2019 Rugby Championship
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A bit late to the party but my main concern over Reece is that I don’t really think he has been tested defensively this year against world class NH style 9 and 10s.
I think J Barrett is a bit lucky - he has more potential than Havili but he needs to dial back the costly errors.
I’ve said it all season, I reckon if he gets a chance Ennor will rapidly make him self a certainty for the RWC squad.
It’s a team that can retain the trophy but with big question marks over 6 and the midfield.
The conditions in japan should suit us as compared to dreary Europe in winter.
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@Billy-Tell said in 2019 Rugby Championship:
A bit late to the party but my main concern over Reece is that I don’t really think he has been tested defensively this year against world class NH style 9 and 10s.
I think J Barrett is a bit lucky - he has more potential than Havili but he needs to dial back the costly errors.
I’ve said it all season, I reckon if he gets a chance Ennor will rapidly make him self a certainty for the RWC squad.
It’s a team that can retain the trophy but with big question marks over 6 and the midfield.
The conditions in japan should suit us as compared to dreary Europe in winter.
im thinking Japan may work in our favor more than has been talked about , you could probably include the rest of the SH sides in that too,
the way the NH sides have improved , might be a good thing for us , they are not playing at home
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The hit Sevu Reece put on Solomon Alaimalo still makes me wince probably the tackle of the season.
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@kiwiinmelb said in 2019 Rugby Championship:
@Billy-Tell said in 2019 Rugby Championship:
A bit late to the party but my main concern over Reece is that I don’t really think he has been tested defensively this year against world class NH style 9 and 10s.
I think J Barrett is a bit lucky - he has more potential than Havili but he needs to dial back the costly errors.
I’ve said it all season, I reckon if he gets a chance Ennor will rapidly make him self a certainty for the RWC squad.
It’s a team that can retain the trophy but with big question marks over 6 and the midfield.
The conditions in japan should suit us as compared to dreary Europe in winter.
im thinking Japan may work in our favor more than has been talked about , you could probably include the rest of the SH sides in that too,
Even though it’ll be warm (24-30), we also get a lot of rain (and some typhoons) that time of year.
If we get weather like that against SA, the game will be a lottery.
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@Billy-Tell I wish Jordie would put away the behind the back pass. Hardly ever comes off.
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@Billy-Tell said in 2019 Rugby Championship:
It’s a team that can retain the trophy but with big question marks over 6 and the midfield.
ALB is in brilliant form at 2nd-five and Goodhue remains a lock at centre. If we play those two, then I think we are sweet.
The problems will come if the selectors start SBW and Crotty every time they are fit, and we go through the season with a centres pairing that are virtually never both fully fit, leaving the best combination without game time together.
I'd play Read blindside and Ardie at the back, I confess. Ardie is good with ball in hand at getting metres through traffic, which is helpful off the back of the scrum. Read is a lock to start, but brings nothing at #8 for my money. Barrett can cover.
I have no faith in all the other blindside options.
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@Chester-Draws agree on the midfield, I have ALB, Goodhue and Laumape as our top three at the moment. Would like to see them get as much game time as possible leading into the WC.
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@Kirwan said in 2019 Rugby Championship:
@Billy-Tell I wish Jordie would put away the behind the back pass. Hardly ever comes off.
Yeah, the games he's dominated this year he put away the flashy stuff and just did the basics well, making the most of the opportunities that came his way. When he does that he's world class.
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@Billy-Tell said in 2019 Rugby Championship:
The conditions in japan should suit us as compared to dreary Europe in winter.
Fake news.
More likelihood of pissing down weather in Japan than Northern Europe at that time of the year. That time of the year being Indian Summer / Autumn.
I don't recall much if any rain during matches in 2015.
The Wales v SA QF was a grey day.
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@MiketheSnow I take it you missed the ABs-Boks semi final.
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@KiwiMurph said in 2019 Rugby Championship:
@MiketheSnow I take it you missed the ABs-Boks semi final.
I didn't, but forgot it was wet.
But as 'one swallow doesn't make a summer' neither does 'one spit make a winter'
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Big News coming from ARG rugby union - UAR
Santiago Cordero will be available to play for Los Pumas for the game in BA in 2 weeks vs ABs
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Sparky's All Blacks 23 for Test Vs Argentina in Buenos Aries on 20th July
1 Karl T, 2 Coles, 3 Ofa T, 4 Retallick, 5 Patrick T, 6 Frizzell, 7 Cane, 8 Ardie Savea, 9 Aaron Smith, 10 Josh Ioane, 11 Reiko Ioane, 12 Laumape, 13 ALB, 14 Jordie B, 15 Ben Smith (c),
16 Moli, 17 Coltman, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Hemopo, 20 Papali'i 21 TJP 22 B. Barrett 23 Ennor -
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@Gunner said in 2019 Rugby Championship:
@sparky I’ll be more than bloody surprised if Josh Ioane starts.
I thought playing Lima Sopoaga in 2015 at Ellis Park was a stroke of genius.
Be very interesting to see how Josh Ioane goes in the cauldron of Estadio José Amalfitani. Even if Plan A isn't for him to go to the RWC, the All Blacks will need him battle-ready in case there is an injury to Beauden Barrett or Richie Mo'unga.
