Bledisloe 2 - Saturday 25th August 2018 - Eden Park, Auckland

[Quick Hands]

I reckon we could win this game...must have had a few too many optimism drinks..

You're always a chance in a two horse race. To win against the ABs, we need everyone to play at their best and also have the bounce of the ball and most of the 50/50 calls to go our way.

Let's hope Barnes brings his 2007 whistle.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^^^ be careful what you wish for: what if, God forbid, he misses a blatant AB forward pass or an "OMG if the ref saw that I'm in the bin" hands in the ruck on the goal line. Oh, that's right, happens every week, dunnit .

 

[Quick Hands]

^^^^^^^^^ be careful what you wish for: what if, God forbid, he misses a blatant AB forward pass or an "OMG if the ref saw that I'm in the bin" hands in the ruck on the goal line. Oh, that's right, happens every week, dunnit .

If he misses things, he misses things. That's life and it's how rugby has been for most of the last 150 years.

 

[Tomikin]

Fantastic article by Harrison on our lineout issues

http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2018/08/22/wallabies-lineout-harrison

Amazing really. Guess the lineout caller sometimes needs to adjust the call on the fly. Which I guess is why lineout callers are still needed..call it pocahontus a b or c

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[Tomikin]

I think those are solid changes from Cheika.

Sio returning is good and Ala'alatoa deserves a crack after both Robertson and Kepu struggled a fair bit last week. Fainga'a deserves his chance off the bench.

The backs are as expected and it is good to see Banks getting a crack off the bench.

I would have been tempted to start the Brumbies front row for synergy. But having Kepu proping with the new hookers probably a good call.

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[Tomikin]

Geez it'd be nice if a guy like James Hansen was available to be picked.

He wouldnt have been selected as right now Fainga'a has been in great form and a better Hooker.

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[Quick Hands]

As long as we don't have:

 

[Joe Blow]

We have a good number of decent hookers at the moment. No need for Chibba who was not outstanding as a test rake. One of these young blokes needs to stand up and challenge for the starting spot. FF (Folau Fainga'a) might be the guy.
Same with the props. Its pretty tough on Kepu to ask him to measure up enthusiasm wise to a young bloke trying to bust into the test side. Especially so after being ridden so hard at the Tahs the last few years. He has had a stellar career and has been the cornerstone of our scrum. His time and health need to be managed so that he comes into the RWC in the best possible space. AAA will give us a bit more around the pitch.

 

[KOB1987]

It's a topic for another thread, but I agree about Kepu. He should be rested for the spring tour, take Alan, Thor and an up and comer. He's not past it, he just needs his workload managed.

Wallabies by 4 Saturday to break the hoodoo.

 

[ShtinaTina]

We have a good number of decent hookers at the moment. No need for Chibba who was not outstanding as a test rake. One of these young blokes needs to stand up and challenge for the starting spot. FF (Folau Fainga'a) might be the guy.

Aside from all of that, people were bemoaning TPN even coming back & he had a great year. Imagine the uproar over Chibba.
At least the new kids are getting time with T and hopefully absorbing some of his wealth of knowledge but not his jokes, they're terrible.

 

[fatprop]

Amazing really. Guess the lineout caller sometimes needs to adjust the call on the fly. Which I guess is why lineout callers are still needed..call it pocahontus a b or c

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It appears they didn't adapt, one of the great things about rugby is the counters available, we had a system that had been quite functional, the ABs worked on a decent process to counter that

The fun next step is what we do and what the ABs do to counter it

 

[Pfitzy]

ABs by a thowwwwwwwwwwwwsand

 

[Dan54]

ABs by a thowwwwwwwwwwwwsand

C'mon Pfitzy the mocker gods won't fall for that!!!!

 

[fatprop]

ABs by a thowwwwwwwwwwwwsand

Dunno, we have a "proper" 15 with a kicking game so most of the backline issues have essentially been solved. All we to do is get rid of Foley (for a 10 with a better kicking game) and we will be at 100% cured

 

[aeneas]

NZ < 7. Wob's will be much better this week but the curse of Eden Park is strong.

 

[Brumby Runner]

It's a topic for another thread, but I agree about Kepu. He should be rested for the spring tour, take Alan, Thor and an up and comer. He's not past it, he just needs his workload managed.

Wallabies by 4 Saturday to break the hoodoo.

This idea I like. Maybe Vui as the up and comer? Another in contention would have to be Harry Johnson-Holmes but I think he plays LH side?

 

[Braveheart81]

HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) played THP in the under 20s (him and Vui shared time there). He has moved to the LHP side because that is what the Tahs needed.

Presumably that will continue next year with HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) the reserve LHP and Vui the reserve THP.

 

[Pfitzy]

C'mon Pfitzy the mocker gods won't fall for that!!!!

Eden Park.
Half a game of pretence by the Wobs while the ABs were flailing.
Followed by capitulation.
I've seen this movie before.

 

[wamberal]

Dunno, we have a "proper" 15 with a kicking game so most of the backline issues have essentially been solved. All we to do is get rid of Foley (for a 10 with a better kicking game) and we will be at 100% cured

A better kicking game than Foley? That narrows it down to about a dozen contenders.

 

[Up the Guts]

Dunno, we have a "proper" 15 with a kicking game so most of the backline issues have essentially been solved. All we to do is get rid of Foley (for a 10 with a better kicking game) and we will be at 100% cured

Well the backline will be 100% cured. You’ve forgotten about dropping Hooper back to Club Rugby to fix up the pack.