All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3
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I guess what we have learnt form the past, is the ABs tend to respond pretty well after a loss, especially as there will be alot of finger pointing and angst this week, around SBW, the decision to take Kaino off, decisions by BB & Cruden.
Also, I saw a graphic pop up on screen last night, and worked out Lions were due a win (think it meant they have won 1/5 consistantly against us) knew I should bet on them when we were up by 6...
@kiwiinmelb interesting, not sure it warrants any sanction, but I guess consistancy is what we are after right?
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I'm pretty surprised O'Brien has been cited for that, it was pretty innocuous. Can't see a suspension in it.
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One of the reasons the ABs never got much continuity (and zero tries) was the ridiculous number of infringements by the Lions. It felt like every time the ABs had possession in the Lions half, then there would be a penalty. And a man down and in those conditions, you have to take your penalties. And they were all kickable yet BB missed a couple of sitters. 10 kickable penalties in all - when you see a number like that, you wonder how the Lions were never on a team warning for repeated offences - especially as the offside line seemed to disappear completely at times.
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Still mulling over my side to conquer all, but some initial changes:
- Sopoaga in for Cruden on the bench, who played like he'd mentally already left NZ
- Would go with Leaumape at 12 and ALB at 13 on the assumption that Crotty won't make it.
- Back three, with Naholo fit I'd probably stick with the same, but would toy with the idea of 11. Dagg, 14. Naholo, and 15 J Barrett, or 11 Savea, 14 Naholo, 15 Dagg... for some reason it feels like some experience out there might be good, even though Ioane is probably playing better at the moment. J Barrett's defence gets questioned in the last line, but for some reason Izzy doesn't...
- I have a vague inkling that one position needs to change in the starting tight five, but would want to sift through stats before making any changes. Possibly Moody for Crockett. Could be completely unwarranted, but I have a feeling in 2 games out of three some of the starting Crusaders tight five have been outplayed on this tour.
Undoubtedly I'll change m mind several times before Thursday too...
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Right, so unavailable are B Smith, SBW and Crotty is a maybe. Naholo sounds like he's Ok. No problem with options on the wings: it's a matter of who's going to make up the midfield, play fullback, and the back replacements.
I'd certainly start Crotty is he's fit or near enough, at 12 with ALB outside him. This was the first choice midfield last year. ALB was our best back last night, and Crotty is Mr Steady.
Picking J Barrett would have a little of the panic button about it, but still may be the correct move, with Dagg going back to the wing. A choice would need to be made between Naholo and Ioane, unless they simple choose not to risk Naholo.
I can't recall having to select a guy for his goalkicking since the dark days of Matt Cooper in 1993 and Shane Howarth in 1994, so the whole concept makes me feel a little ill, but that aside, it might be time to give Barrett his shot anyway.
So for mine, it's Smith, Barrett, Crotty, ALB, Ioane, Dagg and Barrett with TJP, Cruden and I'd like to see them bring Fekitoa in and onto the bench.
Forwards stay the same. They'll be grumpy.
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@shark said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
Right, so unavailable are B Smith, SBW and Crotty is a maybe. Naholo sounds like he's Ok. No problem with options on the wings: it's a matter of who's going to make up the midfield, play fullback, and the back replacements.
I'd certainly start Crotty is he's fit or near enough, at 12 with ALB outside him. This was the first choice midfield last year. ALB was our best back last night, and Crotty is Mr Steady.
Picking J Barrett would have a little of the panic button about it, but still may be the correct move, with Dagg going back to the wing. A choice would need to be made between Naholo and Ioane, unless they simple choose not to risk Naholo.
I can't recall having to select a guy for his goalkicking since the dark days of Matt Cooper in 1993 and Shane Howarth in 1994, so the whole concept makes me feel a little ill, but that aside, it might be time to give Barrett his shot anyway.
So for mine, it's Smith, Barrett, Crotty, ALB, Ioane, Dagg and Barrett with TJP, Cruden and I'd like to see them bring Fekitoa in and onto the bench.
Forwards stay the same. They'll be grumpy.
Leon MacDonald at centre was mostly for his goal kicking at the 2003 rwc . Awful, we all knew Barrett's kicking woes would haunt us one day.
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@jegga said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
@shark said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
Right, so unavailable are B Smith, SBW and Crotty is a maybe. Naholo sounds like he's Ok. No problem with options on the wings: it's a matter of who's going to make up the midfield, play fullback, and the back replacements.
I'd certainly start Crotty is he's fit or near enough, at 12 with ALB outside him. This was the first choice midfield last year. ALB was our best back last night, and Crotty is Mr Steady.
Picking J Barrett would have a little of the panic button about it, but still may be the correct move, with Dagg going back to the wing. A choice would need to be made between Naholo and Ioane, unless they simple choose not to risk Naholo.
I can't recall having to select a guy for his goalkicking since the dark days of Matt Cooper in 1993 and Shane Howarth in 1994, so the whole concept makes me feel a little ill, but that aside, it might be time to give Barrett his shot anyway.
So for mine, it's Smith, Barrett, Crotty, ALB, Ioane, Dagg and Barrett with TJP, Cruden and I'd like to see them bring Fekitoa in and onto the bench.
Forwards stay the same. They'll be grumpy.
Leon MacDonald at centre was mostly for his goal kicking at the 2003 rwc . Awful, we all knew Barrett's kicking woes would haunt us one day.
It would be interesting to compare the weather for the various kicks by BB and OF. My recollection is that it was pretty foul for most of BB's ten efforts, but cleared for OF's last three.
BB's seven penalties is one more than D B Clarke managed in the famous 1959 18-17 Lions win. -
@jegga I'm not so sure we had a great alternative to rangi anyway when tana went down , nonu was selected as the back up 13 but he was no where near the reliable player he became later .
Mils should've played 13 , rangi 15 though . -
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
@jegga I'm not so sure we had a great alternative to rangi anyway when tana went down , nonu was selected as the back up 13 but he was no where near the reliable player he became later .
Mils should've played 13 , rangi 15 though .Yep, one played most of a Super campaign at centre yet they put the guy who had barely played there at 13. Idiots.
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@pakman Dagg or Smith go well at 14...
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@KiwiPie said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
One of the reasons the ABs never got much continuity (and zero tries) was the ridiculous number of infringements by the Lions. It felt like every time the ABs had possession in the Lions half, then there would be a penalty. And a man down and in those conditions, you have to take your penalties. And they were all kickable yet BB missed a couple of sitters. 10 kickable penalties in all - when you see a number like that, you wonder how the Lions were never on a team warning for repeated offences - especially as the offside line seemed to disappear completely at times.
I want to upvote that several more times.
As this is a "next test" thread we probably need Hansen to stop being so magnanimous in defeat and have a good old whinge in the press. I was getting quite pissed (and pissed off) that the Lions had multiple penalties in the red zone and I can't even recall a warning? Poite will have to listen to his "help" more than Garces to eliminate some errors.
In the hope that the above doesn't come across as a ref whinge, Garces did award us the penalties, just not a repeat offending card (would have evened up the on field numbers) and Barrett missed a couple of course.
We really need a reliable goal kicker if the opposition can continually offend and we can't convert to points. With 15 on the field we would have had more options I suppose.
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Although the injury concerns are in the backs I wonder if Romano might be an option on the bench. S Barrett has been OK but some extra bulk would be useful in what is expected to be a brutual test match.
Where is Squire with his injury? IIRC Hansen said he might be available for the 3rd test. With both locks able to put in an 80 min shift he might provide more impact along with Ardie.
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@pakman said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
@Nepia Of all the times someone's had the smart idea of playing a player out of position I'm struggling to think of one which worked. Plenty have been disasters though!
Funny how it's "out of position" when we lose notable tests.
I didn't really rate Tana in the midfield TBH. Serviceable at best, and a default option at a time when we really struggled at centre (pre Conrad). Yet his time there is considered a success.
