All Blacks v France I
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@DaGrubster Holland will become a legend. We have a Brody and a Witelock rolled into 1. In 5 to 7 years he will be the first name picked. !!
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:
I don't mine the selection of Vaai at 6 as it allows Holland game time and opens up a spot for Kirifi on the bench. Also means we have proper height at 6.
I don't think Vaai is the answer at 6 but there's not a heap of other options - I'm sceptical if Finau will ever properly develop.
Hope to see Parker come into the squad later this year.
Pleased to see Proctor tried at 13 and Rieko on wing to see if he still has it.
On paper that bench looks impactful without the likes of Jacobson, ALB and Havili taking up spots.
The squad is starting to look a bit fresher indeed.
Keep in mind that De Groot and Newell only got their gigs in the dying embers of Fosters tenure.
Jordan at 15, a centre at centre, Ardie at 7, an 8 at 8. Its starting to at least look coherent.
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@Canes4life calf injury
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@JK said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:
@Chris said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:
@george33 Spot on mate on the tips you gave us
I posted the whole team yesterday - other than Lomax's post initial selection injury
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:
@JK said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:
@Chris said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:
@george33 Spot on mate on the tips you gave us
I posted the whole team yesterday - other than Lomax's post initial selection injury
Dam straight
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@1kiwi said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:
So who leads the Haka this year? Rieko? maybe Codie or Ardie?
oh now we are touching on the burning issues
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:
It worked well in Dublin
I don’t think he is a centre but I like having him in the squad. He knows his assignment and clearly loves being an Allblack.
He wants it.
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@1kiwi said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:
So who leads the Haka this year? Rieko? maybe Codie or Ardie?
Billy is another option if he becomes a mainstay. He usually leads all the Canes hakas when they do them.
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@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:
Well, don't know whether to shake my head or be pleased they trying things. Surprises me Vai'i at 6, but also think it a pointer to how good they thing Holland will be, and Vai'i being best lock in NZ, maybe they felt they had to play him?
thats kind of why i dont like choosing your captain so early....if Vaai is the best lock and Holland deserves a run as the future....play them both there, i think you make the 23 before you get to be captain, with savea, taylor and BB on the pitch its not like we're short of experienced leaders on the pitch
From EOYT 2022 and all of 2023 Scooter was our best lock. That was on the back of being a very effective bench option previously. Add to that he was captain of the Saders, don’t wasn’t a huge surprise that he was made captain even though they could’ve easily gone with Ardie. His form last year wasn’t as good as 2023 but it wasn’t like he fell completely off the cliff. He was one of our best against Ireland and he didn’t play too bad against the French either.
What was pleasing was to see the step up of Vaa’i last year when there were concerns post 2023 with Whitelock and Retallick gone.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:
@1kiwi said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:
So who leads the Haka this year? Rieko? maybe Codie or Ardie?
oh now we are touching on the burning issues
Gotta find something to post about until kick off and everyone waits for that first error by the player we don’t like so we tee off (or for some get their shining armour out…)
