All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3
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I have read people making parallels of this game with 2011 RWC final where the weight from the fans made things much harder. I think though, this time the pressure is coming more from within to attone for the last performance.
Other interesting parallels are the BIL taking time out to jet boat and bungy jump in Queenstown. ABs in '99 and '07 anyone? -
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
@Nepia last line defense is a tough gig. I think we were spoilt for a while with Cully and Mils who were both excellent in that regard. I've seen Ben Smith miss tackles though he is reasonably good. Dagg has always been poor and Jordie is not an improvement by any stretch.
I prefer good last lines of defence, I was just finding it a bit weird that Barrett's very poor defence is being overlooked to push his selection case when Dagg's is focused on.
Cullen was awesome, and it was such an underrated part of his game too by lots of fans.
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@akan004 said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
Is this Charlie's last test or is he available for the RC? What a massive loss he's going to be.
He's moving to France at the end of the Super Rugby season, so he won't be available for the RC.
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@akan004 said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
What a massive loss he's going to be.
Agreed. Huge step down in capability.
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@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
Anyone have any concerns with Jordie at FB ? ( if the rumors are true )
My only concern , is it too soon ?
I can see why they want to do it though , it gives them the structure they seem to prefer at the back
If they didn't think he was ready, they should haven't fucking picked him. Sorry if that seems like me having a go at you (it's not, I'm not convinced either) but if they picked him (conceivably as a fullback) it's actually a bit mad that he didn't play in test two given the expected weather and location.
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@gt12 said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
Anyone have any concerns with Jordie at FB ? ( if the rumors are true )
My only concern , is it too soon ?
I can see why they want to do it though , it gives them the structure they seem to prefer at the back
If they didn't think he was ready, they should haven't fucking picked him. Sorry if that seems like me having a go at you (it's not, I'm not convinced either) but if they picked him (conceivably as a fullback) it's actually a bit mad that he didn't play in test two given the expected weather and location.
Picking JB to play with Dagg would have been more in keeping with our 2 FB policy of the last few years
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I agree, so why didn't they do it? It's not so much that I have a problem with them going for power wings (and Naholo isn't that bad under the high ball anyway), it's moving Dagg across. In that case, why pick Jordie as a full member? Conceivably, he was picked as the 2nd FB (or why the fuck pick him), so why didn't he play when Bender went down? To the selectors I just wanted to ask, just add him as an apprenctice if you think he's not ready.
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@gt12 Yeah dunno mate. Did he play against Samoa? He has shown he can deal with the high ball and he has a big kick on him. Perhaps they just thought he was too green, especially if he is on debut, and plans went out the window when Bender went down. Otherwise I'd have thought before the start of T2 that a game at home when we were 1-0 in the series and apparently in control would have been a good one
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@gt12 @canefan I don't have an issue with them not playing Jordie last test. Dagg has done the business at fullback for the ABs before and we had a more experienced player who had a great game agains the Lions for his franchise (Naholo) come in because of Benders injury. Hardly an earth shattering or remarkable selection.
Now that Naholo is possibly under a cloud, then it becomes a choice between Jordie and Savea.
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@ACT-Crusader I had no problem with the Naholo selection, just making the hypothetical case for JB that's all. It would have been a tough debut although the good ones rise to the top, like Sopoaga did in Joburg
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@Tordah said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
I hope the ABs smash the Lions if only for the talk of Gatland ever coaching the ABs to stop. This fucker should be nowhere near the job
Tew made a lot of nice comments about about 'why would we not have him on our list' but in reality I think that unless things start looking very stale and one of the existing team doesn't have clear plans on how to refresh they will stay down the path of succession.
It is the system that has built a long period of dominance and consistency.
There may well come a time when fresh ideas are needed from outside the group but part of the way it works now is to encourage others in the coaching team to hold their own ideas and challenge. The head coach simply has the last say. -
I am going to beat you to the draw....
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The match day 23 for the Test (with Test caps in brackets) is:
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Joe Moody (27)
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Codie Taylor (18)
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Owen Franks (93)
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Brodie Retallick (63)
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Samuel Whitelock (87)
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Jerome Kaino (80)
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Sam Cane (43)
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Kieran Read (99) - Captain
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Aaron Smith (61)
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Beauden Barrett (52)
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Julian Savea (53)
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Ngani Laumape (1)
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Anton Lienert-Brown (12)
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Israel Dagg (64)
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Jordie Barrett (1)
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Nathan Harris (7)
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Wyatt Crockett (61)
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Charlie Faumuina (49)
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Scott Barrett (7)
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Ardie Savea (15)
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TJ Perenara (32)
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Aaron Cruden (49)
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Malakai Fekitoa (23)
The match day squad sees 20-year-old outside back Jordie Barrett named at fullback for his first Test start in his second Test, with Israel Dagg moving to the right wing, and Julian Savea returning on the left wing. Ngani Laumape starts in the number 12 jersey, while Malakai Fekitoa, who was called into the squad this week, has been named in the match day 23 as midfield cover.
QUICK TAP: FIVE TALKING POINTS AHEAD OF SERIES DECIDER
The third and deciding Test in the DHL New Zealand Lions Series will be a special milestone for a number of players.Captain Kieran Read will play his 100th Test match and 25th as captain, after making his Test debut in 2008, and he will become the seventh All Blacks centurion after Richie McCaw, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Daniel Carter, Ma'a Nonu and Mils Muliaina. Aaron Cruden and Charlie Faumuina are also expected to play their 50th Test matches from the bench.
All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said: "Firstly, on behalf of the All Blacks and all of New Zealand, I'd like to congratulate 'Reado' (Kieran Read) on reaching the milestone of 100 Test matches.
It's a special achievement to play just one Test, so to play 100 is a remarkable effort. His playing ability speaks for itself and inspires others, and he now joins a unique group of special All Blacks.
We'd also like to congratulate Jordie on making his first Test start in what will be a very memorable occasion for him.
"This final match in the DHL New Zealand Lions Series is going to be a cracker. It's the Series we expected it to be, as the Lions have quality players. It now comes down to this Saturday - the winner takes all - and that'll create its own unique pressures and it's going to be interesting to see how both sides cope with it.
"We've had a good week of preparation and are very excited by the opportunity that's ahead of us, and I'm sure the Lions are as well. We know it'll be a physical and intense match, but just as importantly, it'll be a game where both teams will have moments of momentum, and the ability of everyone to adapt and adjust throughout the 80 minutes will be crucial."
Interesting Facts
- The DHL New Zealand Lions Series is the 13th tour to New Zealand by the Lions. The first game between the Lions and the All Blacks was in 1904. The teams have played 40 Test matches. The All Blacks have won 30 of those matches.
- Beauden Barrett last weekend became the first player in history to kick seven penalty goals in a match against the Lions. The 21 points scored by Barrett is the third most by any player in a match against the Lions.
- With 22 wins from 24 Tests as captain, Kieran Read has the highest winning record in the world of any captain with more than 20 Tests - at 91 percent.
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