All Blacks v Italy
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Luatua must be a good show to start at least one test at either 8 when Read is rested or 6 surely. And that is probably this one?
Squire does not look a starting 6, Dixon has looked pretty mediocre. I'd be amazed if they don't give him a start to see what he brings to the table. First time round he looked a good option to back up Read, but far too loose to back up Kaino, hence losing out to the tighter Messam & the more veristile Vito, but with the alternatives pretty "m'eh" he has a second shot.
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I'm undecided about what I think they should do with this test but it may be a good idea to give a few of the players who had off games against Ireland a week in the stands to stew over the weekend's loss and come back extra fired up in the rematch.
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Stick to the plan. Italy is for newbies.
Just dawned on me that post-RWC clean-out cycles really only effect the exporter countries, not the club importers (Europe). So this tour has gotten a lot more interesting in my eyes.
SAF and Aus were weak compared to 2015, now we should find out a lot more about the 2016 ABs in these next few weeks.
Good times.
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Crockett to extend record: http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/86210690/old-memories-wont-haunt-crockett-as-he-aims-to-add-his-world-record-of-43-consecutive-test-wins
If the ABs lose against Italy, well we know who to blame then. Obviously it will be Crockett for not respecting his own legacy of greatness
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@ACT-Crusader said in v Italy:
Crockett to extend record: http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/86210690/old-memories-wont-haunt-crockett-as-he-aims-to-add-his-world-record-of-43-consecutive-test-wins
If the ABs lose against Italy, well we know who to blame then. Obviously it will be Crockett for not respecting his own legacy of greatness
Or for repeating his 2009 performance. But lets hope we don't need to resolve that argument...
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The Italian team to take on the All Blacks has been named:
1 Andrea LOVOTTI (Zebre Rugby, 8 caps)
2 Leonardo GHIRALDINI (Stade Toulousain, 81 caps)
3 Lorenzo CITTADINI (Bayonne, 50 caps)
4 Marco FUSER (Benetton Treviso, 13 caps)
5 Andries VAN SCHALKWYK (Zebre Rugby, 5 caps)
6 Maxime MBANDA’ (Zebre Rugby, 2 caps)
7 Simone FAVARO (Glasgow Warriors, 30 caps)
8 Sergio PARISSE (Stade Francais, 119 caps) - capitano
9 Giorgio BRONZINI (Benetton Treviso, esordiente)
10 Carlo CANNA (Zebre Rugby, 12 caps)
11 Angelo ESPOSITO (Benetton Treviso, 7 caps)
12 Luke MCLEAN (Benetton Treviso, 81 caps)
13 Tommaso BENVENUTI (Benetton Treviso, 34 caps)
14 Giulio BISEGNI (Zebre Rugby, 2 caps)
15 Edoardo PADOVANI (Zebre Rugby, 3 caps)Reserves
16 Ornel GEGA (Benetton Treviso, 5 caps)
17 Sami PANICO (Patarò Calvisano, 3 caps)
18 Pietro CECCARELLI (Zebre Rugby, 4 caps)
19 George BIAGI (Zebre Rugby, 11 caps)
20 Francesco MINTO (Benetton Treviso, 28 caps)
21 Edoardo GORI (Benetton Treviso, 53 caps)
22 Tommaso ALLAN (Benetton Treviso, 24 caps)
23 Tommaso BONI (Zebre Rugby, 1 cap)The halfback makes his debut on Saturday.
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Amazing that Luke McLean has played 81 tests. I remember when this guy was running around in Perth. Well done to him.
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I think it'll be something like:
Crockett, Taylor, Faumuina
BBBR, Barrett
Cane, Squire, Luatua
Smith, Sopoaga
ALB, Fekitoa (12)
Naholo, DMac, IoaneColtman, Moody, Ofa T, Todd, Dixon, TKB, Cruden, Seta T
Not sure where Pat T fits in overall thinking. Based on Saturday I'm not convinced he's a test starter. Has Sopoaga ever played fullback -- there would be an argument for Dagg in the 23?
Then Ireland
Crockett, Coles, Franks
BBBR, Whitelock
Cane, Kaino, Read
Smith, Cruden
ALB, Fekitoa
Savea, Smith, DaggTaylor, Moody, Faumuina, Barrett/Pat T/Luatua, Savea/Dixon, TJP, Barrett, Seta T/Ioane/Naholo
Whether or not Whitelock fully fit a big issue here. He and BBBR allow us to have two loosies on bench. Any doubts and we need a lock, or perhaps Luatua there. The latter allows a specialist 7. If a lock on bench, then Dixon's versatility a big plus.
Other issue is midfield cover. This would probably argue for Tamanivalu. But Ioane a chance depending on how Italy goes. Naholo has also been mooted as cover???
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That's a bloody cryptic way of naming the team! They like to keep us guessing don't they...
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Getting snipets of info, sounds like Dagg has been selected as well.
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@akan004 it goes something like...
- W. Crockett
- C. Taylor
- O. Franks
- L. Romano
- S. Barrett
- E. Dixon
- M. Todd
- K. Read
- T. Cane
- T. Lander
- T. Blue
- A. Lienert-Brown
- S. Tamanivalu
- I. Dagg
- D. McKenzie
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@ACT-Crusader is that joke the new Thursday?
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It's 2.55am in Italy. The team can be named any minute now!
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All Blacks team named:
1.Wyatt Crockett (55)
2.Codie Taylor (12)
3.Charlie Faumuina (43)
4.Patrick Tuipulotu (11)
5.Scott Barrett (1)
6.Elliot Dixon (2)
7.Sam Cane - captain (38)
8.Steven Luatua (14)
9.Tawera Kerr-Barlow (24)
10.Aaron Cruden (44)
11.Waisake Naholo (9)
12.Anton Lienert-Brown (6)
13.Malakai Fekitoa (21)
14.Israel Dagg (58)
15.Damian McKenzie (1)16.Liam Coltman *
17.Joe Moody (21)
18.Ofa Tu'ungafasi (3)
19.Brodie Retallick (57)
20.Matt Todd (6)
21.Aaron Smith (55)
22.Lima Sopoaga (5)
23.Rieko Ioane **new caps
http://www.allblacks.com/News/30100/all-blacks-team-named-for-test-against-italy
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haha shit team. we're fucked. 0-2 on the tour to start.
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wow!
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So from the travelling squad being rested are: Dane Coles, Owen Franks, Jerome Kaino, Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Kieran Read, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Ben Smith
Unavailable: Luke Romano
Injured: Sam Whitelock, Ryan Crotty, George Moala
I wouldn't be surprised if Ioane comes on for McKenzie, with Dagg going to fullback, just to keep some experience in the backline (unless they move Cruden when Sops comes on, instead of subbing him off). Otherwise A Smith would be the only experienced player in the entire backline in the second half. I can't remember Ioane ever playing on the left wing?
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Geez, Italy may be the weakest of the 6 Nations, but they're playing no 13 in the world rankings, not 31. Are they underestimating the Italians?
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I think there will be some nervous moments on Sunday morning. Don't mind the front row, but the 4-8 has me just a little concerned.
9-10 a good combo but I can't say either are in any great form. New midfield combo and a back three that have never been on the park together.
Don't mind the bench so much and will look forward to seeing Ioane get a run at some stage (hopefully on the wing).
There will be a bit of pressure on the likes of Cane, Cruden and Dagg to step up and show leadership.
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@Stargazer Are Fifita, Tamanivalu, Jordie Barrett not travelling?
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Our success so far this year has been built on 2,4,5,8,9,10,13 and 15. None of those guys are playing, except ALB, and he's in a different spot. Each game has been similar, we stretch and stretch until one of those blokes blows the game open. Who is doing that this week?
That's NZ A, not the All Blacks. In a full strength side, 2 of those would start (and Dagg might not if we had everyone fit). This is a huge gamble.
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@ACT-Crusader Correct. They have just not been picked, so didn't fit in "injured", "unavailable" or "being rested". Where Squire and A Savea fit is not clear. Not sure whether they needed the rest.
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That team says to me , they are throwing everything at Ireland the following week ,
And anyone that can benefit from a spell is getting one ,
Lets just hope they arent taking their Eye off the Italians too much .
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@mariner4life On the other hand - no Moody to get carded, a starting halfback who can defend, a balanced back 3, two proper locks etc.
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I thought we were done with the days when we would change the whole team for the so-called weaker games, and players got be judged playing along side the top players. Guess we are back to this.
The word "disrespect" gets thrown around a lot these days...
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@KiwiMurph said in v Italy:
@mariner4life On the other hand - no Moody to get carded, a starting halfback who can defend, a balanced back 3, two proper locks etc.
glass half full much? The Moody one i will give you (he needs to be sat down and told to sort his shit out). A starting halfback who can defend, but has very little rugby under his belt, and has questionable decision making skills. The balance to the back 3 is tempered by a rookie fullback who, based on his only outing so far, is yet to learn that Test rugby is not Super rugby, and has ropey core skills.
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I would say this is the side they intended for this game all along, and arent willing to change thier plans with Ireland - France to come, keeping our 'A Team' fresh, not least of all wanting to be seen as panicking by running a strong team out.
That said, this doesnt bode well....
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Who's the vice-captain and will lead the team if Cane goes off? Or will he go the full 80 and will Luatua be replaced by Todd? Or will Cruden stay on the field to take over the captaincy? Or Brodie when he comes on? Can't see Aaron Smith as (vice)-captain, nor Dagg.
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NZ is paying $1.01 for this game. Relax dudes.
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@mariner4life I'm not a fan of McKenzie, but at least he should provide some positive aspects to counter out his bad stuff, which is more than can be said for Savea last week. As for TKB I think comments on his decision making are well overblown - plus he's played a heap of rugby with Cruden over the years (who himself should be a huge step up on Barrett's performance at 10 last week, which wouldn't be hard).
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@KiwiMurph not sure about Cruden. He was borderline okayish last week when he came on, but the test before that he was pretty dodgy. Hopefully with him starting he can turn things around.
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@KiwiMurph yea, I didn't see last week except for about 15 mins, where Savea did 2 really, really shit things. Not sure Naholo has exactly been a step up either, he just gets marked a lot easier.
My feeling is Cruden really needs rugby, so hopefully he allows himself to settle in to the game before trying too much.
I still think we'll win, it's the All Blacks they always win. But this team is certainly the hard way of going about it.
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Video with Hansen answering questions in this article:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11745611&ref=NZH_Tw
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