Pfitzy, The locks, Read as an 8, McCaw over Hooper, and 9,11,13,14.
If you disagree with my assessment of these positions feel free to give your opinion (that was 8 positions not 15, you do comprehend?).
I comprehend. But do you understand how mathematics works?
Let's start with basic addition. Your words were - and I quote:
Forward set-piece; not much between them
Forward open-play; front row NZ more ruck involvement, locks NZ a class above Aust, Vito/Kaino v Fardy I dunno?, Read easily best 8; Pocock best 7 playing at 8, McCaw over Hooper
Backs; NZ a class above Aust, especially 9, 11, 13, and 14
IMO
So that is 2 locks, Read, McCaw, and the entire backline (7 players) - that's 11 positions of a possible 15 on a rugby field, by my count. Not yours, apparently.
AND you're saying "class above" which is probably the most poorly worded thing I've read on GAGR since the RWC. That would imply that the Wallabies can't go with the Kiwis in any of those positions, despite the fact that both teams have lost ONE Test Match this year, to each other, on respective away grounds.
So, really?
Look, I know how this works: any time the All Blacks lose its because they played shit. And any time they win, its because they're the fucking BOMB and the opposition couldn't even get into the game because of their awesomeness. Right? Amiright?
Yet, whenever the Wallabies win e.g. England and Wales the last two weeks, NZ in Sydney earlier in the year, its because the opposition were shit. Never because the Wallabies didn't let them into the game. Something about portions of NZ rugby fandom have turned into IHA (I Hate Australia) whenever we're doing well, and even when we're not.
So let's look at the realities:
The Kiwi scrum is getting lessons from Georgia, so I wouldn't be kneeling down to smoke any of that T5's pole right now. Particularly as the Wallabies dished them up in two games this year at scrum time. Around the field they're still alright but its not going to help if the French scrum and lineout buttfucks the everloving shit out of them and they spend most of the game jogging backwards or watching penalties sail over from their ineptitude.
The Franks boys in particular have been getting more and more shit now they realise lifting truck engines for fun is useless when you're just going to fall on your face and chew grass because you can't hit anyone at scrum time.
And your saviour at loosehead is Wyatt Crockett?
Let's go to the backs for a second: Smith - undeniable talent, Carter - experienced but fragile, NMS is a revelation, but at least knows what it is to lose a game this early in his career, and Ben Smith has had an indifferent year as an AB after a stellar Super season.
Savea is playing like a fat, lazy fuck who would rather be somewhere else. Conrad Smith as a 13 is barely incisive at the moment and far from his best. In fact, the guy playing pretty well - Nonu - at 12 is probably ahead of Giteau at the moment but doesn't even rate a direct mention in your paragraph of random.
If SBW plays 12 he seems to do well, except against Australia based on the evidence put forward so far. But putting both he an Nonu in the centres is a defensive recipe for disaster - better off starting Nonu and Snake, then bringing SBW off the bench somewhere.
Fekitoa is a far better 13 than any of them right now, I might add, but Conrad's experience gets him over the line this year. Fekitoa is going to be a stellar centre for the ABs moving forward, I might add.
Fardy would walk into that Kiwi team at blindside, combining lineout prowess, defensive nous, hard edge, ruck theft, and the singular ability to niggle the fuck out of anyone, Kiwis included. Pocock speaks for himself and would challenge either McCaw or Read for their spot.
But the two of them might not create the right balance at 6/7 or 7/8 with either Read or McCaw, and that's the thing you have to remember in these analyses.
As for the locks - yeah Brodie is a fucking top unit, and Whitelock handles the lineouts.
But go watch Douglas rip the shit out of the Welsh or English. We were supposed to get bossed by the Pommy pack but Douglas - and indeed our entire forward pack - absolutely double-fisted them and were still going hard at the final whistle when the fat fucks in white had capitulated, with the reserves icing the cake.
Using "class above" is just rubbish. I'll bet the players don't think that, and neither should the fans.
Comprehensive enough?
