AB's v Samoa
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@kiwiinmelb said in AB's v Samoa:
Strong looking side ,
Who else could work their way into that side ? Naholo
Read for Savea. Savea to bench. Bye bye Fifita. Cruden for Sopoaga. Possibly Naholo or Ioane for Savea or Barrett Jnr.
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@kiwiinmelb said in AB's v Samoa:
Strong looking side ,
Who else could work their way into that side ? Naholo
Romano could get on the bench. Ioane maybe if his form is irrepressible on Saturday in much the same way Naholo's was for the Highlanders perhaps he is a wildcard?
Outside of that just injuries.
Nicely done by Ben Smith, just the fourth back to captain NZ since David Kirk.
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Ben Smith (c)
Israel Dagg
Anton Lienert-Brown
Sonny Bill Williams - Crotty may start
Julian Savea
Beauden Barrett
Aaron Smith - Chance to claim the starting spot ahead of test one
Ardie Savea - Read obviously with Ardie to the bench
Sam Cane
Jerome Kaino
Brodie Retallick
Sam Whitelock
Owen Franks
Codie Taylor
Joe MoodieNathan Harris
Wyatt Crockett
Charlie Faumuina
Scott Barrett - Romano may be selected for test one due to experience
Vaea Fifita - Ardie to bench, Fifita drops out of the 23
TJ Perenara
Lima Sopoaga - Cruden to come in if fit due to experience
Jordie Barrett - SBW or Crotty depending who starts, Jordie drops out of the 23Overall the team is as expected, as close to a shadow test team while allowing a couple of guys more time to get themselves fit.
Tough for Rieko to make it, he has to either take Crotty or SBWs spot (unlikely) or J Savea's starting position (possible, but unlikely for test one).
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Very strong team, I really want to see the lineout function well. The Crusaders for whatever reason really struggled and handed over plenty of ball vs Lions.
I think discipline also needs to be at the forefront as any penalties vs the Lions will likely end in points in our 50.
I'm looking forward to the two games this weekend.
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@pukunui said in AB's v Samoa:
@Crucial said in AB's v Samoa:
When was the team named?
Wednesday (GMT)
Strong team. Looking forward to seeing how Ardie goes at 8. Also interested to see how tgey use Jordie.
In there for his lineout height no doubt
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Shag obviously wary of the Lions by wheeling the test side out this week.
J Barrett is fucking lucky to be there.
Fifita is even luckierI assume S Barrett is there over Romano because he needs the run?
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@mariner4life don't know if it is so much wary as in a few guys need a run and we need to hit the field running given we are usually a bit rusty, which isn't usually so bad in the 1st test against a depleted Wales/Ireland/France or England.
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@MN5 said in AB's v Samoa:
@pukunui said in AB's v Samoa:
@Crucial said in AB's v Samoa:
When was the team named?
Wednesday (GMT)
Strong team. Looking forward to seeing how Ardie goes at 8. Also interested to see how tgey use Jordie.
In there for his lineout height no doubt
Jordie? Well the Canes used him there a few weeks back so worth a try.
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Not sure about the wingers. Dagg doesnt appear to be up to speed and Savea has been pretty nard most of the season (which is ironic because he didn't show up fat this year). Ioane looked like he was born to play test rugby the other day and deserves a shot.
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The anti-Savea talk is so tedious. We get it every AB season. Meanwhile his strike rate continues at about a try a game. We see how he goes against Samoa.
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@Billy-Tell said in AB's v Samoa:
The anti-Savea talk is so tedious. We get it every AB season. Meanwhile his strike rate continues at about a try a game. We see how he goes against Samoa.
He really hasn't had too many genuine challengers for his jersey recently until now. Naholo constantly gets injured. I don't think Julian Savea is the same athlete that he was in 2012-14. Reminds me a little bit of how Rokocoko changed during his career. Having said that Rieko will really need an exceptional performance for the Maori (including high accuracy such as high ball takes etc) to get close to the 11 jersey just yet.
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@TeWaio said in AB's v Samoa:
Prediction: Rieko will be the starting 11 by the 2019 RWC, with >20 test tries by then , and J Savea won't make that squad.
The times, they are a-changing.
I wonder what odds you'd get on Rieko being the top RWC try scorer this far out?
History suggests you are correct. Jules is 26 now turning 27 in a couple of months, which is about the age a lot of AB wingers careers start to tail off and they are replaced by the next up-and-comer.
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@KiwiMurph I think Rok adapted his game a bit better than Savea seems to be doing that enabled him to prolong his career with slightly less scrutiny.
