All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test
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@No-Quarter Yeah - with CC not having played in a while and Leicester being an absolute rookie, I was pretty sure they were planning to start Reece and Jordan on the wings (unless the outlier of playing Goodhue at centre and shifting Rieko out) and maybe ease Clarke in from the bench.
Now the options are pretty narrow.
A big test for Leicester to make his debut in, so it won't surprise me to see Ennor in the 23.
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With all these issues coming through this is what I think might be the announced team.
1 Bower
2 Taylor
3 Laulala
4 Retallick
5 Whitelock
6 Vaa'i
7 Cane
8 Savea
9 Christie
10 Barrett
11 Fainga’anuku
12 Tupaea
13 Ioane
14 Reece
15 J Barrett16 Taukei'aho
17 Tu'inukuafe
18 Tu'ungafasi
19 Barrett
20 Sotutu (or Akira)
21 Fakatava
22 Mo'unga
23 Perofeta (or Ennor)Obviously I would have probably missed some injuries and/or health issues. But from what info I've come across this is what I think could happen.
I chose QT as 2nd 5 and he can be covered by J Barrett and Fainga’anuku which is why I've put Perofeta at 23 to cover 15 if needed. But that's probably asking a lot from them so I'd have Ennor at 23 as an option too. I can see RTS playing later on in the series, just not the first game, but you never know.
I've also added Vaa'i at 6 even though he mainly plays lock because he's had a good season and can bring a punch. Nothing against Akira. The man's a beast too.
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@ThecostlyJoel Welcome to the Fern!
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@ThecostlyJoel Welcome Joel!
Crikey - the backs look a bit Super rugby level to me - strong Super rugby, but a bit short of Big All Black test level!
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@Stargazer said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@ThecostlyJoel Welcome to the Fern!
Thanks for having me. Seems like a good place to discuss NZ rugby.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@ThecostlyJoel Welcome Joel!
Crikey - the backs look a bit Super rugby level to me - strong Super rugby, but a bit short of Big All Black test level!
how good would it be if they clicked though!
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@ThecostlyJoel Welcome Joel!
Crikey - the backs look a bit Super rugby level to me - strong Super rugby, but a bit short of Big All Black test level!
Yeah I completely understand. My original back line up from the start of the month was Clarke, Goodhue, R Ioane, Reece and Jordan. But with how things went and are going this didn't really become an option. Even for Clarke, I'd rather have him rest up longer for the later games in the series before putting him on the field.
And Reece has been amazing this year, both with playing and keeping his team mates moral high during games which I think we definitely need even if it's a losing battle.
Reece over J Barrett, just because I think that J Barrett will have more of an impact off the bench.
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@Crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
Have Waikato been asked to urgently arrange a match against a neighbour so that DMac can run on for 10 minutes?
Surely 'special circumstances' apply when your squad is decimated.gawd he's not even allowed to play club footy tried to this weekend club committee turned him down.
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@ThecostlyJoel With a bit of cloning, my Mako boys could put out a set of backs that wouldn't get smashed by those ABs.
Mitch Hunt would have to play out of his skin though.
Christie, Hunt, Faingaánuku, Havili, Nankivell, Reece, Jordan.
Chapman/Hotham. Paea, Tavatavanawai.
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@Chris said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
Will Jordan won’t be the last to go down with covid in the camp.
The team that runs on the field Saturday may differ from the team named on Thursday.Is that when the team is named? Thanks, I was about to ask.
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@Chris-B You're not wrong, that's a strong back line. But what can be done with the players available to create a competing back line against a strong Irish side?
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@ThecostlyJoel A bit of size about the backline with Leicester, Tupaea, Rieko and Jordie. Add Clarke say in jersey 23 and our backline has a bit of power and punch which it's often lacked in recent times.
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If Jordie Barrett’s fit and okay and his brother and Mo’unga are in the 23 then I’d much prefer we have RTS/Clarke/LF/Reece on the bench in the 23 jersey.
Beuadie can cover fullback
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
@Chris said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
Will Jordan won’t be the last to go down with covid in the camp.
The team that runs on the field Saturday may differ from the team named on Thursday.Is that when the team is named? Thanks, I was about to ask.
Yes Named on Thursday.
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@Nepia said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:
Is anyone else worried about Christie? Aside from being a ginga he was a handbrake for the Blues in their last two games, not balanced out by his handy defence.
Without any provincial bias at all
I think they need to go with Fakatava.Yep could be a handbrake for our backline against Ireland as well,he doesn't fill me with confidence.
