RugbyRebels

The Springboks have looked much better this year, but still look a bit uncertain out wide, and more importantly, are starting to run thin on backrow forwards, with impressive backrow forward Jaco Kriel likely to join Warren Whiteley and Duane Vermeulen in the injury ward.

The All Blacks have looked a bit impatient, but it also appears that it's possible they're doing what they did at the last RWC, where they underplayed, putting themselves under pressure rather than run rampant. The big question is with Beuden Barrett's kicking, which has run hot and cold this year, with a particular cold front settling in last Saturday, where the team probably would've been ahead at half-time if he weren't sending his place kicks everywhere but between the posts. Does this mean Lima Sopoaga will finally get the nod and the kicking tee at 10, or will Hansen trust McKenzie to take the kicking role from fullback - something that the All Blacks actually have a bit of a tradition in.

All Blacks
1. Kane Hames
2. Dane Coles
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Samuel Whitelock
6. Liam Squire
7. Sam Cane
8. Kieran Read (C)
9. Aaron Smith
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Rieko Ioane
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Ryan Crotty
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder
15. Damian McKenzie

16. Codie Taylor
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Ofa Tu'ungafasi
19. Scott Barrett
20. Ardie Savea
21. TJ Perenara
22. Lima Sopoaga
23. Anton Lienert-Brown


Springboks
1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Malcolm Marx
3. Ruan Dreyer
4. Eben Etzebeth (C)
5. Franco Mostert
6. Siya Kolisi
7. Jean-Luc du Preez
8. Uzair Cassiem
9. Ross Cronje
10. Elton Jantjies
11. Courtnall Skosan
12. Jan Serfontein
13. Jesse Kriel
14. Raymond Rhule
15. Andries Coetzee

16. Bongi Mbonambi
17. Steven Kitshoff
18. Trevor Nyakane
19. Lood de Jager
20. Pieter-Steph du Toit
21. Francois Hougaard
22. Handre Pollard
23. Damian de Allende

As much as I'd want it to be, I doubt Sopoaga will be starting. Given Hansen has also dug in and defended Barrett's kicking, I also don't think that McKenzie will be kicking either. We will, instead, be subjected to the Barrett kicking roulette, with Hansen banking everything on black 10.

Yes, the Springboks probably couldn't have got friendlier venues for their Australasian fixtures than Perth and North Harbour. The scheduling bit Australia on the arse, let's hope we don't suffer the same fate.

I think it's generous to suggest the All Blacks are deliberately underplaying. I think they are genuinely a bit scrappy this year, with things not quite clicking. The scrum has been good, and lineout reasonable. We haven't been smashed about up front. It's more the backs and link-play that have been iffy.

Barrett's not been in quite the same form with ball in hand this year, and his kicking has been remarkably inconsistent. The first Lions test he kicked well, having not kicked for the Hurricanes all year, then the second two tests it could be argued that his poor kicking cost us the series. He kicks beautifully in one game against Australia, then is hopeless in the next 2 games. We need better for international rugby. That means either replacing Barrett with ie Sopoaga at 10 and moving Barrett to 15, or preferably imo finding another player who can kick goals reliably.

SBW I think has shown some good intent at 12, running hard and straight, but just hasn't been executing as well as he should. And the back 3 look unsettled, and haven't dominated the aerial contests. Thinking about it, that's probably due to Mackenzie as Dagg has been good, and the series of other wings have been OK also. Despite looking like an enthusiastic young Nazi, Mackenzie can certainly play. He's just not been convincing at FB. The mix is not quite right. Might be better moving Dagg to FB and starting Milner-Skudder and Ioane on the wings. Mckenzie to carve up a tiring defence from the bench as outside back cover, much like Barrett used to do.

Overall we've been good in patches, and I think should rightly start as favourite against South Africa.

zer0 wrote:As much as I'd want it to be, I doubt Sopoaga will be starting. Given Hansen has also dug in and defended Barrett's kicking, I also don't think that McKenzie will be kicking either. We will, instead, be subjected to the Barrett kicking roulette, with Hansen banking everything on black 10.

Nice use of metaphor.

Got to put that university education to use somehow.

Well, McKenzie certain to be tested this week. It's going to be a very interesting encounter, and I'm picking a close win to the All Blacks (to be duly avenged in Capetown) . . .

So let's have your team picks. I'd go with:

All Blacks
1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Dane Coles
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Sam Whitelock
5. Brodie Retallick
6. Vaea Fifita
7. Sam Cane
8. Kieran Read (C)
9. Aaron Smith
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Rieko Ioane
12. Ngani Laumape
13. Ryan Crotty
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder
15. Israel Dagg

16. Codie Taylor
17. ??
18. Ofa Tu'ungafasi
19. Scott Barrett
20. Ardie Savea
21. TJ Perenara
22. Lima Sopoaga
23. Sonny Bill Wiliams

I like that team. Maybe Mackenzie ahead of SBW on the bench, or start SBW and leave Laumape out.

I don't think Williams and Laumape will be in the same XXII against serious opposition. The risk of Crotty going down, thus stranding the AB's with a midfield of Williams and Laumape, is too great. Crotty/Lienert-brown would be my starting preference, with one of Williams or Laumape on the bench.

Would also have Sopoaga at first five, Barrett at fullback, McKenzie and Ioane on the bench. Hames will also be the loosehead cover.

It's a bit of a worry that we have gone from a pretty stable line up to one where we don't know our best front row, the best loose forward balance, the right midfield or the preferred back 3!

The only nailed on starters this week are Read, Retallick and Whitelock. A. Smith isn't far off it but TJ is a realistic option.

TBF, the front row selections have been injury affected, with Coles, Franks and now Moody all out at various times. But your point is well taken.

I thought last year we did remarkably well, considering the mass retirement of greats post 2015. This year it's looking a bit creakier. Replacing Nonu/Smith, one of the great midfield combinations, was always going to be fraught.

I agree with Spy that the starting front row is set, but that the concurrent injuries has presented a bit of a wobble, particularly on the loosehead side. Crockett is getting on, but might still do a job in 2019. Hames should have a protracted opportunity to secure a spot and, maybe, even surpass Crockett. After him, Manu and Toomaga-Allen would be the next cabs off the rank, I guess. On the tighthead, Tu'ungafasi, somehow, holds a bench spot despite not even starting for the Blues. Yet he's overlooked for the starting position when Franks went down. Laulala will surely occupy the reserve spot next year when Franks returns. Michael Alaalatoa is eligible next season, I think. Hopefully that won't be deemed too late to surpass Tu'ungafasi for 2019, as he is the much better player.

The back three would be a lot more settled if Hansen stopped dicking around with the underlying dual fullbacks model. Savea's dropping has, hopefully, signaled that sanity has prevailed. Smith running off for tax return season hasn't helped the issue either.

The midfield is a complete merry-go-round, mind. Hopefully Goodhue gets a go on it on the EOYT.

In the backs, we seem to have a lot of selectable players but their respective skills aren't easily complementary. Sometimes I think there is benefit in putting stability of selection ahead of trying to get the maximum talent on the field every weekend.

Lizard wrote:In the backs, we seem to have a lot of selectable players but their respective skills aren't easily complementary. Sometimes I think there is benefit in putting stability of selection ahead of trying to get the maximum talent on the field every weekend.

The old "A champion team will always beat a team of champions" mantra?

All Blacks team to play South Africa at QBE Stadium on Saturday:

Kane Hames, Dane Coles, Nepo Laulala, Brodie Retallick, Samuel Whitelock, Liam Squire, Sam Cane, Kieran Read (c), Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Damian McKenzie

Reserves: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Lima Sopoaga, Anton Lienert-Brown

So Hames starts ahead of Wyatt Penalty Crockett.

Fifita doesn't make it, bit tough, but no doubt he'll get another run and Squire has also been good.

Mackenzie ahead of Dagg, maybe they are giving his knee a chance to come right, maybe Mackenzie is seen as the future, I'd prefer Dagg under the high ball.

Solid looking team, should be a cracker.

Apparently Fifita has a bung shoulder, so he's sitting this one out.

And apparently Daggs knee is what's keeping him out, potentially for some time.

Not a good start for the nz scrum.

Brilliant from Smith. Tbf, I'd have been fuming if he'd fucked it up, but the vision and execution was superb.

Great, but we made heavy work of that intercept. Great wheels from the bok defender.

Hames having a bit of a shocker early on.

Hames penalised again ffs.

Barrett has his kicking boots on tonight. 24-0 nz lead after 35.

That is quality rugby. Retallick over from a Ioane break. 31-0.