All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1
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Vunipola, George, Furlong
AWJ, Kruis
O'Mahoney, Faletau, O'BrienMurray, Farrell
Daly, Te'o, Davies, Watson
WilliamsBig call on AWJ, the (correct) non-starting of Warburton, the (correct) non-selection of North, Williams
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Halfpenny on the bench is quizzical.
Not expecting Farrell to last, so need a kicker?
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What's up with Joseph?
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Are they going to name the team today?
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Re AWJ instead of Itoje, Itoje definitely has more impact off the bench. But if you're playing the ABs I think you play all your trumps from the off. I like AWJ, but I think Gatland has got this one wrong. I'll be delighted to be wrong.
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Not too much to complain about in that squad. Ever so slightly contentious for me is the AWJ/Itoje situation and Halfpenny on the bench.
The lock issue for me is that I think Itoje is now offering more but against that I'd rather have itoje coming on for a tired AWJ or an injured Kruis than the other way round. So hard on itoje but it's a 50/50 call. As for Halfpenny, he has done little wrong but if you have Williams at full back presumably for his attacking intent and you have Farrell as a place kicker, I'd rather have some midfield cover.
But on the whole a pretty good squad.
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@Catogrande Pleased for Daly, quality will out. Any injuries in midfield I think you'll see him move in, Williams to wing, Halfpenny to FB. That sort of "one replacement =3 changes in the backline" smacks of Lancaster, and it never worked well.
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Glad to see Ioane there. I don't think Julian Savea running in to contact will be effective. Reiko has the pace and can find some space as well.
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I thought that Ioane's performance for the Maori might have cost him a possible start. I'm looking forward to seeing him with ball in hand.
So much for the pro-Welsh bias in the Lions XV.
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Poor Scotland.
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For whatever reason I'd thought of 12 being a battle between SBW and Crotty, with ALB having 13 sewn up. Not a bad game to go for experience in though...
Pleased they've gone for Ioane's speed and workrate.
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Am curious about how many tests has Farrell started at 10.
Itoje on the bench makes sense so he can get all excited when he comes on and shout a lot.
Williams better be bow-legged good. Glad Daly got a starting role. He looks like he might make a difference. Is he facing the Reiko guy?
Should be a good match.
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@Pot-Hale
Farrell has 24 of his 44 test starts at 10
However, 16 of his 17 test starts since the RWC have been at 12. That said, he still plays fly half successfully week in week out for Sarries.
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@Stargazer said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
Poor Scotland.
Naa its good. Means i can support the ABs 100% and not hope a token Scot goes ok
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@MN5 said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
@Stargazer said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
Poor Scotland.
Naa its good. Means i can support the ABs 100% and not hope a token Scot goes ok
With the emphasis on token
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In conversation with my cousin he presented
"Interesting that one-third of the starting 15 were not first choice in their starting positions for their respective countries in the 6N....Williams, Te'o, Farrell, George, O'Mahony."
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
I thought that Ioane's performance for the Maori might have cost him a possible start. I'm looking forward to seeing him with ball in hand.
So much for the pro-Welsh bias in the Lions XV.
I assume it was pre planned, and Rieko's performance in a bumbling Maori team and Julian's fine second half in the opposed training run didn't change things.
I'm happy to see they've taken the chance!
Tough on ALB to miss out but I assume it was the same, Crotty and SBW were always going to start together if fit.
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I'm a fan of Crotty, but not at 13 and not in place of ALB.
Hope this works out.
Great stuff for Ioane. Deserves his selection.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel I'm not a fan of Crotty, but I think he'll go fine, he's become a consistent player. But, I'd have picked ALB personally. Handy guy to have on the bench.
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@Nepia said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
@Rancid-Schnitzel I'm not a fan of Crotty, but I think he'll go fine, he's become a consistent player. But, I'd have picked ALB personally. Handy guy to have on the bench.
I have no doubt he'll do the job. He's a class player. The question is will he do it as well as ALB in that position. Has he played there for the ABs before or at least recently? He's 12 for the Saders.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel I don't think he has recently.
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@MiketheSnow said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
@MN5 said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
@Stargazer said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
Poor Scotland.
Naa its good. Means i can support the ABs 100% and not hope a token Scot goes ok
With the emphasis on token
Sigh. Seymours hat trick will have to wait til next weekend
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There was a time a while back when crotty was seen by many as a better 13 than a 12 because he was a lot like Conrad
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@kiwiinmelb Hansen has supposedly said just that this morning (only heard a snippet on the radio)
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I think if alb comes on for sbw , crotty moves into 12 , alb to 13 .
I reckon they like to change the shape a bit when the subs come on , bit like beuady to FB, bsmith to wing , moves the point of the threats .
It keeps the opposition guessing , the advantage of having utilities
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Well. Rieko in place of Jules or an in form and previously favoured Naholo? Interesting. Chance for Rieko to really shine and make his mark. Grab it with both hands son!
SBW/Crotty combo is the most intriguing. Would have preferred ALB/Crotty, however I;m sure we will see a version of all combos by the third test. Wonder if Laumape will be released for the Canes? -
@Nepia I'm not a fan of Crotty either but he has the best kicking game of the midfield backs. With the rush defence, Crotty's little chip kicks will come in handy. Hope it's only for this series though as ALB is a much better footballer imo.
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@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
I think if alb comes on for sbw , crotty moves into 12 , alb to 13 .
I reckon they like to change the shape a bit when the subs come on , bit like beuady to FB, bsmith to wing , moves the point of the threats .
It keeps the opposition guessing , the advantage of having utilities
Will SBW be the one they yank out first?
How is Crotty's fitness? Can he last the game? -
SBW-Crotty probably also makes sense if you've got Rieko there from an experience standpoint. It's easy to forget ALB is fairly fresh too. They've surrounded Rieko with experience in that backline.
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@Crash said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
Well. Rieko in place of Jules or an in form and previously favoured Naholo? Interesting. Chance for Rieko to really shine and make his mark. Grab it with both hands son!
SBW/Crotty combo is the most intriguing. Would have preferred ALB/Crotty, however I;m sure we will see a version of all combos by the third test. Wonder if Laumape will be released for the Canes?One hand is a better option. Means he can fend.
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shit is it 2002 again? an ordinary Cantab picked over a superior player from up north. jesus...
Midfield a suprise, but looks strong, and ALB will be dynamite off the bench. Left wing is the most surprising selection in years i reckon. Savea has had worse form rewarded, and Reiko didn't do himself many favours on the weekend.
Good team, ABs by about 15.
For the Lions, I am pleased for O'Mahony, i really like him as a player, and to be the Lions test captain is just reward for him being an old-fashioned hard bastard. Bloody good team really, and we are going to have to work hard to break them down. Itoje, Webb and Sinckler will be good late in the game for them as well.
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Anyone else got that lingering doubt about an AB team without a power winger? I thought Reiko was great against a fresh-off-the-boat lions side but they are a different beast now as he found out during the Maori game. Jules was very good against an albeit weaker Samoan sude while Naholo is in terrific form. I always feel those British teams really struggle with big powerful outside backs more so than the deft skillful ones. How big is Reiko anyway in comparison?
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Would love to see Savea, Laumape and J Barrett released for the canes, would make it certainly more interesting especially for those hungry for test selection
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@Rembrandt 1.89m, 102 kg according to the All Blacks' website. cf. Naholo at 1.86m, 96kg.
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@mimic I think they will wait and see how things unfold first .
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Some analysis from a pom:
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@Tim said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
@Rembrandt 1.89m, 102 kg according to the All Blacks' website. cf. Naholo at 1.86m, 96kg.
Well I have to say that really surprises me. I'd back Naholo every time to run over or drag a couple defenders but I don't feel the same with Reiko. Hopefully my fears are totally unfounded and he has a storming game!
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@Rembrandt said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
Anyone else got that lingering doubt about an AB team without a power winger? I thought Reiko was great against a fresh-off-the-boat lions side but they are a different beast now as he found out during the Maori game. Jules was very good against an albeit weaker Samoan sude while Naholo is in terrific form. I always feel those British teams really struggle with big powerful outside backs more so than the deft skillful ones. How big is Reiko anyway in comparison?
Rieko is pretty powerful. For fun, he likes to hold up forwards, to try and call for a maul. At Super level this year, he's broken the line more than Jules/Naholo and makes more tackles.
Also heard someone from the All Blacks camp say he's faster than Beauden and Naholo.. Not sure over what distance though.. I found that surprising.. -
@mimic said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
@Rembrandt said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
Anyone else got that lingering doubt about an AB team without a power winger? I thought Reiko was great against a fresh-off-the-boat lions side but they are a different beast now as he found out during the Maori game. Jules was very good against an albeit weaker Samoan sude while Naholo is in terrific form. I always feel those British teams really struggle with big powerful outside backs more so than the deft skillful ones. How big is Reiko anyway in comparison?
Rieko is pretty powerful. For fun, he likes to hold up forwards, to try and call for a maul. At Super level this year, he's broken the line more than Jules/Naholo and makes more tackles.
Also heard someone from the All Blacks camp say he's faster than Beauden and Naholo.. Not sure over what distance though.. I found that surprising..Agree, he's been the blues best back this year by quite a margin. Made line breaks at will when they were carving up the crusaders (before we changed our game plan in the second half)
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@mimic said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
@Rembrandt said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
Anyone else got that lingering doubt about an AB team without a power winger? I thought Reiko was great against a fresh-off-the-boat lions side but they are a different beast now as he found out during the Maori game. Jules was very good against an albeit weaker Samoan sude while Naholo is in terrific form. I always feel those British teams really struggle with big powerful outside backs more so than the deft skillful ones. How big is Reiko anyway in comparison?
Rieko is pretty powerful. For fun, he likes to hold up forwards, to try and call for a maul. At Super level this year, he's broken the line more than Jules/Naholo and makes more tackles.
Also heard someone from the All Blacks camp say he's faster than Beauden and Naholo.. Not sure over what distance though.. I found that surprising..In the Blues-Canes game earlier in the year he showed himself to be at least as quick as BB when he was gaining on him after a break, so I don't doubt his speed.
I also don't doubt his power, look at one of his disallowed tries against the Lions for evidence - he powered through about 4 of them.
Still, a big ask for the young man in what is a huge test, I really thought they'd go with their tried and tested however I'm not unhappy as I picked Rieko to go ahead of Jules this year or next, he's a special talent.
Other surprise obviously Crotty at 13 where he hasn't played a lot. They must really rate his organsational skills to want to slot him in there. Tough on ALB but he'll provide some good impact off the bench if required.
Otherwise pretty much as expected. Taken Barrett over Romano for hia lineout work which makes sense.
Bring it on!
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