Springboks v All Blacks
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Eden Park will be TR jnr first ab test, so hope they don't rotate it too much.
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@westcoastie said in Springboks v All Blacks, whos in?:
@booboo said in Springboks v All Blacks, whos in?:
Some talk on radio sport that Barrett and Smith B may be rested as they have the most playing time to date.
Not a fan of that move. They are backs so it's not like they're getting bashed.
And Barrett wiuld gave to be on the bench anyway (not sure I'd trust DMac to cover 10 and 16 yet). So not really a rest.
I think that theres been a bit of calculated risk-taking with this overseas leg, basically they've looked at the big picture, and feel they should win both these overseas games, and thus they're choosing to freshen up the key guys before taking on Australia in the Record game.
Also they must be aware that historically, the ABs don't seem to get to the last game of the year in particularly great shape, and bearing in mind we play Ireland twice, there was possibly a school of thought, it better to lose a game earlier rather than later - you'd imagine the media going nuts if we dropped one to Ireland or Italy, do we play France too?
I think they'd want to ensure we don't drop a game at Eden Park.I don't think the coaches would want us to lose any games, but its proven we can't just keep playing the best 15, and hope for the best results.
We're been pretty blessed for injuries this year really - so why risk a key player if we can freshen them up a bit.Anyhow, here's the line-up.
Props & Hookers - Faumuina in, someone out.
Locks - Whitelock & Retallick to swap starting/bench roles this week, Romano in? Personally happy to see Tuipolutu go again.
Loosies - Kaino definitely in, can't see Read going out. I think Savea may get a bench spot, with Todd in.
9-10 - A. Smith & Sopoaga
Midfield - Crotty & Fekitoa, Moala & Fekitoa? I think Fekitoa is in, ALB is out. Not sure which way they'll go
Back three - Going to suggest Savea, Naholo & Dagg.
Bench.
Some other Props & Hookers, Locks & Loosies.
TKB, Barrett and D-Mac to get the bench spots. Barrett as #10 insurance. D-Mac to get another go.Only suggesting B.Smith to get a rest based on that Radiosport piece - but I'm also going to assume he might get handed the Captaincy vs Italy, when they'll give Read a spell. So radio makes some sense.
Honestly, not impressed with D-Mac last week, but you have to give him another chance to see if hes the business. I feel Super teams figured him out towards the end, and I'm starting to get the feeling hes just not big enough.
I feel that its fairly obvious that Beaudy won't start this game, I'm not sure where I read it prior to the Argie test, but the article basically stated that Smith and Sopoaga would start a test, with Perenara and Barrett to start the other one, combinations pretty much.
Savea Naholo Dagg in the back three could prove disastrous as I guess Morne Steyn will bomb them all afternoon long. Savea and Naholo are not safe under the high ball. B. Smith, who has said he doesn't need a rest, is.
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@cgrant that of course depends on whether the Boks get good ball and enough possession.
The Boks v Wallabies game didn't have any more bombs than normal despite Steyn being at 1st 5.
I don't think Naholo is that bad under the high ball. Better than NMS in that regard.
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@ACT-Crusader
They did not use the bomb against the Wallabies because the latter are good under the high ball. They did not get too much possession either. But I fear that if they can have a fair amount of possession, the Boks will use this weapon a lot. Having such a back three is an invitation for the local team to test the formula. -
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@Tregaskis said in Springboks v All Blacks, whos in?:
So, it appears the halfbacks will be unchanged from Buenos Aires.
really, what have you heard, I thought the team wasnt named until Saturday, been absolutely nothing in the media about the team.
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I don't know. A.Smith has been in and out it seems...
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@westcoastie said in Springboks v All Blacks, whos in?:
I don't know. A.Smith has been in and out it seems...
did anybody think to ask whether he had the same thing that kept Kane Williamson out of the last test?
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All Blacks line-up for the test against the Springboks:
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Joe Moody (18)
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Dane Coles (44)
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Owen Franks (85)
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Brodie Retallick (55)
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Samuel Whitelock (80)
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Jerome Kaino (72)
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Matt Todd (4)
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Kieran Read - captain (92)
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TJ Perenara (24)
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Beauden Barrett (44)
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Waisake Naholo (7)
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Ryan Crotty (22)
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Anton Lienert-Brown (4)
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Israel Dagg (56)
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Ben Smith (56)
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Codie Taylor (9)
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Wyatt Crockett (53)
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Charlie Faumuina (40)
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Liam Squire (4)
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Ardie Savea (7)
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Tawera Kerr-Barlow (22)
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Lima Sopoaga (4)
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George Moala (2)
http://www.allblacks.com/News/29918/all-blacks-team-named-for-south-africa-test
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Strong squad. Interesting to see that Matt Todd gets the start ahead of Ardie Savea and Naholo ahead of Julian Savea, who's not in the 23. Kaino is back, Squire on the bench. No Dixon. Glad they have retained the Crotty-ALB combo, with Moala as back-up.
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@Hooroo said in Springboks v All Blacks, whos in?:
Wow! I'm surprised at Todd at 7 and No Patrick T on the bench.
yea. A Savea not starting i can understand, after several defficiencies were highlighted last week, but i'm still shocked Todd is getting start.
No Pat T is a massive surprise considering last week. Obvious we're looking to up the pace late, rather than get more physical if needed.
Good to see Moala back, and i hope Naholo has his catching mitts on
ABs by 15
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funny, a few months ago, had we woken to the news of Aarons disabled access and being sent home from tour, thinking TJP starting....
Pretty strong side, guess the ABs have moved form needing specialist lock cover now too.
I woulda thought they'd have started Todd when Cane was innjured, so a little surprised they are doing it now, but think it is a good call.
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Don't understand the shock at Todd getting the start. He's been massive on defence during Super Rugby and the selectors no doubt expect those defensive skills to be necessary against the Boks. He's more similar to Cane than Savea, and Savea is probably not the type of player they are looking for for this particular game (to start with). I'm more surprised about Pat T not being picked.
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Yeah good side. I'm glad they kept Dagg of the two wingers (it was pretty good odds Naholo was going to get a run) as his boot and high ball take are very useful assets against a limited Bok team that will likely kick a lot in what look like possibly average conditions.
I think starting Todd gives them a bit more added impact from the bench that they didn't have last week (Charlie, Squire, Savea and Moala all on this week's bench and weren't on last week's bench is a big difference). I agree it looks like they want to play an up tempo game.
I think conditions could play a big role in this game being closer than expected - it's often very humid in Durban resulting in messy games with multiple handling errors. Combine this with predicted average conditions and I think this game could be a bit of a grind. If it was dry fine conditions I'd back the ABs to win in a canter.
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Apparently, the reason for Todd starting ahead of Ardie is that he (Ardie) needs a breather.
Hansen explains the selection here:
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Crotty and ALB retained
the rest is just minor footnotes...We do love us 2 loose forwards on the bench.
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Bit stink for Patty T but while he had a great game last week, he'll need a hell of a lot of those to knock BBBR or Whitelock off their podium.
Todd for Ardie is a bit of a surprise but not really a big one. I think Ardie's better off as an impact sub right now.
Happy Naholo's in for Savea.
Otherwise just common sense. First choice tight five. Kaino back in. TJP gets another start thanks to Aaron Smith being a dumbass. Crotty and ALB rewarded for looking a class above any other midfield combo we've had this year. And the successful Dagg/BFA combo is retained.
