Bledisloe II - Have a stab at the teams.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Gunner" data-cid="608725" data-time="1472065926">I'm bloody happy about this. I made a call for it to happen in an earlier thread, maybe before or during the Wales series and I was laughed off the forum. 
BFA, best full back in the world, wasted hanging out on the right wing. 
Hate to have to say it, but I'm going to anyway. 
I TOLD YOU SO [emoji6]</blockquote>
 
Wasted out on the wing? What??? He's scored 18 of his 22 AB tries whilst playing on the wing. Hardly seems a waste.

pakman

Fozzie threw a curve ball in there with his interview!
But have to say that ALB seems a composed player and important to note allows Fekitoa to stay at 13 where he is best.
Malakai and Seta did conjure up some visions of rabbits in the headlights.

Crucial

ALB is by far the least disruptive selection. Similar enough to Crotty that it doesn't change up the gameplan too much.

Stockcar86

Congrats to ALB, but I feel sorry for Buckman - I think he would have been in with a real shot for that spot if he hadn't borked his shoulder in Super pre-season

Crucial

Funny thing is that if Ngatai hadn't run into problems, not only would he be there but ALB wouldn't have had the opportunities to showcase himself to the selectors.

KiwiMurph

I like the midfield choice - ALB looks like he has a calm head on his shoulders and on paper the AlB Fekitoa combo should work nicely. A bit too soon for Rieko - let him get used to the environment and 15s again and unleash him later. 
Not sure about the Ben Smith Dagg swap but if it turns to custard they can easily swap around.

Unco

Stoked for ALB, it was really impressive the way he stepped in for Ngatai and filled that hole. The man has a huge future (pity about his old man-like music tastes though, UB40? Really?).
 
Not sure about the Dagg/Smith swap. Dagg was alright on the wing back in the day but I dunno how he'd go now. I guess we'll see though.

Hooroo

It's not Smith at Fullback and dagg on the wing in real teerms. Just like last week, it's 15a &15b

phoenetia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-time="1472077882" data-cid="608745" data-author="Unco">Stoked for ALB, it was really impressive the way he stepped in for Ngatai and filled that hole. The man has a huge future (pity about his old man-like music tastes though, UB40? Really?). Not sure about the Dagg/Smith swap. Dagg was alright on the wing back in the day but I dunno how he'd go now. I guess we'll see though.</blockquote>Food for thought - It's hardly a labour of love, ALB has many rivers to cross but if it happens again, I'm sure we'll get over it. That's my way of thinking anyway.

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="608715" data-time="1472063466">
<div>
I don't doubt it at all, have you not read the rest of this thread?
</div>
</blockquote>
Who's going to have an issue? Some of your Canes brethren (aside from Winger who we can just discount from any discussion he just wants Cane-a-blacks selected every week)?
 
Seems to be everyone seems happy so far.
 
Great for ALB, he looked impressive this season but I doubt anyone expected his rise to be so meteoritic. I think he'll do the job well. Really gutting for Ngatai though this season, hopefully his head comes right.
 
Squire's another one who's had a meteoritic rise as well. He appears to have overtaken fan favourite Dixon or his height allows them to use him as a lock/loose forward.

mariner4life

Another new backline combination, but it won't matter because that pack is sexy as fuck. 
 
Not overly impressed with the Dagg to wing thing, i don't think it's best use of resources. Still, it means we've reached the point where playing the Wallabies in NZ is time to experiment. 
 
Given last week, i reckon ABs by 20.

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="608731" data-time="1472066986">A couple of selections I'm not wild about. Parsons is a long way down the pecking order for Hookers IMHO. I'd have chosen Ricky Riccitelli. 
Ben Smith at fullback is sensible but Dagg on the Wing is eccentric. I remember him being dreadful there against the Blues last year. A much better choice for All Black Right Wing, especially at the Cake Tin would have been Cory Jane.</blockquote>
Seriously? Ricky has played eight minutes of professional football and you want him to be the hooker in case Coles goes down in the second minute?

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="phoenetia" data-cid="608747" data-time="1472078370">
<div>
Food for thought - It's hardly a labour of love, ALB has many rivers to cross but if it happens again, I'm sure we'll get over it. 
That's my way of thinking anyway.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
But most importantly, which version of UB40? :)
 
Kids today. He obviously hasn't spent enough time in the Waikato to change his musical tastes. We'll work on him...

mariner4life

shiny new things...
 
Parsons' lineout throwing is generally on point, so it's nice to have that in our 4th choice hooker. I would pick him for that alone. He also gets around the track a bit. He's not Coles, but he plays a bit like him.

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="608748" data-time="1472078436">
<div>Squire's another one who's had a meteoritic rise as well. He appears to have overtaken fan favourite Dixon or his height allows them to use him as a lock/loose forward.</div>
</blockquote>
 
I did note that Hansen said Kaino and Read were the back-up locks, not Squire. This could be a horses for courses selection as I'd expect Pat T or Romano to be on the bench vs SA. There will probably be a few changes for the next test vs Argentina.

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="608752" data-time="1472078897">But most importantly, which version of UB40? :) 
Kids today. He obviously hasn't spent enough time in the Waikato to change his musical tastes. We'll work on him...</blockquote>
 
Why? So he can sing along to "The boys are back in town" while cradling a stubbie of crap beer to his shoulder?

Frank

No Pat T :(
 
Dagg on the wing 
 
Ben Smith at fullback :man_in_love:

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="608754" data-time="1472079135">I did note that Hansen said Kaino and Read were the back-up locks, not Squire. This could be a horses for courses selection as I'd expect Pat T or Romano to be on the bench vs SA. There will probably be a few changes for the next test vs Argentina.</blockquote>
 
Yeah I thought last week that after the team was named that they would be saving Pat T for the Boks. Romano I think will play vs the Argies because of the scrum. 
I'm a fan of Squire and like that they've given him another shot.

taniwharugby

Based on last weeks result, with the forward pack being pretty handy, I think it is an ideal opportunity to give ALB a run, maybe get Savea back to form and let Dagg go on the wing.
 
Saw an interview with Mortlock this morning and he had been around them in the past couple of days and said he doesn't get a good vibe or see anything that indicates they can turn it around.

Gunner

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="608737" data-time="1472072605">
Wasted out on the wing? What??? He's scored 18 of his 22 AB tries whilst playing on the wing. Hardly seems a waste.</blockquote>I just feel he has opportunity to get his hands on the ball and make more impact at 15. 
I'm not saying he's a bad winger at all, just far prefer him at 15.

The Silver Fern

Bledisloe II - Have a stab at the teams.