All Blacks v France Test 3
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Good to see them replacing Harris with Riccitelli. Like for like in terms of doing dumb, exasperating shit. What was that penalty he gave away where he just flopped on the wrong side and did his best to stay there? Love to know the thought process. Followed up a couple of minutes later with a hit long after the whistle with absolutely no point, lucky no officials watching.
What happened to no dickheads?
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@tim said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
What we would give for Luatua at 8.
Maybe you shouldn't have been such a prick, eh Steve?
We've got a noted metre eater there - for the 7 minutes he gets on the field, apparently.
Anyway, Akira was holding hit pads in the warm ups so assume Hansen will parachute him into the test team. Bahahahahahaha.
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@nepia If (as I suspect) Hansen picked Frizell partly to send a message to Akira, then his bluff has been well and truly called by the injuries.
If they don't use Akira, we're looking at something like:
Moody, Taylor, Franks, Barrett, Whitelock, Frizell, Cane, Whitelock
Tuikaunafe, Riccitelli, Tu'ungafasi, Romano, Savea
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Given presence of Franklin and Frizell in squad, not quite sure what to make of Hemopo's selection as a 5/6, notionally replacing Squire. It seems to have been an AB plan to play a 5/6 in the third, results permitting, so does this mean the two Fs haven't shown up in squad training, or that Frizell is locked in to start?
Likewise, wasn't Coltman training with the squad to cover Harris's situation? If so, why has Riccatelli leapfrogged him?
Or are they worried about food wastage?
Starting eight shaping like Moody/Taylor/Franks/SamuelW/Barrett (S)/Cane/Frizell/Whitelock (L). No power lock, which is why I think our scrum struggled a bit while Maestri was on, and a less than intimidating bunch of loosies. I suppose Cane and LukeW have played together a bit, which would makes it easier for Frizell on debut.
Fifth forward benchwarmer will be interesting, given Romero, Franklin and Hemopo to choose from.
I'd be quite tempted to give Scott Barrett a rest and start Romero. -
@chris-b What message would that send? We'll pick a guy who does less work on attack, defence on and off the ball - the only thing Frizell has over Akira is that he's experienced at sitting on his arse waiting to go on the field.
I actually hope Frizell has a superstar game this weekend because if he doesn't then I'm worried about the mental state of our coaches.
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@pakman said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
Likewise, wasn't Coltman training with the squad to cover Harris's situation? If so, why has Riccatelli leapfrogged him?
Has he leapfrogged him? I assumed he was brought in to fill the third hooker gap. Good on the guy but I'm disturbed to see him there. When he's on it looks like an over-fed toddler has invaded the pitch.
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@nepia said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
I actually hope Frizell has a superstar game this weekend because if he doesn't then I'm worried about the mental state of our coaches.
Yeah, I hope so too. This panel is in danger of building a record of knee-jerk selections that they then can't gracefully back out of.
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@marty said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@pakman said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
Likewise, wasn't Coltman training with the squad to cover Harris's situation? If so, why has Riccatelli leapfrogged him?
Has he leapfrogged him? I assumed he was brought in to fill the third hooker gap. Good on the guy but I'm disturbed to see him there. When he's on it looks like an over-fed toddler has invaded the pitch.
I chortled extremely hard at this comment.
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Yeah surely Coltman moves up to the bench hooker spot rather than RR.
God knows what the order is in the loosies now. Wouldn't surprise me if Hemopo has leapfrogged Akira.Ps. I've got even less sympathy for the Frenchy who got red carded now that BB is likely out for the third test.
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All these loose forwards being picked probably indicates they have always held doubts about Squire and Fifita. Damn shame Taufua is out. Much better than Whitelock.
Kind of ridiculous how Akira is not being given a chance. Hansen and co. are being very stubborn here.
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@frank said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
All these loose forwards being picked probably indicates they have always held doubts about Squire and Fifita. Damn shame Taufua is out. Much better than Whitelock.
Kind of ridiculous how Akira is not being given a chance. Hansen and co. are being very stubborn here.
The is obviously something other than 'dickhead' that is holding Akira back. The coaches have had him in camp a lot. He trains with them both on the paddock and in the gym.
If, as some people think, he is a dickhead I doubt he would be there so much. -
@nepia said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@chris-b What message would that send? We'll pick a guy who does less work on attack, defence on and off the ball - the only thing Frizell has over Akira is that he's experienced at sitting on his arse waiting to go on the field.
I actually hope Frizell has a superstar game this weekend because if he doesn't then I'm worried about the mental state of our coaches.
Sort whatever it is we don't like about you out or we'll pick someone like Frizell ahead of you.
As I've said all along, I'm baffled by that selection - it's not related to on-the-field performance.
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@crucial said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@frank said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
All these loose forwards being picked probably indicates they have always held doubts about Squire and Fifita. Damn shame Taufua is out. Much better than Whitelock.
Kind of ridiculous how Akira is not being given a chance. Hansen and co. are being very stubborn here.
The is obviously something other than 'dickhead' that is holding Akira back. The coaches have had him in camp a lot. He trains with them both on the paddock and in the gym.
If, as some people think, he is a dickhead I doubt he would be there so much.Maybe it runs in the family? After all little bro gets punched by his own teammates.
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@crucial
My theory is they are purposely holding him back to make him hungrier and reform his attitude because they see part of him still not being a team man. Perhaps the theory is he was so talented for his age that he has never had to think in terms of a team, so still plays like an individual in some ways. I remember, after they won the JWC, Scott Robertson expressing a bit of exasperation that Akira doesn't really play to the team pattern (even though they won). Not sure this is still true though.
