RWC 2023 - All Blacks pool matches

[waiopehu oldboy]

JBar sat out training yesterday with a tight calf but Taylor's hamstring has apparently come right.

 

[Dctarget]

JBar sat out training yesterday with a tight calf but Taylor's hamstring has apparently come right.

Jordie is one of your more vital and in form players. He's been a revelation at 12.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ AL-B's a pretty handy replacement if needed but, yeah, ideally we want JBar out there, not least for his boot.

 

[KiwiM]

^ AL-B's a pretty handy replacement if needed but, yeah, ideally we want JBar out there, not least for his boot.

ALB in 2016 was a handy replacement. He hasn't shown much in recent seasons - a bloke living off of reputation.

 

[Dan54]

^ AL-B's a pretty handy replacement if needed but, yeah, ideally we want JBar out there, not least for his boot.

I reckon it will be Havili if Jordie out, RMo knows his play well, and Ioane has played a nbumber of tests with him.
Well how I see it anyway.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Huge athletic lineout options Hoskins Sotutu and Akira back in NZ wishing the tattered dwarfish All Black lineout well:

"Best of luck to the half-lost work experience boy Tupou Vaai, 6 foot zero
Luke Jacobsen, 'I don't do lineouts' Ardie and the groundbound human
bollard that is Sam Cane."

 

[Dctarget]

First team list is in, four years of absolute trash speculation and discussion is over. let’s fucking goooooo

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

 

[Dan54]

Well I thought they may go for Havili, but fair enough if they think he a bit underdone. Little surprised about Leicester and Christie on bench,and Papali'i over Jacobson, but not overly upset. Interesting to see who comes over to replace Narawa with his back shot, looks like a loosie or lock?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ needs to be a lock IMO, we've plenty of loosies & several of them cover more than one position.

 

[zer0]

y no Roigard?

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Trying to be positive here.

Once the seemingly inevitable happens cum October I will prolly have a giant cry and chunder out a Bayeaux Tapestry-length photo essay denigrating this mob but for now damnit got to try to be positive to enjoy the next 2 months of footy.

It's time to go backdoor boomfa baguette-style on these much vaunted frog fuxx.

Time to turn their courgettes into cock and ballz puree.

Croissants all up in their crotch space.

And so on.

 

[John S]

Trying to be positive here.

Once the seemingly inevitable happens cum October I will prolly have a giant cry and chunder out a Bayeaux Tapestry-length photo essay denigrating this mob but for now damnit got to try to be positive to enjoy the next 2 months of footy.

It's time to go backdoor boomfa baguette-style on these much vaunted frog fuxx.

Time to turn their courgettes into cock and ballz puree.

Croissants all up in their crotch space.

And so on.

You have such poetic turns of phrase DP.

 

[Dctarget]

Can't really call this one. I think NZ should take it, Barrett to ALB is a smaller drop off than Danty to Moefana. I like NZ more but really think individually France edge it.

France's front row easily. Marchand/Mauvaka is so much better than Taylor/Taukei'aho. Teletubby Nepo is a liability. NZ's 2nd row is better though. Then the backrows are probably even. Probably say the French backrow works better as a unit.

Dupont over Smith, sorry bruv. Mo'unga over Jalibert. ALB over Moefana easily. Ioane and Fickou even. Jordan/Telea over Villiere/Penaud and Ramos over Beaudy.

Then the Kiwi bench takes it. Knowing France's penchant for collapsing 60 minutes in, wouldn't be surprised to see ABs pull away if it's even.

All Blacks have had a couple slow starts recently, to Aus and SA.

Either way, cracking game and hopefully no injuries.

 

[Dan54]

y no Roigard?

I guess they reluctant tp throw him in against a French team on home soil in opening match of WC? Just a guess, but I thinking he will get a couple of runs in pool play to get into it. I a president of his fan club, but can perhaps understand not stuffing his confidence if things go a bit adrift.

 

[John S]

Sam looks thrilled to be there (Haven't watched the presser - so it's possible he's getting some dumb questions)

 

[Bullrush]

Can't really call this one. I think NZ should take it, Barrett to ALB is a smaller drop off than Danty to Moefana. I like NZ more but really think individually France edge it.

France's front row easily. Marchand/Mauvaka is so much better than Taylor/Taukei'aho. Teletubby Nepo is a liability. NZ's 2nd row is better though. Then the backrows are probably even. Probably say the French backrow works better as a unit.

Dupont over Smith, sorry bruv. Mo'unga over Jalibert. ALB over Moefana easily. Ioane and Fickou even. Jordan/Telea over Villiere/Penaud and Ramos over Beaudy.

Then the Kiwi bench takes it. Knowing France's penchant for collapsing 60 minutes in, wouldn't be surprised to see ABs pull away if it's even.

All Blacks have had a couple slow starts recently, to Aus and SA.

Either way, cracking game and hopefully no injuries.

Interesting listening to Ben Darwin's comments. Going by the data they have and use, he thinks Smith is far and away a better 9 than Dupont.

 

[Dctarget]

Interesting listening to Ben Darwin's comments. Going by the data they have and use, he thinks Smith is far and away a better 9 than Dupont.

yeah I saw that too. Maybe Smith is the better 9 with more accurate passing. But I feel like if the Wallabies had Smith at 9, we'd just be a bit less shit. Whereas if we had Dupont, he alone is a game winner. We shall see!

 

[Bullrush]

yeah I saw that too. Maybe Smith is the better 9 with more accurate passing. But I feel like if the Wallabies had Smith at 9, we'd just be a bit less shit. Whereas if we had Dupont, he alone is a game winner. We shall see!

Yeah - I feel like Smith is so key to the ABs success. I don't know if that's the same as being a 'game winner' but I feel like he will leave a pretty big hole after this RWC.

 

[Linerunner2023]

Very close to call
France missing 4 in Baille, Willemse, ntamack and Danty
And ABs missing retalick, frizell, Lomax and j Barrett

I’m predicting ABs to bounce back, win in a close one but could go either way, I reckon Williams and Newell lost their spots to laulala and ofa after the boks game! Rest of the side is pretty good. Feel like Roigard and d Mac should be on the bench

Interesting Narawa missing, shame as he has had a big year but would have only played v the 2 weak sides
This may however help the ABs with their squad by picking an extra forward like finau which they are a little light on