Bledisloe I (All Blacks team room bugged)
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Frank" data-cid="605521" data-time="1471080163"><p>The article suggest Moala over Fekitoa. I hope Barrett didn't play purely because of his workload and not that they still see Cruden as the starter.</p></blockquote>
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Workload and a slight hangover I would hope -
<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:'helvetica neue';">One observation is that, given they are both on the small side, Cruden/Crotty, is asking a bit for trouble on D and doesn't have much bite on attack. Cruden has always been much more threatening with a big unit such as SBW at 12 outside him.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:'helvetica neue';">So if selectors want Crotty at 12 it would make more sense to start with BB, or even Sopoaga, at 10. Then take your pick at 13.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:'helvetica neue';">As an alternative, I'd quite like to see Cruden/Moala at some stage. Would argue for Crotty to start at 13, with Fekitoa/ALB on bench if game won. </span></span></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Frank" data-cid="605521" data-time="1471080163"><p>The article suggest Moala over Fekitoa. I hope Barrett didn't play purely because of his workload and not that they still see Cruden as the starter.</p></blockquote>
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All Canes were held out on Friday - except for Julian Savea who obviously needed the run. -
<p>Sheesh all this talk of injured players, who played midfield, when the biggest news was</p>
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<p>Cruden kicked six from seven, <strong>before handing the tee to Dagg, who slotted two from three </strong>in the 73-0 rout.</p>
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<p>Closer and closer to that 10 jersey he goes :)</p> -
I think they'll go horses for courses with Cruden and Barrett. Both will start games. Question being if Cruds is not starting, does he make the 23? Probably not...
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="605599" data-time="1471248898"><p>I think they'll go horses for courses with Cruden and Barrett. Both will start games. Question being if Cruds is not starting, does he make the 23? Probably not...</p></blockquote>
Yeah could well be. Cruden seems to step up against Aus, Barrett against SA. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="605599" data-time="1471248898">
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<p>I think they'll go horses for courses with Cruden and Barrett. Both will start games. Question being if Cruds is not starting, does he make the 23? Probably not...</p>
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<p>gotta say i really hope not. can't stand chopping and changing 10s, they've got too much influence on how the game is played - even more so with a rookie midfield.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="605560" data-time="1471240391">
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<p>Sheesh all this talk of injured players, who played midfield, when the biggest news was</p>
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<p>Closer and closer to that 10 jersey he goes :)</p>
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<p><img src="http://www.rawdlc.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/deadhorse-e1282280554511.jpg" alt="deadhorse-e1282280554511.jpg"></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="605599" data-time="1471248898"><p>
I think they'll go horses for courses with Cruden and Barrett. Both will start games. Question being if Cruds is not starting, does he make the 23? Probably not...</p></blockquote>
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He kind of has to. You need 2 x 10s in the 23. Lima only plays 10 so one of them must make the 23.<br><br>
Barrett covers fullback and potentially wing regardless of whete he starts. Hence I can see Barrett on the bench to provide both cover and impact. Heresy I know!! But it's probably a better distribution of resources.<br><br>
Unless they use Dmac - who isn't in the squad. -
Have renamed the thread as we're veering on to potential selections for Saturday so may as well keep it all here.<br><br>
When IS the team named? -
Shots fired by Shag<br>
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://m.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11693787'>http://m.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11693787</a><br><br>
Fire returned by Cheika<br>
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://m.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11694086'>http://m.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11694086</a><br>
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/83188927/wallabies-coach-michael-cheika-has-added-to-the-theatre-of-bledisloe-cup-rugby'>http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/83188927/wallabies-coach-michael-cheika-has-added-to-the-theatre-of-bledisloe-cup-rugby</a><br><br>
Horne tries mind games<br>
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/83201329/Australian-back-Rob-Horne-says-All-Blacks-will-be-under-much-more-pressure-than-the-Wallabies'>http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/83201329/Australian-back-Rob-Horne-says-All-Blacks-will-be-under-much-more-pressure-than-the-Wallabies</a> -
Hang on if Dagg is taking shots at goal does that mean they might see him starting with Cruden to cover if Cruden is having an off night with the boot? Didn't Dagg have an awesome season with the boot for the highlanders one year? I was surprised he stopped doing it.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rembrandt" data-cid="605633" data-time="1471262427">
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<p>Hang on if Dagg is taking shots at goal does that mean they might see him starting with Cruden to cover if Cruden is having an off night with the boot? Didn't Dagg have an awesome season with the boot for the highlanders one year? I was surprised he stopped doing it.</p>
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<p>Has Dagg got more range than Cruden? A few other teams have a guy with a huge boot keep his hand in just in case they need to hoof one from the halfway. Wasn't so much an issue with Carter as he had big range, but not sure re Cruden out past the 40... </p> -
<p><u><strong>Starter and back-ups</strong></u></p>
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<p>9 - Aaron Smith, TJP, Ben Smith</p>
<p>10 - Barrett, <strong>Dagg (reserve goal kicker), </strong>Ben Smith</p>
<p>11 - Naholo, Moala, Ben Smith</p>
<p>12 - Crotty, Moala, Ben Smith</p>
<p>13 - Moala, Crotty, Ben Smith</p>
<p>14 - Ben Smith, Naholo, Moala, Ben Smith</p>
<p>15 - Dagg, Ben Smith, Barrett.</p>
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<p>Only one back reserve needed (TJP)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="605611" data-time="1471252112">
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<p>Yeah could well be. Cruden seems to step up against Aus, Barrett against SA.</p>
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<p>How can you make that statement when I can't remember Barrett starting against Australia and even if he has not enough to establish a track record or being good or bad.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="broughie" data-cid="605644" data-time="1471270564">
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<p>How can you make that statement when I can't remember Barrett starting against Australia and even if he has not enough to establish a track record or being good or bad.</p>
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He was first five in the Brisbane Bledisloe a few years back where Fekitoa scored in the last minute.</p>
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<p>I kind of get where Bones is going though - Barrett's best rugby has come against the Boks and his style seems to give them more issues, with the caveat it has mainly come both off the bench and at fullback.</p>
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<p>Still think we should go with Cruden at 10, Barrett at 15 and Smith at 14 at least for the first couple of tests.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="broughie" data-cid="605644" data-time="1471270564">
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<p>How can you make that statement when I can't remember Barrett starting against Australia and even if he has not enough to establish a track record or being good or bad.</p>
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<p>I can make that statement by saying the word "seems" as a qualifier and having memories of Barrett causing all sorts of mayhem against SA teams, whilst not a huge amount against Aus. I never said Barrett is good or bad against them.</p> -
<p>I don't really buy they've played enough against different teams, though part of the reason could be the defensive patterns the 2 teams play, ie umbrella v rush v push & so on.</p>
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<p>Barrett has tended to cause chaos v the Boks mostly because he has come off the bench after the ABs have run them all over the park, I think its more about extreme pace v not great fitness than it is about him being particularly suiited.</p>
