Australia v All Blacks - Bled I

[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.

[Canes4life]

Soo good to see Roigard on the bench. Hopefully he has a blinder.

[Frank]

They could have given the reserve wing spot to Stevenson.

[voodoo]

Happy with that! Would rather Sami started to get some minutes up, and not really sure what Clarke adds off the bench - but great to see Roigard in and also to have ALB back. Hope Jacobson gets some gametime too

Fozzies A Team is becoming pretty clear

[mariner4life]

that team is a pleasant surprise

turn up with purpose and we could flog them.

Aus have picked a big quick backline so our forwards need to squash them and our kicking needs to be on point.

[MN5]

Woulda thought McLeod would be in the mix for some good old fashioned rawboned running.

Cane obviously not fit ?

Shouldn’t matter too much, ABs by 50

[dogmeat]

One of the things I like about the development of the team this year is we are starting to see depth off the bench, particularly with a couple of injured players to come back. Not very long ago the subs were a massive step down. Not so much now.

[mariner4life]

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

One of the things I like about the development of the team this year is we are starting to see depth off the bench, particularly with a couple of injured players to come back. Not very long ago the subs were a massive step down. Not so much now.

yeah that's a sweet bench. We look so much better with the 3 locks playing as locks. So much of that obviously rests on Frizzell maintaining his form.

But ST, Whitelock and ALB off the bench, and even clark and ofa, that's serious impact.