All Blacks vs Fiji
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@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Some aren't phased by test rugby
Not sure i'd be making definitive statements about test rugby in a game vs a weakened Fiji
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@Machpants said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@Chris said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Fuck I hate the BB chip kick.
He used up all his tin arse years ago
Some would say he saved a little and used it last weekend...
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@darylmitchell said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
I can't believe they didn't use Clarke during the England series - I mean how many times would have it been better to have Caleb punching and getting over the gain line rather than Telea dodging 5 tacklers and getting caught behind the advantage line?
He was injured.
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A very good performance but I don't think anybody pushed their way into the 23 bar Sititi who put in a strong claim for the impact loose forward spot. I'd like to see him come on with 20 to go to wreck some havoc.
Proctor was very good but we'd be kidding ourselves if we thought Rieko wouldn't have absolutely carved up with the opportunities in space against a more passive defense that he had. ALB is perfect on the bench to cover 12/13 and in his current form will have an impact from there. Jordie is consistently in the top 3 All Blacks against the top sides, his spot is not under threat.
I'd like to see them start Ratima with TJP off the bench.
Jacobson is a sound injury replacement for Finau but we really do need Finau to find his feet as he has all the right attributes for a test 6.
Dalton is miles ahead of anyone in the 7 jumper. Hopefully Cane comes back from injury OK as we need a good backup in that position.
EB was disappointing given the hype from Crusaderland. He struggled with the pace of the game in the heat. May be a fitness thing given he's just back from his latest injury, but he shouldn't be close to the 23 right now.
Clarke would have played v England if not for injury and is the incumbent 11 right now. He's a real point of difference for us in the back three.
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
EB was disappointing given the hype from Crusaderland. He struggled with the pace of the game in the heat. May be a fitness thing given he's just back from his latest injury, but he shouldn't be close to the 23 right now.
Cane is available for the Championship squad. EB is the player that should drop out
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
A very good performance but I don't think anybody pushed their way into the 23 bar Sititi who put in a strong claim for the impact loose forward spot. I'd like to see him come on with 20 to go to wreck some havoc.
Proctor was very good but we'd be kidding ourselves if we thought Rieko wouldn't have absolutely carved up with the opportunities in space against a more passive defense that he had. ALB is perfect on the bench to cover 12/13 and in his current form will have an impact from there. Jordie is consistently in the top 3 All Blacks against the top sides, his spot is not under threat.
I'd like to see them start Ratima with TJP off the bench.
Jacobson is a sound injury replacement for Finau but we really do need Finau to find his feet as he has all the right attributes for a test 6.
Dalton is miles ahead of anyone in the 7 jumper. Hopefully Cane comes back from injury OK as we need a good backup in that position.
EB was disappointing given the hype from Crusaderland. He struggled with the pace of the game in the heat. May be a fitness thing given he's just back from his latest injury, but he shouldn't be close to the 23 right now.
Clarke would have played v England if not for injury and is the incumbent 11 right now. He's a real point of difference for us in the back three.
Given he’s not exactly universally adored by many other than @tim this is a pretty sad state of affairs
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@WillieTheWaiter said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Shorts so tight he struggled to put the ball down
But easy to put the balls up
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@Frank said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@darylmitchell said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
I can't believe they didn't use Clarke during the England series - I mean how many times would have it been better to have Caleb punching and getting over the gain line rather than Telea dodging 5 tacklers and getting caught behind the advantage line?
He was injured.
Um wasn't Clarke available for the 2nd test?
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@Duluth said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
EB was disappointing given the hype from Crusaderland. He struggled with the pace of the game in the heat. May be a fitness thing given he's just back from his latest injury, but he shouldn't be close to the 23 right now.
Cane is available for the Championship squad. EB is the player that should drop out
It was always a big ask. Ardie has been playing a lower standard in Japan and looks below his best. EB hasn't been playing at all. Probably needs some reps in the NPC to get him up to speed for the EOYT, assuming that Razor wants to take him
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I still can't work out what the best position for LJ is. He kind of looks like an 8 without the impact, does well at 6 and LOs against lower tier teams, and can play a patched up 7. But is he really a 6?
Also not convinced against top sides he would have the same lineout factor.
Niggles isn't really a 7, he doesn't seem to know what to do with the ball once he gets it. -
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
> I still can't work out what the best position for LJ is. He kind of looks like an 8 without the impact, does well at 6 and LOs against lower tier teams, and can play a patched up 7. But is he really a 6?Also not convinced against top sides he would have the same lineout factor.
Niggles isn't really a 7, he doesn't seem to know what to do with the ball once he gets it.So basically a perfect 6.5 that the ABs seem to insist on selecting year after year ?
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@MN5 said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
> I still can't work out what the best position for LJ is. He kind of looks like an 8 without the impact, does well at 6 and LOs against lower tier teams, and can play a patched up 7. But is he really a 6?Also not convinced against top sides he would have the same lineout factor.
Niggles isn't really a 7, he doesn't seem to know what to do with the ball once he gets it.So basically a perfect 6.5 that the ABs seem to insist on selecting year after year ?
Yes could be a good utility with quite a bit more finetuning.
