All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour
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@sparky Even without Weber's head knock, I reckon TJ was likely penciled in to start.
I think Laulala is almost certain to start and most likely Blackadder.
Coles vs Samisoni could go either way.
I wonder if they're thinking about a bench spot for Sam Cane?
Not sure Tupaea covers enough positions for this team. But, if Reece isn't available, good options are a bit thin.
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@chris-b said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@sparky Even without Weber's head knock, I reckon TJ was likely penciled in to start.
I think Laulala is almost certain to start and most likely Blackadder.
Coles vs Samisoni could go either way.
I wonder if they're thinking about a bench spot for Sam Cane?
Not sure Tupaea covers enough positions for this team. But, if Reece isn't available, good options are a bit thin.
I assume it would come down to who on the field can cover those positions? If Ioane starts at centre it makes it easier to carry Tupaea as there's already wing cover.
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@nepia Sevu hobbled off, so if he's not available we'd be looking at George or Braydon on the wing - if Rieko goes to centre.
From Sparky's team - Jordie would have to cover wing, which isn't a great option in itself - and if he shifted there, presumably Mo'unga would have to go to fullback, unless you did a big re-shuffle and shifted Havili.
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@chris-b said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@nepia Sevu hobbled off, so if he's not available we'd be looking at George or Braydon on the wing - if Rieko goes to centre.
From Sparky's team - Jordie would have to cover wing, which isn't a great option in itself - and if he shifted there, presumably Mo'unga would have to go to fullback, unless you did a big re-shuffle and shifted Havili.
I wasn't advocating for Rieko at centre, just mentioning where how Tupaea could theoretically be cover in a team (I hadn't looked at Sparky's team
).I guess it would have to be Jordie back home to his right wing, and yep, it would be either Mo or BB to 15.
They might put DMac on the bench for better cover across the board though. Will piss off some on here but the coaches probably rate him higher than the Fern does.
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@stag said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@sparky Ioane has regressed to type in his last couple of tests. Blackadder to start comfortably for me.
Hmmm. Didn't stand out against the Boks. Made good impact off the bench v Wales though.
Prefer Akira's size.
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@chris-b said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@sparky Even without Weber's head knock, I reckon TJ was likely penciled in to start.
I think Laulala is almost certain to start and most likely Blackadder.
Coles vs Samisoni could go either way.
I wonder if they're thinking about a bench spot for Sam Cane?
Not sure Tupaea covers enough positions for this team. But, if Reece isn't available, good options are a bit thin.
Was going to like your post until I got to there.
Yoouuge Cane fan, but he is not yet back up to it.
Dalts, Ardie, Aoane (Blackadder) for me.
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@booboo said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@chris-b said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@sparky Even without Weber's head knock, I reckon TJ was likely penciled in to start.
I think Laulala is almost certain to start and most likely Blackadder.
Coles vs Samisoni could go either way.
I wonder if they're thinking about a bench spot for Sam Cane?
Not sure Tupaea covers enough positions for this team. But, if Reece isn't available, good options are a bit thin.
Was going to like your post until I got to their.
Yoouuge Cane fan, but he is not yet back up to it.
Dalts, Ardie, Aoane (Blackadder) for me.
I'm the same, but see no reason to break up the established four unless there's injuries. Give him a full super comp before he nudges someone out.
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In recent games DMac has gone to the wing and JB either stayed at fullback or played there as a sub, like this morning. Tupaea was on the bench vs SA in test 1 so they have trusted him in a big game previously. He's more likely to break a tackle than Bridge.
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@kiwimurph I don’t want Akira to see himself as an off the bench player. We might have to drag him a little but I am hoping he starts.
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@stag said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@sparky Ioane has regressed to type in his last couple of tests. Blackadder to start comfortably for me.
I thought he actually put in a bit of effort in the Bok match #2 and overall for year the ledger is positive. Edit so "regressed to type" is harsh IMO.
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@sparky said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
- Ofa T
I’m not sure he should even be in the 23 let alone starting. Laulala would’ve been rested for the purpose of starting against Ireland
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@broughie said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@kiwimurph I don’t want Akira to see himself as an off the bench player. We might have to drag him a little but I am hoping he starts.
What does that mean? He’s still pretty young and inexperienced and learning what it means to be a test player, so at this stage whatever his role might be (bench or starter), I’m sure he will grab it.
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@act-crusader it means that he needs to be starting and pushed. Blackadder has a good motor but I don’t see him as being dominant like AI. We have a couple of years to get potentially one dominant back 3 forward in our group. Somehow we have to build some starch on our forwards and not rely on work rate alone.
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@act-crusader said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@sparky said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
- Ofa T
I’m not sure he should even be in the 23 let alone starting. Laulala would’ve been rested for the purpose of starting against Ireland
Ofa still looks so passive taking the ball into contract. I agree that there is no way he starts, but he might be favoured ahead of Lomax on experience.
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@broughie said in All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour:
@act-crusader it means that he needs to be starting and pushed. Blackadder has a good motor but I don’t see him as being dominant like AI. We have a couple of years to get potentially one dominant back 3 forward in our group. Somehow we have to build some starch on our forwards and not rely on work rate alone.
I don’t think it’s an all or nothing proposition there.
Ioane has been starting and I reckon he’s gone okay. But he can be pushed in other ways just as past players who eventually became either permanent starters or world class.
The way I see Ioane and Blackadder is they are both 26 years old and there is massive up side with both players. It’s not unusual for the ABs to have two quite different players competing for the one position.
Ioane has been on the radar for a few years now and whilst I don’t buy into whatever has made him a divisive player, he is starting to hit his straps but still has work ons (which isn’t unusual).
Blackadder has been a bit of a surprise for me with how he’s looked in his first test season, but clearly has some things to improve on. But the foundation is there.
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@act-crusader I thought Ofa T was outstanding once he came on yesterday. Shifted the game massively. I know he's coming back from injury but he's World class and a cut above Laulala. Better at set piece, better defence, better with the ball.
