Bledisloe II @ Eden Park
- Thread starter Dctarget
- Start date
zer0
John Thornett (49)
Depends what the rules are about the squad. But it's not part of the RC, so can't imagine they'd be too strict. Personally I'd definitely bring in Nonu to start and ALB to centre, as well as another lock. Possibly Romano. Though I feel as though there's some other locking option that I'm forgetting.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
Has Nonu been training with the squad or sinking beers back home?
zer0
John Thornett (49)
He played club rugby once the Blues season was done, but isn't playing in the NPC. As far as I recall he's been training alone which is what he was doing when he turned up at the Blues. He was in great nick then, don't see why he wouldn't be maintaining that regime. Particularly given how fragile Crotty and, in particular, Williams are.
Dismal Pillock
Michael Lynagh (62)
1. Moody fucking anyone else. Ofa, Keith Murdock, fucken ANYONE. Get these tenured, do-nothing, undroppable pudding putzes who brought great national shame upon the national XV last weekend OUT of there.
2. Coles/Taylor. dont give a shit here
3. Franks Laulala. fat guts huff and puff Franks has FINALLY forced Hansen's hand and made himself unpickable. Aus props combine for 87 runs and rampage murder all over the park while their NZ counterparts play cards under the sticks waiting for their next precious scrum.
4. Tuipulotu ffs, PT, the Paper Tiger
5. Whitelock. knackered old carthorse but the cupboard is bare.
6. Hemopo I fucking guess
7. Ardie/Cane, fuck knows here
8. Read.
9. TJP. need the muss
10. BB
11. Rieko
12. SBWFFS although would rather Laumape
13. ALB
14. CORY JANE OR RICHARD KAHUI, EITHER IS FINE HERE
15. Ben Smith. last chance saloon
Common-sense says keep the same team, continue momentum and combinations etc...
And I agree.
If they are sticking with a plan of changing players for certain games, and that means Genia and Foley, then I would be interested to see who else they rotate - does Kuridrani come back in; does JOC (James O'Connor) move in 1 place, do they do a switcher on front rows and so on.
I would be concerned that wholesale changes, with no change in plan but massively altered combinations, will yield a much worse outcome.
The psychological benefit for us, and against potential RWC opponents, if we can win the Bledisloe (and I think it remains long odds at Eden Park) is massive.
I think that is worth keeping pretty much the same line-up.
And I agree.
If they are sticking with a plan of changing players for certain games, and that means Genia and Foley, then I would be interested to see who else they rotate - does Kuridrani come back in; does JOC (James O'Connor) move in 1 place, do they do a switcher on front rows and so on.
I would be concerned that wholesale changes, with no change in plan but massively altered combinations, will yield a much worse outcome.
The psychological benefit for us, and against potential RWC opponents, if we can win the Bledisloe (and I think it remains long odds at Eden Park) is massive.
I think that is worth keeping pretty much the same line-up.
dru
David Wilson (68)
Completely yes.
Bring the Bled home. Never had a better chance. Rotate for the PI. Take this team, and go hard.
The torpedo
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Can't see us winning this week. AB's to come out utterly firing and will probably do us by 10-20 points.
But fuck if we pulled it off............
But fuck if we pulled it off............
BDA
Jim Lenehan (48)
The fact that the current sports-bet line for the All Blacks -14.5 says a lot about how rat shit we are at playing at Eden Park. Over the last 5 years we've lost by an average of just over 28 points in every game we've played there. The 10 years prior is a little bit more respectable but even then we were losing on average by more than 10 points. it's going to take something special. im not sure this team is there just yet. winning the world cup might actually be easier
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
In response to the Barretts Red Card, the kiwis are now trying to claim Kerevi should have ben carded for bumping off Beauden Barrett. Things really are grim across the ditch.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...n-samu-kerevi-hit-on-beauden-barrett#comments
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...n-samu-kerevi-hit-on-beauden-barrett#comments
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Tuipulotu?
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Our tight 5 is better than theirs.
They are unmatched at utilising space. They ordinarily put us away by scoring on the counter when we concede possession in some inane way. Turnover time is usually when the outside backs will have the most space, if you can get it to them.
We barely turned the ball over, at all last match. If they can keep that up, they will stand a chance of winning. If they revert to the skills on display against Argentina we will get skinned alive.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
That’s a ridiculous set of bench forwards. ‘Nela and Coleman will cut you in half and Poey will be standing by to take the ball from you.
The_Brown_Hornet
John Eales (66)
All of a sudden the Wallaby pack looks pretty decent, doesn't it.
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
Out of the front row(both starting and reserve), the only AB I would take over an Australian frontrower would be Dane Coles. Besides him the Aussie front row is far superior, Wallabies scrummaging is on par with the kiwis but it's the Wallabies work around the ground was on another level compared to their kiwi counterparts.
pissedoffihavetoregister
Alfred Walker (16)
Arnolds elbow looked pretty sore. Wonder if he will be healthy for this week?
pissedoffihavetoregister
Alfred Walker (16)
i thought many of the scrums could have resulted in penalty's to us in that last game. Does this weeks ref blow many penalties for scrums infringements? Last weeks ref didn't care much.