France v All Blacks
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@ACT-Crusader said in France:
With Bender out I'd actually go with
- Sopoaga 14. Dagg 15. Barrett
France like to offload a lot and play the game at pace. It's a bit disorganised at times, but it's a high risk, high reward style that if you lapse they will sniff the chance. They did this against OZ and also against Fiji.
The latter test was a blow out because the set piece was dominant also.
We need speed out on the park.
Very astute selections (you must be from Crusader country).
I was thinking more or less the same - maybe with Cruden starting and Lima on the bench.
Moody
Coles
Franks
Retallick
Whitelock
Kaino
Todd
Read
Perenara
Cruden
Savea
Crotty
ALB
Dagg
BarrettCrockett
Taylor
Faumuina
Squire
Savea
Smith
Sopoaga
Tamanivalu -
Looking at 2019, we definitely have some areas of concern. We must find a replacement for Read, Kaino, BFA and improve on our propping depth. Don't see too many no 8s coming through at this stage and that a bit of a worry as I seriously doubt if Read will be still deemed good enough come 2019. Hopefully Piatau comes back and that will help increase the back three depth.
Why BFA? How old is that guy? Surely he'll make it through ok? and if he doesn't we'll have doubled the Barrett by then.
10. Beaudy
11. Savea? (only cause the guy is still signed on)
12. ALB
13. Ioane
14. Dagg - he must be ok age-wise?
15. Jordie -
@westcoastie 30 or 31. Hard to imagine an outside back at 33-34 still being at peak form.
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I don't mind the new away strip actually
Neither do I, although a pity they can't wear the usual all black kit. Am going to the game, so just happy to be there in with the passionate French rugby fans. This is a treat to self at the end of a challenging 12 months workwise. And first time travelling alone the whole trip. Any ferners heading to the game? Am hoping Cane citation isn't supported so he can play, Fekitoa's was clearly too high so fair cop if he gets sidelined. Naholo and Savea on the wings, I hope Crotty's back. When is the team announced?
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@allblackfan2 said in France:
I don't mind the new away strip actually
Neither do I, although a pity they can't wear the usual all black kit. Am going to the game, so just happy to be there in with the passionate French rugby fans. This is a treat to self at the end of a challenging 12 months workwise. And first time travelling alone the whole trip. Any ferners heading to the game? Am hoping Cane citation isn't supported so he can play, Fekitoa's was clearly too high so fair cop if he gets sidelined. Naholo and Savea on the wings, I hope Crotty's back. When is the team announced?
I think Cane's injured mate, so no dice either way
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@Tregaskis said in France:
The Irish loosies were magnificent in the series. SOB I already rated highly, he came back in and monstered us. Heaslip I don't rate as much but he was really good in yesterday's game.
Stander and VDF are just top quality hard bastards, with the Dutchie blood helpingout there. Stander is an Afrikaner I know, but is VDF one too? Or an Irishman with Dutch parentage?
I guess Ireland's forwards are at the front of the queue given their obvious success against us this month, but plenty of Gatland's selections will depend on the 6N.
I found a good article about Van der Flier. It says he has Dutch (paternal) grandparents who moved from the Netherlands to Ireland in the 1950s.
Leinster flanker Josh van der Flier living the dream
Former Wesley College student braced for upcoming battle with Munster
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I think it will be
10. Cruden
15. BarrettDon't forget that Cruden still hasn't signed his long term agreement. Whatever they do, they want him to stay on, so a start against a tier 1 nation makes sense.
Yes, I am a cynic. No, I don't think they do this if they didn't really rate Crudes.
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Any chance of Cruden at 10 and Barrett at 12? Probably won't happen but it would be interesting to see. I'd love to see Jodie thrown in but they won't risk that.
Can't be arsed going through the team lists for each game, but this must be some kind of record for changes in the centre pairing. Reckon if ALB hadn't been such a revelation we might have been in a bit of strife.
I really want Luatua back at 6. Reckon they need his mongrel there. I just don't think Squire is the answer.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel
Kaino should be fit for the clash against France. -
@allblackfan2 said in France:
I don't mind the new away strip actually
Neither do I, although a pity they can't wear the usual all black kit. Am going to the game, so just happy to be there in with the passionate French rugby fans. This is a treat to self at the end of a challenging 12 months workwise. And first time travelling alone the whole trip. Any ferners heading to the game? Am hoping Cane citation isn't supported so he can play, Fekitoa's was clearly too high so fair cop if he gets sidelined. Naholo and Savea on the wings, I hope Crotty's back. When is the team announced?
I'll be there, going on a work trip from London
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Re: Cruden, has he struggled to reach his pre-RWC/injury form, or is it just that Barrett has hit even higher heights?
