All Blacks v France III

Windows97

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

@Windows97 doubt the latter given they started playing Savea at 7 last year and wanted to continue in this series.

I think you’re reading too much into the Papali’i selection. He was bought in as injury cover and then added to the squad late in the piece. He’s knows the systems etc and I think with this series the focus was on a couple of the other new faces as opposed to brining in another new one.

I don’t want to talk about the contract stuff, but that’s also a consideration too.

Regardless it's still an odd selection given the make-up of the team, it'ds kinda like saying heres a square peg we are going to fit into a round hole, but at least the square peg understands the systems the round hole is supposed to use.

brodean

So when was the last time there wasn't a Barrett in an AB squad?

Grooter

@brodean last year against Japan if I recall correctly

Kiwiwomble

@MN5 said in All Blacks v France III:

@Nepia said in All Blacks v France III:

FFS, no lock reserve.

Locks are 6's and 6's are locks now.

It's only France C

...but dont we normally use "easier" games to give guys experience....if we're not going to try this kind of thing against RSA....then why waste the opportunity?

Kiwiwomble

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

So when was the last time there wasn't a Barrett in an AB squad?

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antipodean

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@antipodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@antipodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France III:

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

So Papali'i covers lock.

I assumed they'd move Finau and shuffle the loosies maybe?

My thoughts too. Imagine having a 6'3" lock these days.

PT won't be playing for 80 minutes. At some point Finau will move into lock. If there is an injury to Finau or Holland then Papali'i covers lock.

Last week Finau had Papali'i's role on the bench and he was forced to move into lock so obviously this scenario is not outside the realms of possibility. In the case of injury to two of Holland, Tuipulotu, and Finau, then Papali'i covers lock. That is part of the role of 19.

I don't like it but it is what it is.

I don't know what you think your post was meant to elucidate or expand upon. I've quite clearly stated that I think having someone of Papali'i's stature covering lock is poor coaching.

Sorry it wasn't so clear for me.

All good - I forget that not everyone hangs on my every utterance like a sermon on the mount.

antipodean

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

Bit of a stitch up for Papali'i. His only opportunity comes as a blindside/lock cover. Be interesting to see if the French stack their bench with experienced players again.

Or we go old school and he doesn’t get a run at all or comes on with 3 minutes left on the clock.

A coaching plan I like to call "The Plummer".

ACT Crusader

@Canes4life said in All Blacks v France III:

If Beaudy is out, I wonder if they will bring in another option like Reihana?

Would love to see it for the RC.

ACT Crusader

@antipodean said in All Blacks v France III:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:

@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:

Bit of a stitch up for Papali'i. His only opportunity comes as a blindside/lock cover. Be interesting to see if the French stack their bench with experienced players again.

Or we go old school and he doesn’t get a run at all or comes on with 3 minutes left on the clock.

A coaching plan I like to call "The Plummer".

I used to call it the Kevin Senio

sparky

Starting XV is okay but weird not having a lock on the bench. I'd prefer Ah Kuoi on the bench ahead of Kirifi.

Bones

Jordan in his best position - knocking BB off the bench. I actually like those bench backs, could make it fun if the forwards don't get their arses handed to them.

sparky

Has Dalton Papalii ever played Lock at Super or NPC level?

Kiwiwomble

didn;t we agree more likely finau to cover lock ?

Bones

@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks v France III:

didn;t we agree more likely finau to cover lock ?

Yeah but if another lock gets injured and then two props and another loose forward get injured we're fucked aren't we, it'll be Tupaea.

These selections are ridiculous!

Kiwiwomble

@Bones my mistake

Chris B.

A pretty "B" looking starting XV.

If we were playing a RWC knock out match tomorrow and everyone was fit and in form, I think we'd field the below - with a caveat that I'm not entirely sure about how they'd deploy the locks/loosies. "A team" members in this current team bolded.

Williams, Taylor, Lomax, Barrett, Vai'i, Finau(??), Savea, Sititi, Roigard, Mo'unga, Clarke, JBarrett, Ioane, Reece, Jordan.

Canes4life

@Chris-B said in All Blacks v France III:

A pretty "B" looking starting XV.

If we were playing a RWC knock out match tomorrow and everyone was fit and in form, I think we'd field the below - with a caveat that I'm not entirely sure about how they'd deploy the locks/loosies. "A team" members in this current team bolded.

Williams, Taylor, Lomax, Barrett, Vai'i, Finau(??), Savea, Sititi, Roigard, Mo'unga, Clarke, JBarrett, Ioane, Reece, Jordan.

If you're going to include Mo'unga then surely you include Frizzell?

sparky

@Canes4life And Aaron Smith surely? And Ma'a Nonu for that matter?

Canes4life

@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:

@Canes4life And Aaron Smith surely? And Ma'a Nonu for that matter?

May as well add Rettalick to the list.

sparky

French team named:

https://twitter.com/francerugby/status/1945725510404747292?s=46

The Silver Fern

All Blacks v France III