How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?
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Seems most agree with my opening post... clearly the AB's ain't too hard to pick at present.
Beauden Barrett starts in this team regardless of whether he loses the first test based on goal-kicking... he'll be at full back in the 2nd test if the selector think its an issue, theres waaaaay too much upside to him starting now.
Hes playing better Super Rugby on cheat mode - looks to be a bazillion times better than last yearCruden will come off the bench, they won't risk J.Barrett or DMac as 10 cover in a million years vs BIL.
Which brings me to J.Barrett, I could see him as midfield/wing/15 cover from the bench, basically he offers more that DMac - size, more positions, understanding with BB, although gut says SBW gets bench for Test 1.0I like DMac, hes awesome at Super rugby, I just can't see him becoming a regular AB with Beaudy there for the next 2 RWC's and Ben Smith into J.Barrett over that time frame. (I would like to see a JB/ALB combo one day - wowwee - love to see what Laumape and ALB looks like as well)
If Dagg doesn't make it back to full form and fitness, this is when I think selection gets interesting. Ben Smith is a nailed on starter, but I can see the selectors moving him to 14 to accomodate J.Barrett at the back (then goal-kicking is no longer an issue)
I can't see them going for two power wings in Naholo and J.SaveaHow good is it that most AB's are also playing well at the moment, and NZ Super Rugby is hitting some what of a purple patch.
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If the ABs pick 3 1st-fives, who will be the third? I'd say BB and AC are locks, but I've been disappointed with Sopoaga this season, hasn't really kicked on, not helped by injury. I'd say he'd still get the 3rd spot, but Mo'unga must be breathing down his neck, or else the utility options like Jordie Barrett or (a lot) less likely Damian McKenzie. I can't remember if Jordie can play 10??
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Only a few question marks for me...
1 Moody
2 Taylor
3 Franks
4 Romano
5 Whitelock
6 S Barrett
7 Todd
8 Read
9 ???
10 ???
11 ???
12 BNZ
13 Crotty
14 Dagg
15 J Barrett -
@Billy-Tell Fitness permitting Sopoaga will be picked over Mounga for the Lions series and it's not really close. Simply put Sopoaga is just further along the development path. Sopoaga has been put to the test at Ellis Park on debut and come through positively. He has also delivered come Super playoff time - winning a Super Rugby title/3 consecutive playoff games.
Mounga has played 1 Super Rugby playoff game where his team were on the backfoot from the get go and got smashed in Africa and he won't get any playoff rugby in pre-Lions series. I think Richie is developing very nicely and a real chance for the End of Year tour but Lima has been with the ABs 2 seasons now - he's fairly entrenched (especially with Cruden leaving soon)
@ACT-Crusader Good to see you rolling out the same joke. I hope to see this continue alongside the Ardie height jokes and team name Thursday jokes just to name a couple.
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Richie won't make the ABs unless the plague hits the squad. Barrett, Cruden, Lima, Dagg and then daylight.
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@KiwiMurph I'll be here all season
Very surprised to hear people talking about Mo'unga. Even I couldn't find a spot for him in my team
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Stuff.co.nz: History shows ABs must seriously consider Jordie Barrett for first Lions test because... Israel Folau.
How do they come up with this shit?
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@KiwiMurph said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Unco I think that article was written for the Sydney Morning Herald so therefore is geared towards that market.
Don't they usually post the source down the bottom of the article when they do that?
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@Unco said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
Stuff.co.nz: History shows ABs must seriously consider Jordie Barrett for first Lions test because... Israel Folau.
How do they come up with this shit?
What do they mean ? whats the connection ?
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@kiwiinmelb Folau debuted in the first Lions test, and scored a couple of tries.
Therefore - if Jordie debuts in Lions#1 - he'll score a couple of tries.
Logic. -
@Kruse said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@kiwiinmelb Folau debuted in the first Lions test, and scored a couple of tries.
Therefore - if Jordie debuts in Lions#1 - he'll score a couple of tries.
Logic.Because thats how it works
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I'd also like to stress, if anybody else goes to stuff looking for that article (for a laugh)... AVOID Mark Reason's attempt at humour (something about armageddon when Lions win).
It's fucking atrocious, my eyes started bleeding very early on, and I skimmed the rest searching for anything redeeming. There's nothing. -
@Kruse said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@kiwiinmelb Folau debuted in the first Lions test, and scored a couple of tries.
Therefore - if Jordie debuts in Lions#1 - he'll score a couple of tries.
Logic.The Wallabies lost that series.
Therefore - if Jordie debuts in Lions#1 - the ABs will loose.
Logic. -
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@Nepia said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@Kruse said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
@kiwiinmelb Folau debuted in the first Lions test, and scored a couple of tries.
Therefore - if Jordie debuts in Lions#1 - he'll score a couple of tries.
Logic.The Wallabies lost that series.
Therefore - if Jordie debuts in Lions#1 - the ABs will loose.
Logic.On the flip side Jordie gets to shag a kiwi glamour!
Logic -
