AB's v Samoa
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Anyone needing a rest might just get one so a few off selections me thinks, plus the need to play those coming back from injury
1 Ofa
2 Taylor
3 Faumuina
4 Whitelock
5 Romano
6 Scotty B.
7 Cane/Savea
8 Read/Squire
9 TJP
10 Beaudy
11 Savea
12 SBW
13 ALB (expecting Crotty for Test #1)
14 Dagg
15 Jordie
16 Harris
one of Crockett/Moody/Franks to miss
19 Savea/Cane
20 Romano
21 A.Smith
22 Cruden
23 LaumapeAm I correct, Sopoaga & Naholo off with the Highlanders
TKB, Ioane Bros off with the Maori tean... -
What will lose us this match is the misuse of apostrophes.... grr ...
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@booboo said in AB's v Samoa:
What will lose us this match is the misuse of apostrophes.... grr ...
And playing Romano both in the starting side and off the bench.
Is BBBR confirmed out of this one? Sam Whitelock has had a lot of minutes already this season.
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@pukunui two Romanos and no Romero ...
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Can't have Moody and Crockett on the bench. I'd select,
1 Crockett
3 Faumuina
17 Moody
18 Tu'ungafasi -
Squire is out until the 2nd test according to that article so he's not going to be playing. Read and Cruden are unavailable too.
They'll go with (6) Kaino, (7) Cane and (8) Savea. Unless they use Fifita for this test they are a loose forward short.
Rest Franks and Whitelock. BFA at fullback and give BB and Sopoaga time at 1st 5.
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Isn't the point of this game to give the ABs team a warm-up, so that we're not going up against the Lions cold?
If that's the case, I can't see much point in starting anything but the closest we can to the XV we plan to use against the Lions.
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Agree they'll want Lions starters to get some gametime. So:
Moody/Taylor/Franks
BBBR/Sam W
Cane/Kaino/Savea
Smith/BB
SBW/ALB
Bus/Dagg/Benda50;50 call between Dagg and Naholo, albeit I'd be wanting a strong fielder of the high ball and thus take the former.
Bench much more interesting. Expect some high mileage blokes to get a rest:
Crockett/Harris/Charlie
Romero/Fifita
TJP/Sopoaga
LaumapeIt seems to me that Fifta logically ought to be in mix as we have three sevens in extended squad. I also think they'll want to give BB/Laumape a run. If back three hurt BB to 15 and Peru to 10. Could make a case that Barrett (S) needs game time more than Romero.
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I reckon Harris might get the starting hooker role. Taylor strikes me as better impact off the bench and he won't be entirely happy with his game for the Crusaders vs the lions either.
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@Chris-B. said in AB's v Samoa:
Isn't the point of this game to give the ABs team a warm-up, so that we're not going up against the Lions cold?
If that's the case, I can't see much point in starting anything but the closest we can to the XV we plan to use against the Lions.
I'd agree with that but I think you would want to limit the minutes of some of the Crusaders tight forwards in this game. If you include the Highlanders game, they will be playing 5 big games in as many weeks.
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@Bovidae I think the front rowers should be in pretty reasonable nick. Razor hasn't been scared to run out Crockett/Funnell/Alaalatoa early in the second half in many games. Sam Whitelock would be the one who's played a lot of minutes - though he got that imposed rest at a good time so he's only had a four week run vs Chiefs/Rebels/Highlanders/Lions.
Pakman's team looks about right. I think Scott Barrett is a good bet as bench lock, since he definitely needs a run. Agree with Billy Tell, that Taylor might be under pressure from Harris after Saturday.
Dagg didn't look right to me in the second half vs Lions. If he's fit, he'll surely play, but I reckon that points to Jordie getting the bench spot. If he's not fit, maybe Ben Smith goes to the wing and Jordie gets the start and if that worked out OK that might even be what they went with in the first test!!!
They will be wanting the two fullbacks/high ball exponents.
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@Chris-B. in previous years we've gone into a test like this with what ended up being a very different lineup to the first big test.
A number of guys need some serious game time, but others will need a lighter workload to freshen up for three consecutive tests.
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@ACT-Crusader True - but, then they've released 6 guys to the Maori and Highlanders and Read, Coles, Crotty and Cruden are all unlikely to play in this game, so there's not too many variations can be made within the squad 33.
I can't see the point in playing Tu'ungafasi. Scott Barrett certainly needs the game time and I expect him to play here, but not in the first test. Sopoaga will need to back-up from the Highlanders game and one of Jordie or Laumape sits on the bench.
Pakman's team with my suggested variations would mean everyone getting a game this week except Ofa, Romano and Laumape - plus they'll need to dip into their stand-by pool for a loose-forward.
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Realise I missed that Naholo playing for Clan. UK press full of Warburton saying he doubts he'll make first test and would not expect to start Maori match.
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I hope that Raynal is not going to ruin this game, too.
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@Stargazer nah, we are rumoured to be stronger at scrum time so he'll ping Samoa all night.
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@taniwharugby LOL, don't want that either. Just want a game that's entertaining and where the lead role is not played by the ref.
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Any idea when the team is named?
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@chimoaus said in AB's v Samoa:
Any idea when the team is named?
The team is:
1 Viliamu Afatia - Racing 92 - Vailoa Palauli/Salelavalu/Sapapali'i
2 Maatulimanu Leiataua - Bayonne - Manono/Safune
3 Census Johnston - Toulouse - Lalomanu/Falevao
4 Chris Vui -Worcester Warriors - Foaluga/Lano /Saasaai
5 Faatiga Lemalu - Saracens - Faleasiu/Lefaga
6 Piula Faasalele - Toulouse - Magiagi/Nofoalii
7 Jack Lam - Bristol - Gaitavai/Malie/Taga
8 Faifili Levave - Mitsubishi - Lalomanu/Fasito'o-Uta
9 Kahn Fotualii - Bath - Faleapuna
10 Tusiata Pisi - Bristol - Lefaga Safaatoa /Toamua
11 Tim Nanai Williams - Chiefs - Manono/Falelatai
12 Alapati Leiua - Wasps - Malie
13 Kieron Fonotia - Ospreys - Apia
14 Albert Nikoro - West Scarborough - Vaiala/Vaiusu
15 Ah See Tuala - Northampton Saints - Moamoa/Gaitavai16 Seilala Lam - Nevers - Gaitavai /Malie/Taga
17 Nephi Leatigaga - Piacenza - Saleloga/Siumu
18 Paul Alo-Emile - Stade Francais - LeulumoegaTuai/Fasito'o-Tai/Falefa
19 Taiasina Tuifua - Lyon - Lauli'i
20 Alafoti Faosiliva - Worcester Warriors - Afega/Tuana'i
21 Auvasa Falealii - Nevers - Letogo/Lefaga Gagaifo
22 D’Angelo Leuila - Papatoetoe - Gaitavai/Fagalii
23 Ken Pisi - Northampton Saints - Lefaga Safaatoa /Toamua -
holy shit, how old is Census Johnson?
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@mariner4life Levave must be getting on a bit too.
Bloody good backline.
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@Nepia said in AB's v Samoa:
@mariner4life Levave must be getting on a bit too.
Bloody good backline.
Three former Makos in that backline and another in the pack!
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Interesting to see the dominance of European based players. Sign of the times I guess in regards to earning potential.
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He's also in the Blues dev squad.
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@booboo said in AB's v Samoa:
I found this amusing:
22 D’Angelo Leuila - Papatoetoe - Gaitavai/Fagalii
Used to stay with an uncle from that suburb, he may have played for that well known team.
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Some serious pace for Samoa at 13.
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14 Albert Nikoro - West Scarborough - Vaiala/Vaiusu
A winger from west Scarborough? Not good enough to make the full Scarborough team?
I remember in the 95 World Cup, and it was quite amusing to see an unknown Auckland club rugby player like George Harder carving up against test opposition.
Somehow, I don't think this will be quite the same.
What League do they play in? Yorkshire?
That Samoa are calling up an amateur or semi-pro outside back from low level English club rugby is quite sad. -
@Rapido said in AB's v Samoa:
14 Albert Nikoro - West Scarborough - Vaiala/Vaiusu
A winger from west Scarborough? Not good enough to make the full Scarborough team?
I remember in the 95 World Cup, and it was quite amusing to see an unknown Auckland club rugby player like George Harder carving up against test opposition.
Somehow, I don't think this will be quite the same.
What League do they play in? Yorkshire?
That Samoa are calling up an amateur or semi-pro outside back from low level English club rugby is quite sad.Not really, Nikoro has been close to Super rugby standard in the past - maybe they think they can get him up to standard?
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Nikoro has bounced around a lot - Auckland, Tasman, Waikato, Perth and now in the UK. I'm probably missing other stops.
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The Samoan back 3 would look a lot better with Melani Nanai and Matt Duffie in there instead of Tuala and Nikoro.
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@booboo said in AB's v Samoa:
I found this amusing:
22 D’Angelo Leuila - Papatoetoe - Gaitavai/Fagalii
Could be worse, he could have Eden in there instead.
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West Scarborough play int the West Australian Premiership; ideal prep for taking on the All Blacks
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@Wurzel said in AB's v Samoa:
West Scarborough play int the West Australian Premiership; ideal prep for taking on the All Blacks
Oh, wow.
WA club rugby? Not Yorkshire club rugby.
Well, suppose he's conditioned to hard grounds then rather than a playing on cold Tuesday night v Grimsby etc ......
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@Dice said in AB's v Samoa:
@booboo said in AB's v Samoa:
I found this amusing:
22 D’Angelo Leuila - Papatoetoe - Gaitavai/Fagalii
Could be worse, he could have Eden in there instead.
That would be funny.
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I take it they aren't naming the team today. Maybe they are pulling a Cheika and delaying the final team naming to rattle the opposition.
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@Tim said in AB's v Samoa:
@Dice said in AB's v Samoa:
Matt Duffie
I thought he was a safe white boy?
Seeing this team actually reminded me that he's eligible for Samoa. I remember seeing his name in a wider team list for the Samoan league team a number of years ago.
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@Dice said in AB's v Samoa:
@Tim said in AB's v Samoa:
@Dice said in AB's v Samoa:
Matt Duffie
I thought he was a safe white boy?
Seeing this team actually reminded me that he's eligible for Samoa. I remember seeing his name in a wider team list for the Samoan league team a number of years ago.
That's Rugby League, though - you only have to visit the Otara Markets to be eligible for the Samoan league team.
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@chimoaus said in AB's v Samoa:
Interesting to see the dominance of European based players. Sign of the times I guess in regards to earning potential.
Looking at the starting XV, everyone played rugby in NZ except for Viliamu Afatia who I don't know about... I guess some could argue that Jack Lam grew up Austalian..
But yes, very hard to pick a player from a super rugby team, as it would give them a pay cut... And let's be honest, most of the young guys still in NZ will try to be All Blacks first, and it's not until they hit their 30s and realise it's not possible, do they move on...
Most who realise that they can't crack the ABs will move overseas as some earn more than super rugby players... It's ridiculousAlso, Matt Duffie is of Samoan descent.
