All Blacks vs Wales

Immenso Rapido

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="585758" data-time="1465421684">
I'm not sure if you are trying to be funny, but that is a ridiculous post. 
Tamanivalu is eligible and in form. Seems like a no brainer considering the ABs are looking to build midfield depth. It's been a long time since the ABs entered a test match and not one of the 3 midfield backs that were selected in the last test are not in the team. 
Also if you are going to criticise his selection, you might want to spell his name right....</blockquote>
 
It's not a ridiculous post. 
But I'm ok with it as 99% of the worlds ignoranti would never have believed we ever were on higher ground anyway. Think this would be typical of the last 30 years. 
Seta is a former Fiji U18 rep, who came here on scholarship. 
While it's not project player levels of low ground, it's on a level with English and French accidental poaching. And for those of us who like to sneer at this French and English accidental poaching, a bit of the moral high ground is lost. 
If I was a selector, I would pick him though. Looks a potentially huge talent.

KiwiMurph

I like they've gone for Harris. He needs the gametime more than Taylor, Harris got injured in the early part of the game vs USA in Chicago and since then nothing. Hopefully he plays a bit tighter than he has been at the Chiefs.
 
Excited to see what Ardie Savea and Tuipulotu can do off the bench.
 
Goalkicking shall be interesting to keep an eye on.

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="585758" data-time="1465421684">
I'm not sure if you are trying to be funny, but that is a ridiculous post. 
Tamanivalu is eligible and in form. Seems like a no brainer considering the ABs are looking to build midfield depth. It's been a long time since the ABs entered a test match and not one of the 3 midfield backs that were selected in the last test are not in the team. 
Also if you are going to criticise his selection, you might want to spell his name right....</blockquote>
 
Sigh. Way too many people take Internet forums way too seriously. 
My off-the-cuff post was tongue-in-cheek. 
If you're offended, seek therapy. 
And lighten up.

Chris B.

Harris the only slight surprise to me - obviously Hansen selecting with his red and black hat on and resting whichever Crusaders he can, while thrashing whichever Chiefs he can. :)
 
(Sam Whitelock - dodgy hammy - yeah right)!
 
Maybe he's got Harris ahead of Taylor (the old "you don't lose your place through injury"), or maybe that's a selection with an eye to balancing changes for the second test.
 
I thought they might give one of the newbies a start (most probably Dixon), but seems they've gone with pretty much the strongest we can field.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="585770" data-time="1465423329">It's not a ridiculous post. 
But I'm ok with it as 99% of the worlds ignoranti would never have believed we ever were on higher ground anyway. Think this would be typical of the last 30 years. 
Seta is a former Fiji U18 rep, who came here on scholarship. 
While it's not project player levels of low ground, it's on a level with English and French accidental poaching. And for those of us who like to sneer at this French and English accidental poaching, a bit of the moral high ground is lost. 
If I was a selector, I would pick him though. Looks a potentially huge talent.</blockquote>
 
The ridiculousness of the post is the moral high ground comment. Has the NZRU ever criticised so called poaching or illegitimate fast tracking of foreign born players? 
I'm not concerned about what journos or punters are saying and as you say they are largely ignorant to what occurs. But coming to NZ to play rugby on a scholarship and then going through the more traditional routes of ITM and then Super rugby, hardly infers there is something smelly about it all.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="585791" data-time="1465429584">Harris the only slight surprise to me - obviously Hansen selecting with his red and black hat on and resting whichever Crusaders he can, while thrashing whichever Chiefs he can. :) 
(Sam Whitelock - dodgy hammy - yeah right)! 
Maybe he's got Harris ahead of Taylor (the old "you don't lose your place through injury"), or maybe that's a selection with an eye to balancing changes for the second test. 
I thought they might give one of the newbies a start (most probably Dixon), but seems they've gone with pretty much the strongest we can field.</blockquote>
 
Yeah I thought maybe Taylor is lined up for a possible start?

Provincial Stalwart

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="585791" data-time="1465429584">
<div>
Harris the only slight surprise to me - obviously Hansen selecting with his red and black hat on and resting whichever Crusaders he can, while thrashing whichever Chiefs he can. :)
 
(Sam Whitelock - dodgy hammy - yeah right)!
 
Maybe he's got Harris ahead of Taylor (the old "you don't lose your place through injury"), or maybe that's a selection with an eye to balancing changes for the second test.
 
I thought they might give one of the newbies a start (most probably Dixon), but seems they've gone with pretty much the strongest we can field.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I think that is the most likely explanation. Taylor has it all over Harris based on the last 18 months, but Harris has obviously been injured for most of that time and is only a couple of starts for the Chiefs into his comeback. Harris needs to be integrated back into the team quickly with a view to he and Taylor slugging it out for the bench hooker spot for TRC and beyond. Had Harris not been injured, we would never have seen as much of Taylor or Hika Elliott last tear, and we wouldn't have seen James Parsons.
 
Regardless of those machinations, we are in a good place at hooker, much more so than in 2012 when we had two aging hookers and no-one else at all (plus Mealamu had to be carefully managed through the 4 season cycle to RWC). Coles debuted on the 2012 EOYT and didn't come of age in test matches until the England series in June 2014 (I recall Bismarck du Plessis owned Coles in the test at Eden Park in 2013 prior to being sent off).

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="585801" data-time="1465432753">
Yeah I thought maybe Taylor is lined up for a possible start?</blockquote>
 
That's my thoughts. CT is playing really good code. He's needs a starting opportunity during this series not only for his own development but in case Coles has an injury during the RC. 
So because he is going to get a start anyway then they can afford to give Harris development time off the bench. Harris also offers something different as he is a bigger unit.

Frank

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="585811" data-time="1465434131">
<div>
Harris also offers something different as he is a bigger unit.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Aah...nup
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.google.com.tw/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=codie+taylor'>https://www.google.com.tw/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=codie+taylor</a>
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.google.com.tw/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=nathan+harris'>https://www.google.com.tw/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=nathan+harris</a>

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Frank" data-cid="585824" data-time="1465438341">
<div>
Aah...nup
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.google.com.tw/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=codie+taylor'>https://www.google.com.tw/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=codie+taylor</a>
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.google.com.tw/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=nathan+harris'>https://www.google.com.tw/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=nathan+harris</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Based on the Harris link, he is taller...
 
The Chiefs site has Harris at 110kgs and Saders site has Taylor at 106

bobily

The Crusaders site isn't a reliable source - probably the least reliable of the SupeRugby teams.
 
There have been a few articles about Codie somewhat recently that have said he is usually around 109kg-ish. I think the All Blacks like him around 110 or 111kg for the setpiece, whereas the Crusaders like him to be a bit lighter. So there is bugger all difference in weight.

Crash

I just think it's a case of wanting to see what Harris can do, while also promoting healthy competition in the team

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="585832" data-time="1465439974">
<div>
Based on the Harris link, he is taller...
 
The Chiefs site has Harris at 110kgs and Saders site has Taylor at 106
</div>
</blockquote>
Huge difference, Massive....could be telling.
 
Or it could be the old fern truism of weights not being updated, in some cases ever.

RoninWC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="585760" data-time="1465421691">
<div>
Different roles I guess, Franks hits harder in the tackle than any other prop in NZ. He's also a big force moving bodies at the breakdown.
 
He's obviously not as fast as coles, and you can't coach natural speed (I definately know this from my own experience as a carthorse )
 
Coles generally plays out in the wider channels waiting for an opportunity to run with the ball. 
 
A team with all tight forwards playing the same style of play as Coles would hardly see the ball.
 
 
Are you John Mitchell? I seem to remember something about him telling his props to save their energy in the scrum so they can be more effective around the field ;)
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Ahhh, a certain Mister Faumuina might take exception to that statement.
 
It's not a contest in which I would want to be the tackling dummy but I'd put my money on Big Charlie to "hit" harder.

taniwharugby

with the change or personell, particularly the backline, I wonder if we will see any significant change of tactics?

Canes4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="585927" data-time="1465459145">
<div>
with the change or personell, particularly the backline, I wonder if we will see any significant change of tactics?
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Id say the All Blacks will play a fairly simple, high paced game plan with the outlook of running the Welsh off the park with guys like Ardie and Beauden coming off the bench. They will probably add the flashy stuff as the series moves to the second and third game when combinations start jelling.

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Frank" data-cid="585824" data-time="1465438341">
Aah...nup <a class="bbc_url" href="https://www.google.com.tw/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=codie+taylor">https://www.google.com.tw/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=codie+taylor</a> <a class="bbc_url" href="https://www.google.com.tw/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=nathan+harris">https://www.google.com.tw/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=nathan+harris</a></blockquote>
 
Meh, my eyes say different. 
It looks like Harris has spent all of his injury enforced time off in the gym. And watching him against the Tahs he ran straight over blokes a couple of times. He's a stocky unit.

MiketheSnow

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="585928" data-time="1465459701">
<div>
Id say the All Blacks will play a fairly simple, high paced game plan with the outlook of running the Welsh off the park with guys like Ardie and Beauden coming off the bench. They will probably add the flashy stuff as the series moves to the second and third game when combinations start jelling.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
With the exception of Bradley Davies, Gatland has selected his most mobile and athletic 8.
 
And the backs are not hurting in the speed department.
 
Where it will be won or lost is speed of thought. Unfortunately Wales will be still in the blocks whilst NZ are chesting the tape.

NTA

ABs by 35

gollum

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="585762" data-time="1465422204">
<div>
I know we have an embarrassment of riches with talent, but we have to give Hansen and the coaching team big props here. We've lost 4 - 5 all time greats from the last time we played, and yet the naming of the team is basically as expected. That's insane. The way they have built depth in terms of players with test experience, while making sure we keep winning everything in sight shows some pretty awesome management - it's not something previous AB coaches have done well at all. He has to go down as our greatest ever coach IMO.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Its more that they haven't fallen into the trp created by the embaressment of riches. Coaching the ABs there is so much talent & it puts its hand up so often you could pick & swap like crazy - Mains did this, Hart too especially 1998-9.
 
The genuis of the last 10 years is they've picked a guy, then stuck with him even if the flavor of the month of the Fern or in the press changes 15 times. Only bringing new guys in here & there as injury cover. You could look at Ardie who they brought in 2 years ago to train. They have well & truly laid out there selection there - McCaw, when McCaw goes its Cane (who they make captain in the WC pool game). Todd is the like for like with Cane & Ardie is the long term backup & will be eased in. Thats been their genuis, doing that for every position.
 
I was talking to a pom mate re the centres the other day & he was asking how we'd cope post Nonu-Smith & I said "no problem, Crotty-Fekitoa, with SBW slotting in later & Ngatai being developed having been blooded last year."
 
In contrast over the 5 years or so NZ really only used Crotty, Fekitoa & SBW to cover Nonu & Smith, England used Twelvetrees, Eastmond, Tuilagi, Burrell, Joseph, Burgess, Farrell, Barritt, Hape, Turner-Hall, Tomkins, Slade. And worse there's no consistent gamplan those guys played to. Sometimes the have to big smashers, sometimes a passer & a smasher, sometimes 2 quick guys etc...
 
Its often harder being a selector when you have depth as the fans will climb into every new young guy - look on here how many had selected Ardie ahead of Cane, or how during the WC guys like Sean Fitzpatrick were droping Savea for Nahalo. Or last season how many called the end for Dagg because Dmac & NMS can play there.

The Silver Fern

All Blacks vs Wales