Wallabies vs All Blacks 10th August @Optus Stadium Perth

[Brumby Runner]

So...wait... we like the Pooper now?

This is madness. The reason the Pooper was used was supposedly because we had a deficit in the 6 and 8 spots. We now have one or two real No 8s, Naisarani and Samu, and a couple of worthy No 6s, Dempsey and Valetini. The whole rationale for the Pooper really has diminished, if not disappeared.Play one of Hooper or Pocock and leave the other out or at best on the bench for the last 20 minutes or so.

 

[Derpus]

This is madness. The reason the Pooper was used was supposedly because we had a deficit in the 6 and 8 spots. We now have one or two real No 8s, Naisarani and Samu, and a couple of worthy No 6s, Dempsey and Valetini. The whole rationale for the Pooper really has diminished, if not disappeared.Play one of Hooper or Pocock and leave the other out or at best on the bench for the last 20 minutes or so.

agreed

 

[Joe Blow]

They still need to find the right balance in the backrow.
I think starting with a traditional 6 and 8 and finishing with the Pooper is the go.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

AB squad gets trimmed to 34 today which will give a fairly good indication of the likely lineup for Saturday.

I'm expecting Karl Tu'inukuafe & Asafo Aumua to be cut but with Lurch injured I don't think they'll drop any of Tuipulotu, Fifita or Jacobson just yet. Todd could be on shaky ground, though, as they don't really need three 7's.

I think they'll still want to give Josh Ioane some low-pressure minutes at some point so he's safe imo which means a midfield/ outside/ utility back has to go which will be either Ennor or Bridge as JBar seems to have tenure already.

For Saturday I think they'll start Laumape with AL-B off the bench & Hemopo with Fifita on the bench to replace SBW & Lurch. Frizell will get another shot with Cane starting & ASav on the bench. ASmith to start, TJP to the bench. Rest of backline per Wellywood.

Might also see the starting & finishing props swapped, Moody & Franks didn't exactly cover themselves in glory v SA.

 

[KOB1987]

They still need to find the right balance in the backrow.
I think starting with a traditional 6 and 8 and finishing with the Pooper is the go.

Having slept on it I agree. Poey won't have the match fitness to go a full 80 so bring him on to liven things up with 30 to go. We're still missing a proven 6, starting Samu adds about 1cm to the Pooper so is just a different version of it. Throwing Valetini into the cauldron for his first test would be a big risk and presumably he hasn't shown enough in camp yet anyway. Starting Luke Jones would be almost as big a risk. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) has been found to be too sluggish. That leaves Dempsey.

 

[TSR]

I am okay with Dempsey - providing he is fit and in some sort of form. I didn’t think his performances for the Tahs this year were anything to rave about.

I also think Jones maybe needs more opportunity than he has been given before people put a line through him (but then I also think the same of LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) and I am clearly alone or in a small group there).

I don’t really think Valetini should be thrown in to start against the ABs, but I wouldn’t be against him getting a crack off the bench.

 

[KOB1987]

If we were to throw a cleanskin into the big dance I reckon it would be Liam Wright

 

[KOB1987]

Cheeky devil

Bugger it, dock the cheating pricks of 3 points and give the game to the saffers

 

[Dismal Pillock]

All Blacks squad for the Bledisloe Cup:​

Forwards
Hookers: Dane Coles, Liam Coltman and Codie Taylor.
Props: Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Joe Moody, Atu Moli, Angus Ta'avao and Ofa Tuungafasi.
Locks: Scott Barrett, Jackson Hemopo, Patrick Tuipulotu and Samuel Whitelock.
Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Vaea Fifita, Luke Jacobson, Kieran Read, Ardie Savea and Matt Todd.​

Backs
Halfbacks: TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith and Brad Weber.
First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo'unga.
Midfielders: Jack Goodhue, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown and Sonny Bill Williams.
Utility backs: Braydon Ennor and Jordie Barrett.
Outside backs: George Bridge, Rieko Ioane, Sevu Reece and Ben Smith.​

lol Dick Frizzle given the bum's rush. Josh Ioane out. Papalii too. FFSFFITA STAYS. W.F.T

 

[Dan54]

Yep a bit surprised about Fifita ahead of Frizell, but sure there a reason ( maybe covering lock until Scott B back?). Pleased Jacobson still there, hope he gets a look at a bench role .

 

[Ulrich]

Smelling like upset around this fire.

 

[Tex]

All Blacks squad for the Bledisloe Cup:

Forwards
Hookers: Dane Coles, Liam Coltman and Codie Taylor.
Props: Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Joe Moody, Atu Moli, Angus Ta'avao and Ofa Tuungafasi.
Locks: Scott Barrett, Jackson Hemopo, Patrick Tuipulotu and Samuel Whitelock.
Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Vaea Fifita, Luke Jacobson, Kieran Read, Ardie Savea and Matt Todd.

Backs
Halfbacks: TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith and Brad Weber.
First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo'unga.
Midfielders: Jack Goodhue, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown and Sonny Bill Williams.
Utility backs: Braydon Ennor and Jordie Barrett.
Outside backs: George Bridge, Rieko Ioane, Sevu Reece and Ben Smith.

lol Dick Frizzle given the bum's rush. Josh Ioane out. Papalii too. FFSFFITA STAYS. W.F.T

That's the weakest Kiwi squad in years

 

[Ulrich]

That's the weakest Kiwi squad in years

Very weak indeed.

Can't believe they have no Hooper.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I think, in comparison to the Wallabies, the only spot they may be on the weak side is the front row. Enough quality overall to see off any challenge from the men in gold.

 

[zer0]

I assume Tu'inukuafe is still unavailable. Because there's no other way Ta'avao gets in ahead of him, especially after last weeks scrummaging effort. Would also have retained Papali'i ahead of Ffsfita, but at least he gets to play for Auckland instead.

 

[Ulrich]

I think, in comparison to the Wallabies, the only spot they may be on the weak side is the front row. Enough quality overall to see off any challenge from the men in gold.

You are mistaken.

The All Blacks have a tremendous front row and more.

 

[Braveheart81]

This is madness. The reason the Pooper was used was supposedly because we had a deficit in the 6 and 8 spots. We now have one or two real No 8s, Naisarani and Samu, and a couple of worthy No 6s, Dempsey and Valetini. The whole rationale for the Pooper really has diminished, if not disappeared.Play one of Hooper or Pocock and leave the other out or at best on the bench for the last 20 minutes or so.

Agreed. I don't think starting both of them is a good option considering who we have available.

Finishing games with both of them should very much be on the table though.

 

[zer0]

All Blacks squad for the Bledisloe Cup:

Forwards
Hookers: Dane Coles, Liam Coltman and Codie Taylor.
Props: Owen Franks, Nepo Laulala, Joe Moody, Atu Moli, Angus Ta'avao and Ofa Tuungafasi.
Locks: Scott Barrett, Jackson Hemopo, Patrick Tuipulotu and Samuel Whitelock.
Loose forwards: Sam Cane, Vaea Fifita, Luke Jacobson, Kieran Read, Ardie Savea and Matt Todd.

Backs
Halfbacks: TJ Perenara, Aaron Smith and Brad Weber.
First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo'unga.
Midfielders: Jack Goodhue, Ngani Laumape, Anton Lienert-Brown and Sonny Bill Williams.
Utility backs: Braydon Ennor and Jordie Barrett.
Outside backs: George Bridge, Rieko Ioane, Sevu Reece and Ben Smith.

lol Dick Frizzle given the bum's rush. Josh Ioane out. Papalii too. FFSFFITA STAYS. W.F.T

So from that lot, and assuming S.Barrett is unavailable, I'd go with:

1. Moody
2. Coles
3. Laulala
4. Tuipulotu
5. Whitelock (C)
6. Hemopo
7. Todd/Cane
8. Savea
9. A.Smith
10. Mo'unga
11. Bridge
12. Lienert-brown
13. Goodhue
14. B.Smith
15. B.Barrett

16. Taylor
17. Moli
18. Tu'ungafasi
19. Jaconbson/Read
20. Cane/Todd
21. Weber
22. Laumape
23. Ennor

Would run what I'd now consider to be the premier backline as they need time together as both a collective whole and as individual combinations (9/10, 10/15, 12/13, 11/14/15). Wouldn't take Williams even if he were available, and Ioane has been poor since about the middle of the Blues season. Being beaten in the air by Frodo Baggins on the weekend was absolutely unacceptable, so he can go think about life on the sideline for a bit.

For the backs reserves, Weber needs a run and is our most similar player to A.Smith, which seems to be important. Laumape is the only midfield cover left -- Jordie can go eat some McNuggets -- and I like the look of Ennor; want to see more of him and is unlikely to make any big mistakes.

As for the forwards, Franks has been ambling along as too much of an old-school prop who can scrummage and clean breakdowns, but that's it. Swap him out for Laulala who should maintain the scrums integrity while offering more around the field. Ta'avao seems to be one of Magpie Hansen's new shiny favourites, but don't much care for him in the top squad. Plus that scrummaging effort was abominable after that first scrum. Tu'ungafasi's scrummaging has been fine for the Blues and AB's, so that kinda narrows it down I think. Would've preferred Tu'inukuafe/Tu'ungafasi from the bench, but will make do with Moli instead.

Tuipulotu gets another shot -- probably his last -- with Retallick and S.Barrett unavailable. Hemopo at blindside and to cover lock if needed, because f*ck FFSfita. With Hemopo covering lock from the field, can plop Jacobson/Read and Cane/Todd on the bench to cover the loosies.

 

[BDA]

Yeh I don't think we'll see the Pooper starting a test match again. It worked for a while until teams worked out how to counter it. If you know you're coming up against the Pooper, I think you can prepare a game plan to take advantage of the deficiencies it creates, most notably in the line-out.

I think the better approach is to bring one of the bench in the second half. That way teams aren't entirely certain whether they'll get both on the field at the same time, which makes it hard from them to fashion a team to negate its strengths / take advantage of its deficiencies. I think you can get away with playing the final 25-30 minutes of the game with the Pooper, as long as it's not in every game.

I do prefer to choose a 6 that is a genuinely strong line-out option. At the same time if Pocock is fully fit, you need to find a way to get him on the field, he's just too good.

 

[Finsbury Girl]

Darkness by 30. We have nothing to counter Big Ardie or Sam.