Bledisloe I (All Blacks team room bugged)
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="606330" data-time="1471489798">
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<p>I have no problems with TJP or Cruden. TJP's there because he's in form and TKB didn't come back that well from his injury. Cruden's there as a backup plan and because he'll offer more impact than Sopoaga. But Savea makes no sense. You generally tend to want at least one back on the bench who can cover multiple positions but Savea only covers one and he's not even good at it anymore. McGod forbid Fekitoa has another shocker.</p>
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<p>If Crotty or Fekitoa go down in the first 5 minutes, I reckon Bender goes to the midfield and Savea comes on. If they get injured say more than half way through we could see a repeat of Wales and Naholo move to the midfield.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="606242" data-time="1471476979">
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<p>Based on your meltdown last year when Sopoaga was left out (you know, when you said that even if the ABs won the RWC with DC at 10, it'd just be luck), I'll take this post as a good sign.</p>
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<p>A couple of little surprises in the 23 but most of it was predictable. Very happy for Hames and to see that Cane has recovered from the Stormers and Canes thuggery. Interested to see how Barrett goes at international level coming off a good season, hopefully he can keep up his form. Still not convinced Fekitoa is the right option at centre or that TJP won't shit the bed coming off the bench but I can always hope.</p>
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<p>Only thing that confuses me is the three props and only two backs on the bench. Seems like overkill.</p>
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<p>I said his non selection was a big mistake. It was</p>
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<p>It worked out fine as Carter luckily stayed injury free. But it was a unnecessary risk.</p> -
History show's they were right all along and whatever perceived risk you saw was wrong.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Winger" data-cid="606164" data-time="1471466629"><p>
So starting by super rugby team<br><br>
Crusaders 6<br>
H/Landers 4<br>
Cheifs 3<br>
Blues Canes 1 each<br><br>
You would think the Canes were the worst team based of these numbers. And the Crusaders easily the best<br><br>
(I wonder where the head coach hails from)</p></blockquote>
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why don't you save your energy for the new climate change thread? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="606359" data-time="1471501585"><p>
All I see in the climate change thread is a couple of schoolgirls wishing for him to comment so you can poke fun at him.<br><br>
Why don't you save you energy for something else, maybe go watch some porn or something.<br><br>
Personally I agree with him. Crotty and dagg are lucky to be there. Dagg slipped into his form from the last 3 seasons post test match break.</p></blockquote>
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That post was about his dig at Hanson selecting cantabs because he's from there , he can find s conspiracy in anything it seems . Agree re Dagg disagree re Crotty will take your advice re the porn though. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="606316" data-time="1471486525">
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<p>um, that's a fucking good Wallaby team. McCalman in is a good move. Douglas in gives them starch. Kepu in gives them filth. Best back 3 they've had this year as well. </p>
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<p>At home, a month of prep, their best team of the year, us with a raft of outs. Wallabies by 6 in a new dawn. </p>
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<p>We could put out a very good B team. That is a team that doesn't make the starting 15. there would be a lot of Canes players in this squad as they have just been completely overlooked by this panel</p>
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<p>TJ and Sopoaga or Cruden</p>
<p>The Canes midfield weren't too bad</p>
<p>The best 7 in NZ (Savea)</p>
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<p>The Tongan bear 9is he eligible), both locks either at lock or one for the back row, Shields and Vito at all options. even Jane was in good form. But we would need another selection panel otherwise it would be full of Canterbury players. :knuppel:</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Winger" data-cid="606378" data-time="1471506936"><p>We could put out a very good B team. That is a team that doesn't make the starting 15. there would be a lot of Canes players in this squad as they have just been completely overlooked by this panel<br>
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TJ and Sopoaga or Cruden<br>
The Canes midfield weren't too bad<br>
The best 7 in NZ (Savea)<br>
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The Tongan bear 9is he eligible), both locks either at lock or one for the back row, Shields and Vito at all options. even Jane was in good form. But we would need another selection panel otherwise it would be full of Canterbury players. :knuppel:</p></blockquote>p<br><br>
That would be good thread, a b team from all players not in the 23 today...<br><br>
Can't think of props, but Parsons, Tuipulotu, Bird, Todd, Dixon, Luatua, Webber, Sopoaga, Lowe, ALB, Taumanivalu, Jane, D-Mac. -
<p>All said and done, not really much room for complaint. In forwards Pat T unlucky, but after Welsh cameo and rugged late game in Super semi's think selectors fancy Squire's impact against Oz and want to take another look. Was always on the cards once Dixon rested.</p>
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<p>No one can begrudge BB start. For me Dagg has been very good at 15, and even if Bender offers more threat at 15 on attack, given wings situation, entirely logical to put him on wing to start.</p>
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<p>Backs bench main talking point. I was a little surprised they actually went for TJP, but no question he's earned it. Straight choice between Bus and ALB -- Sydney cauldron no place to debut the tyro. Haven't seen the wise men's comments, but Cruden on bench suggest to me that they will look for BB to play 80. Possible change up to change at 60 to Naholo/BB/Bender back three, with Crudes <em>steering</em> from first five, rather than impact.</p>
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<p>Hope Lima gets a starting run at some point...</p> -
<p>Why can't the best Fullback in the world play Fullback, and Dagg can go play wing?</p>
<p>Seriously, why doesn't this happen?</p>
<p>Does Dagg have revealing photos?<br>
Does he sook it up when he isn't given the 15 jersey?</p> -
<p>Dagg is a much better fullback than he is a winger , </p>
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<p>Ben Smith is awesome at both </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="606308" data-time="1471486055">
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<p>Wallabies named</p>
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<p>3 or 4 of the Wallabies last played 4 weeks ago, for the rest of them it is longer. The standard of rugby every one of them offered in July was simply woeful, appalling.</p>
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<p>What about the cavalry? Genia last played for Stade Français on January 4. Giteau has played just 7 matches for Toulon this year, the last was 12 weeks ago when he left the field after being dumped by Machenaud. Mitchell has played 9 matches for Toulon in 2016, the last in April.</p>
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<p>Lord Two-Fathers played 4 matches in May, 2 in April, 3 in March, 2 in February and 3 in January. 4 of them were part matches, replaced or as a replacement.</p>
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<p>I didn’t bother looking up Your Laptop Cooper, Cheika has him there almost as a mercy bonk I reckon. The millionaire who owns him at Toulon thinks he is a flake and said so publicly.</p>
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<p>That is an awful lot of not a lot of rugby underwriting the Wallabies.</p>
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<p>By comparison Beauden Barrett cranked it up each week in July and August so impressively that he has displaced the incumbent first five; and Perenara similarly ramped up to play the house down in the final and he already knew he couldn’t crack it beyond second string for the Blacks.</p>
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<p>There are a couple of them in competition for Sir Richie’s jersey and the best way they can show their wares is by tossing wee little Bono out of the way (as they did in the World Cup) and by forcing wee little Hooplah! out onto the wing where he likes to be.</p>
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<p>The talented Folau still cannot pass and hasn’t improved his positional un-awareness since day one. If Savea takes his last chance seriously then Israel will have the Big Black Bus down his throat the moment he takes the field.</p>
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<p>The bookies are offering the Darkness at 9:4 on and the Wallabies at 15:8. I'll be taking this certain opportunity to top up my TAB account.</p>
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<p>The Australian fans have yet to come to grips with the reality that Cheika's task is a long term one, with a lot of losses yet to be had until he can offer forward momentum. They'll be calling for BBBT to be appointed as coach on Monday.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mick Gold Coast QLD" data-cid="606437" data-time="1471518586"><p>
The Australian fans have yet to come to grips with the reality that Cheika's task is a long term one, with a lot of losses yet to be had until he can offer forward momentum.</p></blockquote>
Forget the fans, has Cheika come to terms with it?<br><br>
The overseas selections for the RWC made sense in a "break glass in case of emergency" way. But as you perfectly illustrated the imports aren't going to dominate today and they are not part of the future. So why pick so many?<br><br>
Im not sure what selections if any aside from McMahon really point to a bigger plan here? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="westcoastie" data-cid="606415" data-time="1471513103">
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<p>Why can't the best Fullback in the world play Fullback, and Dagg can go play wing?</p>
<p>Seriously, why doesn't this happen?</p>
<p>Does Dagg have revealing photos?<br>
Does he sook it up when he isn't given the 15 jersey?</p>
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<p>Am pretty sure Folau has been picked at fullback. Sorry, I rate him above Ben.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="606441" data-time="1471519347">
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<p>Forget the fans, has Cheika come to terms with it?<br><br>
The overseas selections for the RWC made sense in a "break glass in case of emergency" way. But as you perfectly illustrated the imports aren't going to dominate today and they are not part of the future. So why pick so many?<br><br>
Im not sure what selections if any aside from McMahon really point to a bigger plan here?</p>
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<p>Probably not.</p>
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<p>The overseas selections bit is, possibly, part of a wider plan to let up and comers know there is a trading route between overseas bounty and Wallaby fame.</p>
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<p>I cannot follow what he is up to but I shrink from over analysis because he has had to start from such a low base.</p>
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<p>I have set out here before that this is "ten year plan" stuff, as pursued successfully by Sir Graham and by Eddie McGuire and Mick Malthouse at Collingwood.</p>
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<p>Cheika is in my view the best opportunity we have had since McQueen, Jones and Dwyer because, like them, Australian rugby needs him more than he needs it. He must be given wide scope and plenty of time to try different things and to eventually get it right, which I believe he can do.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="606447" data-time="1471520602">
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<p>I can't see what Folau has over BFA. Shows the odd spark but is extremely inconsistent, especially at test level.</p>
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<p>Folau has natural talent but not in all facets of rugby - his positional play is poor as is his ability to link and pass early. Ben-from-accounting and Israel Dagg have instinctive abilities beyond Folau's.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="606447" data-time="1471520602">
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<p>I can't see what Folau has over BFA. Shows the odd spark but is extremely inconsistent, especially at test level.</p>
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<p>Ben has a better kicking game and is positionally better. Folau is the best player in the world under the high ball and is arguably the most destructive runner in the game. So he has a few things over Bender if you are being totally objective about it.</p>
