2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations)
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@Unite said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
My tip is we lose the first one, win the second one by a small margin, then the third one in Oct is a coin toss. Based on nothing other than gut feeling.
That's a massive call when you look at the state of Oz rugby. If we are that bad I would be concerned.
I don't think the convicts will be as terrible as their Super teams, but they won't be that good.
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@Crucial said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
@mimic as I don't know what terribly naughty thing you posted in reply to me I will just answer your question to bones.
In an ANZAC XV I wouldn't have any Australians except maybe Folau when Ben Smith goes on holiday.
I quoted the wrong person so I deleted it.. Ignore it
I think the last time we got this comfortable against the Aussies, we got our butts handed to us at the RWC. -
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@mimic said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
@Crucial said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
@mimic as I don't know what terribly naughty thing you posted in reply to me I will just answer your question to bones.
In an ANZAC XV I wouldn't have any Australians except maybe Folau when Ben Smith goes on holiday.
I quoted the wrong person so I deleted it.. Ignore it
I think the last time we got this comfortable against the Aussies, we got our butts handed to us at the RWC.Agree that there is no room whatsoever for arrogance. Any feeling of being 'comfortable' is based solely on both individuals and the team playing well and not making silly errors/red cards etc
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I'd be more worried playing Ireland than Aussie these days. It will take complacency, a card or too, a few dodgy ref calls and a bit of a shocker for us to lose imo.
But these could be famous last words.
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@Billy-Tell said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
I'd be more worried playing Ireland than Aussie these days. It will take complacency, a card or too, a few dodgy ref calls and a bit of a shocker for us to lose imo.
But these could be famous last words.
A card certainly helps.
A bit of a mare at either 9 or 10 evens things up very quickly. Almost every halfback who has played the game is capable of one of those games and Barrett unlike DC can run cold.
The Lions showed the game plan, which with all due respect is hold on and keep it close for the first 65 minutes then get lucky/don't lose it.
Australia are capable of keeping it close for 65 minutes if our execution is off.
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The Lions had a forward pack to match ours. Don't think the Wallabies do.
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@Bones said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
@mimic said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
@Bones How many Australians would you have in an ANZAC XV?
If I had to pick one....hmmmm....probably Tawera Kerr-Barlow.
I'd probably have the Zimbabwean on the bench - if he was playing.
I haven't paid any attention to their their props, but that would be the most likely place I'd find a spot or two.
Agree on Folau once Ben is gone. Last year, Foley would have been ahead of Sopoaga, but the 'tahs were so awful I'd be doubtful his form warrants it.
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@cgrant said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
Owen Franks could be rested because of his Achilles tendon injury.
Highly likely I reckon.
Also I think they will find a spot for Squire.
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@ACT-Crusader said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
@cgrant said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
Owen Franks could be rested because of his Achilles tendon injury.
Highly likely I reckon.
Also I think they will find a spot for Squire.
If he was Australian he could be the 24th man.
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@Chris-B. said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
According to my count, in the 21 completed years of Super Rugby/Rugby Championship the country whose team has won Super rugby has gone on to win the Rugby Championship 14 times.
If there was no correlation between the two, you'd expect that to have happened only 7 times (in fact, a bit less now Argentina and Japan are involved).Your analysis is spoiled by what they call auto-correlation. Basically the two are correlated because the NZ teams tend to win Super Rugby and tend to win the Championship. So you can't just assume it would happen 7 times unless each country was equally likely.
However looking back you can see that non-NZ wins in the pair are quite strongly matched., so I agree with your general point. Generally to win the Championship requires decent Super Rugby results.
And if Folau was coached by the AB coaches and played beside our guys for any length of time he'd be an automatic selection for the ABs. Perhaps fullback, perhaps wing, but the man's a freak. It's not his fault he plays with fluffybunnies.
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@Crucial said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
So is it time already to pick our 23 for the game?
Moody
Coles
Franks
BBBR
Whitelock
Kaino
Cane
ReadSmith
BB
SBW
Crotty
Naholo
Dagg
SmithOfa/Laulala
Crockett
Taylor
Barrett
Savea
TKB
Sopoaga
IoaneTKB?
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This post is deleted!
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Against the Lions Ioane started 2 Tests and missed the last because of illness. He's the incumbent and this selection panel has been loyal to incumbents
All the reports from the game of 3 halves note how sharp he looked. I 'd be surprised if he doesn't start the next Test
