All Blacks XV v Georgia

[Mauss]

I think this is a big game for Simon Parker. I watched him pretty closely this Super Rugby season because I think he has a lot of good facets to his game – high defensive work-rate, physical in contact, solid skills in the lineout – but there were times where he just didn’t get involved enough. I remember Finau getting injured midway through the season and Parker being asked to fill in at 6 and he sort of just drifted throughout those games. The game against the Rebels in Melbourne especially he just couldn’t find a way to impact the game, and the lack of physical edge was really noticeable for the Chiefs team and the way they want to play.

As the starting number eight he has to be able to demand the ball and make plenty of carries. That Georgian defence is going to sting, though, so it’s going to be a pretty big test for him. That said, it certainly looks like he feels more comfortable at eight than at six, so hopefully he can provide good impact there.

[KiwiInLondon]

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

Yeah. We can assume that Bower is rated ahead of Numia, and Christie ahead of Hotham.

Surely some of these selections are to see how fringe players go. Holland and Hotham not starting? Tupea on the wing? No AJ Lam? Simon Parker in the team. Flanders on the bench.

I seriously worry about the maul and offensive ruck. Without Holland, Dyer, and Haig in that lineout, I think the Georgians will see a massive opportunity to flex a bit of physical dominance

[ARHS]

Seems odd. So many of the better players mot starting.

[nostrildamus]

Maybe they're saving Holland or want to see the impact he has off the bench?

[KiwiInLondon]

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

Maybe they're saving Holland or want to see the impact he has off the bench?

It’s definitely a rotation team. The team last week was the top team (with the exception of Hotham and Love) was the best team. Parker at 8 and Tupea on the wing is a bit of a joke

[Mr Fish]

The team was always going to get rotated.

Bradley Slater, Saula Ma'u, Xaver Numia, Noath Hotham and Corey Kellow are the only players to not get a start and apart from Ma'u, they've all been given two runs off the bench.

Six players will have started in both matches.

[taniwharugby]

@Bovidae so Christie has leapt ahead of Hotham? That would go against the biasness we have come to expect...

@Mauss yeah Parker is an interesting one, big unit, does the work, but for me seems more Reuben Thorne-like in the way he gets through his work, doesn't Carry as much as id like/expect.

[Machpants]

This post is deleted!

[Bovidae]

Parker did a lot of ball-carrying last year for Waikato, so that can be a strength of his game. I've always said that no.8 is his best position, and criticised McMillan for playing him at 7. He is tall so is a handy lineout option too.

[taniwharugby]

@Bovidae yeah I'm basing on what I saw at NPC for northland...don't get me wrong he played consistently well and i thonk was well up on most stats, but i probably expected more, guess it ain't all about YouTube reels...

[Mr Fish]

Parker's a big lump and if he were a bit more aggressive he could be a gun player. He can be a bit passive at times but has all the attributes and skills to be a very good player.

[Bovidae]

[Bovidae]

AJ Lam is with the ABs.

[nostrildamus]

@Bovidae said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

Wow, I was going to ask if there are 2 Georgian scripts and apparently there are 3!

[Machpants]

Things have really gone downhill with Georgian rugby, now multiple players with surnames not ending in dze or ili. Not just one or two. Sad days

[Mr Fish]

Georgia grab the first try but ABs XV have just scored one of their own via Kurt Eklund.

Not the most open game so far, 15 minutes in.

[Bones]

Fuck he's a shit ref, unbelievable sometimes. Georgian lying right over the top of the ruck and in from the side, gets a not releasing penalty.

[Mr Fish]

Georgia seem to be numbering up well on defence but they've struggled to bring players to ground at times.

[Billy Tell]

The crowd is amazing. Georgia vs NZ XV in Montpellier in a large stadium and it’s a sellout. No way Georgia vs France A in nz sells out a stadium.

[Mr Fish]

@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

The crowd is amazing. Georgia vs NZ XV in Montpellier in a large stadium and it’s a sellout. No way Georgia vs France A in nz sells out a stadium.

A sell-out is always great but not sure I'd say 16k is a large stadium?