All Blacks vs Fiji 2
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@chris said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:
If you are regarding Havilli as one of the 5 midgets at (1.84m and 95kg ) I wouldn't regard him as a midget.Not massive but not a midget.
Pretty much the Same size as ALB at 96kg and 1.85mThat's the long way of saying midget
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@bovidae said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:
The matchday 23 is (Test caps in brackets)
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George Bower (2)
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Codie Taylor (57)
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Nepo Laulala (30)
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Scott Barrett (41)
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Samuel Whitelock (124) - captain
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Akira Ioane (3)
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Ardie Savea (49)
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Luke Jacobson (4)
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Aaron Smith (98)
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Richie Mo’unga (23)
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Sevu Reece (9)
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David Havili (4)
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Anton Lienert-Brown (49)
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Will Jordan (4)
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Damian McKenzie (29)
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Dane Coles (76)
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Ethan de Groot (1)
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Angus Ta’avao (15)
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Brodie Retallick (82)
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Shannon Frizell
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Brad Weber (8)
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Beauden Barrett (90)
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Rieko Ioane (35)
Sheesh, that's a team that's probably only 3 selections away from what I would pick.
Swap Reece out of the team, squad, country completely for Rieko, I'd even allow having both Barrett's on the bench in this scenario.
Swap Retallick and Barrett. Retallick needs game time, Barrett needs fewer chances to get carded.
Start our best hooker in Coles.
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That's pretty much a Crusaders' tight five, which should help with combinations.
I think they are still rotating a few players so as SB wasn't involved last week he gets a chance in this test. We'll get to see the old guard in the 2nd half.
Taylor needs to step up. He played like Tarzan for the Crusaders and Jane for the ABs last season, so we can't afford another repeat of that.
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Is Bridge injured? Its going to make for a boring fern match day thread, without his availablility to distribute ..
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and i put Stan Sport on last night so i will actually watch
Might watch last weeks to see what all the whinging was about
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@bayimports said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:
Is Bridge injured? Its going to make for a boring fern match day thread, without his availablility to distribute ..
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Hmmm, I think its closer to our strongest side but there's still plenty of spots up for grabs.
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@bayimports said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:
Is Bridge injured? Its going to make for a boring fern match day thread, without his availablility to distribute ..
it will be his fault for not being there
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An important game for the loose forward combination
When Papali'i returns you'd assume SF drops out of the 23. Savea is an almost certain starter for the big matches given the lack of experienced loosies
The question for those big Tests will be does Savea start 7 or 8? Depending on where he starts it will be Jacobson or Papali'i on the bench
At the moment I think Papali'i has his nose on front but that could easily change
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So DMac is regarded as being ahead of Jordie Barrett - or is Jordie injured?
Great to see Akira picked at 6 ahead of Frizell and Jacobsen ahead of Sotutu.I guess they have to play Ardie, but I'd be surprised if he is up to speed (though certainly tall enough)
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@duluth said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:
An important game for the loose forward combination
When Papali'i returns you'd assume SF drops out of the 23. Savea is an almost certain starter for the big matches given the lack of experienced loosies
The question for those big Tests will be does Savea start 7 or 8? Depending on where he starts it will be Jacobson or Papali'i on the bench
At the moment I think Papali'i has his nose on front but that could easily change
I think Jacobsen is locking up the 8 spot.
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@duluth said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:
An important game for the loose forward combination
When Papali'i returns you'd assume SF drops out of the 23. Savea is an almost certain starter for the big matches given the lack of experienced loosies
The question for those big Tests will be does Savea start 7 or 8? Depending on where he starts it will be Jacobson or Papali'i on the bench
At the moment I think Papali'i has his nose on front but that could easily change
I am wondering if we are ever going to see the best of Papali'i on a regular basis. He is one of those unlucky players with have going around at the moment who always seem injured.
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@bayimports said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:
Is Bridge injured? Its going to make for a boring fern match day thread, without his availablility to distribute ..
I know, all Reece and Jordan can do is beat tacklers and score tries. Such limited players in comparison.
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@tim said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:
Prop depth is not great ...
It is our biggest problem.
For all that we got lauded for our ball-playing props a few years ago, behind Moody and Ofa, we've got a pair of statues and a bunch of rookies - and Angus.
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@duluth said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:
An important game for the loose forward combination
When Papali'i returns you'd assume SF drops out of the 23. Savea is an almost certain starter for the big matches given the lack of experienced loosies
The question for those big Tests will be does Savea start 7 or 8? Depending on where he starts it will be Jacobson or Papali'i on the bench
At the moment I think Papali'i has his nose on front but that could easily change
Slightly surprising that Frizell is on the bench rather than Blackadder. If Ardie goes down early, does Akira move to 7?
I don't want Ardie wearing 8 on his back.
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@chris-b said in All Blacks vs Fiji 2:
Slightly surprising that Frizell is on the bench rather than Blackadder. If Ardie goes down early, does Akira move to 7?
Jacobson will be covering 7 (SF to 6 and Akira to 8 probably)
I agree it's surprising they didn't go for Blackadder.
