Bledisloe # 3 - Saturday 31st October, ANZ Stadium

[Joe Blow]

Its not ideal but at least Paisami has been in the cauldron and now has some idea what its about. Got to have some insurance if Lolesio or Simone get overwhelmed.

Im sure Harrison will get a run soon and hopefully JOC (James O'Connor) will be back next week. Very bad luck to lose JOC (James O'Connor) and MT in the same week.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Yeh interesting. I'd probably have him on the bench ahead of Paisami then. I'm looking forward to Harrison V Lolesio battle for 10 over the next few years, which could have started this weekend if Harrison was on the bench. I think he has the best kicking game of all the Aus 10's.

Hodge is actually good back up 10 and prefer hunter over Harrison as former more proved himself at this level while Harrison would be another unknown and really only just locked down super spot let alone test spot

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Hate to say this but, NZ by 35.

I actually feel possible but would love to be wrong but too many debutants and changes to feel all can come together and click - love to be proved totally wrong.

 

[Viking]

Hodge is actually good back up 10 and prefer hunter over Harrison as former more proved himself at this level while Harrison would be another unknown and really only just locked down super spot let alone test spot

On what basis is Hodge a good back-up 10?

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Ugh. That'd be bad. Hodge's ball playing skills are way below Simone's.

Can’t recall Simone playing 10...

 

[Rugbynutter39]

On what basis is Hodge a good back-up 10?

Umm good back up 10 stretch but more best option given will Harrison only just been getting to grips with super rugby..

 

[Derpus]

Youd have to be mad to think Hodge would do a better job than Harrison.

 

[Up the Guts]

The hope is Harrison and Hodge spend equal time at 10 on Saturday i.e zero.

 

[SamoanNo8]

Baptism of Fire for Lolesio and Simone!

Banks can consider himself unlucky but DHP's selection is prudent in the circumstances with the plethora of debutants.

Difficult to see Simone playing 80 and difficult to see Petaia being pulled - so presumably Paisami comes on for Simone. That will put a lot of pressure on Lolesio in the dying stages.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Youd have to be mad to think Hodge would do a better job than Harrison.

Hmm hodge covers more positions and still feels less risk - but more better option for position coverage - esp with Tate and hunter only other back options.

 

[qwerty51]

Banks can consider himself unlucky? Really? He couldn't have done less in the those 2 Tests. He was practically a dedicated penalty line kicker.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Is anybody confident of a win with so many changes...I would be feeling more confident if have JOC (James O'Connor) - To’omua axis.

 

[hifflepiff]

Youd have to be mad to think Hodge would do a better job than Harrison.

I'm honestly not sure. Hodge is test seasoned so he might be less prone to letting the pressure get to him. But he's also played, what, 1 game at 10 in the last 5 years?

 

[Derpus]

Hodge is versatile and good at a lot of things but a ball player he aint.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

I'm honestly not sure. Hodge is test seasoned so he might be less prone to letting the pressure get to him. But he's also played, what, 1 game at 10 in the last 5 years?

Probably the more test seasoned was more the thinking and personably would rather see neither Harrison or hodge coming on at ten. Harrison to me was still growing into super rugby 10 and working on being more consistent and just not test ready. But am I confident of either at 10 - heck no.

 

[KOB1987]

Hodge is versatile and good at a lot of things but a ball player he aint.

No but I think we have to trust the game plan. If Hodge ends up at 10 I’m pretty sure we aren’t going to trying to put blokes in holes.

 

[hifflepiff]

I think Harrison has all the attributes to be an excellent test 10. Good game manager, excellent kicking off the tee and out of hand, strong defender. Reminds me of Owen Farrell, but with fewer high tackles.

Even his biggest weakness, which was standing too deep in attack, improved significantly toward the end of the Super season.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Can’t recall Simone playing 10.

Almost certain Simone has played a bit of 10 for the Brumbies, last year, and at Norths before that.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Will be interesting to see if Rennies philosophy of ‘if you are good enough your old enough’ extends to ‘your are only good enough if you can defend in position’.

I will throw something at my TV if they do a defensive barn dance to hide players in defense. If you have to be hidden in defence you don’t deserve to be selected.

 

[I like to watch]

Will be interesting to see if Rennies philosophy of ‘if you are good enough your old enough’ extends to ‘your are only good enough if you can defend in position’.

I will throw something at my TV if they do a defensive barn dance to hide players in defense. If you have to be hidden in defence you don’t deserve to be selected.

Haha, like the Robbie Deans defensive system?
ive forgotten how that panned out?