Pumas v All Blacks
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Wow, big changes. There's a tweak to most units in the team: front row, lock, loose forward (injury enforced), inside backs, midfield. Somehow, the team still looks good. Of the stars who are fit, only the Feilding hairdresser sits in the stands.
Happy to see Tuipolutu back in the team, Squire's run on debut, and hotly anticipating McKenzie's cameo.
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@Bones said in Pumas v All Blacks:
@Frank I'm also sorry for typing "it" and not "or".
If anyone says "would of" instead of "would have" I am gonna throw a massive interweb tantrum.
Interesting that ALB is there ahead of Moala. Very surprising, anyone reckon there may be some elements of "shit better not pick him in light of what's happening with rugbys image back home" ?
highly unlikely but stranger things have happened.
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they must be one of the heaviest locking duos for the ABs?
PT 125kg & BR 121kg...Whitelock is a weeny fella at 114kg.
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Los Pumas:
- Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
- Agustín Creevy
- Ramiro Herrera
- Guido Petti
- Matías Alemanno
- Pablo Matera
- Javier Ortega Desio
- Facundo Isa
- Martín Landajo (c)
- Nicolás Sánchez
- Ramiro Moyano
- Santiago González Iglesias
- Matías Moroni
- Santiago Cordero
- Joaquín Tuculet
Reserves:
- Julian Montoya
- Lucas Noguera
- Enrique Pieretto
- Juan Manuel Leguizamon
- Leonardo Senatore
- Tomás Cubelli
- Jerónimo De la Fuente
- Matías Orlando
Changes from the side that played against the Wallabies two weeks ago:
Petti returns at lock and, as a result, Ortega Desio moves back to the backrow.
At halfback, Landajo is starting and Cubelli moves to the bench.
Moyano replaces González Amorosino on the wing.
If/when he comes off the bench, De la Fuente will make his TRC debut. -
Really stoked for TJP. I wrote him off this season, but he's made every post a winner so far. If he can continue to play like that then the abs just got a shitload better.
Fingers and toes crossed.
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Heard an interview with Pat T this morning and he spoke about the double hip surgery and rehab, and how he has found it tougher than he expected getting back to full match fitness and dealing with the speed of the game ,
I guess that explains a bit
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Good team.
My only concern albeit a relatively minor one is how they will use the 4 loosies. None of Squire, Savea and Dixon have played 80 minutes of a test. The back end could get interesting if the game is still being played at pace.
Also it seems Bender is covering midfield for this one.
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we look vulnerable to me. tuipolotou hasn't had a game in ages, but at least whitelock is on the bench. 2 rookie loosies starting and another on the bench. a bench prop who can't scrum. perenara with no smith on the bench. new midfield combo. bench backs are rookies.
all very good players no doubt, but the argies are at home, and are good enough that a bit of luck and a couple of nervy performances could have us under the pump, and without as much experience as we're used to to sort that out.
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but at least if the Pumas win, it will give the media something else to focus on next week!
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With all the talk of Squire vs Dixon - looking at the Welly-Stags game, t occurs to me that Shields must have been a little unlucky to miss the ABs cut. He's carried his excellent form through from SR, and just looks hungry to get hands on the ball. Giving him the Lions captaincy was a good move for him, and a masterstroke for the Lions.
I'm a fan of Squire, will be a good game for him to really impose himself on the opposition.
Thinking about the ABs midfield, I wonder whether Wes Goosen might be in the running as a bolter for the EOYT. Have liked his touches and energy. He's quick, thinks on his feet plus added bonus - he's a good defender. -
@Crash said in Pumas v All Blacks:
With all the talk of Squire vs Dixon - looking at the Welly-Stags game, t occurs to me that Shields must have been a little unlucky to miss the ABs cut. He's carried his excellent form through from SR, and just looks hungry to get hands on the ball. Giving him the Lions captaincy was a good move for him, and a masterstroke for the Lions.
I'm a fan of Squire, will be a good game for him to really impose himself on the opposition.
Thinking about the ABs midfield, I wonder whether Wes Goosen might be in the running as a bolter for the EOYT. Have liked his touches and energy. He's quick, thinks on his feet plus added bonus - he's a good defender.Shields is second to none in terms of workrate. But his skills let him down sometimes (some Ferners say he's got tits for hands which is a bit harsh IMO).
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@Crash said in Pumas v All Blacks:
With all the talk of Squire vs Dixon - looking at the Welly-Stags game, t occurs to me that Shields must have been a little unlucky to miss the ABs cut. He's carried his excellent form through from SR, and just looks hungry to get hands on the ball. Giving him the Lions captaincy was a good move for him, and a masterstroke for the Lions.
I'm a fan of Squire, will be a good game for him to really impose himself on the opposition.
Thinking about the ABs midfield, I wonder whether Wes Goosen might be in the running as a bolter for the EOYT. Have liked his touches and energy. He's quick, thinks on his feet plus added bonus - he's a good defender.Shields was only good for the Canes at the business end of the 2016 season; he was very average before that. Very inconsistent and a penalty magnet. Based on this year, I don't think he's that unlucky.
I doubt Goosen is even on the AB radar. -
IMO Shields showed why he is only rated where he is in tonights game. Some really good work but the throwing a low percentage offload and losing it etc.
Think Luatua and Ioane (based on potential) are probably ahead of him.
Shields then probably heads the next group of guys with Whitelock, Taufua and Fifita.
His strong tackling would probably suit test rugby though.
