AB EOYT 2018
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@sparky A big question with that selection is that they would have to keep at least five props in Japan - in case someone got injured in the warm-ups.
So of the 10 "Main Squad" players who are staying in Japan, three would be props.
That doesn't seem likely to me. I reckon add Ta'avao and probably a loosehead of your choice.
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@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:
@sparky A big question with that selection is that they would have to keep at least five props in Japan - in case someone got injured in the warm-ups.
So of the 10 "Main Squad" players who are staying in Japan, three would be props.
That doesn't seem likely to me. I reckon add Ta'avao and probably a loosehead of your choice.
Yep. More props will be needed. A case of any healthy prop that has played super rugby will be in contention.
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From the NZ Herald,The man who handed out the most significant red card in All Blacks' history will take charge of the side's most anticipated test this year.
Referee Jerome Garces, who sent off Sonny Bill Williams last year, will be the man in the middle of the All Blacks' clash against England at Twickenham on November 11.
The Frenchman sent Williams was sent off in the 25th minute of the 24-21 loss to the Lions in Wellington last year, after the All Black second five's shoulder connected with Anthony Watson's head in a tackle attempt.
Williams became just the third All Black to be ordered off the field in 561 matches.
Garces last took charge of an All Blacks' test in Cape Town last year."It's just one of those things that happens in rugby," Williams told media last year before facing Garces in the middle again.
"I've gone back and worked hard on my tackle technique. I feel like I've made steps in the right direction to hopefully not get a red card...maybe a yellow," he joked.
In the other highly anticipated clash next month, English referee Wayne Barnes will take charge of the All Blacks-Ireland test in Dublin a week later.
Ireland sit second behind the All Blacks in the World Rugby rankings.
Irish referee Andrew Bruce will be in charge of the All Blacks' final test of the year against Italy in Rome.
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@daffy-jaffy I'd struggle to call that a tackle attempt. Easier to see his shoulder made contact with Watson's head in a shoulder charge attempt.
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I have less of an issue with it being the same ref that gave a RC than the fact he just isnt a very good ref.
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Also, Wayne Barnes is controlling the Ireland test.
With those two referees, we're going to do really really well to win both. Garces is French, and just random. Wayne-O is generally good, but then has random brain farts. As long as the fart direction is towards Ireland and not us, we'll survive - otherwise it's all on for young and old.
Going to be an epic couple of weeks, I can't wait. We are blessed with magnificent rugby tests each year, I cannot wait.
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The problem in that test wasn't the red card, SBWs tackling "technique" has always been suss, it was the penalty when the Lions player jumped into a tackle from a pass that grates me. See it all the time with no penalty, but on that occasion...
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@nzzp said in AB EOYT 2018:
Also, Wayne Barnes is controlling the Ireland test.
With those two referees, we're going to do really really well to win both. Garces is French, and just random. Wayne-O is generally good, but then has random brain farts. As long as the fart direction is towards Ireland and not us, we'll survive - otherwise it's all on for young and old.
Going to be an epic couple of weeks, I can't wait. We are blessed with magnificent rugby tests each year, I cannot wait.
If it comes down to the ref then we only have ourselves to blame. In my mind the ref is no excuse for a loss
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@no-quarter that one was the previous test wasnt it, and Garces was the 'we have a deal' over the off side penalty call at the end of the game, or have I got them wrong way round?
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@hooroo said in AB EOYT 2018:
If it comes down to the ref then we only have ourselves to blame. In my mind the ref is no excuse for a loss
Nope, no excuse, but it's like playing away - some refs make winning harder. Before the Lions I had concerns about a bizarre call from one of the Froggies, and so it turned out. Likewise, I'd be stoked if the refs weren't pivotal, but if we get through those two tests without a controversial call, I'll be delighted.
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@taniwharugby said in AB EOYT 2018:
@no-quarter that one was the previous test wasnt it, and Garces was the 'we have a deal' over the off side penalty call at the end of the game, or have I got them wrong way round?
Poite reffed the third test and was the one that made nonsensical deals to avoid having to make a big call. Garces gave the penalty for jumping into the tackle at the end of test 2.
Either way they are much of a muchness. Crazy we had two of the most inconsistent refs in world rugby for tests 2 and 3.
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@no-quarter wasnt Poite's TMO Garces?
Yeah those 2 refs are not the best.
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Refs shmefs. Won’t matter. We’ll cane the Paddies by 20.
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@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:
I see Jordan is getting a lot of support - he's always struck me as a bit flaky previously (like McNicholl) and I'm surprised to see him being promoted ahead of Ennor. But I've watched fuck all NPC.
You won't have seen much of him, then.
Paul Cully is on the Jordan bandwagon.
I'd be a bit surprised if he makes the Japan squad, but it's not beyond the realms of possibility.
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@rapido said in AB EOYT 2018:
Remember when we all laughed at Woodward's giant Lions squad of 2005?
Aren't we still?
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@chris-b said in AB EOYT 2018:
@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:
I see Jordan is getting a lot of support - he's always struck me as a bit flaky previously (like McNicholl) and I'm surprised to see him being promoted ahead of Ennor. But I've watched fuck all NPC.
You won't have seen much of him, then.
Paul Cully is on the Jordan bandwagon.
I'd be a bit surprised if he makes the Japan squad, but it's not beyond the realms of possibility.
Yeah sure, but I thought Ennor was impressive. Hasn't kicked on?
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@bones Haven't watched much of him in the NPC.
He went OK in Super rugby, but it didn't remotely cross my mind that he was ready to step up to the ABs.
Bridge and Mataele were the ones who were more impressive for the Crusaders - but, what I've seen of Mataele in NPC - he's been pretty awful.
I would pick Bridge ahead of all of them.
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