2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations)
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@Tim said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
Riccitelli looked out of his depth during much of the season. Parsons and Funnell would be better choices.
Yeah I would agree with that sentiment. As a Crusaders fan I watched all of Funnell's minutes in SR this year, he has trimmed down (was always prone to carrying a bit of baby fat) and his set piece work is accurate. In saying the 3rd hooker won't get much game time and Riccitelli has been in camp previously. Hopefully Coles will be back to full training and playing duty very soon.
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@Cantab79 Riccitelli hasn't been in camp previously.
I'd also prefer Funnell, considering he has a lot more experience than Riccitelli and has been very good this season (much better than Parsons). Riccitelli has only just played his first, full season of SR, so obviously that has been noticeable in some games. Don't agree that he looked out of his depth during much of the season, though. Anyway, it will be a good experience for him and the coaches will have the opportunity to have a closer look at him and see what is made off. Only 22 years old, so he has time on his side.
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@Stargazer plus, Riccitelli is no longer HB, so Canterbury takes precedence. 😊
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@Stargazer well it's not me picking Canterbury every time...
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@Bones said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
@Stargazer well it's not me picking Canterbury every time...
Selective reading .. I was actually defending Riccitelli in my post.
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with all due respect, we are in a bit of strife if we are calling in Parsons.
Hopefully Taylor & Harris will remain uninjured and Coles will be sweet anyway...
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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.
An easy choice since Ben Franks retirement....
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@Cantab79 I thought Funnell was much improved this season. Can't comment on his weight changes, but size - or capacity to gain size - is important for AB hookers. I recall Hansen wanted Coles to gain a few kilos early in his career and the assessment was that his frame could carry the weight. I wonder if this might work against Funnell who looks like a slightly smaller unit than Coles, Taylor etc.
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@Tim said in 2017 Bledisloe Cup & Rugby Championship (4 Nations):
Riccitelli looked out of his depth during much of the season. Parsons and Funnell would be better choices.
Was about to like but then I saw you picking Parsons ...
Funnell I like. Should have picked him in my uncapped xv
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Mark Ella's Wallabies-All Blacks XV of the professional era: Christian Cullen; Joe Roff, Tana Umaga, Tim Horan, Jonah Lomu; Daniel Carter, George Gregan; Toutai Kefu, Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino, John Eales (c), Brodie Retallick, Carl Hayman, Phil Kearns, Tony Woodcock.
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Garces suffered a calf injury refereeing a France preseason match between Racing 92 and Bayonne last weekend (...) The French referee will be replaced as chief whistle blower by England's Wayne Barnes, with Nigel Owens coming in as an assistant (...) Owens will take the lead in the second Bledisloe in Dunedin, with Barnes an assistant.
