All Blacks v France Test 3
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@pukunui said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@shark said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
I'm just bloody stunned by how thin we are two full seasons after a RWC. Losing half a dozen all timey greats was never goin to be easy to recover from but there was depth at the time at 10, in midfield and at loose head prop but now we're thin as fuck and even worse when it comes to combinations involving those positions plus in the loose forwards. We've had something like 30 tests since the last RWC yet where are the proven loose forwards after Reado (also aging) and a bit of depth at 7? Kaino was never gonna make another RWC cycle yet we don't have a clear successor at 6. Squire is close but didn't cover himself in glory last week. No quality 8 back up either. We're lucky at hooker that Taylor has really stepped up in Coles' absence of that'd be another problem position. Back up props are an issue also with Faumuina and Crockett gone. Massive stroke of luck that Karl T has come outta nowhere or we'd be in all sorts. And Ofa ain't a long term solution. At lock we have a stunning top trio when fit and two world class half-backs. No dramas in the outside backs aside from settling on a top combination. Midfield is messy. We've had plenty of unavailability for various reasons but at times SBW and Crotty have looked good together and also Crotty and ALB in 2016. But I don't think SBW is a certainty to make it to the RWC and that leaves us really scratching unless we bring another grunty AND rounded midfielder in (this isn't Laumape) and give him a dozen games so we have someone to compliment Crotty and ALB. At 10 we need now to give Mo'unga minutes and as many as possible. D Mac isnt the back up option there, but could be a third option as a utility come RWC time with another Super Rugby season under his belt.
I think there are two major causes of things not being as settled as we would like at this stage in the rwc cycle.
First is the Lions tour. A few guys obviously stuck around for that before leaving to cash in up north where they possibly would have left a year or two earlier if the Lions tour wasn't happening. Eg. Kaino, Charlie F, Crockett, Cruden, TKB, Sopoaga, Fekitoa and Luatua (to a lesser extent) all held out until after the Lions to bugger off or retire. That has meant the post 2015 rebuild has been staggered so you only get 2 years to rebuild rather than the usual 4.The other major factor is the shear amount of long term injuries guys have been getting. Established guys like Coles, Read, Dagg, Ben Smith, Crotty and SBW have been out regularly or for extended periods meaning combinations haven't been able to form with guys coming in. Then on top of that you have newer guys like Squire, Laulala, Hames, Moli, Aumua, Jordie, nms and Bird being long term injured and missing out on important development time and chances to nail down a spot.
Of course you then also have to add guys like Ardie, Elliot Dixon, Harris and Tuipulotu not exactly stepping up to where we would want them to.
Fair points, and I had considered both the Lions tour carrot and injuries to the emerging guys. I think the latter is most poignant as the former was predictable.
But long term injuries to established guys are opportunities to blood replacements. Taylor has stepped up for Coles. The outside backs are fine in terms of depth but lack combination. But midfield is messy as is 8.
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This post is deleted!
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In other news, English journalist Mark Reason has been injured after falling off his hobby-horse. The burden of writing not one, not two, not even three but FOUR consecutive articles about the ABs and red cards has taken its toll. Messages of good will can be sent ℅ S. Jones, Esq, Ivory Tower, Wales-on-England.
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@Chester-Draws Don't be a twat. I've deleted those posts.
@shark I have to agree with @booboo with the injury crisis is making us look worse than we actually are. If Retallick is playing then suddenly a lot of this goes away as he makes up for a hell of a lot in the forwards.
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@billy-tell that's priceless. Is he blaming the AB's for the fall 😀
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@stargazer said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
I wonder how he "knows" this. Since when do the AB selectors leak their line-up before Thursday? Or would it be so obvious, just from watching them train?
In addition to what @Crucial says, the media knows the team for these tests well before the official announcement as they will have written their articles for the Thu newspapers with the team list. There will be an embargo on public release.
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@shark said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
Plus on Taylor, there have been a few 'third' hookers used since 2016. Coles has missed plenty of tests. And yet the next best is Harris? Yikes.
Always knew Taylor was a keeper.
Had seen him galloping in the loose for NZ U20s and Canterbury as a youngster. On almost test debut? He nails a clutch throw in last minutes for a lineout trick move for McCaw try in South Africa. Balls of steel.
All that needed to happen was for his frame to fill out and his tight play match his loose play.
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@stargazer said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@bovidae If there's an embargo, then that article from Sumo comes very close to breaking it.
I would say that the media manager for the ABs wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t drop a couple of names to keep the public interested and the media on side.
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From Stuff, using Midi Olympique as its source:
France are set to rest captain Mathieu Bastareaud from the dead rubber third test against the All Blacks in Dunedin. French rugby media have reported that halfback Morgan Parra will take over as skipper for Saturday night's match with Bastareaud not expected to be part of the match day squad. Clermont teammates Wesley Fofana and Rémi Lamerat will be paired in midfield with Geoffrey Doumayrou, who tweaked an ankle in the second test defeat in Wellington also dropping out.Midfield apart, France are expected to field the same team that started in Wellington.If true, this would be a much better French midfield!
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We'll have to wait and see who is correct out of Sumo and Knowler (Savea or Todd). Both would have attended the same training sessions to observe combinations.
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@bones said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
@shark said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
We're lucky at hooker that Taylor has really stepped up in Coles' absence of that'd be another problem position.
I don't get this. Bemoan the fact the coaches haven't found players/backups in certain positions, then when there's a spot they have, it's just luck?
This. I am not willing to write the development of both Coles and Taylor off to luck. Someone in that set up knows how to get the best out of hookers.
If that leaked stuff is correct? eesh
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So, whats it gonna be, some spots not sure we can afford to start the rookies...
Moody, Taylor, Franks - no choice really??
Whitelock, Romano
Squire, Whitelock, Todd
Smith, Mounga?
SBW, Goodhue
Rieko, Smith, Naholo
bench is more interesting...
Coltman (he is available isn't he, I forget with all the comings and going) Billy T, Ofa, Hemopo, Frizzel, TJP, DMac, JB -
@taniwharugby Squire is injured too, hence the stories that Frizzel will start.
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@duluth said in All Blacks v France Test 3:
It was @gt12
If I have a few free hours Sunday or Monday, I might try to do the ‘Rewatch’ again for this weekend too. I’ll base my single player analysis on the fuss generated by the game thread
So, probably Ardie again
