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="585004" data-time="1464983283">
Moala is only an injury cover, and tamanivalu was picked in the original squad. So I'm not sure why you'd pick moala on the bench over tamanivalu. 
Dixon is a strong possibility for the bench, he gives better cover than ardie. Kaino will surely come off so cane would have to go to 6 if ardie is in the bench.</blockquote>
 
While Taimanavalu might be considered the better 13, that doesn't mean that he is the better 23. Moala covers midfield and wing. Whereas I don't know if Seta covers anything but 13 at the moment. 
I don't really have an issue with Savea and Cane playing together if it came to it. Even at the start of a game. 
I think Dixon will get his opportunity starting. 2nd or 3rd test.

Chris B.

Last I heard, Whitelock was unlikely to be fit - so I'm thinking Tuipolotu (or Romano) to start, which might make it a bit more likely that Dixon and Savea make the bench. Perenara rather than TKB on the bench, I'm thinking.
 
Alternatively, while they've said it will be a pretty experienced team that will start, they might decide to start one of the newbies and have an old hand to come on off the bench - cavalry, just in case we need it - rather than having a bunch of rookies as fresh legs. Probably the most logical one would be to start Dixon and have Kaino on the bench.

Goofy

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="585004" data-time="1464983283">
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Moala is only an injury cover, and tamanivalu was picked in the original squad. So I'm not sure why you'd pick moala on the bench over tamanivalu. 
Dixon is a strong possibility for the bench, he gives better cover than ardie. Kaino will surely come off so cane would have to go to 6 if ardie is in the bench.
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I think Tamanivalu's played a bit at 12, and I hope he gets selected for the bench ahead of Moala.

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="585021" data-time="1464996074">
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Last I heard, Whitelock was unlikely to be fit - so I'm thinking Tuipolotu (or Romano) to start, which might make it a bit more likely that Dixon and Savea make the bench.
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Romano to start with Tuipolotu on the bench. If Dixon is named in the reserves then Read becomes your backup lock. Hansen mentioned that was a possibility but I doubt the captain is so keen. They've indicated an experienced team will be selected so that points to very few newbies for the 1st test.
 
I see Savea offering the same impact off the bench as Barrett in the last 20 mins. Add in Faumuina and Tuipolotu and the ABs have plenty of firepower.
 
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Perenara rather than TKB on the bench, I'm thinking.
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No chance TKB is ready to play yet from all reports. More likely he gets released to play for the Chiefs vs Wales with a view to being involved in the 2nd or 3rd test.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="585054" data-time="1465009751">
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Romano to start with Tuipolotu on the bench. If Dixon is named in the reserves then Read becomes your backup lock. Hansen mentioned that was a possibility but I doubt the captain is so keen. They've indicated an experienced team will be selected so that points to very few newbies for the 1st test.
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Dixon can play lock. Hansen said Read would likely go to lock if Squire was on the bench.

Bovidae

I don't remember Dixon playing much at lock, either for the Highlanders or Maori. He's played 6, 7 and 8.
 
In fact Squire would be more suited as he is the taller of the two. But as both Read and Kaino have mentioned, scrummaging is the hardest role to master when moving from loose forward to lock. Tuipolotu has also been suggested as a lock/6.

Billy Tell

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.watchme.co.nz/entertainment/coach-steve/team-selection/'>http://www.watchme.co.nz/entertainment/coach-steve/team-selection/</a>
 
Made me chuckle anyway.

Zader

Really looking forward to this season, it's obviously a new era and filling the 7, 10, 12 & 13 jumpers will be a huge task. I saw a quote from Sam Cane saying they wouldn't know how much the old guys were missed until they were under the pump with 5 minutes to go. How true that is. 
Looking back at results from 2012 thru to the WC final, where the ABs were described as the most dominant team ever and were rightly lauded for closing out tight games. We're all familiar with the fact they only lost 3 games and drew 2 against the Wallabies in those 4 seasons. 
Looking at the other results there were 10 games which finished with narrow wins of 7 points or under. There were 2 others with 8 point margins. 
3 of those narrow wins were over ENG, 3 over the Boks and 2 over IRE, 2 over AUS. 
The most famous of those narrow victories was the one against Ireland where Ryan Crotty scored the try and Aaron Cruden converted from the side line. 
Goal kicking is going to be critical for the ABs and it will be interesting to see how Cruden goes off the tee. I'm disappointed in a way that Cruden & Barrett continue to have pretty poor success rates, Cruden can be partly excused due to injuries but you would have though that Barrett would have fixed that part of his game by now. Has he not been given specialist world class coaching? I'd like to see 2 kicking options in the AB team, it's been a long time since we had that, probably not since Leon McDonald retired... 
The AB management & coaching is top class and I'm very optimistic of what we'll see this season, we may drop a couple of games but we'll come back stronger for it. 
We've lost 4 world class and all time greats from those 7, 10, 12 & 13 jumpers, the new guys will have some pluses and some minuses. Can't wait for the action to begin.
 
Some of the new guys have huge potential, McCaw retires and Savea walks onto the stage ...

The Silver Fern

All Blacks vs Wales