Bledisloe II - Have a stab at the teams.

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="608750" data-time="1472078875">
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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?
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Yes some people do get carried away on here at times. The guy's got a future but he's got a long, long way to go before being considered for ABs selection.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="608868" data-time="1472106374">
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How's he supposed to do that ? send Richie flowers and an apology ?
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by being a normal person, rather than an arrogant twat.
 
I know you think I take personal offence to any negative mention of Richie, but around that whole period with Richie, his off-field shit was grubbish as well. As I said, I seen SFA of him since to see if he is a humble bloke who has grown up since then, so he may have, so that would be what I meant by redeeming himself.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="608873" data-time="1472107068">
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by being a normal person, rather than an arrogant twat.
 
I know you think I take personal offence to any negative mention of Richie, but around that whole period with Richie, his off-field shit was grubbish as well. As I said, I seen SFA of him since to see if he is a humble bloke who has grown up since then, so he may have, so that would be what I meant by redeeming himself.
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Fair call, I just don't see how people think he's worth the hassle to be honest. It's just the kind of boorish shit that used to piss me off when I think back to Aussies booing Hadlee in the 80s. Difference is Cooper sure as shit ain't Rugby's equivalent of Sir Paddles....sure he acted like a cock but it's not like he's single handedly beaten the ABs since is it ? 
 
Still, woulda been much worse if this weekends game was in Christchurch.

taniwharugby

I dont think its worth the hassle, I have met plenty of fellas in my life who I think are twats, I dont think of them, but then someone says hey do you remember MN6, and I'd be like shit its been years since I saw him, he was a bit of a fuckwit, I wonder if he has changed?

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="608877" data-time="1472107609">
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I dont think its worth the hassle, I have met plenty of fellas in my life who I think are twats, I dont think of them, but then someone says hey do you remember MN6, and I'd be like shit its been years since I saw him, he was a bit of a fuckwit, I wonder if he has changed?
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 Unlikely, that guy is a real fluffybunny.
 
In any case I'll keenly watch the first time Cooper is in the action and see what actually happens. You'd think being mates with everyone's favourite cross code superstar would make people go easy on him though.....
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiAuNWc_dvOAhWBOpQKHWipCDsQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxsports.com.au%2Frugby%2Fquade-cooper-set-to-fight-on-the-undercard-of-sonny-bill-williams-after-reportedly-quitting-rugby%2Fstory-e6frf4pu-1226520036925&psig=AFQjCNEK3oj5fa9aL5ls16ePnd26a2IGbg&ust=1472194278485467'><img height="360" src="http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2012/11/20/1226520/035063-quade-cooper.jpg" width="640" alt="035063-quade-cooper.jpg"></a>

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="608769" data-time="1472082391">
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Don't let the Evil Wizard fool you..... [emoji846]
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Here's the clip. 
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/theres-not-many-good-things-going-currently-wallabies-great-slams-underperforming-aussies'>https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/theres-not-many-good-things-going-currently-wallabies-great-slams-underperforming-aussies</a>

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="608884" data-time="1472109060">
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Here's the clip. 
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/theres-not-many-good-things-going-currently-wallabies-great-slams-underperforming-aussies'>https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/theres-not-many-good-things-going-currently-wallabies-great-slams-underperforming-aussies</a>
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Merhts has got more chins than a Hong Kong phone book

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="608861" data-time="1472103733">
<div>On Cooper, there's any number of guys who've put some dirty cheap shit on Richie over the years, they don't get the same treatment. Grow up Stuff and Grow up New Zealand. You're just making fluffybunnys of yourselves now.</div>
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As someone who was at the game I thought the booing of Quade in the 2011 RWC SF was embarrassing. Better to ignore him so he becomes irrelevant.

reprobate

very interesting aussie side. scraping the bottom of the barrel with all the injuries at 12, but i assumed kerevi and 2 dads would be in midfield well before foley.
 
about time simmons got the arse, and bringing fardy back makes sense. that forward pack is still not a patch on ours, but it is better than last week and they ought to be plenty angry and we ought to be super complacent. 
 
the backs though... jeez that inside channel is tempting. i suppose our continued midfield shuffle should provide them a little leeway, but i still see it going badly for them through there. even if their pack fires up and gets to evens or slightly better, i reckon we're going to score a few tries, and they're going to struggle to - unless cooper finally clicks, which is a bit of a long shot, but i guess it is possible, is it?

antipodean

The last time Quade played in New Zealand he was actually quite good. The wheels fell off when he left the field and Pocock came on. IIRC a try resulted from another aimless Toomua kick. Which reminds me half the problem for the Wallabies is their appalling kicking and associated kick chase. 
Injuries noted, but selecting Foley in the midfield is a hail mary selection. On the flip side, bringing Fardy back and removing Simmons is just common sense.

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="608793" data-time="1472092067">
Always amazed me that UB40 needed about ten fucken band members to make a sound that to me was just like one bloke with a drum machine and a synthesizer. I also read that one of the original members fell on hard times and had to join a UB40 tribute band haha. Mind you some of them do sound pretty good to be fair but in my mind there's no substitute for the real thing and real or not, UB40 were pretty shit overall.....well "Don't break my heart" is a good song. It says a lot about todays music that a cool young AB lists them as a favourite band. 
Anyway back to the Rugby, I'm even more out of touch than usual having been away but what does Squires bring to the table that Dixon doesn't ? Is 6 foot 5 really that much of an advantage over 6 foot 4 in the lineout ?</blockquote>
 
Ability? Imoact? Physicslity? Ball carrying? 
... no, am not a fan of Dixon. He's pretty meh IMO

hurricane

Cooper at 10 again, insert clip from ground hog day here I guess you just can't put him at 12 as his defence is shaky would be the thinking. I would put him there anyway. Foley is a classic and a very good number 10, let Cooper get jiggy with it from the number 12 spot his turnstile (spelling) defence notwithstanding. Anyway what do I know, I am just a fan. Nonetheless I see this game as a license to print money from a betting perspective. I reckon the ABs could put out squad similar to the baby black days and beat a team with cooper at 1st 5.

antipodean

Thinking more about perceived defensive frailties, it will be interesting if Chieka tries to move the backline around in defence which will hurt them badly on transition.

ACT Crusader

I think there are big concerns about cohesion in the squad. 
Cheika appears to not know what his best XV /23 is. Doesn't have the plans to try and turn a test match around if it's going awry. 
4 home losses on the trot. If they were playing the Boks at home this weekend (like the old 3Ns format) the pressure would be tenfold. 
Crossing the ditch, no one gives them even a starters chance so I guess the pressure is off somewhat more than last weekend.

hurricane

This post is a bit cynical but if the Aussies lose this match, then what will they turn to next 10 Folau (if James O'Connor got a game there against Lions of all people then why not Folau?) 11 Whoever isn't injured 12 Some Islander bloke who once broke a few tackles in a warm up match against University but has no international credibility 13 AAC 14 DHP 15 Jason Woodward for the LOLs

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="608870" data-time="1472106536">
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Yes some people do get carried away on here at times. The guy's got a future but he's got a long, long way to go before being considered for ABs selection.
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He has done the same amount as Reiko Ioane and hooker is a position of need. I accept the decision but want to get Ricciteli in the environment didn't seem strange to me.

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="608902" data-time="1472111671">
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The last time Quade played in New Zealand he was actually quite good. The wheels fell off when he left the field and Pocock came on. IIRC a try resulted from another aimless Toomua kick. Which reminds me half the problem for the Wallabies is their appalling kicking and associated kick chase. 
Injuries noted, but selecting Foley in the midfield is a hail mary selection. On the flip side, bringing Fardy back and removing Simmons is just common sense.
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Are you forgetting last year when Cooper played and gave away a penalty try?

gollum

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="608908" data-time="1472112345">
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Ability? Imoact? Physicslity? Ball carrying? 
... no, am not a fan of Dixon. He's pretty meh IMO
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Squires looks like he offers much more impacty off the bench, Dixon more a soilid starting 6. The test Dixon started v Wales he looked like he'd been told to hit rucks, make tackles & that was it & he did it & did it well, but Squire visably provided impact off the bench & upped the tempo. I can't see any reason they'd put Dixon on the bench over Squires when they are looking for punch in the last 20.
 
Its a bit like the Romano v Tuipoluto arguement, Tui, when fully fit, is the better bench option but Romano might squeak it as a starter

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="608938" data-time="1472114971">Are you forgetting last year when Cooper played and gave away a penalty try?</blockquote>
A high tackle in cover defence that was going to be a try anyway?

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="608947" data-time="1472115794">
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A high tackle in cover defence that was going to be a try anyway?
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Hardly a great day out otherwise. He also gave away a yellow card which we capitalised on. I'm still convinced Cheika didn't even try to win that game with his selections. He changed his very successful team from the week before.

The Silver Fern

Bledisloe II - Have a stab at the teams.