All Blacks vs Wales Test #2

KiwiMurph

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="587550" data-time="1465819776">
Has taminevalu ever played 12 then? And tuungafasi is a awful loosehead but a decent tight head. 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk</blockquote>
ACT Crusader is just continuing on his joke from the first test thread about Crusaders being rested ready for the business end of the Super season. 
It is interesting what the supposed one or two changes might be - Taylor for Harris maybe and Whitelock to start fitness pending.

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="587549" data-time="1465819508">Naturally I think Hansen should go with the following team. He has 1 July to take into account.... 
Tu'ungafasi 
2. Coles 
3. Faumuina 
4. Retallick 
5. Tuipoluto 
6. Kaino 
7. Cane 
8. Squire 
9. A. Smith 
10. Cruden 
11. Naholo 
12. Tamanivalu 
13. Fekitoa 
14. B. Smith (c) 
15. Barrett 
16. Harris 
17. Crockett 
18. Franks 
19. Dixon 
20. A. Savea 
21. Kerr-Barlow 
22. Sopoaga 
23. McKenzie 
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk</blockquote>
It's only Wales.

rotated

Rewatched the second half just to see if I missed anything with Savea, as the plaudits have been pretty glowing from some.
 
He looked excellent on debut, and a natural test player. But still I didn't see anything above Thomson/Vito play. Lots of energy, very good with ball in hand and solid in the tackle. I wasn't overwhelmed by his workrate, especially given his fresh legs - which has been the calling card for Read/McCaw/Kaino for years and Rodders/Collins/McCaw before that.
 
He is going to be handy off the bench, and already back him to more than replace Vito, Messam will be of no threat on his return - but I certainly don't see him necessarily translating to the starting team just yet. He may well do in the future (similar trajectory to Kaino or Collins' 03->05 growth) The Cane breakdown numbers are McCaw-level absurd.
 
If he continues to develop I would like to see a Read, Cane, Savea starting loose trio on the EOYT. In fact, I'd prefer Kaino is the one getting the hook after halftime now, to put even greater responsibility on the young guys and to stretch Cane's motor out.
 
Really impressed with Tuipolotu off the bench too on second viewing - you really can never have too many test-level locks given their injury prone nature.

Billy Tell

I don't want Tu'ungafasi anywhere near the ABs at present. He's a break glass in case of injuries to all the other props selection. He couldn't scrum very well at U20 level, he hasn't really impressed at the Blues at the set-piece, and I'm still traumatised after the U20s game in the weekend. I don't want to see him getting bent in half by the Welsh.
 
I am genuinely intrigued as to why anyone would want him starting an AB test match?!

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="587571" data-time="1465841502">
I don't want Tu'ungafasi anywhere near the ABs at present. He's a break glass in case of injuries to all the other props selection. He couldn't scrum very well at U20 level, he hasn't really impressed at the Blues at the set-piece, and I'm still traumatised after the U20s game in the weekend. I don't want to see him getting bent in half by the Welsh. 
I am genuinely intrigued as to why anyone would want him starting an AB test match?!</blockquote>
Try asking Shag Fozzie Fox et al. 
He's there, judged by those whose job it is, to be good enough. If he's there he's got to have the opportunity sometime. 
My plan, which I'm sure the Zoo have taken on board, is to give Ofa a bench spot in Dunedin.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="587497" data-time="1465809887">.....how does a guy who claims never to read his bullshit know this ?</blockquote>
 
I never clicked on it...was sitting in a dentist office and they had the herald, the paper version.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="587556" data-time="1465820927">ACT Crusader is just continuing on his joke from the first test thread about Crusaders being rested ready for the business end of the Super season.</blockquote>
 
I've even made 'one or two changes' from my first test side [emoji3] 
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bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="587575" data-time="1465842699">
<div>
He's there, judged by those whose job it is, to be good enough. If he's there he's got to have the opportunity sometime. 
My plan, which I'm sure the Zoo have taken on board, is to give Ofa a bench spot in Dunedin.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Ben Tameifuna has been apart of the All Blacks squad before, without getting any game time. I would think Tu'ungafasi is more likely to, given it seems he works a lot harder, but just because he is there, doesn't mean he has to get game time.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="587575" data-time="1465842699">
<div>
Try asking Shag Fozzie Fox et al. 
He's there, judged by those whose job it is, to be good enough. If he's there he's got to have the opportunity sometime. 
My plan, which I'm sure the Zoo have taken on board, is to give Ofa a bench spot in Dunedin.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
 
Tu'ungafasi is only in the squad because Brendon Edmonds is injured.

booboo

He's there because he's been selected. Even allowing for Brendon Edmonds he's rated at worst the 6th best prop on the country.

mariner4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="587549" data-time="1465819508">
<div>
Naturally I think Hansen should go with the following team. He has 1 July to take into account.... 
Tu'ungafasi 
2. Coles 
3. Faumuina 
4. Retallick 
5. Tuipoluto 
6. Kaino 
7. Cane 
8. Squire 
9. A. Smith 
10. Cruden 
11. Naholo 
12. Tamanivalu 
13. Fekitoa 
14. B. Smith (c) 
15. Barrett 
16. Harris 
17. Crockett 
18. Franks 
19. Dixon 
20. A. Savea 
21. Kerr-Barlow 
22. Sopoaga 
23. McKenzie 
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</div>
</blockquote>
you used that joke last week

mariner4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="587623" data-time="1465858031">
<div>
He's there because he's been selected. Even allowing for Brendon Edmonds he's rated at worst the 6th best prop on the country.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
His work around the track has been very good for the Blues. My guess (as uniformed as it can be) is that the AB brains trust are hoping they can teach him to scrum, because that is probably easier than teaching a scrummager to offer more in open play.

No Quarter

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="587627" data-time="1465858182">
<div>
you used that joke last week
</div>
</blockquote>
He's obviously a Dad.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="587623" data-time="1465858031">
<div>
He's there because he's been selected. Even allowing for Brendon Edmonds he's rated at worst the 6th best prop on the country.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
He's there because he's been selected, yes, obviously. He's been selected because other, better players are injured.
 
7th, Nepo Laulala is better than Tu'ungafasi too.

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="587644" data-time="1465860861">
<div>
He's there because he's been selected, yes, obviously. He's been selected because other, better players are injured.
 
7th, Nepo Laulala is better than Tu'ungafasi too.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
If you are going to play that game then Manu is rated above Edmonds and Tu'ungafasi.
 
I'm not sold on Ofa T as a scrummager but assume Cron has plenty of influence into their selection of props.

Provincial Stalwart

Onto more relevant news than 9th string All Black props called Tu'ungafasi. I work in the Tron CBD and just saw Jamie Roberts out for a lunchtime stroll. He's a unit even wearing a baggyish tracksuit. He was with some gangly young looking rooster who I didn't recognise. Probably a lock but Wales have been known to put locks called Alex Cuthbert on the wing.

Dice

I can sort of understand why the coaches are intrigued by Tu'ungafasi. When I look at his potential, his age, his versatility, his almost unrivaled motor for a prop(especially for someone who is 129kg), I can understand exactly why the coaches want to get their hands on him. If they can work their magic on him, he can be some player.
 
I think he's a decent scrummager at loosehead, not a great one, but I think him getting chewed up by the two best scrums earlier in the year sort of distorts his reputation at loosehead - I think he is fine there against most other teams. He is better at tighthead at the moment and can hold it up against most teams(just two weeks ago, he went alright against the AB looseheads). I think he will improve his scrummaging, as he's still a young fella, and the good thing is, he's already shown improvement there this year compared to last year.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="587627" data-time="1465858182">you used that joke last week</blockquote>
 
Hansen, if you're lurking, it's no joke. You didn't listen last week, now is your chance to do the right thing... 
And yes I am a Dad

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="587629" data-time="1465858386">
His work around the track has been very good for the Blues. My guess (as uniformed as it can be) is that the AB brains trust are hoping they can teach him to scrum, because that is probably easier than teaching a scrummager to offer more in open play.</blockquote>
Faumuina a case in point. Not a strong scrummager a couple of years back, has worked on his craft and is improving. But has been a beast around the track despite his size.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="587430" data-time="1465799641">
<div>
When contemplating changes I reckon the selectors will consider where we need to build depth, and how can we build experience without compromising current combinations. 
Maaaaybe Dixon to 6? They tend not to debut newbies as starters but I like Savea and Pat on the bench. Nothing against JK just blooding the new guy.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
If the idea is to blood people then I quite like the idea of Dixon at 6 - especially if we can also go with Whitelock/Retallick as locks.
 
Of those who didn't get a start in Test 1 - Franklin and Moala are outside the squad, so I don't expect to see them; Can't see them using Ngatai at all this series, since he's not yet in camp; TKB will probably come in for Perenara as soon as he's fit; Taylor should get a run somewhere; Whitelock as above; Dixon could start this test; Sopoaga maybe a start in Dunedin; leaving Tu'ungafasi, Squire, Dagg, McKenzie to maybe, or maybe not, find a spot somewhere.
 
Hard to see both Dagg and McKenzie appearing in Dunedin, so maybe one will find a place somewhere this week?

The Silver Fern

All Blacks vs Wales Test #2