RugbyRebels

After the last couple of weeks, I just want to see 30 men on the pitch for 80 minutes.

We will see some changes by Hansen to the starting XXIII with Beaudy (head), Fifita (head) and Harris (new baby) out. Squire is iffy with an AC issue. Jackson Hemopo is brought in as utility forward cover and to troll Brad Shields. Riccitelli gets a deserved call-up and a virtually guaranteed spot on the bench. Shag rolled the subs early on Saturday (2 in the first half, the rest before 60 minutes) but some other squad members should also get some game time before the Championship starts.

The big question is who starts at 10. The answer is likely to be Mo’unga. I reckon Hansen sees McKenzie as a specialist benchman. He got a shot at running the cutter for almost 70 minutes last week, and didn’t exactly stamp his mark as a game manager (to be fair, spending 10 minutes covering 9 didn’t help him).

I think France will take great heart from dominating large portions of the last test with only 14 men. I think they will come out roaring. The All Blacks also have a lot to prove after a shoddy performance. Atmosphere should be cracking in the Lunch Box.

My team:
1. Moody (due a spell, I think, but new props are generally eased into it and Tu’inukuafe and Perry are pretty raw)
2. Taylor (no option with Harris out)
3. Tu’ungafasi (After 16 runs off the bench, time to see what he can do)
4. Whitelock (dead cert as captain)
5. S. Barrett (doing well and should be encouraged)
6. Squire (if fit. If not, there’s a big problem without Fifita. Do you go double 7s with Todd? Or biff Frizell in the deep end?)
7. Cane (too important to leave out)
8. L. Whitelock (not much choice, really. Taufua might get a shot but only if Squire is fit)
9. A. Smith (TJ blew his chance for a start with the yellow card, I reckon)
10. Mo’unga (he’s being groomed as the next first-choice)
11. Ioane (sorry, Waisake, we can only change one wing at a time)
12. Crotty (irreplaceable organiser)
13. Lienert-Brown (hasn’t hit his mark yet, but it’s too important a position to start Goodhue, and Laumapi is clearly an impact player.)
14. Milner-Skudder (let’s test that shoulder out)
15. J. Barrett (he’s hitting his straps so should continue)
16. Riccitelli (no option, but certainly deserved)
17. Perry (Tu’inukuafe has proven he can cut the mustard. Time to blood Perry)
18. Franks (in case the wheels come off Tu’ungafasi)
19. Franklin (I can’t see a new squad member covering lock. Romano is a known and aging quantity – time to try someone new)
20. Savea (or maybe Todd? Hard to call)
21. To Toiroa Tahuriorangi (time to give him a shot)
22. Laumape (#1 impact player)
23. Naholo (actually, maybe Smith)

It’s possible that Tu’inukuafe might be fast-tracked into the XV given his good form, in which case Moody should ride pine to steady the ship if things don’t go well, and to support a rookie hooker at the end of the game. The balance of loose-forwards is also interesting with the injury issues. Outside backs and cover are also areas where the dice might be rolled.

Why is centre too important a position to start Goodhue? He's been the best SR centre in NZ, at the very least, and possibly the competition. Lienert-Brown, on the other hand, is chugging along tackling people but offering nothing in attack.

Should've selected a proper #8 in A.Ioane instead of yet another defensive blindside, in L.Whitelock.

Centre (actually, which ever mid-field position is non-Crotty) is important because we sacrifice x-factor for stability with Crotty (that’s not a criticism, he’s a vital cog) and it’s a combination where we don’t know our best players yet, especially with SBW out. I just don’t think it’s a good time time to be fucking around with it when Mathieu Bastereaud is steaming up the channel.

Absences/injuries have disrupted nearly every other combination when you take cover into account - front row (Harris), locks (sort of with Fifita), Loosies (Squire maybe, Fifita), halfbacks (Barrett). The back three are bound to be stuffed about with to try to cram 2 full backs and three world class wingers into the side. At least one area of stability should be maintained.

Sounds like SBW is half a chance to be fit. They’ve called him into the camp. You’d expect him to come off the bench if anything.

Word from the French camp is that the dry, hybrid pitch in Dunedin is considered too fast for Bastareaud, who will be rested. Parra wil captain. Doumayrou has an ankle problem so Fofana and Lamerat will start. No other changes are forecast.

Leaked All Black XXIII:

1. Moody
2. Taylor
3. Franks
4. S. Whitelock
5. S. Barrett
6. Frizell
7. A. Savea
8. L. Whitelock
9. A. Smith
10. D. McKenzie
11. Ioane
12. Williams
13. Goodhue
14. Naholo
15. B. Smith

16. Coltman
17. Tu'inukuafa
18. Tu'ungafasi
19. Hemopo
20. Todd
21. Perenara
22. Mo'unga
23. J. Barrett

So that's:
The same starting tight five, but two fresh faces on the bench at hooker and lock.
One brand new loosie, one moving from bench to the XV, and one coming onto the bench.
A heavily re-worked backline with only 9 and 11 unchanged. There's one shuffled position, one move from bench to starting, 1 debut with two coming back into the team. 2 of 3 backs on the bench change with one dropping down from the XV and the other on debut.

Don't expect a free flowing, coordinated, 80 minute effort.

I'm still trying to figure out if Cashead or I was the least accurate.

Lizard wrote:Word from the French camp is that the dry, hybrid pitch in Dunedin is considered too fast for Bastareaud, who will be rested. Parra wil captain. Doumayrou has an ankle problem so Fofana and Lamerat will start. No other changes are forecast.

Yes, the team will be :

Fall – Thomas, Fofana, Lamerat, Fickou – Belleau, Parra (cap) – Galletier, Gourdon, Babillot – Maestri, Le Roux – Atonio, Chat, Priso

It'd be just like France to go and win this game, but then again............

Against a rookie loose trio, somewhat flakey 10, and a new midfield combo, you’ve a good a chance as any

Fofana has not played in ages. Wonder how good he will be.

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Just because you play a lot of time in a position doesn't mean it suits you or is your best position. McKenzie -- and to a lesser extent, B.Barrett -- plays at first five when he's a fullback. Folau plays at fullback when he's a winger. L.Whitelock is a very good defensive blindside, but a mediocre #8 as he produces next to no go-forward. He can play at #8 for the Highlanders as they play with 7% possession. Given the abundance of defensive loosies and the general lack of punch from the pack, selecting A.Ioane in his stead would've made much more sense. That or at least playing Squire or Savea at #8 and Whitelock at blindside.

Adder wrote:Fofana has not played in ages. Wonder how good he will be.

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Hopefully he'll be back to his usual self, I like the combination of him and Lamerat, Lamerat offers some footwork which is missing when Basteraud plays.

What a game this is.

What the hell....

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Not sure about that!?!?!?!?

Adder wrote:What the hell....

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That’s a better way of putting it.

Expect some ridiculous decision to make up for it later in the match.

I mean serin was milking it, but that is the most ridiculous decision I have seen in ages.

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Indeed

Mellsblue wrote:Expect some ridiculous decision to make up for it later in the match.

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Yes, tough call. Bloody good game though. France offloading well.

Mellsblue wrote:Expect some ridiculous decision to make up for it later in the match.

And there it is.

This is the best test I’ve seen in a very long time.
Scott Barrett has been immense. I’d assumed his/their dad was an All Black but watching a documentary last night it seems he is just a farmer with super sperm.

Pretty choice game. Scotty Barret is like a destructive human dog roll. Matt Todd, immense, again.

McKenzie may not be the best at bossing a tight game, but who cares. What an instinctive attacking genius. And plays with a smile on his face.

Watching the replay...Lacey’s question is ‘I want to make sure I don’t stop the player’. Given the question, how does he come to the conclusion it’s a try. Academic but it’s a terrible call.