Springboks v All Blacks
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Barrett doesn't need a rest. He hasn't had years of test rugby that would require it. If he was down on form (I thought he was fine) then it would be reason to say we want to see an improvement on X and Y.
Is Fekitoa fully fit?
I would start A. Savea again. He's the number 2 openside in the coaches eyes, so if the number 1 isn't fit, you don't rest the number 2.
I wouldn't be against seeing Squire get another run.
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I'd be tempted to give Dixon some minutes, maybe even at 7. I think despite the different positions he's logically more read, and squire is more kaino - but captains play all the time, so to get some playing time into him they need to change the loose balance, and I don't think losing kainos grunt is a great idea against the boks - even these relatively lightweight boks.
Lima has to be a good chance for a run given his last performance over there, but I'd keep Barret starting. Get naholo in asap, but both midfielders have earned another shot. -
Moody, Coles, Faumuiana
Tuipolotu, Whitelock
Kaino Savea, ReadSmith, Sopoaaga
Crotty, ALB
Naholo, Smith, DaggRes forwards: Crockett, Taylor, Tu'agafasi, Retallick, Dixon (or Dixon, Todd)
Res backs: TJP or TKB, Barrett, Moala -
@taniwharugby said in Springboks v All Blacks, whos in?:
@westcoastie said in Springboks v All Blacks, whos in?:
Now that the Rest & Rotation tour is half done, who gets a rest this week? I was thinking Read may get a game off, but I think that will be the Italy EOY Tour game.
So here's my 23 for the South Africa test.
- Moody
- Coles
- Faumauina
- Romano
- Whitelock
- Kaino
- Todd
- Read
- A.Smith
- Sopoaga
- Naholo
- Crotty, or maybe ALB
- Fekitoa
- Dagg
- B.Smith
- Taylor
- Crockett
- Tu'ungafasi
- Retallick
- Savea
- TKB
- Barrett
- Moala
Franks, J.Savea, Perenara to get a rest. A. Savea to come off the bench.
D-Mac out. Maybe Coltman in for Taylor
Would actually prefer Tuipolutu over Romano. Can't see Dixon or Squire getting another go, unless they spell Ardie altogether.
Would also prefer Barrett starts, but need to give Sopoanga a crack eh...That would be 9 changes from todays starting 15, cant see it.
Maybe give Whitelock a run with PT, Kaino back, Smith back, that would be all I'd change.
I'm with TR. Reckon it will be much closer to the 1st xv/xxiii.
Charlie back to bench?
Ofa to lh bench maayybee?
PT & SW to start. BBBR to bench.
JK to start if ok.
Smith at 9....
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@booboo Ofa is NOT a test LH. I personally don't see Todd featuring, barring accidents. Expect Kaino will start. Think a lock will be on bench and Squire/Dixon, depending on what they see as the requirements for versatility. Naholo to start if fit. Would like to see Lima get some real game time. I see ALB as Crotty-swappable. So if Crotty crocked, then ALB/Fekitoa/Moala in 23. Not likely, but I'd like to see George have gametime at 12.
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The Springboks won't be easy meat this time. They are always hard to beat in their garden. So expect a full strength AB team to face them :
Moody Coles Franks
Whitelock Retallick
Kaino Savea Read
Smith Barrett
Savea Crotty ALB Dagg
SmithMaybe Naholo for Savea or Dagg.
Reserves :
Crockett Taylor Faumuina
Tuipolutu Squire
TJP Sopoaga Moala -
@pakman that's why I qualified Ofa with the "maaybee". I can't really see it but given they're trying to get him to cover both sides they may (may) want to try that for development.
But yeah, nah.
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@cgrant said in Springboks v All Blacks, whos in?:
The Springboks won't be easy meat this time. They are always hard to beat in their garden.
Yes they will.
Not any more.Retrograde step to go back to the first XV out of "fear factor".
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@cgrant said in Springboks v All Blacks, whos in?:
Moody Coles Franks
Whitelock Retallick
Kaino Savea Read
Smith Barrett
Savea Crotty ALB Dagg
SmithI think that's close to what they will go for.
Maybe Moody gets dropped for Crockett after that silly YC?
I also think they are planning on starting Faumuina for this game after they left him out of the 23 against the Argies -
Well, Liam Napier in Stuff has already selected his left winger:
"Other than botching a try in the second half Julian Savea was superb against the Pumas, beating his man regularly and making metres at will."
Need to watch the game again but my impression was that Savea got a lot of good ball and really didn't do much with it. The metres Napier's stats say he made were due to other players giving him plenty of space.
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I don't think Savea had a huge amount of space. He was given the ball behind the gain line a few times so was able to get up a head of steam, but there was never any clear overlaps. The bar is set bloody high for him - if he has 3m to work up a head of steam he's expected to stampede over the defense every time. If all he does it make 5-10m that's a failure.
He wasn't at his best, and the try he botched was frustrating to watch, but he wasn't bad either. "Superb" is taking it too far though, I'd say he was "solid".
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@Tregaskis said in Springboks v All Blacks, whos in?:
Well, Liam Napier in Stuff has already selected his left winger:
"Other than botching a try in the second half Julian Savea was superb against the Pumas, beating his man regularly and making metres at will."
Need to watch the game again but my impression was that Savea got a lot of good ball and really didn't do much with it. The metres Napier's stats say he made were due to other players giving him plenty of space.
On Saturday night, in the lead up to the NRL grand final, I watched 35 year old footage¹ of Parramatta's Eric Grothe running 40 odd metres at pace, changing direction and switching the ball from left to right arm four times to fend or bump off five tacklers with good technique. It was instinctive.
After watching on Sunday and reading to remind myself of Julian Savea's history I am not convinced of his further entitlement.
He is well able to charge along a straight line, run over tacklers and swerve a bit but he needs to be competent in much more than that, as were Doug Howlett, Joe, Sivi, Hosea and Rico. There is something wrong there - after NZ secondary schools in 2008, then NZ Under 20s, NZ Sevens; seven years with the Wellington Lions, six years with the Hurricanes and four with the All Blacks you'd reckon several of those top end coaches have told him, coached him and drilled him to switch the ball when he fends and bumps. Perhaps he knows better than them or simply forgets to remember.
I say he has had time and attention enough already. There are others worthy of a go.
¹
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IMO - Naholo is far more dangerous than Savea. Quicker and lower center of gravity makes it harder to bring him down.
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So Dagg is a lock at 14? While I appreciate his aerial skills and that he fits the Jane/Skudder mould of FB/Winger. he is not the winger you want scoring in the corner. Funny how one of his best attributes, his boot, is wasted on the wing. I'd break with conventional wisdom and have Savea and Naholo play.
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Full strength team will be picked for SA.
They just got a needed boost of confidence over the weekend - now with the opportunity to put back to back wins together @ home, where the next game is against us, we embarrassed them last time, needless to say they're gonna be fired up as fuck.After this weekend, Crotty/ALB is our best midfield available.
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@broughie said in Springboks v All Blacks, whos in?:
So Dagg is a lock at 14? While I appreciate his aerial skills and that he fits the Jane/Skudder mould of FB/Winger. he is not the winger you want scoring in the corner. Funny how one of his best attributes, his boot, is wasted on the wing. I'd break with conventional wisdom and have Savea and Naholo play.
Have you not seen Savea play recently? He doesn't have aerial skills, he doesn't have a boot, and on recent evidence he is not the winger you want scoring in the corner. How long do we wait for him to come right?
Liam Napier clearly was watching old tapes of Savea. He had one run in space and was tackled by the first defender he came to - he used to have power, strength and guile, sadly used to are the operative words.
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Yeah big forward pack plus Ardie
Nugget at half. Dagg on a wing to field Morning stains kicks and the previous incumbant winger Naholo.Pat T and Sammy to start with BBBR on the bench if resting is so important, which it is.
Todd on the reserves to counter Louw for 80 mins
Stuff
