All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
I still don't see the point of having S Barrett on the bench. If Squire is still not 100% fit than that decision is easier to make but I would expect both Whitelock and Retallick to play the full 80 mins so then it is loose forward cover you want. Ardie will replace Cane and Kaino will also be replaced at some stage despite only playing 70 mins across the 1st and 2nd tests. So to me Barrett is there more as injury cover than providing impact. The fact that he's only spent 12 mins on the field in the 2 tests proves this. I'd have been tempted to include Ioane in the reserves.
I think with SB , they seem him as lock cover and capable of covering 6 if needed , and are concerned with losing a lock early .
But I get what you are saying , he hasn't provided much impact which goes against the trend of recent seasons ,
I think we have missed squire late in the game , he comes on and adds something different. -
@JC I think another issue is Cruden has come on pretty cold, in test 1 he was pants in the first spell and started showing signs of form in the second, last week he wasn't on as long and really struggled to get into his game, we cant afford to have a playmaker take time to settle in, he needs to hit the field running.
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@reprobate said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
Warren ball. Brick shithouse at 12, and on the wing. Goalkicking fullback that can catch.
Have you watched much of the Canes this year? Laumape is quite a bit more then just a "brick shithouse". He's the main reason Aso has scored so many tries, putting him away with deft passing and chip kicks on a regular basis. That might be a tag he has to work hard to rid himself of, similar to Nonu.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
@Bovidae Ardie may come on for Kaino like he did in test 1.
Yes, but I think Kaino will want to be on the field as long as possible. And I expect we'll need him to be.
In test 1, Barrett replaced Read at 76 mins so still didn't replace a lock. At that stage the test was already won.
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It's not often we have an AB team announced where nothing but the odd bench spot is remotely controversial, so I'm enjoying this. The Fern collective knows best!
Feel for Rieko but I think he's a victim of experience rather than form alone. With Laumape and JB starting (due to injuries) they've opted for a 52 test veteran who happens to play for the same franchise, so I can understand the Jules selection.
Laumape is a big call. He's green but has all the skills to be a wonderful 12 for the ABs long term. Made out of rock but has super silky skills, he and ALB could be very hard to contain if they click.
JB at fullback... I'm a fan of JB but I don't even see 15 as his long-term position, so am a little nervous about that. He's good under the high ball and is a big lad so will handle the physicality.. but gezz if he makes a mistake or two early his confidence may be shot. Dagg is much better at 14 though so I can see why they wanted to move him back and return to the "two fullbacks" option.
Despite all that this match will be won or lost by the pack which picks itself. We get the dominance we had in test 1 up front then life becomes a lot easier for our inexperienced backline.
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@rotated said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
They've bottled that.
Made a big conviction selection in Ioane, then at smallest hurdle in the most adverse of circumstances drop him completely. On a smaller scale they have also done this with Naholo.
Cruden rendered us rudderless for the final 20 minutes and was a turnover machine - yet somehow is retained over Sopoaga?
If he was retained simply to play his 50th test that is a very poor reason.
Still may win, but somehow with five franchises full of firepower we've selected a bench that will stall our backline rather than up the ante.
I like Sopoaga, but if you watch the last ten or so of the Highlanders Lions he made Crudes look like Mr. Reliable!
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@No-Quarter yeah I think Ioane is more likely a victim of circumstances....
Having a 2 test veteran on the bench when we already have a debutant and a single test veteran starting, and then there is ALB with his massive 12 caps...for a match against tier 1 opposition, this must the most inexperienced team we have had.
Even opting for Fekitoa on the bench, he has only had 23 caps, but I guess that's still a big step up form Ioane.
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The two out and out wingers have cost the ABs in the last two games so I can absolutely see the logic of bringing Jordie in. Iaone did pretty much nothing in the last game, I can barely remember him playing, except when he almost made a hash of the cross kick. I felt Savea deservedly lost his place but under the circumstances his recall made sense as does Fekitoas though he really should have been in the squat from day 1. Naholo ran hard but was completely unreliable fielding kicks.
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Ok teams have been named so time for me to pee or get off the bookie's pot.
Heart wins out with the head half-nodding in agreement. I'm going for a Lions win. No handicap. Just two bets on a straight win by 1-6 points and 6-10 points.
Despite that, I hope the best team wins and no arguing about refs afterwards is necessary.
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@Disgusted-of-TW said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
@Pot-Hale said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
Laumape will be the key. He made large inroads against Sexton/Farrell. If SOB is tied up back marking him, it creates space elsewhere.
I'm surprised that Gatland didn't go with Te'o again - Farrell's defence is squeaky.
Would Lions have scored those two tries on Saturday had they had Farrell/Teo on pitch instead of Sexton/Farrell? I suspect not, so I think the (relatively) weaker S/F defence is worth carrying
All to play for. I would have made changes but Gatland's been in this position before so we have to trust him and his selections to get the job done.
Come on the Lions -
@pakman said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
@rotated said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
I like Sopoaga, but if you watch the last ten or so of the Highlanders Lions he made Crudes look like Mr. Reliable!Sopoaga also made very poor decisions late which cost the Highlanders in both losses to the Crusaders this season
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Me, nervous? Fuckyeah.
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@Chris-B won't be happy with all the Canes players starting for the decider.
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@No-Quarter Nah, he'd be more concerned if there were Canes players wearing nos 1-8 (Coles excepted).
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@SammyC said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #3:
Backline defense worries me....
Can't understand Fekitoa on the bench, he's no impact player.
He will probably come on and be super ball greedy, trying to prove a point like he did in the Highlanders game. If that's the case why not pick Mackenzie?
Because Fekitoa can defend at centre.
