v All Blacks III: the Decider

[cashead]

Team has just been named.

1. Joe Moody
2. Codie Taylor
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Sam Cane
8. Kieran Read (C)
9. Aaron Smith
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Julian Savea
12. Ngani Laumape
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
14. Israel Dagg
15. Jordie Barrett

16. Nathan Harris
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Charlie Faumuina
19. Scott Barrett
20. Ardie Savea
21. TJ Perenara
22. Aaron Cruden
23. Malakai Fekitoa

[J Dory]

Will we see 3 Barretts on at once?

Would have liked to see Sopoaga get a crack from the bench, Savea versus Ioane, not much in it.

Crotty still broken?

[bitts]

Think I'd go:

Halfpenny, Williams, Davies, Farrell, Daly, Sexton, Murray, Marler, George, Cole, AWJ, Itoje, SOB, Warbuton, Faletau

Need to improve the scrum and I'd like Cole's contribution to the breakdown.

Somehow I can't see any side that's been giving away too many penalties calling up Cole.

I'd swap Lawes for AWJ. Think he's more able to put pressure on the ABs.

I see zero reason why any side would play Halfpenny when you already half two world class kickers in the team.

[Digby]

Ballsy move to bring in a fullback on debut, but fair play to Hansen with what looks from the outside a decent call. Not sure about their centres, but I don't know the Lions will manage to expose Laumape overly

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Bringing in halfpenny would be just stupid. He hasn't even reached the dizzy heights of mediocre this tour. It's a myth that he's an attacking dynamo held back by Gatland. He scores bugger all at club level either.

[Timbo]

...but I don't know the Lions will manage to expose Laumape overly

Expose him overly *again*, you mean?

[cashead]

Unsurprisingly, Lions are unchanged.

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Jamie George
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Maro Itoje
5. Alun-Wyn Jones
6. Sam Warburton (C)
7. Sean O'Brien
8. Taulupe Faletau
9. Conor Murray
10. Jonathan Sexton
11. Elliot Daly
12. Owen Farrell
13. Jonathan Davies
14. Anthony Watson
15. Liam Williams

16. Ken Owens
17. Jack McGrath
18. Kyle Sinckler
19. Courtney Lawes
20. CJ Stander
21. Rhys Webb
22. Ben Te’o
23. Jack Nowell

[Lizard]

I'm not sure that this is the right time to try yet another mid-field combination for the All Blacks.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

AB's by 18+

[Puja]

I'd still have had Lawes for AWJ, but I can understand going unchanged, especially when we've taken the first half of the week to rest and recuperate. Just pick up where we left off and hope the Kiwis are in the same head-smashing mood they were in the return against Ireland so we can enjoy a numerical advantage again.

Puja

[Digby]

...but I don't know the Lions will manage to expose Laumape overly

Expose him overly *again*, you mean?

I do not. In that I don't suppose NZ will play with 14 men again

[bruce]

Lions to run riot.

[skidger]

The Lions were playing quite well when 15 v 15. Also didn't they score one of the tries when equal numbers? I am fully aware that the Kiwis could win by 15-20 points but to say SBW idiocy cost them the game seems a bit much Imo. Warburton helps by slowing up the Kiwis most times by a second or two. Thought that and the bruising ways of the Lions made all the difference. Sadly they will be ready for it this Saturday.

[morepork]

Losing Billy certainly handed the advantage to the Lions, but whether they would won anyway is something only little baby jesus knows for sure.

[I R Geech]

Losing Billy certainly handed the advantage to the Lions, but whether they would won anyway is something only little baby jesus knows for sure.

He's a Scotland fan, so he's biased anyway.

[Timbo]

...but I don't know the Lions will manage to expose Laumape overly

Expose him overly *again*, you mean?

I do not. In that I don't suppose NZ will play with 14 men again

Playing with 14 had nothing to do with his 2 or 3 defensive misreads. Maybe he'll be more settled now he's not on debut.

[Digby]

Expose him overly *again*, you mean?

I do not. In that I don't suppose NZ will play with 14 men again

Playing with 14 had nothing to do with his 2 or 3 defensive misreads. Maybe he'll be more settled now he's not on debut.

More about the possession and territory. Best way to defend is to not have anything too troubling to defend in the first place rather than make strong plays in defence

[Lizard]

So to update the All Blacks mid-field roulette results, here are players used since Nonu/Smith retired, in match order, (subs in brackets):

2016 Wales tour to NZ
Crotty/Fekitoa (Tamanivalu)
Crotty/Fekitoa (Tamanivalu)
Crotty/Moala (Naholo/Sopoaga)

2016 Championship/Bledisloe
Crotty/Fekitoa (Cruden)
ALB/Fekitoa (Tamanivalu)
Crotty/Fekitoa (ALB)
Crotty/Fekitoa (ALB)
Crotty/ALB (McKenzie)
Crotty/ALB (Moala)
Crotty/ALB (Fekitoa)

2016 NH tour
Crotty/Moala (Fekitoa)
Fekitoa/ALB (no sub used)
Fekitoa/ALB (no sub used)
Crotty/ALB (Ioane)


2017 Samoa/Lions
SBW/ALB (no sub used)
SBW/Crotty (ALB)
SBW/ALB (Laumape - replaced Kaino but played at 12 due to SBW red card)
Laumape/ALB (Fekitoa)?

This will be our 8th different starting combo in 18 tests. Only Crotty/ALB (4) and Crotty/Fekitoa (5) have started together more than twice. No starting/sub trio has been used more than twice.

[Lizard]

Just to get the excuses in early:
SBW banned
Ioane ill
Crotty injured
Naholo head knock
Ben Smith head knock

Smith & Crotty would be dead cert starters, SBW would probably be next in at 12 without Crotty. Naholo and Ioane have been preferred to Savea but are not as incumbent as the others.

[Hooky]

Bringing in halfpenny would be just stupid. He hasn't even reached the dizzy heights of mediocre this tour. It's a myth that he's an attacking dynamo held back by Gatland. He scores bugger all at club level either.

He scored plenty before he went to 10 man Toulon

[Hooky]

I'd still have had Lawes for AWJ, but I can understand going unchanged, especially when we've taken the first half of the week to rest and recuperate. Just pick up where we left off and hope the Kiwis are in the same head-smashing mood they were in the return against Ireland so we can enjoy a numerical advantage again.

Puja

I can see the argument for Lawes but AWJ had a very good game last time out. Lawes' impact is useful from bench

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Bringing in halfpenny would be just stupid. He hasn't even reached the dizzy heights of mediocre this tour. It's a myth that he's an attacking dynamo held back by Gatland. He scores bugger all at club level either.

He scored plenty before he went to 10 man Toulon

He was hardly prolific, and Toulon really aren't short of scoring tries out wide.

[Hooky]

Bringing in halfpenny would be just stupid. He hasn't even reached the dizzy heights of mediocre this tour. It's a myth that he's an attacking dynamo held back by Gatland. He scores bugger all at club level either.

He scored plenty before he went to 10 man Toulon

He was hardly prolific, and Toulon really aren't short of scoring tries out wide.

I don't remember saying he was prolific. Anyway, Halfpenny was one of two options at full back which I suggested. I also indicated I would be happy with no changes. It's a shame North isn't fit as I think this third test would've been perfect for him. I think we are lacking a powerful runner in the back 3. Perhaps Seymour should've got a bench spot.

[bitts]

So to update the All Blacks mid-field roulette results, here are players used since Nonu/Smith retired, in match order, (subs in brackets):

2016 Wales tour to NZ
Crotty/Fekitoa (Tamanivalu)
Crotty/Fekitoa (Tamanivalu)
Crotty/Moala (Naholo/Sopoaga)

2016 Championship/Bledisloe
Crotty/Fekitoa (Cruden)
ALB/Fekitoa (Tamanivalu)
Crotty/Fekitoa (ALB)
Crotty/Fekitoa (ALB)
Crotty/ALB (McKenzie)
Crotty/ALB (Moala)
Crotty/ALB (Fekitoa)

2016 NH tour
Crotty/Moala (Fekitoa)
Fekitoa/ALB (no sub used)
Fekitoa/ALB (no sub used)
Crotty/ALB (Ioane)


2017 Samoa/Lions
SBW/ALB (no sub used)
SBW/Crotty (ALB)
SBW/ALB (Laumape - replaced Kaino but played at 12 due to SBW red card)
Laumape/ALB (Fekitoa)?

This will be our 8th different starting combo in 18 tests. Only Crotty/ALB (4) and Crotty/Fekitoa (5) have started together more than twice. No starting/sub trio has been used more than twice.

I'd feel for you, but I remember the last 13 year's where England were playing midfield roulette with mighty players like Barkley Erinle, Noon, Tomkins, 12T, Burrell, Barrett and Burgess. Resulting in the last two starting key WC group match.

So I'm struggling to shed a tear for you having to alternate between players like Fekitoa, Crotty, ALB and SBW.

[skidger]

Fair play to Gatland if the Lions do get the win. I am not sure any other national coach gets so much stick but if you are going to take the job and money then so be it. Even that agitated Scottish chav who posts like a teenager on a period may doff his cap if they win.