Bledisloe #1
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Scrum. About right and as predicted. But Ardie Savea is shoved the blindside to accommodate Kieran Read. Ardie Savea has been the better 8 so far in 2019. Angus T given the nod as beach tighthead ahead of Ofa T.
Backline more interesting and debatable. Love the look of the midfield. Hope Ben Smith still has the gas to excel on the Right Wing. Big opportunity for George Bridge off the bench. Not sure right now that Sevu Reece, Ennor, Jordie Barrett or SBW are going to RWC.
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@mariner4life said in Bledisoe #1:
@Hooroo said in Bledisoe #1:
trying to dominate
and right there is the operative word
It's only Ozzie
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@taniwharugby said in Bledisoe #1:
what time is k/o for this one, NZT...I am off to Aus on Saturday so trying to work out these silly time zones things!
yeah yeah, I know google and shit, but thats why I come here...
edit: excellent, is in that article.
7.45 on the east coast i believe
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@mariner4life said in Bledisoe #1:
3! 3 openside flankers ha ha ha
We are Aussie....Phil Waugh, George Smith and Hoiles (started as a 7 and then changed to 8 )
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First time for a while I can say I feel a bit excited after the naming,
Like the look of this team , on paper at least, hope it goes well
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@akan004 said in Bledisoe #1:
Would rather have Ennor over Bridge but can't fault the other selections.
Bridge plays either wing and even fullback if a couple of backs go down.
Bridge is a better player as well.
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Strongest side possible sans Rettalick (and perhaps Crotty in theory, but he gets no more chances from me in the starting side as he just can't be relied on).
I hope they run this side out the next two weeks come hell or high water and assess after that - combos must be built.
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@Hooroo said in Bledisoe #1:
With that team, if Aussie beat us, we can stick a fork in the WC for this year.
All over Mary, wipe ya leg.
I know a stronger team than the one named....
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@Hooroo said in Bledisoe #1:
With that team, if Aussie beat us, we can stick a fork in the WC for this year.
I wouldn't go that far, the ABs do tend to underperform when they play at weird/new venues, something they've zeroed in on this fixture going almost two weeks early. They've also lost the last three away fixtures to Australia in a World Cup year - so I wouldn't completely write them off, but it wouldn't be terribly comforting.
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Ardie’s far more effective on the side of the scrum. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him and Cane basically playing left and right.
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I'm pleased with the backline. I think it's our strongest combination, sans SBW or Crotty off the bench for Laumape. Does anyone else feel like Goodhue has played at least another season longer than he actually has? Seems like he should have 20 odd caps rather than just 8!
In the forwards I'm worried about a couple of things. Potential lack of height in general, mainly thanks to the inclusion of Savea, Cane and Todd in the same group of loose forwards, plus the combination of Read/Cane/Savea and how they'll gel. It would be really interesting to see what they did if we lost a loosie - any loosie - to injury. Does Todd come on, or does Pat T come on and Barrett goes to 6? I guess the scenario at the time will dictate this. I do find it odd though that they have a third openside flaker on the bench. Does this mean they're hell-bent on playing two opensiders at any given time?
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@sparky said in Bledisoe #1:
If fit, Crotty gets selected. Possibly as the bench midfielder ahead of Laumape.
Bench is fine - I am looking mostly at the XV, the bench composition would change based on Barrett moving back there anyway once Rettalick is fit.
I just have no appetite to sacrifice the limited opportunities left to build a centre combination for whatever incremental theoretical benefit Crotty brings as a starter.
ALB and Goodhue have both made almost every post a winner in black and in the case of ALB it has almost been a four year run - it's time to give him the 12 jersey and let him make it his own.
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@Donsteppa said in Bledisoe #1:
could have named at this stage. Might have swapped Read and Savea around, but that’
have to think that if Hansen & Co are as smart as us, Read/Savea/Cane will swap around a bit anyway to get the fit just right.
