NZ to defo lose to France now.
EOYT is over.
Will talk the talk as usual but will have mentally clocked off. 1 loss for EOYT = successful tour.
Shipped 96 pts at RWC? Guessing AB's will wheel out the squaddies who will be keen to impress so expect..... keenness. Ruben Love, Billy Proctor etc to run amok. AJ Lam ffsABs still have to play Italy after France - at Juventus' home ground which is a bit of a cauldron.
Italy were good value in the Six Nations under their new coach - 2 wins and a draw.
Admittedly Italy almost never match up with the ABs but I'm interested to see how they go
Quesada's first job was to banish Crowley's run-it-from-anywhere-regardless approach. It was naive, costing them so many unnecessary points. Quesada's policy is structure, to build platforms. Whether they're up to the ABs is another matter but I'm interested to see how things have developed. Rugby barely exists here in Tuscany so Gli Azzurri will have one supporter. Me.ABs still have to play Italy after France - at Juventus' home ground which is a bit of a cauldron.
Italy were good value in the Six Nations under their new coach - 2 wins and a draw.
Admittedly Italy almost never match up with the ABs but I'm interested to see how they go
Not sure you can extrapolate Barrett's stats over his whole ~132 test career like that - he's only scored 2 tries in his last 19 tests. Jordan has been so insanely consistent it does work like that for him.^ statistically it'll take Beaugan 19 Tests to score the six tries he needs to take top spot vs 14 for WJ to get the 13 he needs. Barring something freakish from BB my money's on Jordan to get there first.
Cane has now been ruled out along with Tele'a who has a hand injury. Blackadder & Papali'i won't be going over but DuPlesis Kirifi & Chay Fihaki will be staying on as injury cover.
lol.
11. Clarke
13. Proctor
14. Ioane
Done.
EDIT: I've assumed we're wedded to Jordan at FB.
No word yet on a lock & I wonder if they even need one as Lord is still with them? Surely he & Toops can start v Italy with Vaa’i on the bench?