Italy v All Blacks

[Victor Meldrew]

@booboo said in Italy v All Blacks:

I'm guessing probably Havili (to bench) for JB. Not my preference but he was an original squaddie.

A perfect summary of this season's selection strategy.

[brodean]

@Bones said in Italy v All Blacks:

@brodean said in Italy v All Blacks:

@Canes4life said in Italy v All Blacks:

Someone just posted this team in the Stuff comments (yes I know it's not reliable) but it's interesting.

AB team: Love, Tele'a, Lam, ALB, Clarke, Perofeta, Perenara, Sititi, Cane, Lakai, Holland, Tuipolotu (c), Tosi, Taylor EDG.

Subs: Williams, Aumua, Ofa, S Barrett, Savea, Roigard, B Barrett, Reiko

I don't see it happening. If they're giving Perofeta a start at 10 at least give him Roigard at 9.

Interesting - that's what would make it more believable for me. Throw in a guy to give him an opportunity but make sure it's in a thrown together combination so you come out looking like you made the right decision all along.

Sorry the second sentence was an incidental comment.

I don't see it happening.

However if they're giving Perofeta a start at 10 at least give him Roigard at 9.

The thing that makes it unlikely for me is Holland, Perofeta, and Lam starting. That would go against the very conservative approach Razor has taken so far.

Perofeta was selected as a fullback. Why would he now get a chance at 10? Why would Love get a start at 15 over Perofeta who is an original squad member? Why would he select Lam who is only around the squad as cover over one of his favourites Havili?

[Landers92]

My team prediction. Not what I’ve been told, just a guess based off info I posted above.

1. EDG
2. Aumua
3. Tosi
4. Tuipolotu
5. Barrett
6. Sititi
7. Cane
8. Savea
9. TJP
10. Dmac
11. Clarke
12. Havili
13. ALB
14. Reece
15. Perofeta

Bench
16. Bell
17. Ofa
18. Newell
19. Lord
20. Lakai
21. Roigard
22. BB
23. Ioane

I’ve named 3 players who haven’t played on tour yet(excluding Japan) in the starting side with 2 on the bench. Starting - EDG, TJP, Havili. Bench - Newell & Lord.

All players on tour including injury cover to have not played - Love, Lam, Holland, Lio-Willie, Fihaki. My bad if I’ve missed anyone.

Again, that’s what I think they will do. Not what I would do or not what I’ve been told the team is. Bring on team naming.

[Bovidae]

How serious is Telea's hand injury. He might be back.

I wonder if Love gets a chance on the wing?

[frugby]

My Guess:

1. de Groot
2. Aumua
3. Newell
4. Tuipulotu
5. Vaa’i
6. Sititi
7. Cane
8. Savea
9. Roigard
10. McKenzie
11. Clarke
12. Havili
13. Lienert-Brown
14. Jordan
15. Perofeta
16. Taylor
17. Williams
18. Tosi
19. Lord
20. Lakai
21. Perenara
22. Love
23. Ioane

[Mr Fish]

Just reiterating what I've been told (again, grain of salt, but fun to see if they're right):

Holland, Love both playing. Perofeta at 10. Slightly left-field decision at 6.

[booboo]

@Machpants said in Italy v All Blacks:

If more proof is needed that our media just copy The Fern

Thursday

[booboo]

@Mr-Fish said in Italy v All Blacks:

Slightly left-field decision at 6.

Vaa'i?

[Mr Fish]

@booboo said in Italy v All Blacks:

@Mr-Fish said in Italy v All Blacks:

Slightly left-field decision at 6.

Vaa'i?

My guess is definitely Barrett or Vaa'i.

[maroon]

@Bovidae
Yep. I'm going.
Wind and snow in the high country.
Needs must, a warm-up pint of IPA at Murpys.

[maroon]

Even better, at Murphys.

[Landers92]

Team to play Italy.

All Blacks: 1. Ethan de Groot 2. Codie Taylor 3. Tyrel Lomax 4. Scott Barrett (c) 5. Patrick Tuipulotu 6. Wallace Sititi 7. Sam Cane 8. Ardie Savea 9. Cam Roigard 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Caleb Clarke 12. Anton Lienert-Brown 13. Rieko Ioane 14. Mark Tele'a 15. Will Jordan

Bench: 16. Asafo Aumua 17. Ofa Tu'ungafasi 18. Fletcher Newell 19. Tupou Vaa'i 20. Peter Lakai 21. TJ Perenara 22. David Havili 23. Damian McKenzie

[KiwiMurph]

So conservative he could be called Republican Razor

[Landers92]

As you’ll see on one of my posts further up in this thread, I said I was told to not expect many changes, I didn’t want to believe it but it has rung true. Actually quite disappointing that there are guys on this tour who were with the team all along and they aren’t getting at least a bench spot against a weaker Italy side.

What are we achieving by having Havili on the bench? I can understand TJ and Cane getting their send offs but yeah, slightly disappointing when there are guys like Ruben Love and Josh Lord who should of at least been given some reward.

[game_film]

Cane, TJ and Havili all playing their final international games. Go well boys

[frugby]

Very conservative, but honestly if we produce a proper dusting then the season ends on a good note, and I think most will go away from this tour relatively satisfied.

I would have liked to have seen Bell, Holland etc. get a game, but other than it being nice for them and their families, I am not sure it proves anything, because of the level of opposition, and the fact the next test is 9 months after this

[mariner4life]

That's... that's fucked

It's the top team and still I'm annoyed.

EdG over Williams? After that last effort?
The benched the wrong lock
It's very fucking clear we know nothing about test rugby if that spud BB was retained.

The bench? Newell? TJ? I guess Havili is the last.man standing but what an obviously awful selection.

[mariner4life]

I'm fucking annoyed at that BB selection.

[ACT Crusader]

@Landers92 said in Italy v All Blacks:

22 David Havili

L’Arma

[Kiwidom]

@mariner4life Williams has a neck injury so wasn't available
Disappointed that they picked Havilli over someone like AJ Lam
I think Ardie and Lomax have played in nearly all but one test this season. They must be cooked at this stage