Australia v All Blacks - Bled I

[Victor Meldrew]

@sparky said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:

This game has banana skin written all over it.

Yep. That's why it could be a big and key test. Someone above opined that Foster and co. see the shortened RC as a test run for the knock-out stages of RWC2023 and I think they may be right.

Win this one and we'll know the current upward path is a solid one

[Victor Meldrew]

@taniwharugby said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:

@ACT-Crusader so the years we won the RWC, we have won 2 and lost 1...

All we need now is for Ritchie, DMac and BB to get injured and David Havilli to be slotted in at 10 and we'll be home and dry....

[TheMojoman]

The old saying “it’s the breakdown stupid”

No secret if you mess up AB’s ball at breakdown you force them out of their preferred game plan. Expect the Wallabies to mimic the Boks and flood breakdown with big bodies etc.

How breakdown fury can boost Australia's odds against All Blacks

The breakdown needs to be a contest in Melbourne if the Wallabies want to have any chance of besting the All Blacks.

[frugby]

My Guess of Ian Foster's All Blacks to play the Wallabies:

1. de Groot
2. Taylor
3. Lomax
4. Retallick
5. Whitelock
6. Frizell
7. Cane (I think he is fit??)
8. Savea
9. Smith
10. Mo'unga
11. Telea
12. J Barrett
13. ALB
14. Jordan
15. B Barrett
16. Taukei'aho
17. Williams
18. Newell (I think he is back, seemed to be training? If not will be Lord Nepo)
19. S Barrett
20. Papalii
21. Roigard
22. McLeod (Rumour was his parents were Aussie bound)
23. R Ioane

[Stargazer]

[Stargazer]

@frugby said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:

McLeod (Rumour was his parents were Aussie bound)
R Ioane

Both McLeod and RIoane on the bench doesn't make sense to me.

[frugby]

@Stargazer said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:

@frugby said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:

McLeod (Rumour was his parents were Aussie bound)
R Ioane

Both McLeod and RIoane on the bench doesn't make sense to me.

@Stargazer said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:

@frugby said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:

McLeod (Rumour was his parents were Aussie bound)
R Ioane

Both McLeod and RIoane on the bench doesn't make sense to me.

Well the rumour is that McLeod's parents have flown over, and ALB has been doing media, so you'd expect both to be involved... can't see them leaving out Rieko, wouldn't be the worst idea to give him a trot on the wing, as there is a fair chance he is used as cover there at the Big WC Games in an injury crisis...

Back reserves will be:
21. Christe/Roigard
22. ALB
23. ?

[frugby]

I'll also add, wouldn't be stunned to see a team that is why different to the one which trotted out by South Africa... a bit of an alternative lineup if they want to test people out:

1. Tu'ungafasi
2. Taukei'aho
3. Laulala
4. Retallick
5. Whitelock
6. Barrett
7. Savea
8. Jacobson
9. Roigard
10. Mo'unga
11. Clarke
12. ALB
13. Ioane
14. Telea
15. Jordan
16. Coles
17. de Groot
18. Lomax
19. Finau
20. Papalii
21. Smith
22. B Barrett
23. J Barrett

[Stargazer]

Rugby Australia  /  Jul 26, 2023

Gordon earns first start in Wallaby Gold for Bledisloe One at MCG

[Unite]

@frugby

Ioane Should be 13.

[Bovidae]

Assuming a win here, I would expect changes for the Dunedin test. Some players need to be tried in other positions (e.g., BB at 1st 5), and others given an opportunity.

[Frank]

If McCleod is given a chance in this test, (even if at reserve), it might be a sign Havili is on the outer. Possible clear preference for a bigger 12 who can get over the gainline.

[KiwiMurph]

@Bovidae keep BB away from 10 please.

[Frank]

Still prefer DMac to Richie at 10.

[akan004]

There's so much talent in that Wallaby team although am not sure if Tom Hooper is quick enough to be a 7. It's their lack of cohesion and picking a couple of players with very little match fitness that will count against them this weekend.

[Bovidae]

@KiwiMurph said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:

@Bovidae keep BB away from 10 please.

I don't want him there either but if DMac isn't in the 23 then he (BB) is the only option if Mo'unga got injured early. I would prefer that Foster and co don't put themselves in that situation come the RWC, and see that now.

Jones is going for size in his pack, but won't have the same impact at the breakdown.

[KiwiMurph]

In fairness to Eddie neither M Hooper nor McReight offered much at the breakdown in tests 1 and 2 so i can see the logic of T Hooper.

[Duluth]

Ardie Savea to captain All Blacks against Australia in Melbourne

All Blacks selectors Ian Foster, Jason Ryan and Joe Schmidt have announced the team for this week’s Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship Test against Australia at the MCG.

1. Ethan de Groot (15)

2. Codie Taylor (78)

3. Tyrel Lomax (25)

4. Brodie Retallick (101)

5. Scott Barrett (60)

6. Shannon Frizell (27)

7. Dalton Papali’i (24)

8. Ardie Savea (72 - captain)

9. Aaron Smith (116)

10. Richie Mo’unga (46)

11. Mark Telea (3)

12. Jordie Barrett (50)

13. Rieko Ioane (61)

14. Will Jordan (22)

15. Beauden Barrett (114)

16. Samisoni Taukei’aho (22)

17. Ofa Tu’ungfasi (51)

18. Nepo Laulala (47)

19. Samuel Whitelock (143)

20. Luke Jacobson (12)

21. Cam Roigard *

22. Anton Lienert-Brown (60)

23. Caleb Clarke (17)

[KiwiMurph]

Happy with that AB team. Clarke is lucky Narawa and Leicester are both not 100%.

Dalton tends to go better starting than off the bench but he needs a big game.

[Bovidae]

Yep, the 23 could have been so much worse. Ofa needs a big one from the bench. Great for Roigard.

The timing of the introduction of the subs will be interesting.