Bledisloe 2
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Anyone here believe in Ofa Tu'ungafasi potential or talent as much as Shag and his fellow selectors as I am struggling to see his worth off the bench or even in the AB environment.
Would welcome some enlightenment here. -
Very strong starting side and very happy to see Coles back. Biggest interest will be to see how the reserves go and whether we can win the second half. I am hoping for a tighter game but if the starting side plays like last week it will take a drastically improved defensive effort from the Wallabies.
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@98blueandgold It's not impossible that he'll make it and is apparently going to give it a go. But, to get there he'll have to become one of the four oldest ever ABs.
In Kev's case, at least, there didn't really seem to be many hookers stepping up to take his place - they went on and on with him and Hore until Coles finally arrived.
In JK's case, Squire is pressing and Akira is queuing up behind him. Those guys will get better and JK won't - seems like a long time for him to fend them off.
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I'd be happy for Nepo to start in Owen's place. If he gets his setup right, he's a very competent prop that can hold his own.
TBH, Franks' achilles injury is unsurprising given he's been carrying it and trying to manage it.
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From the All Blacks twitter account:
UPDATE: Owen Franks is out of this weekend's Test with Achilles troubles. Replaced by Nepo Laulala. Toomaga-Allen called in as replacement.
HANSEN: Franks may be out for a while so will be monitored. Taking it one step at a time.
HANSEN: Franks has been battling with Achilles issue all season.
HANSEN: Wallabies hadn't played for several weeks. They will be alot sharper of mind and body and desperate.
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Wallabies to take on the All Blacks
1 Scott Sio (33 Tests)
2 Stephen Moore (121 Tests)
3 Allan Alaalatoa (13 Tests)
4 Rob Simmons (72 Tests)
5 Adam Coleman (13 Tests)
6 Ned Hanigan (4 Tests)
7 Michael Hooper (c) (69 Tests)
8 Sean McMahon (16 Tests)
9 Will Genia (79 Tests)
10 Bernard Foley (46 Tests)
11 Henry Speight (13 Tests)
12 Kurtley Beale (61 Tests)
13 Tevita Kuridrani (48 Tests)
14 Dane Haylett-Petty (17 Tests)
15 Israel Folau (56 Tests)Reserves
16 Tatafu Polota-Nau (72 Tests)
17 Tom Robertson (10 Tests)
18 Sekope Kepu (81 Tests)
19 Rory Arnold (13 Tests)
20 Lopeti Timani (8 Tests)/Jack Dempsey (1 Test)
21 Nick Phipps (53 Tests)
22 Reece Hodge (14 Tests)
23 Curtis Rona (1 Test)IN: Jack Dempsey, Dane Haylett-Petty
OUT: Samu Kerevi -
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Stuff says that JTA also comes into the 23. I assume that is a mistake and will be corrected.
*All Blacks prop Owen Franks has been ruled out of the second Bledisloe Cup test in Dunedin on Saturday through injury.
Nepo Laulala will come into the starting 15 with Jeff Toomaga-Allen moving into the 23.
Franks was in line for a rest after Saturday's match.*
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@Bovidae said in Bledisloe 2:
Stuff says that JTA also comes into the 23. I assume that is a mistake and will be corrected.
*All Blacks prop Owen Franks has been ruled out of the second Bledisloe Cup test in Dunedin on Saturday through injury.
Nepo Laulala will come into the starting 15 with Jeff Toomaga-Allen moving into the 23.
Franks was in line for a rest after Saturday's match.*
Fake news....
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@ACT-Crusader NZH have copied and pasted the same thing.
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@akan004 said in Bledisloe 2:
Simmons can't make the Reds 2018 team but gets a starting spot with the wobs. Clown is truly clueless.
Simmons is a very good lineout lock, probably Australia's best.
I'm astounded the front row is unchanged and Kerevi is the only real casualty from last weekends debacle.
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@ACT-Crusader said in Bledisloe 2:
@akan004 said in Bledisloe 2:
Simmons can't make the Reds 2018 team but gets a starting spot with the wobs. Clown is truly clueless.
Simmons is a very good lineout lock, probably Australia's best.
I'm astounded the front row is unchanged and Kerevi is the only real casualty from last weekends debacle.
Rona also moved to the bench.
Moore and TPN should be swapped at least.
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@taniwharugby That's two metres now, isn't it?
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@ACT-Crusader But he's a marshmallow around the park. Arnold is not a bad lineout forward and offers a lot more physicality than Simmons. Their lineout was surprisingly good last weekend as well.
Kerevi dropped for Dunedin, Simmons in surprise start
