France v All Blacks
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One more test for the year.
What do the selectors do?
One more time out for the First XV? Or tinkering around the edges?
I'm inclined to hope for the former.
Expect TJP to start.
How is Cane's ankle? So does Todd start? Ardie looked handy in his cameo.
JK back at 6 surely.
Crotty back and available?
BFA was apparently knocked. His availability or otherwise could shake up the back three. Dagg would have to be 15 but what yo do on the wings in that eventuality?
Not going to posit a team until we know who is available. Which will make it difficult for Shag not havIng suitable guidance ... but am sure he'll manage.
WRT France. Who has watched them? I didn't take all that much notice of the game this morning but it was obviously close. How ate they looking as a team.
I did think they blew that last play (despite Hometown refusing to award a penalty). If they were going to go for the dg they should have worked the pick and go to the posts a bit more rather than trying from 35m out.
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Broken finger for Ben Smith.
Inclined to give Ioane a run on the wing with one of Jules and Naholo.
So Ioane covers midfield.
BB covers fullback (from starting 10). -
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TJP to start, TKB on the bench. Smith's been shit on this tour, sit him in the stands and hope he uses it as motivation for next year.
Hopefully Crotty and Kaino will be back.
Dagg at fullback, maybe DMac or Ioane on the right wing. Naholo on the left.
I doubt Cane will be cleared to play but I'd rest him even if he is. After his miserable last few months, there's no point tempting fate when Todd's in the squad and has already proven to be a decent stand-in.
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If there's a chance that those two big Fijian wings are playing for France, I'd certainly not pick Dmac. They'll bury him 10 metres deep or send him flying. I'd be inclined to put Naholo on the left and Ioane on the right wing. Must admit that I still think Dmac is not AB material and I'd like to see more of Ioane in black.
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i'd be selecting the best forward pack available as the French scrum looked handy this morning. Their backs, not so much.
J Savea has to start on the left wing. Not because he is in great form, but the French backs will still remember the RWC QF. There would be enough FB cover with Dagg and Barrett so you will see either Seta or Ioane on the bench (assuming Crotty isn't fit to play).
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Top team available please. It was shit losing the last game of the year to England a couple of years ago because it was months before the next test.
Whether Fekitoa is cited or not might throw another spanner in the works.I'd start Savea on the left just because of what he did to france last time round. Hopefully they aren't tempted to put Naholo on the right if Smith is out.
Hopefully Ioane gets a start at 13 or 14 if one of those spots is open.
Tjp to start with Smith on the bench for me. TKB has been rubbish.
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One more test for the year.
What do the selectors do?
One more time out for the First XV? Or tinkering around the edges?
I'm inclined to hope for the former.
Expect TJP to start.
How is Cane's ankle? So does Todd start? Ardie looked handy in his cameo.
JK back at 6 surely.
Crotty back and available?
BFA was apparently knocked. His availability or otherwise could shake up the back three. Dagg would have to be 15 but what yo do on the wings in that eventuality?
Not going to posit a team until we know who is available. Which will make it difficult for Shag not havIng suitable guidance ... but am sure he'll manage.
WRT France. Who has watched them? I didn't take all that much notice of the game this morning but it was obviously close. How ate they looking as a team.
I did think they blew that last play (despite Hometown refusing to award a penalty). If they were going to go for the dg they should have worked the pick and go to the posts a bit more rather than trying from 35m out.
I watched the Fra vs Australia game: France are still a bit willy-nilly at times, but they counter-attacked a lot, and their 2 Fijian flyers on the wing can be every bit as deadly as Savea and Naholo. Their centre Fofana is class. The French were off-loading more than NZ...definitely not a walk-over, but I suspect they wilt against a structured game.
My wishes for the game: Luatua is given one more shot. TJP to start. Sopoaga to start. Crotty to return, with ALB. Rieko Ioane given a start.
Looking forward to the Lions, and I really think Akira Ioane needs to be brought into the ABs - yes there are concerns about being a dick at times, work-rate, and maybe being a bit ball-greedy, but he brings mongrel and go-forward. In the backs, we need to get the midfield sorted (return from injuries should do that), and our "South Sea Islander" wingers have vulnerabilities in their game. NMS returning will help, and I wish Piutua would cut his Ulster contract short, but that ain't going to happen.
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@Billy-Tell said in France:
One more test for the year.
What do the selectors do?
One more time out for the First XV? Or tinkering around the edges?
I'm inclined to hope for the former.
Expect TJP to start.
How is Cane's ankle? So does Todd start? Ardie looked handy in his cameo.
JK back at 6 surely.
Crotty back and available?
BFA was apparently knocked. His availability or otherwise could shake up the back three. Dagg would have to be 15 but what yo do on the wings in that eventuality?
Not going to posit a team until we know who is available. Which will make it difficult for Shag not havIng suitable guidance ... but am sure he'll manage.
WRT France. Who has watched them? I didn't take all that much notice of the game this morning but it was obviously close. How ate they looking as a team.
I did think they blew that last play (despite Hometown refusing to award a penalty). If they were going to go for the dg they should have worked the pick and go to the posts a bit more rather than trying from 35m out.
I watched the Fra vs Australia game: France are still a bit willy-nilly at times, but they counter-attacked a lot, and their 2 Fijian flyers on the wing can be every bit as deadly as Savea and Naholo. Their centre Fofana is class. The French were off-loading more than NZ...definitely not a walk-over, but I suspect they wilt against a structured game.
My wishes for the game: Luatua is given one more shot. TJP to start. Sopoaga to start. Crotty to return, with ALB. Rieko Ioane given a start.
Looking forward to the Lions, and I really think Akira Ioane needs to be brought into the ABs - yes there are concerns about being a dick at times, work-rate, and maybe being a bit ball-greedy, but he brings mongrel and go-forward. In the backs, we need to get the midfield sorted (return from injuries should do that), and our "South Sea Islander" wingers have vulnerabilities in their game. NMS returning will help, and I wish Piutua would cut his Ulster contract short, but that ain't going to happen.
Anyone else concerned we don't have another test after this before the First Lions test?
The lineup v Ireland, test 2, with probably Kaino in midfield and Crotty or SBW in midfield is likely our #1...Will NZRU arrange a test vs an Island side in advance like the past? is it of any benefit.
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@westcoastie said in France:
@Billy-Tell said in France:
One more test for the year.
What do the selectors do?
One more time out for the First XV? Or tinkering around the edges?
I'm inclined to hope for the former.
Expect TJP to start.
How is Cane's ankle? So does Todd start? Ardie looked handy in his cameo.
JK back at 6 surely.
Crotty back and available?
BFA was apparently knocked. His availability or otherwise could shake up the back three. Dagg would have to be 15 but what yo do on the wings in that eventuality?
Not going to posit a team until we know who is available. Which will make it difficult for Shag not havIng suitable guidance ... but am sure he'll manage.
WRT France. Who has watched them? I didn't take all that much notice of the game this morning but it was obviously close. How ate they looking as a team.
I did think they blew that last play (despite Hometown refusing to award a penalty). If they were going to go for the dg they should have worked the pick and go to the posts a bit more rather than trying from 35m out.
I watched the Fra vs Australia game: France are still a bit willy-nilly at times, but they counter-attacked a lot, and their 2 Fijian flyers on the wing can be every bit as deadly as Savea and Naholo. Their centre Fofana is class. The French were off-loading more than NZ...definitely not a walk-over, but I suspect they wilt against a structured game.
My wishes for the game: Luatua is given one more shot. TJP to start. Sopoaga to start. Crotty to return, with ALB. Rieko Ioane given a start.
Looking forward to the Lions, and I really think Akira Ioane needs to be brought into the ABs - yes there are concerns about being a dick at times, work-rate, and maybe being a bit ball-greedy, but he brings mongrel and go-forward. In the backs, we need to get the midfield sorted (return from injuries should do that), and our "South Sea Islander" wingers have vulnerabilities in their game. NMS returning will help, and I wish Piutua would cut his Ulster contract short, but that ain't going to happen.
Anyone else concerned we don't have another test after this before the First Lions test?
The lineup v Ireland, test 2, with probably Kaino in midfield and Crotty or SBW in midfield is likely our #1...Will NZRU arrange a test vs an Island side in advance like the past? is it of any benefit.
The important thing is that the ABs play for their super rugby sides imo. The Lions will have an excellent 1st XV, but we see if they have enough squad depth to have a very good 2nd XV and also the ability to cover injuries.
We are going to need maximal mongrel in our pack, the Lions have the likes of Itoje at lock, and some of those Irish backrow forwards.
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Didn't realise we don't have any warm up games. I guess they will be relying on Super rugby form/injuries to answer any questions over selections.
Question marks for me are:- Savea vs Naholo for 11.
- Whether SBW will force his way into the midfield with ALB/Crotty being the first choice as it stands. Think Ngatai's chances are pretty slim and would hope Fekitoa has been passed over by then.
- Dagg vs NMS for 14. With Ioane an outside chance for 11/14. If he has a big season.
Would think NMS will need a big Super season to get ahead of Dagg even though he was the starter when he got injured. Dagg has been pretty good this year.
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Didn't realise we don't have any warm up games. I guess they will be relying on Super rugby form/injuries to answer any questions over selections.
Question marks for me are:- Savea vs Naholo for 11.
- Whether SBW will force his way into the midfield with ALB/Crotty being the first choice as it stands. Think Ngatai's chances are pretty slim and would hope Fekitoa has been passed over by then.
- Dagg vs NMS for 14. With Ioane an outside chance for 11/14. If he has a big season.
Would think NMS will need a big Super season to get ahead of Dagg even though he was the starter when he got injured. Dagg has been pretty good this year.
Yes to all of the above.
Then, can A.Smith recapture his form?
Will Kaino & Read hold it together? -
be surprised if a smith doesn't start - forster in the post match said something along the lines of 'more game time' when asked what he needed to do to improve.
be good to see lima get a decent run, likewise one of the other loosies in an otherwise full strength team.
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Selecting Savea and Naholo against Ireland in Chicago was a big tactical mistake.
Selecting both of them once again against France could be a good choice since the French flyhalves nor Machenaud don't know how to kick effectively.
My team would be (assuming Kaino and Crotty are fit) :Moody
Coles
Franks
Retallick
Whitelock
Kaino
Todd
Read
TJP
BB
Savea (remember his outing against Naikataci at the WC)
Crotty
ALB
Naholo
DaggSub : Taylor, Crockett, Faumuina, Barrett, Savea, Smith, Sopoaga, Ioane.
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Looking at 2019, we definitely have some areas of concern. We must find a replacement for Read, Kaino, BFA and improve on our propping depth. Don't see too many no 8s coming through at this stage and that a bit of a worry as I seriously doubt if Read will be still deemed good enough come 2019. Hopefully Piatau comes back and that will help increase the back three depth.
