All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.
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Nothing beats getting ahead of ones self:
Not looking to select a team, because who knows what might happen injury-wise and form-shifts tonight but...Does A.Smith come back in?
Strongest lineup possible if we beat the Boks right?
Changes if we lose? Bledisloe already ours, nothing game, Eden park record to preserve
Does the Eden Park test count as part of EOY tour, Rieko Ioane to the bench?
Discuss...
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Mitre 10 Cup semis are the same weekend so if Auckland miss out which is certainly possible, I could see Rieko being unleashed. Alternatively DMac could get another crack.
I cant see Aaron Smith playing - with all the press and PR pressure on NZRU I cant see him playing.
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I'm certainly not getting ahead of myself, but I think this is a dead certainty,
- J. Moody
- C. Taylor
- O. Franks
- L. Romano
- S. Whitelock
- T. Blue
- M. Todd
- K. Read
- T. Chief
- T. Cane
- T. Lander
- R. Crotty
- S. Tamanivalu
- I. Dagg
- B. Smith
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@ACT-Crusader No T.Sader?
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So I reckon we play our strongest possible line-up...
Three questions is... is Cane back? Stuff or NZHerald says hes a couple of weeks away.
Cruden back?
Does A.Smith miss again - I'm going to say he doesn't start.- Moody
- Coles
- Franks
- Retallick
- Whitelock
- Kaino
- Cane/Savea
- Read
- Perenara
- Barrett
- Naholo
- Crotty
- ALB
- Dagg
- Smith
- Taylor
- Crockett
- Faumuina
- Squire
- Savea
- TKB (maybe A.Smith to come off bench)
- Cruden/Sopoaga
- Moala
Probably will be few other surprises, but they'll chase this game hard. Its a "Final" for these guys.
What would the odds have been on this being our best backline post immediately after the RWC...
I would have thought most people would have seen it being
A.Smith,
Cruden,
J.Savea,
SBW,
Crotty/Ngatai?,
NMS,
B.Smith. -
@hydro11 said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
No reason for A. Smith not to play.
No there's not, but TJP has taken his chance, but question is, does AS get back from past deeds or does he have to earn his spot back?
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Plenty of reasons...
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Give Aaron some 'space' to deal with off-field stuff
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Good PR to let the situation dissipate - Actually the smartest thing NZRU could do is come out this week and state Aaron won't play this game, puts the issue to rest, they're seen to be proactive, general public will feel hes served the time to match the crime, most fans will think that 4 weeks out (by the time Ireland game rolls around) is overs but see the reasoning.
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AB's travelling pretty well with Perenara at #9 lately,
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Putting Aaron straight back in could be seen as just paying lip-service
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Unfortunately Aaron is like a victim of too many team penalties, but for rugby in general, hes wearing punishment for the Chiefs, and the Wellington kid, wrong person, poor timing.
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@westcoastie said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
Plenty of reasons...
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Give Aaron some 'space' to deal with off-field stuff
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Good PR to let the situation dissipate - Actually the smartest thing NZRU could do is come out this week and state Aaron won't play this game, puts the issue to rest, they're seen to be proactive, general public will feel hes served the time to match the crime, most fans will think that 4 weeks out (by the time Ireland game rolls around) is overs but see the reasoning.
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AB's travelling pretty well with Perenara at #9 lately,
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Putting Aaron straight back in could be seen as just paying lip-service
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Unfortunately Aaron is like a victim of too many team penalties, but for rugby in general, hes wearing punishment for the Chiefs, and the Wellington kid, wrong person, poor timing.
The way to deal with poor PR is not to hide in the corner. Aaron Smith committed a relatively minor indiscretion and it should be treated as such. Making Smith sit out would just be saying that everyone who has been on rugby's back was right all along. You are just acquiescing to the narrative and proving the moralisers in the media right. What the NZRU should do is set their own narrative. Tew screwed up (under great pressure) in apologising to the Filipo victims for something he had nothing to do with. If Smith did something minor and receives a major punishment then obviously it appears like he did something major.
If Smith needs time to sort out his life it should be granted but I don't see evidence that he does.
Perenara has played well but two good games in two easy victories shouldn't counterbalance five consecutive years of excellent service. Players who aren't actually performing that well (J. Savea) have received more out of their past performances than two games.
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@hydro11 There is possibly a recent precedent. Two years ago Cruden transgressed and missed the Arg / SA tour plus the Bledisloe III game in Brisneyland (Barrett started, and Slade came on and kicked the matchwinner). I don't recall Cruden being injured (there was talk he would play for Manawatu during his "suspension" but I don't think it happened) and I believe his next game was the second EOYT game vs England (Carter started the first game in Chicago).
I have no idea what Cruden did but he served about a month for his misdemeanour. Perhaps Aaron Smith will serve the same.
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Not sure if selected we would even get the usual Smith either. Despite the relatively minor professional issue, he will be going through personal stuff that he will still be going through this week. The guy is temperamental at the best of times and can go off the boil (see the Boks test earlier in the year for what that looks like).
TJP starting with Smith off the bench to me is the ideal set up for me given the circumstances.
Let Smith get over the hump by playing, but keeping him on the bench is a decent compromise - despite all the inner turmoil he would still be better than TKB.
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@westcoastie said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
- Give Aaron some 'space' to deal with off-field stuff
Yeah about 3m x 2m of space ought to do it. Make sure its got the necessary bars and signage. Here's one they prepared earlier:
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@Tregaskis said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@hydro11 There is possibly a recent precedent. Two years ago Cruden transgressed and missed the Arg / SA tour plus the Bledisloe III game in Brisneyland (Barrett started, and Slade came on and kicked the matchwinner). I don't recall Cruden being injured (there was talk he would play for Manawatu during his "suspension" but I don't think it happened) and I believe his next game was the second EOYT game vs England (Carter started the first game in Chicago).
I have no idea what Cruden did but he served about a month for his misdemeanour. Perhaps Aaron Smith will serve the same.
Cruden was late for a flight which is a bit more serious IMO.
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@hydro11 said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@Tregaskis said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
@hydro11 There is possibly a recent precedent. Two years ago Cruden transgressed and missed the Arg / SA tour plus the Bledisloe III game in Brisneyland (Barrett started, and Slade came on and kicked the matchwinner). I don't recall Cruden being injured (there was talk he would play for Manawatu during his "suspension" but I don't think it happened) and I believe his next game was the second EOYT game vs England (Carter started the first game in Chicago).
I have no idea what Cruden did but he served about a month for his misdemeanour. Perhaps Aaron Smith will serve the same.
Cruden was late for a flight which is a bit more serious IMO.
Although it seems arriving early to an airport isn't necessarily a good thing either - too much time on Aaron's hands . . .
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@hydro11 said in All Blacks v Wallabies at Eden Park.:
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I have no idea what Cruden did but he served about a month for his misdemeanour. Perhaps Aaron Smith will serve the same.
Cruden was late for a flight which is a bit more serious IMO.
Missed the flight because of missing curfew as I understood it ... missing curfew because, well, it took longer than Aaron's.
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We've by and large kept the same starting lineup. I can't see it changing too much for an EP test.
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In all reality our squad as a whole is pretty awesome. You could (although I doubt they would) roll out wholesale changes and apart from combinations. Its not like in the past with weak or inexperienced players coming in. Prob the biggest drop is hooker (just because Coles is so good). PT has been good coming on at lock. Squire/Todd/Savea good covering loose. Haven't seen much from TKB or Tamniivlu/Moala of late apart from Taminivalu losing the game for the Naki with a brain explosion.
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