I agree there needs to be balance, but those two are better "6s" & "8s" than anyone we have at the moment as well being great "7s". I look forward to the time when that isn't correct, but at the moment they are the best units.
Bledisloe 2 - Saturday 25th August 2018 - Eden Park, Auckland
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I agree there needs to be balance, but those two are better "6s" & "8s" than anyone we have at the moment as well being great "7s". I look forward to the time when that isn't correct, but at the moment they are the best units.
How so? I would have thought his performance on Saturday night made it pretty clear he was ready to go.
Who are the other backrowers who are even in the same ballpark relatively? We don't have any 6 or 8 who are standouts.
This is something I keep going back to.
If you were to list the best games played by a number 8 for the Wallabies in the last 5 years your top 10 performances would almost all be by Pocock and McMahon. You'd be lucky to find one or two from the last couple of years of Palu and Ben McCalman might sneak in there.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
McCalman against Wales was pretty classy. Palu was regularly divisive.
That was the game I was thinking of too.
If you look at that game though, the reason McCalman was so good was his workrate and defence. It was not his ball running.
tragic
John Solomon (38)
For about as long as it’s not been working I guess.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
I reckon the big ball running number 8 is a bit of a myth. There are only a handful of players that can bust a defence in tight like that these days. Defences are too good.
Half the time a loose forward looks good with ball in hand he gets accused of sea-gulling anyway. I don't really get it.
A mutterer
Chilla Wilson (44)
i think chieka needs a selectors panel, cutting some of the admin team and investing in a bloody mental coach, geez our guys fall off when the going gets tough.
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
I noticed that, i think conceding quickly either side of half time did for their confidence completely.
dru
David Wilson (68)
Depends by what you mean by "ready to go". HE was nothing near his usual fitness. A clear yard slower after 30, maybe earlier. This didn't stop him pushing on and giving it all, he just didn't have as much to give as he usually does. I would have played him from the bench and brought him on with 30 to go.
Personally I thought his performance made it pretty clear that the claim he is automatically an 80min players even weeks away from the game - is rubbish.
That said, it's tweaking in the margins - Hooper was not a major reason behind how the WBs went in Bled #1.
waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
Shag has said that if AL-B's leg is OK he'll play in Auckland & that with Aso not fit they're not looking at replacing Crotty. Also hinted strongly that Laumape will be on the bench.
Foster possibly took a shot at the journos who questioned NM-S not going to Sydney by pointing out how well he went for Manawatu & how much better he'll be for it should they need him at EP. I say possibly 'cos Foster is such a dry cnut it's hard to tell sometimes if he's being serious or taking the piss.
Foster possibly took a shot at the journos who questioned NM-S not going to Sydney by pointing out how well he went for Manawatu & how much better he'll be for it should they need him at EP. I say possibly 'cos Foster is such a dry cnut it's hard to tell sometimes if he's being serious or taking the piss.
zer0
John Thornett (49)
ALB/Goodhue midfield, Naholo/Milner-Skudder/Accountant back three unit with McKenzie and Laumape on the bench. Everything else will be the same, for better or for worse.
EDIT: Unless Tu'ungafasi is back, in which case he'll bump Perry off the bench. If he isn't, I'd rather have a specialist TH on the bench, but not Tumanga-Allen. M.Ala'alatoa is eligible, isn't he?
EDIT: Unless Tu'ungafasi is back, in which case he'll bump Perry off the bench. If he isn't, I'd rather have a specialist TH on the bench, but not Tumanga-Allen. M.Ala'alatoa is eligible, isn't he?
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Aussie playing for the ABs and against his brother might add a bit of narrative to an otherwise dull fixture.
Bandar
Bob Loudon (25)
Just to rub salt into the raw wounds...
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
You don't think they will be tempted to play Jordie at 15, and Ben from accounts on wing? I suspect that's the way they go unless they give Dmac the 15 jersey.
waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
"Tighthead prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi also trained "reasonably fully" and was a "possibility" to return to the match 23 at Eden Park." Unclear who stuff.co.nz were quoting but it's straight after a series of quotes from Foster so I'm picking it was him
Re: Ala'alatoa I think I read somewhere he's not eligible until October.
EDIT : then again, according to a news.com.au article from last August, "Michael becomes eligible for New Zealand next July once the Super season is finished....:
We probably shouldn't forget he's also eligible for Samoa via the Heritage Player route.
tragic
John Solomon (38)
It does make the selection at 2 and 6 critical though. Although the throwing was a large part of the line out problem having less targets does increase the pressure on the throw.
If (when) Hoper and Pocock start we need to pick 3 jumping locks at 4,5 and 6, and TAF will need to warm the pines in favour of a more reliable thrower.
Taf has been a reliable thrower for the last few years. Hopefully another week in camp has fixed a lot of the issues. Clearly it will be a huge focus this week.
The other aspect that has to be improved on is how we use the up tempo lineout. It wasn't working and we made it worse. We need to correct that. We got completely gamed by the All Blacks in that regard and played further and further into their hands.
The other aspect that has to be improved on is how we use the up tempo lineout. It wasn't working and we made it worse. We need to correct that. We got completely gamed by the All Blacks in that regard and played further and further into their hands.
I think Taf will start, the pack was dusted at set piece, but it is never just the 2. The timing looked badly off and that is more complicated
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I think there is a strong chance Latu gets dropped for this game. It's a good opportunity to blood Fainga'a and Latu's performance in Sydney doesn't make it a risky move.
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