All Blacks vs Wales
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<p>It's a little bit harsh to talk about Luatua's ability at 6 when he's barely played at 6 this season, if at all (he certainly hasn't started there from my memory, maybe a handful of minutes throughout the season in the second halves but I don't remember much of it at all) - he's been playing 8 (and a bit of lock).</p>
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<p>He's easily had his best season since 2013. He might be left out, and fairly so due to the outstanding form of other options, but he certainly has earned his spot if he does sneak in.</p>
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<p>That's the outstanding thing about this weekend, NZ derbies (and a good test for the Chiefs away v Tahs), great opportunities for all these fringe contenders to make their final AB push.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="582487" data-time="1464148508">
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<p>Chris, I have adjusted yours for my guess of what I think they will go with</p>
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<p>Chris Bird<br>
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<p>A nice gesture, but that's not my name and I am too short and old to play lock. :)</p>
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<p>Bird might push out Romano and Todd might push out Savea, but I think otherwise they're surplus to requirements.</p>
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<p>I don't think you can get away with four props - as someone pointed out to me the other day, what if one of them pulls a calf muscle during warm-ups? I'm not sure we can even get away with five - have we got one who can credibly play both sides at test level? Edit: I see you've addressed that.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="582253" data-time="1464086073"><p>
Not sure there is much use having both Barrett and Dagg on the bench - if Ngatai can't go then someone like Moala would be useful (covers wing, midfield)</p></blockquote>Moala's strengths are his versatility and athleticism? But what about his composure and temperament? I'm not entirely sold on him based on what I've seen on the Blues backline this year. Does he have the goods to develop into a world class player? I'd love him to be the new Ma'a Nonu but he doesn't seem to have Nonu's passing skills, balance or work rate.<br><br>
The advantage of both Barrett and Dagg is that they are proven performers at the highest level: World Cup knock outs and Tests in South Africa. Both are seasoned internationals. To be honest, I see Moala as a project player at this stage, worth a spot in the wider squad but probably not in the first test line-up. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="582515" data-time="1464151401">
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<p>Moala's strengths are his versatility and athleticism? But what about his composure and temperament? I'm not entirely sold on him based on what I've seen on the Blues backline this year. Does he have the goods to develop into a world class player? I'd love him to be the new Ma'a Nonu but he doesn't seem to have Nonu's balance or work rate.<br><br>
The advantage of both Barrett and Dagg is that they are proven performers at the highest level: World Cup knock outs and Tests in South Africa. Both are seasoned internationals. To be honest, I see Moala as a project player at this stage, worth a spot in the squad but probably not in the first test.</p>
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<p>I'm talking purely of the makeup of the bench in the team you named.</p>
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<p>Having both Barrett and Dagg on the bench doesn't seem the right balance. Moala was just the first player that I could think of that would fit that the role of midfield covering wing. Someone like a Richard Buckman would fit that role as well (if he was fit and playing like he was last year).</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="582487" data-time="1464148508">
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<p>Chris, I have adjusted yours for my guess of what I think they will go with</p>
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<p>Owen Franks<br>
Charlie Faumuina<br><strike>Jeff Toomaga-Allen</strike><br><br>
Dane Coles<br>
Codie Taylor<br>
Nathan Harris<br><br>
Joe Moody<br>
Wyatt Crockett<br><strike>Kane Hames</strike><br><br>
Sam Whitelock<br>
Brodie Retallick<br>
Patrick Tuipolotu<br>
Luke Romano</p>
<p>Dominic Bird<br><br>
Jerome Kaino<br>
Stephen Luatua<br><strike>Jordan Taufua</strike></p>
<p>Matt Todd</p>
<p>Luke Whitelock<br>
Sam Cane<br>
Ardie Savea<br>
Kieran Read<br><br>
Aaron Smith<br>
Brad Weber<br>
TJ Perenara<br><br>
Aaron Cruden<br>
Lima Sopoaga<br>
Beauden Barrett<br><br>
Ryan Crotty<br>
Malakai Fekitoa<br>
Charlie Ngatai<br><br>
Julian Savea<br>
Waisake Naholo<br>
Ben Smith</p>
<p>Damian McKenzie<br><strike>Israel Dagg</strike></p>
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<p>No chance that they are only taking 4 props.</p>
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<p>I definitely think Moala is valuable as well. No one else in the squad can play midfield and wing.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="582515" data-time="1464151401">
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<p>Moala's strengths are his versatility and athleticism? But what about his composure and temperament? I'm not entirely sold on him based on what I've seen on the Blues backline this year. <em><strong>Does he have the goods to develop into a world class player? I'd love him to be the new Ma'a Nonu but he doesn't seem to have Nonu's passing skills, balance or work rate....</strong></em></p>
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<p>Neither did Nonu when he was first picked for NZ. If ever there was a player that dramatically changed my perception of their skills and worth it was Nonu.</p> -
<p>It's apparently very easy for people to forget what Nonu was like 2003-2008. He certainly was not the best 12 i have ever seen, like he was over the past few years (that's right, I'm calling it, he was better than Horan by the end). </p>
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<p>Suspect hands, suspect temperament, suspect workrate, suspect vision, suspect passing. In addition to the best 12 i have seen, he may also be the player who most improved/evolved over his career i ever saw. 2003 Nonu and 2015 Nonu are worlds apart. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="582565" data-time="1464157066">
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<p>It's apparently very easy for people to forget what Nonu was like 2003-2008. He certainly was not the best 12 i have ever seen, like he was over the past few years (that's right, I'm calling it, he was better than Horan by the end). </p>
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<p><strong>Suspect hands, suspect temperament, suspect workrate, suspect vision, suspect passing.</strong> In addition to the best 12 i have seen, he may also be the player who most improved/evolved over his career i ever saw. 2003 Nonu and 2015 Nonu are worlds apart. </p>
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<p>So you're saying he's Kata like? ;)</p>
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<p>The 2003 version of Nonu busted defences apart, but I think he dropped off the boil a bit not long after (maybe 2nd year blues?), but agree 100% that he's probably the player who improved the most over his career.</p>
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<p>Not sure I agree he's better than Horan ... but maybe I have Stockholm Syndrome being a Sydney-ite now.</p> -
<p>Both Canes props have improved greatly this year as far as scrum is concerned. I had big doubts about JTA's qualities as a scrummager but he has done surprisingly well during the last four rounds. As NZ THP stocks are thin, maybe he could get a call, at least in a wider squad for training. Goodes is the third best LHP in NZ. He could get a call as well.</p>
<p>I don't see Mitch Graham nor Hohneck in the mix while Ofa T chances have diminished dramatically since the game vs the Crusaders.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="582598" data-time="1464160185">
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<p>Is everyone too scared to say it? We need a 6/8 that covers lock? Welcome back lucky Luke.</p>
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<p>I had noticed that in Crucial's team, along with Chris Bird, but my reply asking him if he was drunk didn't go through due to dodgy internet.</p>
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<p>Surely not, It would all be based off the one game vs the Crusaders. I would have all of Dixon, Thompson, Luatua, Squire, Fifita and Seu before him for that role. I would probably even pick Jimmy Tupou or Shields before Whitelock.</p>
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<p>Don't see any reason to pick Dom Bird either. Has never shown anything above ITM cup level IMO. Would hope Scott Barrett and Fatialofa would get a shot before him because they have actually shown some form.</p> -
Horan was better for longer, but Nonu was fucking unreal for the last 4 years
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The team I listed was a guess at who I think will be picked not who I would pick based on form past and present <br>
These selectors have been pretty good at identifying players and I think will give ones like Harris, Tuipolotu and Whitelock another go. <br>
As for props, Laulala will still be in their sights for next year so will cast the net out a bit this year without necessarily locking in a newbie. -
<p>Watched The Breakdown. Goldie picked Tu'ungafasi as someone who can play both sides - a reasonable concept in my view - provided he doesn't actually have to play. :)</p>
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<p>Dixon and Taufua as the blindside forwards (Luatua not mentioned). Some mention that Kaino may not be fit and he'd penciled in Luke Whitelock as replacement!</p>
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<p>Tamanivalu as 4th midfielder - fair enough.</p>
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<p>I think he had McKenzie and not Dagg.</p>
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<p>I think he might have had Scott Barrett and not Romano.</p>
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<p>Various others mentioned in the discussions, similar to here.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="582255" data-time="1464086710">
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<p>No love for Roberts or Davies ? best midfield partnership in the game surely......</p>
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<p>There is a fair bit more to both their games that you will see under Gatlandball.</p>
