All Blacks vs Argentina I
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It will be very interesting to see which team Razor will field, considering the promising performances of the newbies against Fiji. Don't forget the latter were quarter finalists during the last RWC and are no pushovers (I know they were missing a few important players but their San Diego team would have beaten Wales, IMO).
Props : De Groot and Lomax are likely to start, with Newell on the bench. Ofa T or Williams for the last spot. I'd go with the latter as he offers more in the loose. He scrummed outstandingly against Doge who is a strong scrummager.
Hookers : Taylor or Aumua ? I am inclined to think Razor will start Taylor once again because of his experience and his leadership role.
Locks : Barrett is a certainty. PT should join him with Vaa'i on the bench.
Blindside : big mystery ! I think the long term solution is not among this squad, they will have to find someone else. Delaney ? Haig ? Suafoa ?
Halfback : Ratima has my vote but I am not in the ABs selection panel ! I hope they won't opt for Christie who has good defensive qualities and a bit of experience but who is a handbrake in attack.
1st Five : DMac of course and B. Barrett as a cover.
Midfield combo : Jordie is a certainty despite ALB's great performance against Fiji. Who will be the centre ? Last opportunity for Rieko Ioane maybe ? Billy Proctor is pushing strongly behind him.
Left wing : I'd be very disappointed if they persist with Telea. He is a good player but he has lost his pace and is fragile under the high kicks. I like what I saw of Clarke this year, Fiji game included.
Right wing : four options there with Reece, Narawa, Telea and eventually Ioane or Jordan if he is fit.
Full back : I am not sold on Perofeta and would have liked to see Love there, but it won't happen, unless injuries occurring. BB was great off the bench against England and very good against Fiji (no errors and his passing was top notch).
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@cgrant said in All Blacks vs Argentina (game Nr.1):
I hope they won't opt for Christie who has good defensive qualities and a bit of experience but who is a handbrake in attack.
Weird they don't apply their both sides of the ball bullshit to this particular Blues player.
Also, why the hell is this game so far away, I'm left with the returned to useless form Warriors to watch for the next to weeks.
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I'm hoping, probably in vain, that our conservative selection policy against the poms was just down to wanting to get wins under the belt and short preparation time.
Clarke, Aumua, Ratima should start at a minimum.
The loosies, I dunno. The combinations just look like a bit of a mess to me. -
De Groot
Taylor
Lomax
Barrett
Patty T
Paps
Finau
Savea
Ratima
DMac
JB
Ioane
Clarke
Reece
PerofetaTom Thumb Squad of
Newell
Aumua
Williams
Vaai
Sititi
Proctor
BB
comes on at 50 minutes. Reiko subs off Reece on wing. Could also try a Savea- Sititi 6-8 swap.Finau and Reiko have to front this game otherwise Argentina II, Sititi 6 and Proctor starts.
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@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks vs Argentina (game Nr.1):
De Groot
Taylor
Lomax
Barrett
Patty T
Paps
Finau
Savea
Ratima
DMac
JB
Ioane
Clarke
Reece
PerofetaTom Thumb Squad of
Newell
Aumua
Williams
Vaai
Sititi
Proctor
BB
comes on at 50 minutes.Finau and Reiko have to front this game otherwise Argentina II, Sititi 6 and Proctor starts.
Thought we'd decided JB isn't a wing and Rieko didn't look flash at second five. Clarke might be pretty similar to Rieko at centre though so worth a shot. Bold with no bench half but considering it'd probably be Christie, understandable.
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@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks vs Argentina (game Nr.1):
De Groot
Taylor
Lomax
Barrett
Patty T
Paps
Finau
Savea
Ratima
DMac
JB
Ioane
Clarke
Reece
PerofetaTom Thumb Squad of
Newell
Aumua
Williams
Vaai
Sititi
Proctor
BB
comes on at 50 minutes. Reiko subs off Reece on wing. Could also try a Savea- Sititi 6-8 swap.Finau and Reiko have to front this game otherwise Argentina II, Sititi 6 and Proctor starts.
@Bovidae is the expert here, but I don't think I've ever seen him at 6 in a Chiefs game.
He is primarily an 8 now who used to play 7 (I think).
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2022/23 season twice at 6 according to https://all.rugby/player/wallace-sititi
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Argentina (game Nr.1):
2022/23 season twice at 6 according to https://all.rugby/player/wallace-sititi
Not in a Chiefs jersey.
Bovidae can probably answer whether he played at 6 as a replacement for us, but I don't think I've ever seen him there.
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I think someone said a whole ago he played twice for north harbour at 6.
I want to see more of Finau at 6 though.
Sititi is not really a big 6.
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@DaGrubster said in All Blacks vs Argentina (game Nr.1):
Sititi is not really a big 6.
And that's the issue as Sititi is the shortest of the loose forwards. Sititi is a no.8 who has played 7. @gt12 I can't remember him on the blindside for the Chiefs.
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@gt12 said in All Blacks vs Argentina (game Nr.1):
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Argentina (game Nr.1):
2022/23 season twice at 6 according to https://all.rugby/player/wallace-sititi
Not in a Chiefs jersey.
Bovidae can probably answer whether he played at 6 as a replacement for us, but I don't think I've ever seen him there.
True
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@DaGrubster said in All Blacks vs Argentina I - 10 August:
I think someone said a whole ago he played twice for north harbour at 6.
I want to see more of Finau at 6 though.
Sititi is not really a big 6.
We've taken Finau over Akira, we absolutely must persist with him now. He has the physical attributes to be a world class 6 in time. Ideally we'd have Akira starting and Finau learning his trade, but the coaches inexplicable dislike of Akira means Finau now has to learn on the job. Dropping him and trying someone else not suited to the role at test level is waste of time. We just have to hope Finau finds his feet without having his confidence destroyed, which has happened to other players thrown in too soon.
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@DaGrubster said in All Blacks vs Argentina I - 10 August:
I think someone said a whole ago he played twice for north harbour at 6.
I want to see more of Finau at 6 though.
Sititi is not really a big 6.
I recall him playing 6 for Harbour. Wasnt overly memorable!
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@Frank said in All Blacks vs Argentina I - 10 August:
Anyone have opinions on Cameron Suafoa as the 6?
Workrate? Speed?
Doesn't lack for grunt.At Super level he's played more lock than 6 (quite impressively too).
He has a couple of promising outings at 6 for the Maori ABs. Once vs Ireland a couple of years back and then the first MAB vs Japan XV a few weeks ago.
He looks to have the frame and game for 6 but needs game time there. With Akira going he has a great chance to take the Blues 6 jersey next year (hopefully back to full fitness too following his battle with cancer)
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@reprobate Finau is a good lineout option but they hardly threw to him against England. That's on S Barrett.
Speaking of loose forward heights, Sititi is listed as 1.87 m. Savea 1.88-1.90 m.
