All Blacks vs Wales

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="585749" data-time="1465420667">
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Best scrummaging lock in NZ according to Ben and Owens dad
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Maybe they need to focus on a bit of "round the field dynamism" in the gym then cos the difference between Coles and Franks getting the ball in hand is rather stark.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="585744" data-time="1465419891">According to you he's very strong</blockquote>
 
Plus he plays for the Crusaders, and we all know that once you're handed a red n black jersey the black one just magically follows....

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="585751" data-time="1465420906">
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Maybe they need to focus on a bit of "round the field dynamism" in the gym then cos the difference between Coles and Franks getting the ball in hand is rather stark.
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We've had this discussion before, go and troll someone else.
 
Who would you pick ahead of Franks?

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="585754" data-time="1465421113">
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We've had this discussion before, go and troll someone else.
 
Who would you pick ahead of Franks?
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I'm not, genuine question, wiser front row experts on here have told us all more than once that Franks is the shit. I have no doubt scrummaging, lifting, mauling etc is very taxing but surely there's more he can do than simply fall over every time he gets the ball. I just find it odd that a guy touted as Superman doesn't have anywhere near the dynamism that Coles does.

No Quarter

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="585742" data-time="1465419623">
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Jeez how does Romano get a start??
 
According to the majority on here, he's a journeyman at best :)
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Experience!
 
In fairness he's actually come back well this year, put in some strong performances for the Saders. He won't let us down, though once Sam of the Whitelocks returns he'll have a tough time keeping Patrick T out of the 23.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="585713" data-time="1465407232">Let's be honest. We lose a bit of moral high ground playing taminavulu. 
Extremely predictable except for Harris I suppose. Probably offers more impact than Taylor.</blockquote>
 
I'm not sure if you are trying to be funny, but that is a ridiculous post. 
Tamanivalu is eligible and in form. Seems like a no brainer considering the ABs are looking to build midfield depth. It's been a long time since the ABs entered a test match and not one of the 3 midfield backs that were selected in the last test are not in the team. 
Also if you are going to criticise his selection, you might want to spell his name right....

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="585756" data-time="1465421363">
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I'm not, genuine question, wiser front row experts on here have told us all more than once that Franks is the shit. I have no doubt scrummaging, lifting, mauling etc is very taxing but surely there's more he can do than simply fall over every time he gets the ball. I just find it odd that a guy touted as Superman doesn't have anywhere near the dynamism that Coles does.
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Different roles I guess, Franks hits harder in the tackle than any other prop in NZ. He's also a big force moving bodies at the breakdown.
 
He's obviously not as fast as coles, and you can't coach natural speed (I definately know this from my own experience as a carthorse )
 
Coles generally plays out in the wider channels waiting for an opportunity to run with the ball. 
 
A team with all tight forwards playing the same style of play as Coles would hardly see the ball.
 
 
Are you John Mitchell? I seem to remember something about him telling his props to save their energy in the scrum so they can be more effective around the field ;)

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="585760" data-time="1465421691">
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Different roles I guess, Franks hits harder in the tackle than any other prop in NZ. He's also a big force moving bodies at the breakdown.
 
He's obviously not as fast as coles, and you can't coach natural speed (I definately know this from my own experience as a carthorse )
 
Coles generally plays out in the wider channels waiting for an opportunity to run with the ball. 
 
A team with all tight forwards playing the same style of play as Coles would hardly see the ball.
 
 
Are you John Mitchell? I seem to remember something about him telling his props to save their energy in the scrum so they can be more effective around the field ;)
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Well back in 6th form in 93 I do recall thinking Bill Cavubati should be in the ABs cos he ran with the ball much more than Olo Brown who I never saw do anything and was therefore shit.
 
But in terms of forwards who can run and pass NZ are ahead of other countries, obviously Franks is brilliant at doing what you mention but despite that I feel he lets the team down just a bit in the open....

No Quarter

I know we have an embarrassment of riches with talent, but we have to give Hansen and the coaching team big props here. We've lost 4 - 5 all time greats from the last time we played, and yet the naming of the team is basically as expected. That's insane. The way they have built depth in terms of players with test experience, while making sure we keep winning everything in sight shows some pretty awesome management - it's not something previous AB coaches have done well at all. He has to go down as our greatest ever coach IMO.

ACT Crusader

Franks passing is much improved. His hands are a lot quicker and he is now used as one of our 'pop' passers with the forward interplay.

sparky

Wales' best chance of win is if both Dane Coles and Aaron Smith get injured early in the game, Nathan Harris hiding out on the wing and TJ Perenera's dodgy pass don't exactly fill me with confidence.
 
The rest of the team is strong. Great to have competition for places in so many positions.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="585762" data-time="1465422204">
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I know we have an embarrassment of riches with talent, but we have to give Hansen and the coaching team big props here. We've lost 4 - 5 all time greats from the last time we played, and yet the naming of the team is basically as expected. That's insane. The way they have built depth in terms of players with test experience, while making sure we keep winning everything in sight shows some pretty awesome management - it's not something previous AB coaches have done well at all. He has to go down as our greatest ever coach IMO.
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Obviously ballast is very important but we don't want them ending up like that lardo who plays for France.

No Quarter

Your Dad jokes never disappoint.

Immenso Rapido

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="585758" data-time="1465421684">
I'm not sure if you are trying to be funny, but that is a ridiculous post. 
Tamanivalu is eligible and in form. Seems like a no brainer considering the ABs are looking to build midfield depth. It's been a long time since the ABs entered a test match and not one of the 3 midfield backs that were selected in the last test are not in the team. 
Also if you are going to criticise his selection, you might want to spell his name right....</blockquote>
 
It's not a ridiculous post. 
But I'm ok with it as 99% of the worlds ignoranti would never have believed we ever were on higher ground anyway. Think this would be typical of the last 30 years. 
Seta is a former Fiji U18 rep, who came here on scholarship. 
While it's not project player levels of low ground, it's on a level with English and French accidental poaching. And for those of us who like to sneer at this French and English accidental poaching, a bit of the moral high ground is lost. 
If I was a selector, I would pick him though. Looks a potentially huge talent.

KiwiMurph

I like they've gone for Harris. He needs the gametime more than Taylor, Harris got injured in the early part of the game vs USA in Chicago and since then nothing. Hopefully he plays a bit tighter than he has been at the Chiefs.
 
Excited to see what Ardie Savea and Tuipulotu can do off the bench.
 
Goalkicking shall be interesting to keep an eye on.

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="585758" data-time="1465421684">
I'm not sure if you are trying to be funny, but that is a ridiculous post. 
Tamanivalu is eligible and in form. Seems like a no brainer considering the ABs are looking to build midfield depth. It's been a long time since the ABs entered a test match and not one of the 3 midfield backs that were selected in the last test are not in the team. 
Also if you are going to criticise his selection, you might want to spell his name right....</blockquote>
 
Sigh. Way too many people take Internet forums way too seriously. 
My off-the-cuff post was tongue-in-cheek. 
If you're offended, seek therapy. 
And lighten up.

Chris B.

Harris the only slight surprise to me - obviously Hansen selecting with his red and black hat on and resting whichever Crusaders he can, while thrashing whichever Chiefs he can. :)
 
(Sam Whitelock - dodgy hammy - yeah right)!
 
Maybe he's got Harris ahead of Taylor (the old "you don't lose your place through injury"), or maybe that's a selection with an eye to balancing changes for the second test.
 
I thought they might give one of the newbies a start (most probably Dixon), but seems they've gone with pretty much the strongest we can field.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="585770" data-time="1465423329">It's not a ridiculous post. 
But I'm ok with it as 99% of the worlds ignoranti would never have believed we ever were on higher ground anyway. Think this would be typical of the last 30 years. 
Seta is a former Fiji U18 rep, who came here on scholarship. 
While it's not project player levels of low ground, it's on a level with English and French accidental poaching. And for those of us who like to sneer at this French and English accidental poaching, a bit of the moral high ground is lost. 
If I was a selector, I would pick him though. Looks a potentially huge talent.</blockquote>
 
The ridiculousness of the post is the moral high ground comment. Has the NZRU ever criticised so called poaching or illegitimate fast tracking of foreign born players? 
I'm not concerned about what journos or punters are saying and as you say they are largely ignorant to what occurs. But coming to NZ to play rugby on a scholarship and then going through the more traditional routes of ITM and then Super rugby, hardly infers there is something smelly about it all.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="585791" data-time="1465429584">Harris the only slight surprise to me - obviously Hansen selecting with his red and black hat on and resting whichever Crusaders he can, while thrashing whichever Chiefs he can. :) 
(Sam Whitelock - dodgy hammy - yeah right)! 
Maybe he's got Harris ahead of Taylor (the old "you don't lose your place through injury"), or maybe that's a selection with an eye to balancing changes for the second test. 
I thought they might give one of the newbies a start (most probably Dixon), but seems they've gone with pretty much the strongest we can field.</blockquote>
 
Yeah I thought maybe Taylor is lined up for a possible start?

Provincial Stalwart

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="585791" data-time="1465429584">
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Harris the only slight surprise to me - obviously Hansen selecting with his red and black hat on and resting whichever Crusaders he can, while thrashing whichever Chiefs he can. :)
 
(Sam Whitelock - dodgy hammy - yeah right)!
 
Maybe he's got Harris ahead of Taylor (the old "you don't lose your place through injury"), or maybe that's a selection with an eye to balancing changes for the second test.
 
I thought they might give one of the newbies a start (most probably Dixon), but seems they've gone with pretty much the strongest we can field.
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I think that is the most likely explanation. Taylor has it all over Harris based on the last 18 months, but Harris has obviously been injured for most of that time and is only a couple of starts for the Chiefs into his comeback. Harris needs to be integrated back into the team quickly with a view to he and Taylor slugging it out for the bench hooker spot for TRC and beyond. Had Harris not been injured, we would never have seen as much of Taylor or Hika Elliott last tear, and we wouldn't have seen James Parsons.
 
Regardless of those machinations, we are in a good place at hooker, much more so than in 2012 when we had two aging hookers and no-one else at all (plus Mealamu had to be carefully managed through the 4 season cycle to RWC). Coles debuted on the 2012 EOYT and didn't come of age in test matches until the England series in June 2014 (I recall Bismarck du Plessis owned Coles in the test at Eden Park in 2013 prior to being sent off).

The Silver Fern

All Blacks vs Wales