I know they're a real threat but I can't take Wales completely seriously at the moment, they've still got a big mental hurdle to overcome. I'm more concerned about England and Ireland.
Can't wait for this cup, love that there are more teams with a genuine shot. World Rugby is in a healthy state from the POV at the moment.
@taniwharugby said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
@Crucial said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:
I think Laumape will get the nod over an unlucky Crotty. Would be pretty unfair to ditch a guy doing nothing wrong for someone who hasn’t played and may take time to get up to speed.
Crotty get up to speed? He is all class, if fit I can't see him being left behind.
SBW didn't break last night, so will he be on ice v Tonga so his seat for Japan is booked.
Agree, Crotty is pretty used to coming off injury breaks and looking class.
He doesn’t make my 23 at the moment but he’s a great man to have in the squad for both on and off-field reasons. If we lose a midfielder to injury at the business end of the tournament he is the only player I want slotting in.
@African-Monkey said in Bledisloe #2:
@No-Quarter That's why I'd have JB on the right wing, and yes, I'm still shocked to this day that the Boks threw long with 10 to go 5 metres out and missed the target when I was certain they would go to their strength and go to front and rumble over or at the very least, win a penalty for Pollard to knock over because he wasn't missing that day.
Jordie is outstanding under the high ball but he's been really inconsistent this year, for both the Canes and the ABs. Some great mixed in with some awful, we can't afford brain farts in a tight knockout game.
That said, Bridge doesn't have a heap of experience either. The right wing spot is wide open.
@African-Monkey yup that's what worries me. People forget how damn close that game was, it was real trench warfare.
@Machpants said in MOTM vs Australia, Bledisloe II 2019:
Ardie - his stats were amazing on attack - more than all the rest of the forwards put together, and 13 tackles no misses.
Read - played basically 6, with kaino like venom
A Smith - awesome Connor Murray like kicking AND bullet pass. TJ when he came on had his one awful pass but man he was like an extra loosie. What a 1 2
This. Read playing tight and Ardie wider on attack worked a treat. Ardie was wrecking havoc and Read had the crazy eyes back on defense, was smacking blokes all night.
A Smith was back to his very best. He and TJP are both in outstanding form at the moment, we're very blessed to have two world class 9s at the top of their game right now.
Honorable mentions to basically the rest of the team, but most pleasing for me was SBW who made a real difference in the midfield. I think he's a lock for 12 if fit, with ALB and Goodhue taking the other midfield spots in the 23.
@Siam said in Bledisloe #2:
Reece continues to remind me of Nehe. Jinky, dangerous, similar little man defence, and even same top end pace
Nehe was superb in 2015 and if Reece can match that, then we've got another genuine try scoring threat for defences to worry about.
And like NMS his defense is a bit of a worry. I'd take Bridge on the right and Rieko on the left if we are starting Beauden at 15.
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Bledisloe #2:
Right, was going to trash Pat. T saying he was a big lump of uselessness this week. Happy to have egg on my face. Need to light a fire under that man every time he plays. Outstanding!
Pat T’s ceiling is so much higher than SBarrett’s, I really hope this game kicks him into some consistent form. Starting or off the bench he’s a beast in the tight, he was flattening Wallabies all night.
So I think a 57 point turnaround would constitute a “blacklash”.
Read has that crazy look in his eyes again that he had at the start of his career. He’s back alright.
