Bledisloe II: a pakeha, a Maori, a Fijian and two hookers walk into a bar...

[Lizard]

Crotty, Naholo, Taylor out.

McKenzie (yes!), Tamanivalu, Coltman, Parsons and R. Ioane in.

Who will the midfield pairing be? The induction of fullback cover suggests B Smith may be in the frame. Lienert-Brown is there of course, but Hansen is likely to want someone with a bit of experience to stand alongside Fekitoa.

Presumably, Coles will have to HTFU and start with one of the newbies on the bench.

Savea will obviously replace Naholo, and he looked a bit sharper on Saturday which is good.

Fuck knows what the physical injury situation is amongst the Wallabies. The psychological toll is probably higher.

[Lizard]

The Wallabies have identified their problems. Apparently they didn't want to do any tackling, and didn't understand that tackling was required.

So that's all going to change.

http://bit.ly/2bHypiA

[zer0]

Moving a centre to second-five to accommodate a fullback at centre is ridiculous. Just play Lienert-Brown at second-five and carry on.

[zer0]

Aside from that, I guess the biggest question is which of McKenzie, Tamanivalu or Ioane takes the bench spot. I'd imagine (and hope) that it's McKenzie as he can cover 10, 15 and 11/14.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Pro players can be back within 7 days with concussion subject to scans and no symptoms showing up again.

[Spy]

It also looks like Pooper (or my preferred name, Hoopcock) has been worked out, and I'm not sure if it's worth persisting with considering how much it hurts them in the line-outs?

Heh. I'm pretty sure you only posted that in order to introduce Hoopcock to the RR lexicon. Rightly so, I might add.

Pocock was still a menace at the breakdown. Hooper less so, I thought. What's the alternative - drop one of Hooper/Pocock and add Fardy?

[Mr Mwenda]

The Wallabies have identified their problems. Apparently they didn't want to do any tackling, and didn't understand that tackling was required.

So that's all going to change.

http://bit.ly/2bHypiA

That's classic coaching that is, 'players couldn't be arsed'. Reminds me of a couple of trainers I've known who preferred to point the finger rather than reflect.....

[Lizard]

What odds that Cheika will start Quade at 10?

Presumably his Big Data man will point out that in 6 games in NZ, Wallabies teams featuring Cooper have shipped an average of over 30 points per game, while scoring fewer than 14.

[Len]

Cooper will get mullered. Expect to see Savea tearing down his channel all night

[zer0]

On Cooper, I'm of quite the opposite opinion. Last year they won in Sydney with Foley at first-five. Rather than really testing Foley's abilities, and mettle, by sending him into the cauldron of Eden Park (a ground where Foley has never faced the All Blacks at first-five), he instead sends Cooper out with a makeshift team to be mauled. Foley is then left as the starting first-five for the rest of the year. To me that seems as though he was protecting his preferred choice while simultaneously silencing any Cooper supporters by saying 'well they played the All Blacks once each and Foley won his test whereas Cooper got smashed, so we're running with Foley'.

If that pattern is repeated again this year, then I'd say he's definitely setting Cooper up to fail and/or protecting Foley as much as possible.

[zer0]

Apparently the Accountant will not be starting in Wellington (can't fine a full reference, but it's mentioned on the video caption in this article of Kaino). Seems to be a lot of hype that Ioane will start on the wing, but I'd have thought that McKenzie would be the better like-for-like replacement. Either way, it seems as though there will be at least one back debuting of Saturday.

EDIT: Watching the video it seems as though Foster was actually saying that B.Smith isn't an option to start in the midfield, not the match. Someone at Stuff needs to redo basic comprehension or learn how to write better. Probably both.

[Lizard]

Quade is being considered for 10, 12 or 15.

I think he started at 12 a few times in his early tests (contrary to what NZ Herald says) and has at least filled in at FB domestically.

He might get more time and less rattled at 12 or 15 but surely there are specialists available?

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/arti ... d=11699719

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Has McKenzie played 2nd 5? Might be an idea, albeit a bit weak defensively.

That's some rise for Rieko I. He hasn't even played a full Super season yet has he?

[Lizard]

I would be concerned that D-Mack is a bit small for 2nd 5. He's also got enough on his hands being a fullback and a 1st 5/8. Perhaps he could be used in the last 20 as fullback/2nd pivot, but starting him at 12 would be a mistake.

[Lizard]

I would be concerned that D-Mack is a bit small for 2nd 5. He's also got enough on his hands being a fullback and a 1st 5/8. Perhaps he could be used in the last 20 as fullback/2nd pivot, but starting him at 12 would be a mistake.

[Lizard]

Pretty hard to argue with that.

Crockett's 50th test. He's not lost one since his 12th.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Good to see Joe Moody back. I can see this being an even bigger win for the AB's tbh

[Lizard]

Dagg and Ben from Accounts switch positions. I don't think that will make a massive difference.

[zer0]

The Accountant back at fullback? Dagg finally shifted to the wing? No midfield shenanigans? That is an acceptable lineup.

[zer0]

Pretty hard to argue with that.

Crockett's 50th test. He's not lost one since his 12th.

To take this a step further, Crockett has never lost a test he's started in. Indeed, he has a 95.91% winning record over his test career! If the All Blacks win on Saturday it'll creep up to 96%. That must surely be some kind of record?

[J Dory]

If Ben is back at fullback where he probably should be is Dagg the best option at right wing? Would have liked to see Jane get another run down that sideline.

[zer0]

If Ben is back at fullback where he probably should be is Dagg the best option at right wing? Would have liked to see Jane get another run down that sideline.

I'm a huge fan of Jane, but, as 33 year old outside back, his time has passed. As for whether Dagg is the best choice, he's a safe option for now. If everyone were available, then I'd imagine Milner-Skudder would've been on the right wing the whole time with Smith at fullback and Dagg on the bench.

[Lizard]

Pretty hard to argue with that.

Crockett's 50th test. He's not lost one since his 12th.

To take this a step further, Crockett has never lost a test he's started in. Indeed, he has a 95.91% winning record over his test career! If the All Blacks win on Saturday it'll creep up to 96%. That must surely be some kind of record?

Piutau has a 100% record over 17 tests. That is the most tests without a loss or draw.

Of players with more than 17 caps,
John Gallagher leads the way with 97.22% in 18 (17 wins, 1 draw)

Of players with more than 18 caps, Crockett is the leader on 96.93% (47 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw)

This is counting draws as a half win for calculating %. If you calculate wins/tests only, Boric, TKB and Perenara are all 95-96% off 20-24 tests and Kipper drops beneath them to 94.4%.

[Lizard]

In respect of never losing a test started in, Crockett has started 24, but Cruden has 25 starts without a loss (1 draw).

[Lizard]

Quade starting at 10:


Wallabies team to face the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday night, 5:35pm AEST

1. Scott Sio (19 Tests)

2. Stephen Moore (106 Tests)

3. Sekope Kepu (67 Tests)

4. Kane Douglas (24 Tests)

5. Adam Coleman (1 Test)

6. Scott Fardy (34 Tests)

7. Michael Hooper (55 Tests)

8. David Pocock (57 Tests)

9. Will Genia (67 Tests)

10. Quade Cooper (58 Tests)

11. Dane Haylett-Petty (4 Tests)

12. Bernard Foley (31 Tests)

13. Samu Kerevi (2 Tests)

14. Adam Ashley-Cooper (115 Tests)

15. Israel Folau (42 Tests)

Reserves

16. Tatafu Polota-Nau

17. James Slipper

18. Allan Ala’alatoa

19. Dean Mumm

20. Will Skelton

21. Tevita Kuridrani

22. Reece Hodge

23. Nick Phipps