All Blacks vs Tonga
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@cgrant said in All Blacks vs Tonga:
Ardie Savea needs some rest, as does Sam Whitelock. Moreover, they are too important for the team so they should not be risked against a physical outfit like Tonga. My guess :
Moli Coltman Franks Hemopo Tuipolutu Fifita Cane (capt) Jacobson Weber Ioane Ioane Laumape Ennor Reece J Barrett
I know that a Hemopo - Tuipolutu combination in the second row is not very complementary but Whitelock has to be spared.
Maybe but the flip side is no real rugby
For 5 weeks if they don’t play .Then out against the Boks that’s a tough ask for those boys they have 3 weeks to the Tongan test. -
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@CO said in All Blacks vs Tonga:
Maybe but the flip side is no real rugby
For 5 weeks if they don’t play .Then out against the Boks that’s a tough ask for those boys they have 3 weeks to the Tongan test.Excuse me, but the Mitre 10 Cup is currently being staged. It is real rugby as S Barrett has two of those games listed as stand down matches counting toward his suspension. If he was down to play those games than there is scope for the entire squad to do likewise during the weeks before the 'Ikale Tahi game.
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@Higgins said in All Blacks vs Tonga:
@CO said in All Blacks vs Tonga:
Maybe but the flip side is no real rugby
For 5 weeks if they don’t play .Then out against the Boks that’s a tough ask for those boys they have 3 weeks to the Tongan test.Excuse me, but the Mitre 10 Cup is currently being staged. It is real rugby as S Barrett has two of those games listed as stand down matches counting toward his suspension. If he was down to play those games than there is scope for the entire squad to do likewise during the weeks before the 'Ikale Tahi game.
could you imagine if Barrett or Savea blew a knee playing NPC?
The collective nationwide meltdown would be a sight to behold
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks vs Tonga:
@Higgins said in All Blacks vs Tonga:
@CO said in All Blacks vs Tonga:
Maybe but the flip side is no real rugby
For 5 weeks if they don’t play .Then out against the Boks that’s a tough ask for those boys they have 3 weeks to the Tongan test.Excuse me, but the Mitre 10 Cup is currently being staged. It is real rugby as S Barrett has two of those games listed as stand down matches counting toward his suspension. If he was down to play those games than there is scope for the entire squad to do likewise during the weeks before the 'Ikale Tahi game.
could you imagine if Barrett or Savea blew a knee playing NPC?
The collective nationwide meltdown would be a sight to behold
I assume you mean Broden and not the lesser Barretts?
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@Nepia said in All Blacks vs Tonga:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks vs Tonga:
@Higgins said in All Blacks vs Tonga:
@CO said in All Blacks vs Tonga:
Maybe but the flip side is no real rugby
For 5 weeks if they don’t play .Then out against the Boks that’s a tough ask for those boys they have 3 weeks to the Tongan test.Excuse me, but the Mitre 10 Cup is currently being staged. It is real rugby as S Barrett has two of those games listed as stand down matches counting toward his suspension. If he was down to play those games than there is scope for the entire squad to do likewise during the weeks before the 'Ikale Tahi game.
could you imagine if Barrett or Savea blew a knee playing NPC?
The collective nationwide meltdown would be a sight to behold
I assume you mean Broden and not the lesser Barretts?
of course. shrugs and "meh" don't make much noise
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@Higgins said in All Blacks vs Tonga:
@CO said in All Blacks vs Tonga:
Maybe but the flip side is no real rugby
For 5 weeks if they don’t play .Then out against the Boks that’s a tough ask for those boys they have 3 weeks to the Tongan test.Excuse me, but the Mitre 10 Cup is currently being staged. It is real rugby as S Barrett has two of those games listed as stand down matches counting toward his suspension. If he was down to play those games than there is scope for the entire squad to do likewise during the weeks before the 'Ikale Tahi game.
Didn't say is wasn't what I said was that most of the 23 will play against Tonga they will not play NPC so will not have had real rugby.
Quote from the Hansen interview after Bledisloe 2
"Hansen intends to play most of his front-liners against the Tongans in order to keep them ticking over for next month's tournament in Japan and we will get a better idea of who they are when he announces his 31-player squad a week on Wednesday".
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@Stargazer I am weary of players being knackered by October because of too many minutes on the park in one year. Think of how tired many ABs were by the time of the Dublin game last year or against England in 2012.
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@sparky said in All Blacks vs Tonga:
@Stargazer I am weary of players being knackered by October because of too many minutes on the park in one year. Think of his tired many ABs were by the time of the Dublin game last year or against England in 2012.
Yeah but if they don't play any Rugby until WC V Boks its 5 weeks you need to be match harden not conditioned.
I would be worried if we don't play for 5 weeks then play the Boks first up we will be under done.
Then if we lose what do we do play our top players right through to get them match fit.
I think they will rest them for the 2 weeks play Tonga then 2 weeks rest until the Boks. -
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@sparky said in All Blacks vs Tonga:
@Stargazer I am weary of players being knackered by October because of too many minutes on the park in one year. Think of how tired many ABs were by the time of the Dublin game last year or against England in 2012.
Not a real problem this RWC. Last one we had RC and some NH visiting tests. This year only 5 tests pre RWC, not eight. Also most NH teams have gone from their top League, mixed with 6n, into long long camps and now are playing up to 4 pre cup games.
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First choice backline if he's got any brains in his head. The Barrett Mounga thing still needs bedding in in actual game situations, Smith and Mounga need more time together, we don't even know what the first choice midfield is, let alone have an established combination, and half the people on here think we have brand new starting wingers.
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@Stargazer said in All Blacks vs Tonga:
@pukunui Yep, South Africa plays Japan in Japan in the same weekend we play Tonga.
Tough game for them!
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@Stargazer said in All Blacks vs Tonga:
@pukunui Yep, South Africa plays Japan in Japan in the same weekend we play Tonga.
That's correct. It is the last international for the Boks before RWC starts.
From now until then it is apparently all: "team building exercises, some minor conditioning and some field sessions and a series of technical activities." Whatever the heck that means.
