All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3
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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. -
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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@Wairau said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
The team is (with province and Test caps):
FORWARDS
Adora Itunu (Auckland) - 11
Toka Natua (Waikato) 15
Aleisha Nelson (Auckland) - 23
Sosoli Talawadua (Waikato) - 3
Fiao'o Faamausili – captain (Auckland) - 47
Becky Wood (North Harbour) - 2
Charmaine Smith (North Harbour) - 11
Eloise Blackwell (Auckland) - 27
Charmaine McMenamin (Auckland) - 9
Les Ketu (Bay of Plenty) - 5
Linda Itunu (Auckland) - 33
Rawinia Everitt (Counties Manukau) - 22
Sarah Goss (Manawatu) - 5
Te-Kura Ngata-Aerengamate (Counties Manukau) - 15
Aroha Savage (Counties Manukau) - 23
Aotearoa (Katie) Mata'u (Counties Manukau) - 5BACKS
Stacey Waaka (Waikato) - 11
Kelly Brazier (Bay of Plenty) - 32
Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali (Counties Manukau) - 14
Kendra Cocksedge (Canterbury) - 37
Kristina Sue (Manawatu) - 7
Hazel Tubic (Counties Manukau) - 10
Renee Wickliffe (Counties Manukau) - 27
Portia Woodman (Counties Manukau) - 11
Selica Winiata (Manawatu) - 27
Carla Hohepa (Waikato) 14
Theresa Fitzpatrick (Auckland) - 2
Chelsea Alley (Waikato) - 14
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They've bottled that.
Made a big conviction selection in Ioane, then at smallest hurdle in the most adverse of circumstances drop him completely. On a smaller scale they have also done this with Naholo.
Cruden rendered us rudderless for the final 20 minutes and was a turnover machine - yet somehow is retained over Sopoaga?
If he was retained simply to play his 50th test that is a very poor reason.
Still may win, but somehow with five franchises full of firepower we've selected a bench that will stall our backline rather than up the ante.
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Good chance to see the 3 Barrett bros on at the same time
12 and 15 with just 1 cap each is a bit scary, but they are smart skillful dynamic players and should do well.
Good to see Savea back at 11, inexorably creeping higher on the try tally chart, I hope they use him often straight up the middle at full speed, and on cut backs....need to make a little space and hesitation in the rush defence for Laumape to burst through.Sopoaga would have been better though.
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@rotated said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
They've bottled that.
Made a big conviction selection in Ioane, then at smallest hurdle in the most adverse of circumstances drop him completely. On a smaller scale they have also done this with Naholo.
Cruden rendered us rudderless for the final 20 minutes and was a turnover machine - yet somehow is retained over Sopoaga?
If he was retained simply to play his 50th test that is a very poor reason.
Still may win, but somehow with five franchises full of firepower we've selected a bench that will stall our backline rather than up the ante.
They've only bottled it if we lose. Otherwise it's a masterstroke.
