Bledisloe II - Have a stab at the teams.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="608109" data-time="1471858945">
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<p>Yeah, Beauden Barrett's All Blacks career is really failing to take off because of his association with the Canes.<br><br>
I suggest arranging a protest against Shag, Foster, Fox and Smith at public training in Welly this week. You might get all of four people joining you.</p>
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<p>As long as the Abs keep on winning things will be fine. And Aust is so pathetically weak they will do. Our B team would be better. But one loss .. But its unlikey to happen. The other teams are weak at present. The only team that might beat NZ is England</p>
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<p>Shag is winning due to NZ player strength. And lack of in many other countries</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Winger" data-cid="608115" data-time="1471859394"><p>
Shag is winning due to NZ player strength. And lack of in many other countries</p></blockquote><br>
And Shag's teams keep winning because they score more points than the opposition too. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Winger" data-cid="608119" data-time="1471859736">
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<p>How do you explain Riccitelli being overlooked. Its not as if the selected hookers are that great. even Proctor. Is he worse than the chiefs centre</p>
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<p>um, because he is a bench super player, is young as shit, and because they have 2 hookers who they could pick who had already been part of the squad and are semi up to speed on how the lineout etc functions already. kinda handy when you want a short-term replacement.</p>
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<p>likewise all the backs except ioane had been part of the squad previously. and ioane is clearly in a similar basket to ardie savea - you remember, that young guy who was taken away on tour despite having not earned shit. oh, where was he from again?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Winger" data-cid="608115" data-time="1471859394"><p>
Shag is winning due to NZ player strength.</p></blockquote>
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Sounds like the selections are going alright if that is the case aye Winger.... -
Was PT injured or omitted in the last test?
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="608146" data-time="1471866849"><p>Was PT injured or omitted in the last test?</p></blockquote>
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Wasn't on the injured list. -
<p>From a neutral point of view, these Shag's selections do not seem picked on provincial bias. Proctor could have been chosen instead of Tamanivalu but the latter has already in the AB's environment so it will be easy and quick for him to adjust. This is exactly what is required for a temporary replacement.</p>
<p>Riccitelli is in the same case.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the question was certainly more accute when the initial squad was given : Fatialofa vs Romano, Shields vs Squire or Dixon were the only cases where the non selection of Hurricanes players could have been discussed. I don't see any other Hurricanes player who could have been in the squad : Marshall ? Not good enough. Jane ? Too old. Proctor ? maybe. Halaholo ? He's heading north and does light the world on fire. Vito ? Leaving. Fifita ? Not big enough for an international lock. May ? Old journeyman. Uhila ? Not elligible.</p> -
<p>Loni Uhila has never played for an overseas team that ties him to that country and he has definitely met the three year residential requirements thus there appears to be no impediment, other than ability, selectorial whim or his personal preference, to being selected for the All Blacks.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="reprobate" data-cid="608123" data-time="1471860531"><p>um, because he is a bench super player, is young as shit, and because they have 2 hookers who they could pick who had already been part of the squad and are semi up to speed on how the lineout etc functions already. kinda handy when you want a short-term replacement.<br>
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likewise all the backs except ioane had been part of the squad previously. and ioane is clearly in a similar basket to ardie savea - you remember, that young guy who was taken away on tour despite having not earned shit. oh, where was he from again?</p></blockquote>
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I think Coltman is overdue, could have been picked last year after Highlanders outstanding season and was unlucky with injuries this year. I would have had Hika as well. Riccatelli's time will come if he continues performing but my understanding is that he started season down the depth charts at Hurricanes. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="608078" data-time="1471852350"><p>
On the other hand - the top four NZ Super sides finished on 53,52,51 and 50 points respectively - and the Hurricanes had the worst points differential of the lot.<br><br>
The cards ended up falling you guys' way - three finals games against teams travelling from South Africa - well done for winning the competition, but I don't think you really dominated the competition.<br><br>
I realise you are just joking - but, I thought I'd just point out a reality for the LCDs.</p></blockquote> How are those grapes tasting? Bit sour? -
<p>The Chiefs won back to back titles and were still in the bottom two contributors to the All Blacks. When the Highlanders won Super Rugby title last year they still contributed very few players to the World Cup squad.</p>
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<p>Considering the lack of Hurricanes success over the years and high number of All Blacks, have they been over represented up till now? They must have been if the reverse is now true.</p>
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<p>But seriously, when people are up in arms that Matt Proctor and Ricky Riccitelli aren't in the All Blacks, someone is taking the piss. Riccitelli will probably be an All Black one day, but as of now he is a 21 year old with 9 Super Rugby games (2 or 3 starts?). And Proctor? Piss off.</p> -
<p>Maybe what Shag the wise one , is telling us </p>
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<p>they fluked winning the competition and have no chance of going back to back . </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="608078" data-time="1471852350">
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<p>On the other hand - the top four NZ Super sides finished on 53,52,51 and 50 points respectively - and the Hurricanes had the worst points differential of the lot.</p>
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<p>The cards ended up falling you guys' way - three finals games against teams travelling from South Africa - well done for winning the competition, but I don't think you really dominated the competition.</p>
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<p>I realise you are just joking - but, I thought I'd just point out a reality for the LCDs. </p>
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<p>Yeah, but pretty sure we dominated the finals - where it mattered ;)</p> -
<p>Such is Wingers out and out trolling on this thread I'm actually thinking his conspiracy theory/anti vac lunacy is just trolling now too - because no one who isn't taking the piss would be getting up in arms about the players he's mentioning not making the ABs.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="608149" data-time="1471869005">
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<p>Wasn't on the injured list.</p>
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<p>then it was a strange out. Game plan i guess? </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="608209" data-time="1471906453">
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<p>then it was a strange out. Game plan i guess? </p>
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<p>Two locks are good enough for the Wallabies I guess - especially with Read and Kaino and then Squire on the bench.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="608207" data-time="1471906425">
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<p>He is the ferns most successful troll.</p>
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<p>He must sit back laughing how all these idiots are lapping up his work!</p>
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<p>He doesn't have time to sit back and laugh. He's too busy fighting the good fight over on Planet Rugby as well.</p> -
<p>Excuse my ignorance as I have been away with limited internet access for a week ( mind you that doesn't excuse nearly ten years of other dumb comments from me on here ) but is Moala injured ? I managed to catch the AB team being named but little else ( as an aside I'm not sure why on an island where I socialized with lots of Kiwis and Aussies the Rarotongans decided to broadcast SA/Argentina as opposed to the Bledisloe but I'm sure there's some reason )</p>
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<p>Sounds like Fekitoa had a good un and J Savea scored a wonderful try too so if Ioane makes a good fist Moala might struggle to get back in despite his awesome showing against Roberts and Davies.</p>
