All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.
-
With the 2-wk breaks between these tests Hansen and co won't need to make many changes, if any. They've used the last 2 tests to freshen up some players.
If Cane is back he'll start and A Smith will return (if available). Perhaps Dagg gets a rest but I wouldn't want Savea and Naholo on the wing - one or the other. I think we're more likely to see some changes on the bench.
-
Savea's best asset is his strike-rate. Basically a guaranteed try a game.
But Naholo is such an athlete - just looks like poetry in motion in full flight. He has also been gradually fixing the flaws in other parts of his game.
Naholo 11, Smith 15, NMS 14.
That would (will) be awesome.
-
I'm thinking NMS may be lucky to get back in.
-
@hydro11 said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@Tregaskis said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@hydro11 There is possibly a recent precedent. Two years ago Cruden transgressed and missed the Arg / SA tour plus the Bledisloe III game in Brisneyland (Barrett started, and Slade came on and kicked the matchwinner). I don't recall Cruden being injured (there was talk he would play for Manawatu during his "suspension" but I don't think it happened) and I believe his next game was the second EOYT game vs England (Carter started the first game in Chicago).
I have no idea what Cruden did but he served about a month for his misdemeanour. Perhaps Aaron Smith will serve the same.
Cruden was late for a flight which is a bit more serious IMO.
@hydro11 said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@Tregaskis said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@hydro11 There is possibly a recent precedent. Two years ago Cruden transgressed and missed the Arg / SA tour plus the Bledisloe III game in Brisneyland (Barrett started, and Slade came on and kicked the matchwinner). I don't recall Cruden being injured (there was talk he would play for Manawatu during his "suspension" but I don't think it happened) and I believe his next game was the second EOYT game vs England (Carter started the first game in Chicago).
I have no idea what Cruden did but he served about a month for his misdemeanour. Perhaps Aaron Smith will serve the same.
Cruden was late for a flight which is a bit more serious IMO.
Err ... WHY was he late for a flight?
-
@NTA said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@westcoastie said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
- Give Aaron some 'space' to deal with off-field stuff
Yeah about 3m x 2m of space ought to do it. Make sure its got the necessary bars and signage. Here's one they prepared earlier:
I fitted out a toilet like that a few years back and there wasn't fixing for some of the grab rails which meant they had to be raised which wouldn't meet the specs so I told my boss and he replied "if you can't reach those there's something bloody wrong with ya".
Ffs.
-
@Kirwan said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@Hooroo said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@jegga said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
Who shifts when NMS is back ? Dagg to the bench?
These are real first world problems aren't they?
HA HA HA H A H AH AH HA H AH HA AHAHHA HA AHHA HA H AH AH HA HA HA HA
I love that we are awesome! I completely forgot he was out!
I had that thought when someone mentioned our lack of depth at wing. Not with NMS and Rieko available underneath Smith, Dagg, Savea and Naholo. How many do we need?
Nainai had a week or so in the squad too didn'the?
-
@antipodean said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
I'm thinking NMS may be lucky to get back in.
He should be in the squad but you could be right. If Hansen wants one of Savea/Naholo to start then NMS is in a shoot out with Dagg. NMS should be a more valuable squaddie than Naholo/Savea though.
-
@jegga said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@NTA said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@westcoastie said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
- Give Aaron some 'space' to deal with off-field stuff
Yeah about 3m x 2m of space ought to do it. Make sure its got the necessary bars and signage. Here's one they prepared earlier:
I fitted out a toilet like that a few years back and there wasn't fixing for some of the grab rails which meant they had to be raised which wouldn't meet the specs so I told my boss and he replied "if you can't reach those there's something bloody wrong with ya".
Ffs.
Smith is not a tall man. I suspect he bent her over the toilet rather than use grab rails.
-
@Tregaskis said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@jegga said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@NTA said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@westcoastie said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
- Give Aaron some 'space' to deal with off-field stuff
Yeah about 3m x 2m of space ought to do it. Make sure its got the necessary bars and signage. Here's one they prepared earlier:
I fitted out a toilet like that a few years back and there wasn't fixing for some of the grab rails which meant they had to be raised which wouldn't meet the specs so I told my boss and he replied "if you can't reach those there's something bloody wrong with ya".
Ffs.
Smith is not a tall man. I suspect he bent her over the toilet rather than use grab rails.
You have obviously given it some thought.
-
@hydro11 said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@antipodean said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
I'm thinking NMS may be lucky to get back in.
He should be in the squad but you could be right. If Hansen wants one of Savea/Naholo to start then NMS is in a shoot out with Dagg. NMS should be a more valuable squaddie than Naholo/Savea though.
Dagg has been a revelation on the wing, and he has attributes to his game that NMS does not. Will be very interesting to see where he fits in, as you say he should at least be in the squad.
-
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@hydro11 said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@antipodean said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
I'm thinking NMS may be lucky to get back in.
He should be in the squad but you could be right. If Hansen wants one of Savea/Naholo to start then NMS is in a shoot out with Dagg. NMS should be a more valuable squaddie than Naholo/Savea though.
Dagg has been a revelation on the wing, and he has attributes to his game that NMS does not. Will be very interesting to see where he fits in, as you say he should at least be in the squad.
NMS was sensational last year but he did have one glaring weakness , I recently watched a replay of the Boks WC semi,
And they were bombing the ball NMS way , and Habana was taking the ball over the top of him almost at will
-
-
@cgrant said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
What did Sopoaga wrong to get dropped ? He was excellent against the Boks when he came in and kicked goals like a machine. But maybe Hansen could select Cruden to bring him back into the mix so he would not be tempted to head north ...
Hansen insists players can't lose ground while injured and usually gives them the chance to regain their place.
-
@Milk said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@cgrant said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
What did Sopoaga wrong to get dropped ? He was excellent against the Boks when he came in and kicked goals like a machine. But maybe Hansen could select Cruden to bring him back into the mix so he would not be tempted to head north ...
Hansen insists players can't lose ground while injured and usually gives them the chance to regain their place.
Cruden has clearly lost ground...
-
That philosophy is a pretty firm line. Mostly because the incumbent rarely gets dropped outright, and injuries occur
regularly. The last one i can remember is Cory Jane being injured in 2013 and being usurped forever by some crappy utility called Ben Smith. Maybe Crockett being the top loose head for a game last year at RWC when woody finished up injured, before being injured himselfand losing out to moody. -
I suspect BB has claimed the starting 10 jersey.
But they are likely to give AC a chance to start in the next few tests. AC is easily good enoug5j to be our starting 10. Just BB is probably better.
AC remains in front of Lima IMO
-
I'm going to add a slight voice of caution in all the excitement around BB this year. Yes, he has taken his chances, has improved in many aspects and is in a great run of form. All you can ask of really and he fully deserves his place.
Where my concern lies is that we haven't seen him under pressure, haven't seen how he controls a game when not on the front foot.
Our opposition has been so poor this year so far that Wales probably gave us our toughest moments. We held our own waiting for them to wither and then cut loose when going forward. What happens on that day where a team holds out for 80 minutes? Is BB the man to guide us into position?
I'm fairly sure that the overall team can and will overcome anything currently being thrown at them and I'm not advocating dumping Barrett at all.
I just have reservations that he may not be the complete answer.
