ABs v Scotland
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It would seem the only issues are the fitness of Romero and Read. As I've posted before, I prefer a power lock with Sam W, so if Luke out I'd like to see Pat T get a start. Barrett (S) on bench.
Read is more complicated. If he's out I'd like to see Sam Cane as captain. For me Fifita and Akira are a bit samey, so Squire to start. He plays the tightest of the three so I'd put at 6. That would mean Akira at 8.
That said, I expect wise men would prefer Fifita to be in 23, and Todd on bench. On that basis the logic would be Fifita at 6 and Squire at 8. Which would mean Cane would cover any injury to Squire.
But then again read might be passed fit!
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Savea at 8
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@pakman said in ABs v Scotland:
It would seem the only issues are the fitness of Romero and Read. As I've posted before, I prefer a power lock with Sam W, so if Luke out I'd like to see Pat T get a start. Barrett (S) on bench.
Read is more complicated. If he's out I'd like to see Sam Cane as captain. For me Fifita and Akira are a bit samey, so Squire to start. He plays the tightest of the three so I'd put at 6. That would mean Akira at 8.
That said, I expect wise men would prefer Fifita to be in 23, and Todd on bench. On that basis the logic would be Fifita at 6 and Squire at 8. Which would mean Cane would cover any injury to Squire.
But then again read might be passed fit!
If Read not playing then why not Todd at 7, Cane at 8?
Could still have Fifita on bench with Squire covering 8, or have Akira on bench with Cane shifting to 6 if Squire goes down.
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Hello folks, long time no see. I thought I'd say hello during the buildup to the biannual "oh ferfuksakesScotland" event (to be honest it's a lot more frequent than that).
We are struggling in the front row, and that worries me as I think Hames has been very good from what I've seen. Nel broke his arm last week and the next guy off the rank is Zander Fagerson, a young laddie who is very promising but the tight isn't his forte, he is very good around the park and will win a couple of turnovers but despite being a sizable young man he hasn't yet matured into the beast of a scrummager that we need.
However, hopes springs eternal and all that.
After hope is done there is always the Talisker
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@talisker said in ABs v Scotland:
Hello folks, long time no see. I thought I'd say hello during the buildup to the biannual "oh ferfuksakesScotland" event (to be honest it's a lot more frequent than that).
We are struggling in the front row, and that worries me as I think Hames has been very good from what I've seen. Nel broke his arm last week and the next guy off the rank is Zander Fagerson, a young laddie who is very promising but the tight isn't his forte, he is very good around the park and will win a couple of turnovers but despite being a sizable young man he hasn't yet matured into the beast of a scrummager that we need.
However, hopes springs eternal and all that.
After hope is done there is always the Talisker
Cheers @Talisker, good to see you are still alive and kicking!
If you see any ABs fans in town over the weekend be sure to buy them a drink
(especially the ones that answer to Crucial or Pakman) -
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@crucial said in ABs v Scotland:
@pakman said in ABs v Scotland:
It would seem the only issues are the fitness of Romero and Read. As I've posted before, I prefer a power lock with Sam W, so if Luke out I'd like to see Pat T get a start. Barrett (S) on bench.
Read is more complicated. If he's out I'd like to see Sam Cane as captain. For me Fifita and Akira are a bit samey, so Squire to start. He plays the tightest of the three so I'd put at 6. That would mean Akira at 8.
That said, I expect wise men would prefer Fifita to be in 23, and Todd on bench. On that basis the logic would be Fifita at 6 and Squire at 8. Which would mean Cane would cover any injury to Squire.
But then again read might be passed fit!
If Read not playing then why not Todd at 7, Cane at 8?
Could still have Fifita on bench with Squire covering 8, or have Akira on bench with Cane shifting to 6 if Squire goes down.
That is true. Against Scotland and with Squire at 6 we can probably get away with Todd at 7 and Cane at 8.
Against more physical teams I think that leaves us exposed. French test team outmuscled us last Saturday when Cane went to 8. Although, like Pooper, does mean oppo needs to really protect its ball at ruck time. -
Here is a run down of the Scottish selection, I've focused on the positives
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Daryll Marfo – there has been a terrible affliction sweeping through Scottish looseheads of late and the last two standing are in this side. There are four players at least ahead of him in the pecking order but he aquitted himself very well in his first cap against Samoa
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Stuart McInally – a converted backrow player, he has come on leaps and bounds under Richard Cockerill’s tutelage at Edinburgh this season.
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Zander Fagerson – 21 years old, he already has well over 50 senior games under his belt and will win his 14th cap on Saturday.
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Ben Toolis – very athletic lineout specialist, is good around the park
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Jonny Gray – the younger of the two Grays, he is a machine, a real work horse who makes a ridiculous number of tackles. He is adding a bit of carrying power to his game.
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John Barclay – captain, the veteran backrower is a menace at the breakdown and a good link player.
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Hamish Watson – pocket battleship, he should not be able to get through as many defenders as he does.
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Cornell du Preez – at 1.92m and 118kg he was obviously far too small to make it in South Africa so he took his trade north. If he gets his game going expect him to sit a few men on their arses and complete a few sexy offloads.
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Ali Price – nippy little scrum half who is always looking to put pace on the game, has a decent pass.
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Finn Russell – ah Finn, always plays with a smile on his face, he is not a game manager so much as a game breaker – watch for a hard flat pass across the defence.
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Lee Jones – not the biggest winger in rugby, but he knows his way to the line at club level.
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Alex Dunbar – good over the ball and straightens the line, showed no little power for his try last week
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Huw Jones – you guys will know him from Super Rugby, has good feet
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Tommy Seymour – one of our best players, good hard runner, very good under a high ball
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Stuart Hogg – fast, has an eye for the mismatch in front of him and the pace to get there
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George Turner – lightweight but very good rugby player
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James Bhatti – young loosehead learning his trade
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Simon Berghan – good Scottish stock, all the way from Christchurch
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Grant Gilchrist – working his way back from injury which stalled a rise to greatness
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Luke Hamilton – hardyards ball carrier
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Henry Pyrgos – sigh
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Peter Horne – best position is a playmaking 12
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Byron McGuigan – has a fair bit of pace, uncapped.
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@pakman said in ABs v Scotland:
@talisker I thought Hamish Watson was excellent in Six Nations and pretty unlucky not to snare a Lions jersey.
There were a good few Scots in line for a Lions call but many I reckon lost out after capitulating against England.
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@catogrande said in ABs v Scotland:
@pakman said in ABs v Scotland:
@talisker I thought Hamish Watson was excellent in Six Nations and pretty unlucky not to snare a Lions jersey.
There were a good few Scots in line for a Lions call but many I reckon lost out after capitulating against England.
I thought Dunbar was deserving myself. He, Hogg and Seymour would be in selectors minds in NZ IMO. They have a bit of class about their play.
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- Kane Hames (7)
- Codie Taylor (26)
- Nepo Laulala (11)
- Luke Romano (30)
- Samuel Whitelock (94)
- Vaea Fifita (4)
- Sam Cane (51)
- Kieran Read - captain (108)
- Aaron Smith (69)
- Beauden Barrett (60)
- Rieko Ioane (11)
- Sonny Bill Williams (44)
- Ryan Crotty (33)
- Waisake Naholo (16)
- Damian McKenzie (10)
- Nathan Harris (9)
- Wyatt Crockett (69)
- Ofa Tu’ungafasi (12)
- Liam Squire (13)
- Matt Todd (11)
- TJ Perenara (40)
- Lima Sopoaga (14)
- Anton Lienert-Brown (20)
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The matchday 23 features just two changes from the team which beat France 39-18 in Paris last weekend: Codie Taylor comes in at hooker for the injured Dane Coles, with Nathan Harris on the bench, and Liam Squire comes onto the bench in the 19 jersey.
All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said: “This Test against Scotland will be an opportunity for this group of players to take on the challenge of raising the bar on performance which was set down by their teammates on Tuesday.
“Scotland will be a formidable opponent who, from all indications, will be looking to play skilful rugby and an up-tempo game. Therefore, we will need to meet this challenge head on and be prepared to empty the tank and exert our own pressure upon them through both our physicality, our own tempo in the game and executing our skills at the highest level.
Hansen further said: “We look forward to playing at Murrayfield. It is one of the iconic grounds in world rugby and there is a lot of history between the two countries. Scotland, as always, has been a great country to tour and visit, and the people are always welcoming and hospitable.”
