Japan vs All Blacks
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Havili has test experience. I expect him to be him in the 23. Based on current form, he's better than NMS and I'd rather see him cover the midfield than Jordie.
I vaguely remember Hansen saying Papali'i wouldn't play the early games, but I may be wrong. I definitely remember him saying that they see Papali'i only as a 6 at this stage, so that's where I expect them to start him if he plays. I'd pick Fifita at lock, with Hemopo as cover on the bench (assuming BBBR is on the plane) and Evans to cover all loose forward positions.
Anyway, I don't expect this to be an easy selection for Hansen and co.
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Who would be captain of your side? I think Whitelock is almost a certainty to start and captain
I think you might be right about Jordie covering ten. When Fox spoke about the Cameron selection he made it clear he only made the squad because Perofeta was injured. He then went on to say that he might not be involved in this match. So possibly he's only injury cover.
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@stargazer said in Japan vs All Blacks:
I definitely remember him saying that they see Papali'i only as a 6 at this stage, so that's where I expect them to start him if he plays.
They said he's not a natural 7 and that he's primarily selected as a blindside that can cover openside.
However they were excited about his ability to play both flanks because that is unique in this squad.The best way to use him on this tour IMO would be to start him at 7 vs Japan and at 6 vs Italy (slightly harder than the other way around)
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I reckon Papali’I could be our next Rodders. Decent enough over the ball but more a hard working tackling option that can do the grunt work clearing bodies at the ruck.
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@stargazer said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Havili has test experience. I expect him to be him in the 23. Based on current form, he's better than NMS and I'd rather see him cover the midfield than Jordie.
I vaguely remember Hansen saying Papali'i wouldn't play the early games, but I may be wrong. I definitely remember him saying that they see Papali'i only as a 6 at this stage, so that's where I expect them to start him if he plays. I'd pick Fifita at lock, with Hemopo as cover on the bench (assuming BBBR is on the plane) and Evans to cover all loose forward positions.
Anyway, I don't expect this to be an easy selection for Hansen and co.
Very cruel, sadistic even. He doesn't like hard work remember?
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@sparky said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@cgrant BBBR is on the early plane to the UK according to the NZ Herald.
If that article is correct, then you'd have to conclude that Goodhue is no chance of playing vs England - they're shipping four midfielders to the UK (which I don't think would have been the original plan).
I reckon there could be a few wrinkles in Yalden's report, which basically telegraphs that we'll use the same 23 as vs Australia.
Earlier Hansen had talked about only 22 being on the plane and that they thought BBBR might only be ready to play Japan. At that point they were presumably happy to leave him in Japan and with Romano unavailable, that might come back on the table - especially if they think he would benefit from a run.
I also wouldn't be surprised to see Naholo on the plane and maybe a midfielder - or even DMac - left behind.
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@stargazer said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Havili has test experience. I expect him to be him in the 23. Based on current form, he's better than NMS and I'd rather see him cover the midfield than Jordie.
I vaguely remember Hansen saying Papali'i wouldn't play the early games, but I may be wrong. I definitely remember him saying that they see Papali'i only as a 6 at this stage, so that's where I expect them to start him if he plays. I'd pick Fifita at lock, with Hemopo as cover on the bench (assuming BBBR is on the plane) and Evans to cover all loose forward positions.
Anyway, I don't expect this to be an easy selection for Hansen and co.
If Hemopo doesn’t get a decent run in this test (eg doesn’t start), then it would be a real strange one that they kept him in the smaller squad throughout TRC.
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@act-crusader said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@stargazer said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Havili has test experience. I expect him to be him in the 23. Based on current form, he's better than NMS and I'd rather see him cover the midfield than Jordie.
I vaguely remember Hansen saying Papali'i wouldn't play the early games, but I may be wrong. I definitely remember him saying that they see Papali'i only as a 6 at this stage, so that's where I expect them to start him if he plays. I'd pick Fifita at lock, with Hemopo as cover on the bench (assuming BBBR is on the plane) and Evans to cover all loose forward positions.
Anyway, I don't expect this to be an easy selection for Hansen and co.
If Hemopo doesn’t get a decent run in this test (eg doesn’t start), then it would be a real strange one that they kept him in the smaller squad throughout TRC.
Not really, he's a Highlander he could possibly play 6 in the All Blacks.
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Do people care more or less about this test than the bore-fest last Saturday?
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@mariner4life said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Do people care more or less about this test than the bore-fest last Saturday?
So much less. I at least recorded last weeks to watch after the Winx race and post race guff.
I think I will prefer having a beer outside with True-love and the dogs if it is a nice evening than watch our heartland XV take on Japan
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@hooroo said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@mariner4life said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Do people care more or less about this test than the bore-fest last Saturday?
So much less. I at least recorded last weeks to watch after the Winx race and post race guff.
I think I will prefer having a beer outside with True-love and the dogs if it is a nice evening than watch our heartland XV take on Japan
Derby day isn't it? So afternoon on the punt. My best mate's 40th that night. Might catch a replay on Sunday while recovering, so i can watch all these guys with no AB future getting their time to shine.
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@mariner4life said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@hooroo said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@mariner4life said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Do people care more or less about this test than the bore-fest last Saturday?
So much less. I at least recorded last weeks to watch after the Winx race and post race guff.
I think I will prefer having a beer outside with True-love and the dogs if it is a nice evening than watch our heartland XV take on Japan
Derby day isn't it? So afternoon on the punt. My best mate's 40th that night. Might catch a replay on Sunday while recovering, so i can watch all these guys with no AB future getting their time to shine.
Ha! Of course! It will be watching Aussie Racing!
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@hooroo said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@mariner4life said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@hooroo said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@mariner4life said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Do people care more or less about this test than the bore-fest last Saturday?
So much less. I at least recorded last weeks to watch after the Winx race and post race guff.
I think I will prefer having a beer outside with True-love and the dogs if it is a nice evening than watch our heartland XV take on Japan
Derby day isn't it? So afternoon on the punt. My best mate's 40th that night. Might catch a replay on Sunday while recovering, so i can watch all these guys with no AB future getting their time to shine.
Ha! Of course! It will be watching Aussie Racing!
you can do that outside with a beer. In fact that's the perfect spot for it.
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@mariner4life said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@hooroo said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@mariner4life said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@hooroo said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@mariner4life said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Do people care more or less about this test than the bore-fest last Saturday?
So much less. I at least recorded last weeks to watch after the Winx race and post race guff.
I think I will prefer having a beer outside with True-love and the dogs if it is a nice evening than watch our heartland XV take on Japan
Derby day isn't it? So afternoon on the punt. My best mate's 40th that night. Might catch a replay on Sunday while recovering, so i can watch all these guys with no AB future getting their time to shine.
Ha! Of course! It will be watching Aussie Racing!
you can do that outside with a beer. In fact that's the perfect spot for it.
We have no outside TV! Hey but thanks for highlighting that!
PLaying golf at Eden Park on the Sunday too! Once a year they set it up to hit off from in the stands into holes dotted around the park! Can't wait!
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@donsteppa said in Japan vs All Blacks:
It barely looks like an All Blacks game with some of the probable teams named above. Should be Japan vs NZ A...
It is!
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You'd think after all these boring repetitive games against sub par opposition like Aussie, we'd welcome a match against a team we rarely play....who, like us, also beat SA last time they played one another, in fact, Japan have a better record v SA than us!!
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@taniwharugby said in Japan vs All Blacks:
You'd think after all these boring repetitive games against sub par opposition like Aussie, we'd welcome a match against a team we rarely play....who, like us, also beat SA last time they played one another, in fact, Japan have a better record v SA than us!!
Does it seem like we are taking them too lightly?
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I don't gamble or drink (when watching rugby anyway) and likely given Sydney's recent weather it will be bucketing down with rain. So I'll go against the grain of the Queenslander and the Waikato man and I'll definitely be watching this. After all this team knocked off the Boks in a RWC match, and the Boks beat us.
