All Blacks vs Fiji

[Canes4life]

@Stag said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

1 Williams
2 Amua
3 Newell
4 S Barrett
5 Vai’i
6 Blackadder
7 Savea
8 Sititi
9 Ratima
10 McKenzie
11 Clarke
12 ALB
13 Proctor
14 Narawa
15 B Barrett

16 Tu’ungafasi
17 Bell
18 Tosi
19 Jacobson
20 Papali’i
21 Hotham
22 J Barrett
23 Perofeta

Interesting that you have Tu'ungafasi as reserve hooker and Bell as reserve loose head prop. I also think you've left yourself too short at lock in the reserves.

[Tim]

All Blacks, Rugby, Sport, Sport

All Blacks prepare to unleash rookies for final July test

With two scratchy wins over England banked, the ABs are planning widespread changes.

“Ethan is fighting fit,” Robertson said. “Holy, he’s training like he normally would. He’s at 100 and something % so he’s good to go.”

Robertson indicated that Will Jordan will feature in NPC pre-season matches for Ta$man in the coming weeks after missing this season while recovering from shoulder surgery and former national captain Sam Cane – after his return in Tauranga club rugby on Saturday – will be available for the Rugby Championship as planned.

With TJ Perenara unlikely to travel to San Diego as he nurses his knee injury, Ratima could not have done any more to state his case to start at halfback against Fiji after injecting notable speed from the base during his compelling debut off the bench.

While pleased to emerge with two tense victories over a resurgent England to start his tenure, Robertson conceded the All Blacks must swiftly improve, noting their concerning lineout issues and struggles to exit their half.

“There’s two sides to it. You’re proud of the care and desperation that’s shown. That’s the culture and connection piece. There’s been big shifts by a couple of those leaders in the last couple of weeks and cameos off the bench.

“But everyone who knows their rugby knows we can grow parts of our game and be way more efficient. I’m not sure [assistant coach] Scott Hansen slept all night. He came out of the box and said, ‘we’ll take it but we’ve got to be better’. That’s our mindset.

[DaGrubster]

@Canes4life

The lineout is currently the worst performing part of the team.

It shows the folly of selecting Bell, a hooker who has major throwing issues and not up to AB standard, suddenly could be throwing into a lineout that is already misfiring

[Stag]

@Canes4life I’m sure someone of your intelligence can figure the positions out

[Bovidae]

@DaGrubster said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

The lineout is currently the worst performing part of the team.

Poor calling from Barrett hasn't helped. You select a tall no.6 and hardly ever throw to him, and somehow Savea is the main man.

[DaGrubster]

@Bovidae

Yes, it doesnt seem to be geared up to a high % play. Again, it looks like an even greater problem if we add a misfiring thrower for 30 mins next weekend

[Bones]

@DaGrubster said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@Bovidae

Yes, it doesnt seem to be geared up to a high % play. Again, it looks like an even greater problem if we add a misfiring thrower for 30 mins next weekend

Reckon Taylor is good for more than 30 minutes

[Winger]

@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

I'm hoping Billy Proctor gets a run at 13, he was the best centre in Super this year and deserves his opportunity. I would start him outside Barrett though for familiarity.

I'd also like to see Ratima start at 9, Clarke and Narawa come onto the wings and Beaudy start at fullback.

In the loose it would be cool to see a trio of Jacobsen, Blackadder and Savea with the hope of getting Savea more time to find his form. Sititi off the bench for impact and Savea to cover 7 when Blackadder goes off injured.

I'd also start Aumua at hooker and potentially bring Bell off the bench.

My 23 for Fiji would be:

1. Tu'ungafasi
2. Aumua
3. Lomax
4. Barrett
5. Va'ai
6. Jacobsen
7. Blackadder
8. Savea
9. Ratima
10. McKenzie
11. Clarke
12. Barrett
13. Proctor
14. Narawa
15. Barrett
16. Bell
17. Williams
18. Newell
19. Tuipolotu
20. Sititi
21. Christie
22. ALB
23. Reece

I woudl start Tosi and rest Lomax. But otherwise looks good

[BerniesCorner]

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

With the ABs only flying out today and playing Friday night San Diego time i'd be nervous to make too many changes.

There's 2 weekends off after this game before TRC starts.

2006 in a mad moment I flew London- Sydney for the weekend (Bledisloe).
San Diego is closer ... hmm

[sparky]

My 23 for Snapdragon Stadium.

1 Ofa T
2 Aumua
3 Newell
4 S Barrett (c)
5 Vaii
6 Finau
7 Blackadder
8 Sititi
9 Ratima
10 DMac
11 Telea
12 J Barrett
13 Proctor
14 Narawa
15 B. Barrett

16 Bell
17 Williams
18 Tosi
19 Darry
20 Jacobson
21 Hotham
22 ALB
23 Clarke or Love

[Frank]

@sparky said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

My 23 for Snapdragon Stadium.

1 Ofa T
2 Aumua
3 Newell
4 S Barrett (c)
5 Vaii
6 Finau
7 Blackadder
8 Sititi
9 Ratima
10 DMac
11 Telea
12 J Barrett
13 Proctor
14 Narawa
15 B. Barrett

16 Bell
17 Williams
18 Tosi
19 Darry
20 Jacobson
21 Notham
22 ALB
23 Clarke or Love

Hoah Notham?

[Victor Meldrew]

@Canes4life said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

I'd also like to see Ratima start at 9, Clarke and Narawa come onto the wings and Beaudy start at fullback.

I'd like Perofeta to start again to give him some more game time. I'll eat my hat if Ratima doesn't start.

[cgrant]

@sparky said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

My 23 for Snapdragon Stadium.

1 Ofa T
2 Aumua
3 Newell
4 S Barrett (c)
5 Vaii
6 Finau
7 Blackadder
8 Sititi
9 Ratima
10 DMac
11 Telea
12 J Barrett
13 Proctor
14 Narawa
15 B. Barrett

16 Bell
17 Williams
18 Tosi
19 Darry
20 Jacobson
21 Hotham
22 ALB
23 Clarke or Love

Darry and Love are not in the squad.

[pakman]

@cgrant said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@sparky said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

My 23 for Snapdragon Stadium.

1 Ofa T
2 Aumua
3 Newell
4 S Barrett (c)
5 Vaii
6 Finau
7 Blackadder
8 Sititi
9 Ratima
10 DMac
11 Telea
12 J Barrett
13 Proctor
14 Narawa
15 B. Barrett

16 Bell
17 Williams
18 Tosi
19 Darry
20 Jacobson
21 Hotham
22 ALB
23 Clarke or Love

Darry and Love are not in the squad.

[pakman]

1 Ofa T
2 Aumua
3 Tosi
4 S Barrett (c)
5 Vaa'i
6 Sititi
7 Blackadder
8 Savea
9 Ratima
10 DMac
11 Clarke
12 J Barrett
13 Proctor
14 Narawa
15 B. Barrett

16 Taylor
17 Williams
18 Newell
19 Finau
20 Jacobson
21 Christie
22 Ioane
23 Perofeta

Best to give newbies a start and have experience on the bench for if the going gets tough. Tosi and Aumua have played together a lot. Like to see how Sititi and RD gel together. Crusaders bench front row. Finau covering lock and 6. Rieko covers 13 and wing. Proctor can move to 12 if Jordie needs a break.

[sparky]

@cgrant There are training with the squad as injury cover for players who have been injured (Patty T and Caleb Clarke).

[Tim]

Who gives a shit which of the reserves play? This is a 50 point walk over. You could play any of the Super Rugby teams. Oh, not the Crusaders or Highlanders though.

[sparky]

@Tim I wouldn't pick many Blues on the bench. Not they aren't great players but to manage minutes after a huge super season and with some tough away tests to come.

[ploughboy]

@booboo said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

Original squad members that haven’t played yet:

Williams, Bell, Blackadder, Proctor, Narawa, Clarke

Expect to see all of them feature.

How is Tamaiti's little bubbs?

off regulaer. breathing by itself

[cgrant]

@sparky said in All Blacks vs Fiji:

@cgrant There are training with the squad as injury cover for players who have been injured (Patty T and Caleb Clarke).

Yes, they are training with the squad but do not belong to the squad.