All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II
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Given need for TWM to pick their last seven spaces, I'd see something like this:
Ofa/Coles/Nepo/Vaa'i/Whitelock/Cane/Finau/Jacobson/Nuggie/DMac/ALB/Ennor/Leicester/Stevenson/BB
Bench: Williams/Sami/Newell/Lord/Ardie/Roigard/McLeod/JordanAgianst that, the players have been in camp, so may want to retain a few more of the top 26.
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@sparky said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
@MajorPom I think the Irish are similar in quality to the Springboks. Either of them could win the tournament but a lot will need to go right for them.
It’s the French, especially at home, I’m more worried about. So many quality players and so many different ways they can play. Dangerous with a capital D.
We can only meet France again in the final. If that happens we’ll have gone well even if we lose the final. My dream scenario would be a ¼ vs Scotland with FRA vs SA…and Ireland on the plane home.
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i know there is supposed to be no sentimentality in elite sport, but
If Smith doesn't play his last ever test in NZ that also happens to be at his home ground, then the ABs have no soul
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@cgrant said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
A loose forward trio of Finau, Cane and Jacobson makes sense since they are used to play together.
We'll have to wait and see if Cane is fit.
I still have a concern that they haven't used BB at 1st 5 yet, even after substitutions. I doubt many here are comfortable to have him running the cutter but that is their only option if DMac isn't in the 23.
To test the options now I would start DMac at 10 and BB at 15. Then, if all goes well, move BB into 10 and Jordan into 15 in the 2nd half. Beauden had his calf strapped after he was subbed in Melbourne so might be rested anyway.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
@Jailbreak7 I actually think it is better if they start Roigard and then Aaron comes off the bench to finish the game, reckon that is better than him sitting on the bench for the final however many minutes of his swansong in Dunedin!
The counter is that if he starts, he gets to exit the field after 60mins to a standing ovation all to himself
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
i know there is supposed to be no sentimentality in elite sport, but
If Smith doesn't play his last ever test in NZ that also happens to be at his home ground, then the ABs have no soul
you big softie, who knew
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@voodoo although would he want that, kinda taking attention form the team? Plus, he'd get one when he came on.
He'll get an ovation no matter what...I think giving Cam a start is in best interests of ABS, and him finishing the game at his 'spiritual home' is better...
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@voodoo said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
@Jailbreak7 I actually think it is better if they start Roigard and then Aaron comes off the bench to finish the game, reckon that is better than him sitting on the bench for the final however many minutes of his swansong in Dunedin!
The counter is that if he starts, he gets to exit the field after 60mins to a standing ovation all to himself
Historically that's what they've done and few would deserve it more.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
@voodoo although would he want that, kinda taking attention form the team? Plus, he'd get one when he came on.
He'll get an ovation no matter what...I think giving Cam a start is in best interests of ABS, and him finishing the game at his 'spiritual home' is better...
as long as he doesn't take a conversion, I'll be happy with whatever
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@KiwiMurph 100%...getting a rock solid combo with those two starting/finishing games is what we want...christie is just the "cover"
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@Bones said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
@pakman said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
Stevenson
Am I missing something again? I've seen a couple of people suggest Stevenson. I thought he was long gone?
He's returned to the squad due to Narawa's back injury. He was in Melb last week.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
@Bones said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
@pakman said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
Stevenson
Am I missing something again? I've seen a couple of people suggest Stevenson. I thought he was long gone?
He's returned to the squad due to Narawa's back injury. He was in Melb last week.
I can't see him making it, unless they drop Leicester. He will have to wait for his chance under Razor now
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@canefan said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
@Bones said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
@pakman said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
Stevenson
Am I missing something again? I've seen a couple of people suggest Stevenson. I thought he was long gone?
He's returned to the squad due to Narawa's back injury. He was in Melb last week.
I can't see him making it, unless they drop Leicester. He will have to wait for his chance under Razor now
Yep which is unfortunate but a testament to the depth we have in the outside backs. Dropping Leicester (unless he's unavailable due to injury) would be really tough given he hasn't had a chance to play.
