All Blacks v Italy
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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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@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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My read is that Luatua will be expected to play a full 80. Shag certainly made it clear that this is his big chance. Most interesting element of selection is how bench will work if any injuries to him. If Luatua off one of Pat T or Barrett ends up in loose trio.
If a midfielder hurt (please, God, no) it would seem Rieko slots in to 13 (I really don't like thought of Naholo there).Also interesting implications for rematch. Am assuming Whitelock will be expected to play French, so bench at most there. Barrett and Pat T competing for start against Irish. Reserve lock would mean one loose forward reserve. With both Savea and Squire being rested that would suggest both are in contention for a start, and maybe that there is an undisclosed injury issue. In backs one would presume Dagg would be favoured to counter Irish kicking game. Rest of starters are fairly plain. Midfield cover the big query. To me it's too early for Ioane. Seta T, who's also played wing, would be the obvious, but no role in 23 throws that into doubt. That would leave Naholo -- see above!
Crockett, Coles, Franks
BBBR, Barrett/Pat T
Cane, Kaino, Read
TJP, Barrett,
ALB, Fekitoa
Savea, Smith, DaggTaylor, Moody, Faumuina, Pat T/Barrett/Whitelock/Luatua/Squire, Savea/Dixon, Smith, Cruden, Seta T/Ioane/Naholo
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Seriously lack of faith shown by some people.
How many people here actually watched every Italy game in the 6N? How many people watch Treviso and Zebre play in the Pro 12?
Very few I imagine.
They are shit!
Italy would be happy to beat the Southern KIngs.
Yes, it's a NZ A side, but if we can't beat Italy with a NZ A side, then our fabled depth is paper-thin.
Personally, I look forward to seeing the new faces have a run out...although I will almost certainly switch to England vs SA after 30 minutes...
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@Billy-Tell said in v Italy:
Seriously lack of faith shown by some people.
How many people here actually watched every Italy game in the 6N? How many people watch Treviso and Zebre play in the Pro 12?
Very few I imagine.
They are shit!
Italy would be happy to beat the Southern KIngs.
Yes, it's a NZ A side, but if we can't beat Italy with a NZ A side, then our fabled depth is paper-thin.
Personally, I look forward to seeing the new faces have a run out...although I will almost certainly switch to England vs SA after 30 minutes...
Is Sergio Parisse playing ? I hear he can turn water into wine ( or whatever the equivalent is on a rugby field )
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@Billy-Tell said in v Italy:
Seriously lack of faith shown by some people.
How many people here actually watched every Italy game in the 6N? How many people watch Treviso and Zebre play in the Pro 12?
Very few I imagine.
They are shit!
Italy would be happy to beat the Southern KIngs.
Yes, it's a NZ A side, but if we can't beat Italy with a NZ A side, then our fabled depth is paper-thin.
Personally, I look forward to seeing the new faces have a run out...although I will almost certainly switch to England vs SA after 30 minutes...
Is Sergio Parisse playing ? I hear he can turn water into wine ( or whatever the equivalent is on a rugby field )
You'll have to get someone to point him out to you, as I'm sure you've never actually watched him play....
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@ACT-Crusader said in v Italy:
@Billy-Tell said in v Italy:
Seriously lack of faith shown by some people.
How many people here actually watched every Italy game in the 6N? How many people watch Treviso and Zebre play in the Pro 12?
Very few I imagine.
They are shit!
Italy would be happy to beat the Southern KIngs.
Yes, it's a NZ A side, but if we can't beat Italy with a NZ A side, then our fabled depth is paper-thin.
Personally, I look forward to seeing the new faces have a run out...although I will almost certainly switch to England vs SA after 30 minutes...
Is Sergio Parisse playing ? I hear he can turn water into wine ( or whatever the equivalent is on a rugby field )
You'll have to get someone to point him out to you, as I'm sure you've never actually watched him play....
That is completely untrue, fairly certain he was on the field in tests I've seen against the ABs and Scotland, he was the one with the halo right ?
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@Billy-Tell I don't think anyone here doubts the ability of the players but as we know, chucking a bunch of good players in a test match where there is a lack of combinations and experience can be dicey, even against lesser opponents.
Italy might have performed poorly and I did watch those 6N tests, but they look a settled lineup.
I think some are concerned it's going to be some disjointed rugby out there.
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@ACT-Crusader especially if Italy get some good bounces early on, could be very ugly.
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i've been a big fan of hansen's policy of keeping a core unit and rotating only a couple of players in and out at a time. now we're back to the same old shit. learn nothing about the new guys, combinations aren't there, messy rugby. seems like a knee-jerk to the loss to me.
maybe that's a good thing if they're all knackered, obviously i don't have the inside knowledge on that, but i don't like the change in approach.
