North vs South

Crucial

@Stargazer Goodhue at 12 here too, FFS!

Is this a case of the AB selectors knowing he is good at 13 but with Reiko coming into the picture want to have both ALB and Goodhue as 12 options?

I still think Ennor has a long way to go to be a test 13. Good player generally and has skills, pace and size. Just doesn't impress me at 13.

gt12

Clearly managing workloads and using this to get a look at some younger players.

Tim

@gt12 What a shithouse way to approach the game. Will NZR ever get the message?

Stargazer

@gt12 Considering the game is played without a crowd, I have no problem with that. If it had been played in a full stadium, I'd probably think differently.

gt12

@Tim

Have you seen the new idea for Super Rugby 2022?

Tim

NZ Rugby:

OK, this might well be the only rep rugby this year, so we'd better deliver something special.

Also NZ Rugby:

Right, got it. Lets start a 20 yo lock who is clearly substandard at Super Rugby level, and Aaron Smith is on fire at the moment, so we'll put him on the bench. That should get the fans really pumped!

Tim

Ian Foster on selections:

Well Tupou Vaa'i impressed at U19 and U20 levels, where he was actually fairly dominant ...

ACT Crusader

I reckon Smith and Perenara get 40 each so I wouldn’t be too concerned on that one.

More worried about South’s halfbacks...

gt12

@ACT-Crusader said in North vs South:

I reckon Smith and Perenara get 40 each so I wouldn’t be too concerned on that one.

More worried about South’s halfbacks...

That really sums up the problem here; why not just have the Probables versus possibles, so we can see Perenara versus Smith?

Crucial

@gt12 said in North vs South:

@ACT-Crusader said in North vs South:

I reckon Smith and Perenara get 40 each so I wouldn’t be too concerned on that one.

More worried about South’s halfbacks...

That really sums up the problem here; why not just have the Probables versus possibles, so we can see Perenara versus Smith?

Still no contest

KiwiMurph

The teams are fine. The 4 halfbacks are all starters for their Super teams. Bring it on.

ACT Crusader

@KiwiMurph said in North vs South:

The teams are fine. The 4 halfbacks are all starters for their Super teams. Bring it on.

Yeah I’m pretty excited about the game having seen the teams.

Some have more to play for than others, which always creates a bit more edge to it.

gt12

@KiwiMurph said in North vs South:

The teams are fine. The 4 halfbacks are all starters for their Super teams. Bring it on.

Good attitude. I always tell my wife that the key to happiness is low expectations.

Bovidae

So Boshier not in the NI 23 eh @Duluth

There looks to be a degree of "looking at a few players" in these selections.

Duluth

@Bovidae

Vaa'i getting a start is a surprise

KiwiMurph

Clarke vs Jordan on the wing should be a lot of fun - though if the weather forecast doesn't improved they may not be too involved.

Bovidae

@Duluth said in North vs South:

Vaa'i getting a start is a surprise

I would agree. The same for Christie over Hunt in the SI team. The SI has a lot of Crusaders' combos which will be an advantage. Favourites!

Here are the players that aren't in the match-day squads:

NI
Kurt Eklund, Alex Fidow, Lachlan Boshier, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Mark Telea

SI
Andrew Makalio, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Reed Prinsep, Mitchell Drummond, Sio Tomkinson

Hooroo

The South will get towelled up if there is any sort of intensity to this game.

My prediction is untold - nil in first 40 mins and then heaps of changes and a word to back off in second half.

Tim

@Hooroo In the wet the South will target the set piece, and could do quite well there. Don't count them out, especially with the Crusaders combos.

Hooroo

@Tim said in North vs South:

@Hooroo In the wet the South will target the set piece, and could do quite well there. Don't count them out, especially with the Crusaders combos.

What's the forecast for Wellybops on the weekend? If it is wet, same result but the margin may flatter the South.

The Silver Fern

North vs South