All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II
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3 debutants! it's like the old days when the first test of the season would be someone shit like Samoa or Scotland
weird team aye. Pack isn't bad despite Finau getting the first of his 100 caps and a newbie prop. Backline is definitely something. ALB the veteran, and at least he and DMac know each other.
If we can get good ball out of the pack, and one of Ennor or ALB plays dead straight off DMac they should be alright. But i've been fooled by an all out attack backline before that has no chemistry and just fumbles their way through the game
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Also if this team is picked and asked to play the same as last week it probably won't go as well.
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Love it! Foster showing some enterprise at last. Super interested in seeing how some of these players cope. Christie and Ennor are the only ones I would question.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
As I said. Liam Napier is reliable.
Knowler also reported the same team, so maybe the journos read/steal each others stories.
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I think they've picked their 33 man squad - the players won't know it yet... that of course doesn't mean it can't change.
My guess, is that they want to give a few of these guys a taste of test rugby in the case that they need to be called up.
Where the ABs have slightly fucked up, is at halfback. Smith had to play this last test - sometimes there is room for sentimentality, but what they possibly should have done is started Christie last week with Roigard to come off the bench, then they could ideally have had Roigard ready to either start or be on the bench this week.
I don't feel that confident taking a halfback to the WC with only 1 (maybe 2) bench appearances as his only test experience.
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@Stag said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
@KiwiMurph why wouldn’t he
As it was a Knowler article I would have been surprised if he didn't
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Media release:
Three debutants named for Dunedin Test
All Blacks selectors Ian Foster, Jason Ryan and Joe Schmidt have named the team to play Australia at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin (kick-off 2:35pm NZT).
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Dmac, SS and WJ will be interesting to watch, not particularly sold on the midfield or their service from halfback (until Smith gets subbed on) however.
Forward pack is solid enough.
If this team rolls the aussies their RWC will be over before it starts.
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@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:
Love it! Foster showing some enterprise at last. Super interested in seeing how some of these players cope. Christie and Ennor are the only ones I would question.
I actually like the side as well.
There’s a decent engine room picked. Plenty of experience even with a debutante and a second test player.
It will be interesting how SS and WJ play at the back together.
WJ and LF worked well together during the super rugby season in those positions, so I’m pretty excited to see it art this level.
