Bledisloe II - Have a stab at the teams.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="DMX" data-cid="608699" data-time="1472047141">
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<p><br>
Back to topic : right now I think Folau might be only Wallaby worthy of AB jersey ( on the wing) and probably forced us to kick less than we would have preferred. That said I think Wallabies usually lose the midfield battle to ABs and if I were Cheika I would throw caution to wind and play Ashley-Cooper 12, Folau 13 and Cooper 15.</p>
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<p>Deckchairs on the Titanic.</p>
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<p>Aussie forward pack is powder puff. One world class forward (Pocock if he plays his rightful position of 7). Fardie and Hooper have their moments, but Pooper is a failure. Dreadful 2nd row, and while the front row is OK, it's nothing to write home about.</p> -
Team named:<br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.allblacks.com/News/29646/all-blacks-team-named-for-second-bledisloe-cup-test">http://www.allblacks.com/News/29646/all-blacks-team-named-for-second-bledisloe-cup-test</a><br><br>
Congratulations to Anton Lienert-Brown! -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="608706" data-time="1472058887">
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<p>Congratulations to Anton Lienert-Brown!</p>
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<p>We went 250 All Blacks and 26 years without a two dads, now we've had 4 within the span of the last 35 new All Blacks.</p> -
<p>Have cut and Paste this from the AB link as it is worth showing to those that can't be arsed clicking on it.</p>
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<p>All Blacks v Australia – key facts</p>
<p>• When he takes the field this weekend, Wyatt Crockett will not only play his 50th Test, but also his 300th first-class match. <strong>Crockett also holds a unique world record: he has played in 38 consecutive Test matches without defeat</strong>. The last loss he experienced in an All Blacks jersey was the All Blacks 2012 loss to England<br>
• Julian Savea scored his 40th try last weekend and is thus on 200 points for the All Blacks. Aaron Cruden is sitting on 299 points for the All Blacks.<br>
• Beauden Barrett finished last weekend’s Test match with 199 points for the All Blacks. He has also scored six tries in his last six Tests.<br>
• All Blacks Captain <strong>Kieran Read has won his first 13 Tests as captain. All Blacks legend Sir Brian Lochore holds the world record of winning his first 14 Tests</strong>.<br>
•The All Blacks have scored 1,885 tries to date in their history and will be the first side to score 1,900 Test tries. France are second on 1,683 tries</p> -
Dagg at 14 :(<br><br>
Is Todd Blackadder pulling the strings behind the scenes?<br><br>
Where is Tuipolotou? -
Doubt it. Seems perfectly reasonable choice to me. Neither Seta nor Rieko are really 12s IMO. The AB midfield mix is a total lottery heading forward. <br><br>
Crotty, Moala, SBW, ALB, NgÄtai, Ioane, Fekitoa, Tamanivalu. <br><br>
That's 8 midfielders for maximum 4 Lions spots I would think. Lots of pressure to perform which is how it should be. -
<p>Dagg and smith switch is interesting , if they stick with this , my read is what we suspected anyway , Dagg is temporary until a better winger comes back </p>
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Nah. I got bored at the discussion about Toeava.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="608712" data-time="1472061734">
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<p>Dagg at 14 :(<br><br>
Is Todd Blackadder pulling the strings behind the scenes?</p>
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<p>Quick interview with Hansen on the All Blacks FB page says Dagg to 14 because</p>
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<p>1) Going forward they want to be confident Smith/Dagg can play both.</p>
<p>2) Ben Smith enjoys playing fullback more so they want to give him a run there.</p>
<p>3) They want to mix it up and keep the opposition guessing.</p>
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<p>If anyone is questioning Dagg at 14, he was a solid option there in 2010 (long time ago yes, but still) and really if you look at it on a skill set basis there isn't a lot the previous custodian of the jersey Cory Jane had that Dagg doesn't beside that filthy fend.</p>
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<p>I actually prefer this combination as Dagg can get a little ball hungry - including last week, Smith compliments Barrett far better.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="608707" data-time="1472059577">
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<p>We went 250 All Blacks and 26 years without a two dads, now we've had 4 within the span of the last 35 new All Blacks.</p>
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<p>Yep, I think a hyphenated All Blacks quiz is in order! </p> -
<p>Im really disappointed Nehe got injured , he was developing a good understanding with Smith at the back , offered something completely different in attack , and its a shame that got put on hold </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NZ Rugby Quizzes" data-cid="608719" data-time="1472064080"><p>
Yep, I think a hyphenated All Blacks quiz is in order!</p></blockquote>
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[Spoiler]<br>
Bill Hay McKenzie<br>
George Bullock Douglas<br>
Brooke Cowden<br>
TKB<br>
JTA<br>
NMS<br>
ALB<br><br>
Any others?<br>
[/Spoiler] -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="608721" data-time="1472064838">
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<p>[Spoiler]<br>
Bill Hay McKenzie<br>
George Bullock Douglas<br>
Brooke Cowden<br>
TKB<br>
JTA<br>
NMS<br>
ALB<br><br>
Any others?<br>
[/Spoiler]</p>
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<p>SBW the first with a double barrelled first name?</p> -
<p>Common sense prevails in the midfield. I thought Hansen and co might have got too cute with their selections. Happy to see BFA back at fullback but I expect to see he and Dagg swap around on occasion, particularly with the typical Welly weather forecast.</p>
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<p>Congrats to ALB.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="DMX" data-cid="608709" data-time="1472059959"><p>
Striking thing here is Ben Smith named at full-back and Dagg on the wing. i like this, best FB in the world is playing in position. If Dagg is the world class player that we are told he is he should be able to adapt.</p></blockquote>I'm bloody happy about this. I made a call for it to happen in an earlier thread, maybe before or during the Wales series and I was laughed off the forum.<br><br>
BFA, best full back in the world, wasted hanging out on the right wing.<br><br>
Hate to have to say it, but I'm going to anyway.<br><br><br><br>
I TOLD YOU SO 😉
