All Blacks vs Wales
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<p>The game today had a real end of season feel. Would be a touch concerned as a Wales fan though, as they seemed to punch themselves out after the first half an hour when they were actually winning a most of the collisions. England were pretty loose, but still managed to cut through them fairly easily and it would have been worse without Ford's 6 missed kicks. </p>
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<p>Moriarty looked pretty energetic. Big names for them mostly didn't turn up though.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="583833" data-time="1464556738">
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<p>apparently 44 sets of brothers have played for the ABs, but only 9 have played together.</p>
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<p>Maugers almost, named in the same match day 22 but I don't think Aaron made it off the bench for a tour game.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="583832" data-time="1464556704">
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<p>Are Wales really that shit all of a sudden ? AWJ, Roberts, Davies, North, Faletau can all play can't they ?</p>
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<p>They are not shit but they are a fair way behind England.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="583669" data-time="1464478639">
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<p>Not sure about Crockett, he's still the second best loosehead in the country by a considerable margin.</p>
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<p>Crockett is 33, and Moody is now firmly established as the no.1 LH prop. I'd be looking at Goodes, Hames and Manu from next year.</p>
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<p>And who's the next power lock in line?</p>
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<p>Tuipulotu to back up Retallick. I assume the ABs coaches use of "power lock" is code for a traditional TH lock. Romano offers bulk in the scrum and can be a strong tackler, but his lack of "power" as a ball carrier has been mentioned by myself and others often enough here. Tuipulotu has some issues himself as a scrummager but his ability with ball in hand far exceeds Romano's.</p>
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<p>Romano will get his chance in the 1st test but I've always thought of him as a place-holder in the ABs.</p> -
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<p>I'm expecting the 23 for the First Test to be something like this:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>1. Joe Moody</p>
<p>2. Dane Coles</p>
<p>3. Owen Franks</p>
<p>4. Brodie Rettalick</p>
<p>5. Luke Romano</p>
<p>6. Jerome Kaino</p>
<p>7. Sam Cane</p>
<p>8. Keiran Read ©</p>
<p>9. Aaron Smith</p>
<p>10. Aaron Cruden</p>
<p>11. Julian Savea</p>
<p>12. Ryan Crotty</p>
<p>13. Malakai Fekitoa</p>
<p>14. Waisaki Nahalo</p>
<p>15. Ben Smith</p>
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<p>Reserves:</p>
<p>16. Codie Taylor</p>
<p>17. Wyatt Crockett</p>
<p>18. Charlie Faumauina</p>
<p>19. Patrick Tuipolotu</p>
<p>20. Ardie Savea</p>
<p>21. TJ Perenara</p>
<p>22. Beauden Barrett</p>
<p>23. Seta Tamanivalu</p>
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<p>Israel Dagg and Eliott Dixon might get in somewhere as well.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="583851" data-time="1464559935">
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<p>Crockett is 33, and Moody is now firmly established as the no.1 LH prop. I'd be looking at Goodes, Hames and Manu from next year.</p>
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<p>Tuipulotu to back up Retallick. I assume the ABs coaches use of "power lock" is code for a traditional TH lock. Romano offers bulk in the scrum and can be a strong tackler, but his lack of "power" as a ball carrier has been mentioned by myself and others often enough here. Tuipulotu has some issues himself as a scrummager but his ability with ball in hand far exceeds Romano's.</p>
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<p>Romano will get his chance in the 1st test but I've always thought of him as a place-holder in the ABs.</p>
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<p>The Lions tour is next year, I don't want to throw a rookie prop into that if Moody goes down</p>
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<p>any of those 3 props you mention will have to improve heaps if they want a shot at that.</p>
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<p>I'd be looking at them the year after</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="583857" data-time="1464560619">
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<p>The Lions tour is next year, I don't want to throw a rookie prop into that if Moody goes down</p>
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<p>any of those 3 props you mention will have to improve heaps if they want a shot at that.</p>
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<p>I'd be looking at them the year after</p>
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<p>I remember Romano bumping off one of the Irish props like he was nothing but that was some time ago and can't recall anything like that since.</p>
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<p>I think "loose" and "tight" are better terms than "athletic" and "power". It's a shame Boric had his issues cos he was another who could do either role pretty decently.</p>
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<p>Keith Robinson was a real "tight" lock in that he hit every single ruck possible but was hardly a "power" lock if that makes sense, certainly not like Brad Thorn was.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="583814" data-time="1464547700">
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<p>My conclusion from watching highlights of the England-Wales came is that Wales don't have a clue how to defend pace. What is the fastest backline the All Blacks could put out from the squad that has been selected?</p>
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<p>Fastest backline would have to be this:</p>
<p>9. Aaron Smith 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Julian Savea 12. Malakai Fekitoa 13. Charlie Ngatai 14. Waisaki Nahalo 15. Damian McKenzie</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="583862" data-time="1464560904">
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<p>Fastest backline would have to be this:</p>
<p>9. Aaron Smith 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Julian Savea 12. Malakai Fekitoa 13. Charlie Ngatai 14. Waisaki Nahalo 15. Damian McKenzie</p>
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<p>Tamanivula would be quicker than Ngatai surely, he's Fijian.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="583860" data-time="1464560881"><p>I remember Romano bumping off one of the Irish props like he was nothing but that was some time ago and can't recall anything like that since.<br><br>
I think "loose" and "tight" are better terms than "athletic" and "power". It's a shame Boric had his issues cos he was another who could do either role pretty decently.<br><br>
Keith Robinson was a real "tight" lock in that he hit every single ruck possible but was hardly a "power" lock if that makes sense, certainly not like Brad Thorn was.</p></blockquote>
Bro it's 2016! -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="583862" data-time="1464560904"><p>Fastest backline would have to be this:<br>
9. Aaron Smith 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Julian Savea 12. Malakai Fekitoa 13. Charlie Ngatai 14. Waisaki Nahalo 15. Damian McKenzie</p></blockquote>
Well if we're doing that you'd probably throw Smith at 13. -
<p>Edit fastest backline: 9. Aaron Smith 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Julian Savea 12. Charlie Ngatai 13. Ben Smith 14. Waisaki Nahalo 15. Damian McKenzie</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="583865" data-time="1464561054">
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<p>Tamanivula would be quicker than Ngatai surely, he's Fijian.</p>
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<p>He's the slow Fijian, that's why he plays centre and not on the wing.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="583878" data-time="1464561366">
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<p>He's the slow Fijian, that's why he plays centre and not on the wing.</p>
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<p>Slow Fijian ? that's like a blockbusting tackle breaking midfielder who is white......</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="583877" data-time="1464561355"><p>Edit fastest backline: 9. Aaron Smith 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Julian Savea 12. Charlie Ngatai 13. Ben Smith 14. Waisaki Nahalo 15. Damian McKenzie</p></blockquote>
Is Savea still faster than Dagg?<br><br>
Put Ardie at 12. -
<p>Julians still toey for a big guy. When he gets going he is nearly impossible to catch.</p>
