Bledisloe II

Bones

@chester-draws no you said regularly. I don't see it regularly at all. I wouldn't call Louw big either.

Chester Draws

Schalk Burger got 86 caps. He's quite a lot bigger than Liam Messam and about Liam Squire sized.

And some of their selections were less mobile than that.

They do seem in recent times to have accepted smaller men though. For a large size of "smaller".

broughie

Insert Code Here
```@majorrage Don’t think it is a good comparison.  Nonu had a bit more pace and size and as a winger and had the ability to beat someone Off either foot..  Laumape isn’t that subtle.
Insert Code Here

Bones

@chester-draws eh? Schalk was up against McCaw a lot and seemed remarkably similar in size. I'm sure I remarked on it at least once.

Machpants

@antipodean said in Bledisloe II:

So we're agreed this will be the backline:
9. A Smith
10. Beaudy
11. Naholo
12. SBW.
13. Goodhue.
14. B Smith
15. Jordie.

Bench will be TJP, DMac, ALB.

SBW training with the team does not mean ready to play, see Dane Coles (who went to Ozzie with less than zero chance to play)

Replace SBW with Laumape is what I think will happen. But just a total guess, as always.

Tim

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/106451988/all-blacks-ecstatic-with-anton-lienertbrown-as-their-midfield-problemsolver

Machpants

EDIT: Ninja'd!

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/106451988/All-Blacks-ecstatic-with-Anton-Lienert-Brown-as-their-midfield-problem-solver

Probably a pointer that I'm talking arse again.

mariner4life

@tim praise the lawd

No Quarter

@antipodean said in Bledisloe II:

So we're agreed this will be the backline:
9. A Smith
10. Beaudy
11. Naholo
12. SBW.
13. Goodhue.
14. B Smith
15. Jordie.

Bench will be TJP, DMac, ALB.

That's pretty much it except ALB starting and Laumape or SBW on the bench - don't think they'll rush SBW back in.

antipodean

Yeah my presumption is SBW is fit. If fit, they'll start him.

taniwharugby

@rancid-schnitzel maybe they pay him more cos they know Qantas aint gonna be giving him any endorsements...

@antipodean yep, if fit, we know they will start SBW.

MiketheSnow

@no-quarter said in Bledisloe II:

Wallabies would be better to start Pocock and have Hooper on the bench to up the anti in the final 20. Like Ardie I don't think he's big/physical enough but could be effective against tired legs.

Looked to me that Hooper was more effective in taking the ball forward than Pocock and similar in defence.

Canes4life

@tim @tim Defensively Aso has too much to work on at centre. As a Canes fan I'm very suprised Aso has been given a look before Proctor. For me Proctor is the most important cog in the Canes backline and it wasn't a coincidence that we turned to shit after he injured himself this year. Same thing happened in 2016, once Proctor injured himself we didn't look the same then either.

taniwharugby

@mikethesnow Pocock has always been a bit average at all facets bar his strength over the ball

No Quarter

@mikethesnow said in Bledisloe II:

@no-quarter said in Bledisloe II:

Wallabies would be better to start Pocock and have Hooper on the bench to up the anti in the final 20. Like Ardie I don't think he's big/physical enough but could be effective against tired legs.

Looked to me that Hooper was more effective in taking the ball forward than Pocock and similar in defence.

If both are in the 23 then Pocock really has to start as I can't see him making much of an impact from the bench.

Both players are vastly overrated.

Wreck Diver

SBW is not fit he wont be on the bench or start. Foster said that they were please with the way NMS played for Manawatu on Saturday he gets the wing spot IMO. Smith remains at full back. Mid field will be the same ALB & Goodhue. Laumape on the bench with DMac.

antipodean

@wreck-diver said in Bledisloe II:

Foster said that they were please with the way NMS played for Manawatu

Well then, clearly ready for Test rugby after his display in the Super season.

Canes4life

@antipodean Big fan of Skudz but don't think he will be included this week. No need to rush him back and I think another week in the ITM Cup will be great for his confidence. Also a crack at the Shield wouldn't be the worst result for him missing out this week. 11. Naholo, 14. Smith 15. J Barrett for me.

I would love to see a Laumape - Goodhue combo this week but again I think they will stick with the tried and trusted pairing of ALB - Goodhue.

taniwharugby

@wreck-diver according to some people in the media, SBW has been training with the team, particulalrly he and Ioane training together (both showing no signs of injury) which tells you he is unlikely to be named wheneverthehellitistheynameteamsthesedays although I do wonder if Aus had won game 1 or this was a bigger match, if Ioane would be available

Wreck Diver

@taniwharugby Light training

The Silver Fern

Bledisloe II