Bledisloe I (All Blacks team room bugged)
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<p>Agree that it's all speculation. I guess if Sir Ted wanted to carry on, the job would have been his. Not sure Hansen would have quite had the profile to see off Robbie in a one-on-one in 2007, though I think it's pretty clear that Robbie had a few guys in high places who weren't supporters.</p>
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<p>I don't think there would have been too much puzzling in R&B circles in a contest between Smithy and Robbie. Smithy had had his turn in the top job.</p>
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<p>Overall, things can't be improved on too much since 2007, so I think we should be pretty happy with how things have panned out. Doubtless quite a few rugby fans who died between 2007 and 2011 who wouldn't agree.</p> -
<p>um, that's a fucking good Wallaby team. McCalman in is a good move. Douglas in gives them starch. Kepu in gives them filth. Best back 3 they've had this year as well. </p>
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<p>At home, a month of prep, their best team of the year, us with a raft of outs. Wallabies by 6 in a new dawn. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="606316" data-time="1471486525">
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<p>um, that's a fucking good Wallaby team. McCalman in is a good move. Douglas in gives them starch. Kepu in gives them filth. Best back 3 they've had this year as well. </p>
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<p>At home, a month of prep, their best team of the year, us with a raft of outs. Wallabies by 6 in a new dawn. </p>
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<p>Winger told me our B team would beat Australia so I'm not worried...</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="606316" data-time="1471486525">
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<p>um, that's a fucking good Wallaby team. McCalman in is a good move. Douglas in gives them starch. Kepu in gives them filth. Best back 3 they've had this year as well. </p>
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<p>At home, a month of prep, their best team of the year, us with a raft of outs. Wallabies by 6 in a new dawn. </p>
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<p>It's sort of a "must win" for Chieka.</p>
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<p>We've had our changing of the guard:</p>
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<p>2015: ASmith, Carter, Savea, Nonu, CSmith, NMS, BSmith</p>
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<p>This test: ASmith, Barrett, Naholo, Crotty, Fekitoa, BSmith, Dagg</p>
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<p>Current everyone fit and at their best: ASmith, Barrett (maybe Cruden), Savea, Ngatai, SBW, NMS, BSmith</p>
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<p>Point is - if we lose this one - in Sydney - we've got places to go to get better, including going home. If Chieka loses, I'm not sure where he can get better in the short term.</p>
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<p>I can see Oz winning this - especially if our forwards don't smash them up front.</p> -
<p>Doesn't Ben McCalman play eight for the Force? Why move him to blindside and take Fardy (who plays blindside) to the bench to accommodate a number eight that is the antithesis of Zinny?</p>
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<p>I think the additions of McCalman and Douglas will help in the skill department. Fardy has become penalty prone. McCalman has a decent running game an Douglas will help to shore up the lineout and grunt work.</p>
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<p>I am a little surprised that Genia is starting as I thought he would provide a bit of spark off the bench. In saying that Phipps was below par in the England series</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="606246" data-time="1471477299">
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<p>Cheeky</p>
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<p>The question marks on the bench really do seem to revolve around the backs - can TJP take his recent form to the AB bench, can Cruden provide an impact, can Savea at least show some signs of heading in the right direction. </p>
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<p>I have no problems with TJP or Cruden. TJP's there because he's in form and TKB didn't come back that well from his injury. Cruden's there as a backup plan and because he'll offer more impact than Sopoaga. But Savea makes no sense. You generally tend to want at least one back on the bench who can cover multiple positions but Savea only covers one and he's not even good at it anymore. McGod forbid Fekitoa has another shocker.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="606330" data-time="1471489798">
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<p>I have no problems with TJP or Cruden. TJP's there because he's in form and TKB didn't come back that well from his injury. Cruden's there as a backup plan and because he'll offer more impact than Sopoaga. But Savea makes no sense. You generally tend to want at least one back on the bench who can cover multiple positions but Savea only covers one and he's not even good at it anymore. McGod forbid Fekitoa has another shocker.</p>
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<p>If Crotty or Fekitoa go down in the first 5 minutes, I reckon Bender goes to the midfield and Savea comes on. If they get injured say more than half way through we could see a repeat of Wales and Naholo move to the midfield.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="606242" data-time="1471476979">
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<p>Based on your meltdown last year when Sopoaga was left out (you know, when you said that even if the ABs won the RWC with DC at 10, it'd just be luck), I'll take this post as a good sign.</p>
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<p>A couple of little surprises in the 23 but most of it was predictable. Very happy for Hames and to see that Cane has recovered from the Stormers and Canes thuggery. Interested to see how Barrett goes at international level coming off a good season, hopefully he can keep up his form. Still not convinced Fekitoa is the right option at centre or that TJP won't shit the bed coming off the bench but I can always hope.</p>
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<p>Only thing that confuses me is the three props and only two backs on the bench. Seems like overkill.</p>
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<p>I said his non selection was a big mistake. It was</p>
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<p>It worked out fine as Carter luckily stayed injury free. But it was a unnecessary risk.</p> -
History show's they were right all along and whatever perceived risk you saw was wrong.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Winger" data-cid="606164" data-time="1471466629"><p>
So starting by super rugby team<br><br>
Crusaders 6<br>
H/Landers 4<br>
Cheifs 3<br>
Blues Canes 1 each<br><br>
You would think the Canes were the worst team based of these numbers. And the Crusaders easily the best<br><br>
(I wonder where the head coach hails from)</p></blockquote>
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why don't you save your energy for the new climate change thread? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="606359" data-time="1471501585"><p>
All I see in the climate change thread is a couple of schoolgirls wishing for him to comment so you can poke fun at him.<br><br>
Why don't you save you energy for something else, maybe go watch some porn or something.<br><br>
Personally I agree with him. Crotty and dagg are lucky to be there. Dagg slipped into his form from the last 3 seasons post test match break.</p></blockquote>
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That post was about his dig at Hanson selecting cantabs because he's from there , he can find s conspiracy in anything it seems . Agree re Dagg disagree re Crotty will take your advice re the porn though. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="606316" data-time="1471486525">
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<p>um, that's a fucking good Wallaby team. McCalman in is a good move. Douglas in gives them starch. Kepu in gives them filth. Best back 3 they've had this year as well. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>At home, a month of prep, their best team of the year, us with a raft of outs. Wallabies by 6 in a new dawn. </p>
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<p>We could put out a very good B team. That is a team that doesn't make the starting 15. there would be a lot of Canes players in this squad as they have just been completely overlooked by this panel</p>
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<p>TJ and Sopoaga or Cruden</p>
<p>The Canes midfield weren't too bad</p>
<p>The best 7 in NZ (Savea)</p>
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<p>The Tongan bear 9is he eligible), both locks either at lock or one for the back row, Shields and Vito at all options. even Jane was in good form. But we would need another selection panel otherwise it would be full of Canterbury players. :knuppel:</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Winger" data-cid="606378" data-time="1471506936"><p>We could put out a very good B team. That is a team that doesn't make the starting 15. there would be a lot of Canes players in this squad as they have just been completely overlooked by this panel<br>
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TJ and Sopoaga or Cruden<br>
The Canes midfield weren't too bad<br>
The best 7 in NZ (Savea)<br>
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The Tongan bear 9is he eligible), both locks either at lock or one for the back row, Shields and Vito at all options. even Jane was in good form. But we would need another selection panel otherwise it would be full of Canterbury players. :knuppel:</p></blockquote>p<br><br>
That would be good thread, a b team from all players not in the 23 today...<br><br>
Can't think of props, but Parsons, Tuipulotu, Bird, Todd, Dixon, Luatua, Webber, Sopoaga, Lowe, ALB, Taumanivalu, Jane, D-Mac. -
<p>All said and done, not really much room for complaint. In forwards Pat T unlucky, but after Welsh cameo and rugged late game in Super semi's think selectors fancy Squire's impact against Oz and want to take another look. Was always on the cards once Dixon rested.</p>
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<p>No one can begrudge BB start. For me Dagg has been very good at 15, and even if Bender offers more threat at 15 on attack, given wings situation, entirely logical to put him on wing to start.</p>
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<p>Backs bench main talking point. I was a little surprised they actually went for TJP, but no question he's earned it. Straight choice between Bus and ALB -- Sydney cauldron no place to debut the tyro. Haven't seen the wise men's comments, but Cruden on bench suggest to me that they will look for BB to play 80. Possible change up to change at 60 to Naholo/BB/Bender back three, with Crudes <em>steering</em> from first five, rather than impact.</p>
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<p>Hope Lima gets a starting run at some point...</p> -
<p>Why can't the best Fullback in the world play Fullback, and Dagg can go play wing?</p>
<p>Seriously, why doesn't this happen?</p>
<p>Does Dagg have revealing photos?<br>
Does he sook it up when he isn't given the 15 jersey?</p>
