AB Test Team v France.
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FRANCE : Ducuing - Huget, Doumayrou, Bastareaud, Thomas – (o) Belleau, (m) Dupont - Picamoles, Gourdon, Cancoriet - Gabrillagues, Vahaamahina - Slimani, Guirado (cap), Poirot.
Remplaçants : Maynadier, Chaume, Kotze, Jedrasiak, Jelonch, Serin, Trinh-Duc, Penaud -
@billy-tell said in AB Test Team v France.:
It's probably "Best of luck Jerome and thanks for the memories". 34 years old and no longer the 1st choice 6. It's a loooong way back. Not sure he ever pulls on black again.
I was thinking of which NZ rugby players overseas I'd have back who would have a realistic chance of being in the top 23: aside Faumuina, Cruden and Piutau, Vito was immense in the only match I watched him play this season, and Luatua has had a good year, despite never impressing in Black for me.
Add Vito and Luatua into the mix with Squite, Fifita, Ioane...and Kaino, and there would be a few selection headaches.
Toeava is 31 and every time I watch Clermont (which is relatively often - as they won the title last year) he is absolutely killing it. Injuries and retirements would have broken his way had he stayed. He is polarising though.
Tom Taylor had he stayed could have had a sniff to be ahead of Lima? I understand the need to move on, and they both are getting on, but had they stayed I'm not sure anyone would have ousted Smith or Nonu yet. Especially with SBW taking '16 off.
Really kind of disappointing we are 1/2 way through the cycle and outside of Barrett and Cane no one new has locked down a spot in the 22 yet.
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@pakman said in AB Test Team v France.:
FRANCE : Ducuing - Huget, Doumayrou, Bastareaud, Thomas – (o) Belleau, (m) Dupont - Picamoles, Gourdon, Cancoriet - Gabrillagues, Vahaamahina - Slimani, Guirado (cap), Poirot.
Remplaçants : Maynadier, Chaume, Kotze, Jedrasiak, Jelonch, Serin, Trinh-Duc, PenaudChrist how desperate are France to call up old lard boy for the midfield?
The loosehead prop might solve a few problems though.
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@act-crusader said in AB Test Team v France.:
@billy-tell said in AB Test Team v France.:
The team is fine except ALB on the bench. Laumape please Steve.
If one of our wingers get injured we are forced to bring on Sopoaga, move Barrett to fullback and McKenzie to wing (well that’s what we did last time when in that position).
Tamanivalu would be the ideal bench player IMO. What coulda been for Moala....
And with Naholo starting there is a pretty strong chance he won't last the game. As much as I like him, he has to be one of the most injury prone guys going.
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I think when all players return , we still field a really strong starting 15 ,
My concern is , not sure we have the bench that really ups the ante and blows the opposition away , like has been such a major weapon for us in recent times
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@rotated said in AB Test Team v France.:
@billy-tell said in AB Test Team v France.:
Really kind of disappointing we are 1/2 way through the cycle and outside of Barrett and Cane no one new has locked down a spot in the 22 yet.
Rieko says hi.
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@kiwimurph said in AB Test Team v France.:
@rotated said in AB Test Team v France.:
@billy-tell said in AB Test Team v France.:
Really kind of disappointing we are 1/2 way through the cycle and outside of Barrett and Cane no one new has locked down a spot in the 22 yet.
Rieko says hi.
Moody? Taylor? TJP? Crotty? I would argue these guys are all pretty locked in to the top 23.
Plus Squire when fit. -
@kiwimurph said in AB Test Team v France.:
@rotated said in AB Test Team v France.:
@billy-tell said in AB Test Team v France.:
Really kind of disappointing we are 1/2 way through the cycle and outside of Barrett and Cane no one new has locked down a spot in the 22 yet.
Rieko says hi.
rotated is the ultimate optimist....
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@tim said in AB Test Team v France.:
Love to talk down the most talented players in a generation. Worked so well with writing off Rieko Ioane before the Lions tests.
There were certainly a few on here (me included) that a while back predicted Reiko would be an AB before his brother despite his brother getting more of the attention.
I recall a few having doubts about him, but most were pretty excited about his inclusion.
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@kiwimurph said in AB Test Team v France.:
@rotated said in AB Test Team v France.:
@billy-tell said in AB Test Team v France.:
Really kind of disappointing we are 1/2 way through the cycle and outside of Barrett and Cane no one new has locked down a spot in the 22 yet.
Rieko says hi.
Legitimate brain fart there. Because he snuck in with injuries and the back three still in flux I missed the boat on that.
He probably has a stronger grasp on his spot that Beaudy.
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@rotated said in AB Test Team v France.:
@kiwimurph said in AB Test Team v France.:
@rotated said in AB Test Team v France.:
@billy-tell said in AB Test Team v France.:
Really kind of disappointing we are 1/2 way through the cycle and outside of Barrett and Cane no one new has locked down a spot in the 22 yet.
Rieko says hi.
Legitimate brain fart there. Because he snuck in with injuries and the back three still in flux I missed the boat on that.
He probably has a stronger grasp on his spot that Beaudy.
Huh? I think your brain is still farting. He was selected in the initial Lions squad and then was selected in the first test.
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@nepia said in AB Test Team v France.:
@rotated said in AB Test Team v France.:
@kiwimurph said in AB Test Team v France.:
@rotated said in AB Test Team v France.:
@billy-tell said in AB Test Team v France.:
Really kind of disappointing we are 1/2 way through the cycle and outside of Barrett and Cane no one new has locked down a spot in the 22 yet.
Rieko says hi.
Legitimate brain fart there. Because he snuck in with injuries and the back three still in flux I missed the boat on that.
He probably has a stronger grasp on his spot that Beaudy.
Huh? I think your brain is still farting. He was selected in the initial Lions squad and then was selected in the first test.
NMS was always in the picture with Hansen basically saying he would be back for TRC when the Lions squad was announced - so there was that.
Injuries to Smith then Naholo threw the back three into flux and we never knew when they would put the bullet in Jules.
His spot in the first XV didn’t seemed inked in at all to me if the coaches picked a back three at full strength after the 3rd test.
Still massive brain fart but he certainly is there now.
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