All Blacks vs Springboks I

[Stargazer]

Media release: https://www.allblacks.com/news/all-blacks-named-for-historic-100th-test-against-south-africa/

[Hooroo]

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

i dont mind it

I'm underwhelmed a bit but I don't know what I would change with no ALB. Can't argue with forwards though.

[Bovidae]

Some facts:

Beauden Barrett will be playing his 15th Test against South Africa and Brodie Retallick his 12th. Eight players (Akira Ioane, Luke Jacobson, David Havili, Will Jordan, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ethan Blackadder, Brad Weber and Quinn Tupaea) will be playing them for the first time.

[ACT Crusader]

I like what they’ve done with the front row too. Strong starting 3 and with Ofa and Sami off the bench together, that’s some firepower.

[Kiwiwomble]

@hooroo definitely

would prefer rioane 11 and ALB 13, but everyone has looked good in their position recently so i dont mind it

[Crucial]

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

i dont mind it

Me neither. Loosies possibly better than if Ardie was at 8 and at least Blackadder is in form.

Would have been nicer to have ALB with RI on the wing but the combo has at least had plenty of time.

As much as Bridge offers little in attack except linking he is a tidy player to tidy up the attempts to gain territory.

Have to say that a year ago a good 23 without ALB, Whitelock, Mounga and Smith would have looked a big stretch. This looks pretty good so hats off to the coaching team for getting things in order. Let's hope they now play well.

[Tim]

Tough on Sevu Reece, but otherwise a strong team.

Is that 4 out 6 frontrow players having Tongan heritage?

[Hooroo]

@bovidae said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Some facts:

Beauden Barrett will be playing his 15th Test against South Africa and Brodie Retallick his 12th. Eight players (Akira Ioane, Luke Jacobson, David Havili, Will Jordan, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ethan Blackadder, Brad Weber and Quinn Tupaea) will be playing them for the first time.

Wow! That is quite a stat. I like that.

[Chris]

Good team selection I think,Taking into account injuries etc.
The selection looks like it has been well thought out to combat the Boks usual game plan.

[Bovidae]

No mention of injuries but we can assume that ALB isn't 100% yet, and likely Papalii isn't either.

[JC]

@crucial Careful now, that was very close to not hating Foster

[Tim]

@bovidae Think the comment during the week was that they would have to pass their fitness tests on Tuesday to be considered for selection.

[mariner4life]

well if it goes tits up you can't blame the selectors. That's the clear best 23 available.

[ACT Crusader]

@hooroo said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

i dont mind it

I'm underwhelmed a bit but I don't know what I would change with no ALB. Can't argue with forwards though.

Whilst still a work in progress, Ioane is the second best centre in the squad, so he has to play there.

I would’ve gone for Reece on the wing, but can’t complain about the other two selected.

Will be interesting if one of our wingers has to go off, will they put Tups on and move Ioane or do they put DMac on and move Jordie. If it’s early in the game I reckon the latter because of experience.

[Chris]

Physical looking bench they should make decent impact when needed.

[Crucial]

@mariner4life said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

well if it goes tits up you can't blame the selectors. That's the clear best 23 available.

Missed opportunity not to play Scott Barrett at 6 though

[Frye]

@bovidae said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Some facts:

Beauden Barrett will be playing his 15th Test against South Africa and Brodie Retallick his 12th. Eight players (Akira Ioane, Luke Jacobson, David Havili, Will Jordan, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ethan Blackadder, Brad Weber and Quinn Tupaea) will be playing them for the first time.

Havili has played South Africa.

[Bovidae]

@frye said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@bovidae said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Some facts:

Beauden Barrett will be playing his 15th Test against South Africa and Brodie Retallick his 12th. Eight players (Akira Ioane, Luke Jacobson, David Havili, Will Jordan, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ethan Blackadder, Brad Weber and Quinn Tupaea) will be playing them for the first time.

Havili has played South Africa.

That's right. He made the pass to DMac for that try. Blame allblacks.com.

[Stargazer]

@frye Yep, in Cape Town.

[Bovidae]

Let's hope these are correct.

Stats and facts

• The 100th Test will be played in the centenary year of the famous All Blacks- Springboks rivalry. The very first Test was played at the historic Carisbrook ground in Dunedin on 13 August 1921, with the All Blacks winning 13-5 that day. The last Test match was the Pool match at RWC2019 which the All Blacks won 23-13.

• In the 99 Tests to date, the All Blacks have won 59 times, South Africa 36, with four drawn matches. The All Blacks have scored 2,050 points in that time including 225 tries while the Springboks have scored 1,577 points, including 153 tries.

• The teams will once again be playing for The Freedom Cup, which was introduced in 2004. The All Blacks have held the Cup since 2010.

• The All Blacks have scored 16,997 points in Test matches and are set to be the first international team to top 17,000 points.