TRC: Pumas v All Blacks
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@Victor-Meldrew I didn't get that impression about Papalii.
"We got to see Dalton day in and day out last year when he toured with us … he got to see what you need to do to be an All Black.
"Luke has been given the opportunity to show us what he is about. We'll see if he can cope with the week and go out and play."
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@Stargazer said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
@KiwiMurph Yeah, they're clearly using this game to test a few newbies and new combinations. I expect TJP, Rieko and also Bridge to play against SA, as well as several of the Crusaders players left behind in NZ.
Is that three or four?
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@pakman said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
@Bovidae said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
I wouldn't have expected JB to be on the left wing though. He and Reece should swap around.
I had a feeling Ofa might be used as a LH.
This suggests big Karl isn't yet back up to speed.
Shag and Co are pretty harsh on players not being as fit as they could be. It is probably only margins but the S&C guys will have all the numbers from previous work and if you aren't up to those it suggests you have slacked off.
It is more about attitude than anything. How much do you want to be here if you aren't putting in the work? -
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@Nepia said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
@sparky said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
Not sure about Jordie Barrett on the left wing.......
I'm not sure about both wings!
Even Jordie couldn't play both wings
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@pakman said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
This suggests big Karl isn't yet back up to speed.
Karl will need to hit the ground running when he is back as I don't think he's a cert for RWC selection yet. Four props are fighting for the last 2 spots after Moody, Franks and Tuungafasi.
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@Bovidae said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
@pakman said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
This suggests big Karl isn't yet back up to speed.
Karl will need to hit the ground running when he is back as I don't think he's a cert for RWC selection yet. Four props are fighting for the last 2 spots after Moody, Franks and Tuungafasi.
I’d say Karl T is in real danger of not making it.
On the team, interesting times going into an away test match and 5 names have asterisks next to them and another 6 have less than 10 tests.
This is looking very Munster-ish
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@Old-Samurai-Jack said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
Funny. I thought it looked strong. Some question marks over for Pat.T and Fifita but otherwise sound.
Actually, am not averse to either.
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@ACT-Crusader said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
I’d say Karl T is in real danger of not making it.
It's Tu'inukuafe vs Moli and Laulala vs Ta'avao. The former in each pair are better scrummagers but the latter props much better around the field.
On the team, interesting times going into an away test match and 5 names have asterisks next to them and another 6 have less than 10 tests.
This is looking very Munster-ish
Let's wait to see the Pumas team. I don't think this AB team is that much weaker than previous teams selected for a BA test in recent years.
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Last test in BA we had a bit more experience in starting lineup and bench.
G. K. Tu'inukuafe
C. J. D. Taylor
A. O. H. M. Tuungafasi
S. L. Whitelock (C)
S. K. Barrett
S. M. Frizell
S. J. Cane
A. S. Savea
T. T. R. Perenara
B. J. Barrett
R. E. Ioane
S. W. Williams
R. S. Crotty
W. R. Naholo
B. R. SmithRESERVES
N. P. Harris
T. G. Perry
A. W. F. Ta'avao
P. T. Tuipulotu
J. N. Hemopo
A. L. Smith
R. F. Mo'unga
A. R. Lienert-Brown -
@Bovidae said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
@pakman said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
This suggests big Karl isn't yet back up to speed.
Karl will need to hit the ground running when he is back as I don't think he's a cert for RWC selection yet. Four props are fighting for the last 2 spots after Moody, Franks and Tuungafasi.
Big Karl's story was perhaps the most moving Rugby story of recent years. Went from being a guy who was so out of shape the doctors were worried for his life to playing pro Rugby to being selected for the All Blacks to being Man of the Match in Buenos Aries in the All Blacks-Puma test last year.
Being pragmatic and unsentimental, Karl is only worth picked if he is on top of his fitness. He was very poor indeed against Ireland last year. He is coming off the back of injury. Like a number of the Blues squad he put on body fat this year. I think Karl is going to have to really hard to make the RWC squad.
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@sparky My understanding is that it was illness rather than injury that led to Tuinukuafe missing the last weeks of super rugby. He apparently had Meningitis, which is a tough ask for a big man to regain energy, strength and fitness after. So either he is not yet up to speed to play or they are lining him up for the bench vs the Boks next week
