TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98)
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@mariner4life said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
@Chris-B said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
@mariner4life said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
This team is a fucking gamble, and the brains trust should face backlash if it doesn't work. But they won't, because the World Cup has fucked everything up.
A part-time fullback. Another new midfield, including a dude with serious doubts over current ability. A loose forward trio comprising of a seriously untested (at any level) rookie, and a veteran with form concerns. The bench contains a rookie, and a bloke who hasn't cut it at test level in any position.
I think the backs selection is the most exciting we've picked for ages. I'm not too concerned about SBW being picked because the default "settled midfield" is Crotty-Goodhue. I think Hansen's preferred first choice option is SBW-Goodhue, so we're getting to see that.
Loose forward selections are slightly odd - but, I think Frizell now has the inside running as our starting six and Todd is only a touch behind Ardie and Cane. Really it's the bench selections that are a bit odd.
i don't actually disagree with any of this. I think the backs could be really good. But it could also be terrible. As i say, it's a risk, in a home game, against South Africa.
Frizzell is probably firming in to the 6 jersey, and the bits i saw of him at Super level started to look pretty pleasing. But again, he's not had a lot of rugby this year. With a 2nd thought, pairing him with Read and Todd as a combination might remove a little pressure from him.
I still find it astounding that we are playing the Boks at home, and our 3 best players from last week, 3 guys who are all basically top 15 players, are not starting, and only one is in the side at all.
What's risky is having Jordie at 15 like last year's test in Wellington. This looks much more stable.
Just saw Shag's press conference and he made an interesting point about familiarity. This week's forward pack is going to have some rust with a lot of them in their first test of the year but having 6 of the starting 8 forwards playing together at the Crusaders should help combat that. Combine that with Ardie's workload has been mammoth this year and I can see why they've done what they've done.
Hansen has made it quite clear the focuses this year are the RWC and the Bledisloe so that leaves the other tests for experimentation.
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@KiwiMurph said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
Hansen has made it quite clear the focuses this year are the RWC and the Bledisloe so that leaves the other tests for experimentation.
The state of modern rugby. Such is the pressure to win a quadrennial knockout celebration of rugby that we're contributing to the status decline of Test rugby. The only difference to other nations is we're not losing as many friendlies as they are.
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@antipodean And long may it remain so as far as AB results go.
I'm not sure that the status of test rugby is declining. I still hear the pain when Aus, SA, Eng, etc, lose to us. Wales and my in laws particularly. I felt it with Ireland.
If some idiot decides to rename them friendlies he hasn't played one (neither have I of course) but they ain't friendly.
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man talkback callers/texters are having a meltdown at this team haha.
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I'm looking forward to seeing how this team goes. Exciting backline and the forward pack is better than last week.
I thought it looked like a season too far for Todd after the semi final where he was well beaten by Savea. But Todd was immense in the final and I don't see an issue with him starting.
Only disappointment is seeing Fifita in there.
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Nice sauce southernman.
I suspect that this test is a shoot out between Frizzel and Fifita. I wouldn't have given him another game, but I guess they want to see if he can provide impact from the bench. If we lose one of our locks, we're toast, but that's probably true at the WC too, so looking for impact from the bench is risky, but understandable. I'll be interested to see who gets the bench against Oz.
Todd starting is strange, but I guess it's because they want a bit more rest in Cane - who almost never needs a warmup - and is a good way to rest Ardie, who's had a massive year. It's a huge test for Paps, who clearly is getting a chance to cover multiple positions, perhaps even 8 (unless it's Frizzel)?
Barrett at FB is something many have wanted to see for a while, so let's see it.
SBW is, well, not getting dropped. That bed is made unless it get's broken.
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@Siam said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
First time beauden has worn number 15?
Yep,and I think it may not be a traditional fb role ,
Think he may still spend a fair bit of time up in the line with he and rm giving 2 options as first receiver
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People have been calling for this RM-BB combo for some time now. Hope it works.
Hanson seriously has mega wood for SBW doesn't he? Again, hope it works, but I have my doubts he'll even finish the game.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel I hope if he breaks, he proper breaks, not a strain that means we carry this useless wreck who's had SFA games since the last world cup into the squad. He's played less games in the last 4 years that most play in a season, and the highlight is the ABs first red card for half a century & stuffing up our series against the Lions
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Love it! Been waiting for 10-15 combo for a while and hope it shows potential. Again for me I am looking for the ball carrying and threat of forwards. We need Read, Frizell, Moody, Taylor, Coles and locks to really step up here as they are threats in forwards. We will only be as good in the backs as these guys are in getting go forward. Looking forward to seeing what happens.
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What the actual......I can't believe we are going into the biggest test match; momentum wise- prior to the WC without Cane and Ardie.
It;s madness I tells ya! -
@Siam said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
First time beauden has worn number 15?
No, this will be the third time he starts in the 15 jersey.
The first time was against Italy in 2012. His second start was also at fullback, against Japan in Tokyo in 2013.
His third start was - for the first time - in the 10 jersey against Argentina in Napier, in 2014.
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@mariner4life said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
This team is a fucking gamble, and the brains trust should face backlash if it doesn't work. But they won't, because the World Cup has fucked everything up.
A part-time fullback. Another new midfield, including a dude with serious doubts over current ability. A loose forward trio comprising of a seriously untested (at any level) rookie, and a veteran with form concerns. The bench contains a rookie, and a bloke who hasn't cut it at test level in any position.
Aah. I love the passion coming through.
And while you point out some valid concerns - what if it works?
And what would be the yardstick for it-has-failed or it-has-worked?Because I suspect that if the Boks win, you'll call it a fail - irrespective of how these combinations and individuals fared.
But you won't necessarily cut them the equal slack if the AB's win?Just asking
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@Billy-Webb said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
@mariner4life said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
This team is a fucking gamble, and the brains trust should face backlash if it doesn't work. But they won't, because the World Cup has fucked everything up.
A part-time fullback. Another new midfield, including a dude with serious doubts over current ability. A loose forward trio comprising of a seriously untested (at any level) rookie, and a veteran with form concerns. The bench contains a rookie, and a bloke who hasn't cut it at test level in any position.
Aah. I love the passion coming through.
And while you point out some valid concerns - what if it works?
And what would be the yardstick for it-has-failed or it-has-worked?Because I suspect that if the Boks win, you'll call it a fail - irrespective of how these combinations and individuals fared.
But you won't necessarily cut them the equal slack if the AB's win?Just asking
well, we won last week, and i judged nearly everything not the 7, 6 and 9 a failure. So there is that.
So, while you are angling for me to say something that you can label arrogant and entitled AB supporter, i think my posting history shows i am anything but
I am arrogant in many things, just not this.
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@kiwiinmelb said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
@Siam said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
First time beauden has worn number 15?
Yep,and I think it may not be a traditional fb role ,
Think he may still spend a fair bit of time up in the line with he and rm giving 2 options as first receiver
Well it's not like it wasn't obvious given the coaches wanted two with Beaudy and DMac.
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@mariner4life said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
@Billy-Webb said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
@mariner4life said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
This team is a fucking gamble, and the brains trust should face backlash if it doesn't work. But they won't, because the World Cup has fucked everything up.
A part-time fullback. Another new midfield, including a dude with serious doubts over current ability. A loose forward trio comprising of a seriously untested (at any level) rookie, and a veteran with form concerns. The bench contains a rookie, and a bloke who hasn't cut it at test level in any position.
Aah. I love the passion coming through.
And while you point out some valid concerns - what if it works?
And what would be the yardstick for it-has-failed or it-has-worked?Because I suspect that if the Boks win, you'll call it a fail - irrespective of how these combinations and individuals fared.
But you won't necessarily cut them the equal slack if the AB's win?Just asking
well, we won last week, and i judged nearly everything not the 7, 6 and 9 a failure. So there is that.
So, while you are angling for me to say something that you can label arrogant and entitled AB supporter, i think my posting history shows i am anything but
I am arrogant in many things, just not this.
I'm mates with him on Facebook. Believe me, there's nothing to be arrogant about whatsoever but this probably applies to all of us.
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@mariner4life said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
@Billy-Webb said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
@mariner4life said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
So, while you are angling for me to say something that you can label arrogant and entitled AB supporter, i think my posting history shows i am anything but
I am arrogant in many things, just not this.
Nope. Definitely not angling for any of that.
Maybe clumsily expressed, but the sentiment / question applies equally to me for the Boks.
Lot's of planning for the RWC taking place. But how to judge whether the experiments of personnel and combinations actually paid off?
A win glosses over failures of the experiment.
A loss takes the shine out of success of those particular risks.It does feel kind of late to be trying radically new stuff...
