All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1
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The real story is ALB out for Crotty - ALB has made every post a winner and his combination with SBW was impressive.
Savea dropping perhaps a year too late - good to see they finally made the call, the only surprise is that it wasn't Naholo getting the nod.
The bracketing of Cruden and Sopoaga is curious. The press release doesn't mention that it is predicated on Cruden's recovery. If Cruden is iffy now, is he that much better than Lima that he is worth rolling the dice on?
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@rotated said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
The real story is ALB out for Crotty - ALB has made every post a winner and his combination with SBW was impressive.
Savea dropping perhaps a year too late - good to see they finally made the call, the only surprise is that it wasn't Naholo getting the nod.
The bracketing of Cruden and Sopoaga is curious. The press release doesn't mention that it is predicated on Cruden's recovery. If Cruden is iffy now, is he that much better than Lima that he is worth rolling the dice on?
Apparently Crudes will play if his knee is right by Friday.
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I think Crotty deserves to start, and can understand the decision to go with the most experienced midfield combo. I'm a little unsure about his test experience at centre though, by the looks he's only played against the USA and Samoa there.
Ioane is a genuine bolter, but then Hansen has always liked to have one of those to change up the dynamic. It's a good call, this could well be the changing of the guard. It may seem harsh but the strike rate of our best outside backs starts falling pretty quickly after 25.
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Well my humble apologies to Rieko fans. I was wrong. Ashcloth and alcohol free beer until Saturday.
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Rieko wow. Even I wasnt expecting that. I do think the Lions Maori game would have done him a world of good. Much better preparation for this game than Savea who only started to look half decent against a shot Samoan side in the second half.
ALB unlucky but glad he is at least on the bench.
Scott Barrett may not have the power of Romano but his lineout ability is very important off the pine (obviously along with his skillset).
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Vunipola, George, Furlong
AWJ, Kruis
O'Mahoney, Faletau, O'BrienMurray, Farrell
Daly, Te'o, Davies, Watson
WilliamsBig call on AWJ, the (correct) non-starting of Warburton, the (correct) non-selection of North, Williams
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Halfpenny on the bench is quizzical.
Not expecting Farrell to last, so need a kicker?
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What's up with Joseph?
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Re AWJ instead of Itoje, Itoje definitely has more impact off the bench. But if you're playing the ABs I think you play all your trumps from the off. I like AWJ, but I think Gatland has got this one wrong. I'll be delighted to be wrong.
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Not too much to complain about in that squad. Ever so slightly contentious for me is the AWJ/Itoje situation and Halfpenny on the bench.
The lock issue for me is that I think Itoje is now offering more but against that I'd rather have itoje coming on for a tired AWJ or an injured Kruis than the other way round. So hard on itoje but it's a 50/50 call. As for Halfpenny, he has done little wrong but if you have Williams at full back presumably for his attacking intent and you have Farrell as a place kicker, I'd rather have some midfield cover.
But on the whole a pretty good squad.
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@Catogrande Pleased for Daly, quality will out. Any injuries in midfield I think you'll see him move in, Williams to wing, Halfpenny to FB. That sort of "one replacement =3 changes in the backline" smacks of Lancaster, and it never worked well.
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Am curious about how many tests has Farrell started at 10.
Itoje on the bench makes sense so he can get all excited when he comes on and shout a lot.
Williams better be bow-legged good. Glad Daly got a starting role. He looks like he might make a difference. Is he facing the Reiko guy?
Should be a good match.
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@Pot-Hale
Farrell has 24 of his 44 test starts at 10
However, 16 of his 17 test starts since the RWC have been at 12. That said, he still plays fly half successfully week in week out for Sarries.
