The Champions of the Rugby, of 2023 at least.

[morepork]

The French won't let us do that to them. They are even bigger, love a run or two, and don't have old man le Roux at the back to run over the top of.

Have to say I just dig seeing Cheslin Kolbe having a crack. Electric on his feet.

[Cameo]

That game has me questioning my previous certainty that BB at the back is a massive mistake. He barely ran but he had a couple of moments of creativity that made all he difference - he was good last week too.

Added to that, being on the wing doesn't seem to hamper Will Jordan too much.

I think I would still like to see Jordan at 15, but Foster now has some evidence for keeping it as it was on Saturday.

[J Dory]

The pass to Jordan was legendary. Who would want to be an abs selector.

[morepork]

That game has me questioning my previous certainty that BB at the back is a massive mistake. He barely ran but he had a couple of moments of creativity that made all he difference - he was good last week too.

Added to that, being on the wing doesn't seem to hamper Will Jordan too much.

I think I would still like to see Jordan at 15, but Foster now has some evidence for keeping it as it was on Saturday.

That is where BB cut his teeth as a yoof. It's his natural environment.

[J Dory]

<cough>warriors won again<cough>

[morepork]

Oh yes.

[morepork]

<cough>warriors won again<cough>

....and again...

[J Dory]

<cough>warriors won again<cough>

....and again...

I know, I'm starting to believe ....

[Lizard]

ABs v Boks was interesting. Probably the first time the R-Mo10/BB15 thing has really worked. But the Boks were foxing - didn’t contest some lineouts well away from their tryline, used some effective moves only once. They have form in keeping things under wraps before World Cups and I expect to see a fully armed and operational Bok team at the pointy end of that tournament.

[Lizard]

I think you're giving Rassie and Nienaber way too much credit here. The Boks have shown no significant growth at any point like they did during the Jake White tenure.

I hope you’re right. It would be wonderful if they got to the RWC and basically just took a big runny shit with all their clothes on. But I would not bet on that right now.

[morepork]

Wobblies are being coached on cynical defence. They got in our faces pretty good too. Still think France will have our number. Scott Barrett looking every millimetre the war horse we need, in the shape of a human dog roll. Halfbacks getting nailed is definitely a thing. A Smith had a hard day out there.

[Banquo]

argentina should have turned the boks over.

[Lizard]

Pretty satisfying result for the All Blacks, but we should at least that dominant over a team ranked 8th in the world.

[Cameo]

Big games for Tamaiti Williams and Leicester Fainga'anuku I reckon. Could imagine both playing a big part at the World Cup or not going/not playing much

[morepork]

France are gonna munch us. Ireland will fancy a piece too.

[Lizard]

OK. So now we know definitely and for sure that Richie Mo > DMac, just in case there was any doubt. What else?

Whitelock still has it.

Stevenson and Fainga'anuku are ok.

Sam Cane can't go the distance in a tight one.

[J Dory]

The Smith - Richie Mo axis is key. Smiths passing is a cut above any other option. Richie Mo makes better decisions than D Mac.

Barrett, Telea and Jordan is the most balanced and generally just best back three combo. MoBeau interchange at first receiver adds creativity too.

Scott Barrett needs to be on the field somewhere.

Not sure who the starting hooker should be. De-Groot and Lomax 1 and 3.

Mid-field - Barrett Ioane or Leinert-Brown Ioane?

Frizzell and Ardie for shewer and then ....

[morepork]

Loosies, bar Savea, are a bit vulnerable. Sam’s Cane will get eaten by Aldritt et.al.

[Puja]

France are gonna munch us. Ireland will fancy a piece too.

Given that France B are currently demolishing Scotland without showing signs of breaking a sweat, I don't think you're going to be alone there. I suspect the only distinction you'll have is that your RWC won't stop at the same stage that you meet France.

Puja

[BaldiePete]

France are gonna munch us. Ireland will fancy a piece too.

Given that France B are currently demolishing Scotland without showing signs of breaking a sweat, I don't think you're going to be alone there. I suspect the only distinction you'll have is that your RWC won't stop at the same stage that you meet France.

Puja

We (Scotland) got our act together in the 2nd half, despite playing most of it with 14 men. The problem is that to have any chance at all against South Africa and Ireland we need to play like that for 80 minutes and have 15 men on the field.

[morepork]

France are gonna munch us. Ireland will fancy a piece too.

Given that France B are currently demolishing Scotland without showing signs of breaking a sweat, I don't think you're going to be alone there. I suspect the only distinction you'll have is that your RWC won't stop at the same stage that you meet France.

Puja

Whoops

[Lizard]

It looked like Fozzie either hadn’t given DMac the playbook, or had told him that ALB was knocking his missus off.

[Cameo]

Funny game, but Australia with their stars (Skelton, Kerevi, and Koriobete) back are going to gradually get better so I think a win against them from behind with a b team is pretty good.

The debutants also improved as the game went on. Finau was very good in the last 20 or so.

Fainga'anuku also showed what he can do. Having Jordan on the wing means you can have someone like him on the bench.