All Blacks v Tonga
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1: Karl Tu’inukuafe (17)
2: Dane Coles (74)
3: Angus Ta’avao (14)
4: Scott Barrett (36)
5: Samuel Whitelock (122) – captain
6: Akira Ioane (2)
7: Dalton Papalii (4)
8: Luke Jacobson (2)
9: Brad Weber (7)
10: Richie Mo’unga (22)
11: George Bridge (10)
12: Quinn Tupaea (new cap)
13: Rieko Ioane (33)
14: Will Jordan (2)
15: Damian McKenzie (27)16: Asafo Aumua (1)
17: George Bower (new cap)
18: Tyrel Lomax (6)
19: Patrick Tuipulotu (35)
20: Ethan Blackadder (new cap)
21: Finlay Christie (new cap)
22: Beauden Barrett (88)
23: Jordie Barrett (23) -
They're clearly resting players given we're playing the Tonga Invitational Second XV.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks v Tonga:
They're clearly resting players given we're playing the Tonga Invitational Second XV.
BBBR doesn't need a rest he needs a game.
An underwhelming team for an underwhelming game.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks v Tonga:
They're clearly resting players given we're playing the Tonga Invitational Second XV.
I expect the majority, if not all of the players, will get a run over the first two games.
I'm interested to see how this loose forward trio combines.
Commenting on the make-up of the loose forward trio, Foster added: “Dalton gets a reward for a great campaign this year. In Akira’s case, he started at six last year and it’s a chance for him to put a marker down. Luke played very well for the Chiefs and he is back in great form.”
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@crucial said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@antipodean said in All Blacks v Tonga:
They're clearly resting players given we're playing the Tonga Invitational Second XV.
BBBR doesn't need a rest he needs a game.
An underwhelming team for an underwhelming game.
Yeah, that's silly not to chuck him in, even if they only get 40 minutes out of him.
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Meh, yeah its hardly the most competitive of games but better than nothing. Good opportunity for some of the island boys to play at the top level too so no complaints here.
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@crucial said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@antipodean said in All Blacks v Tonga:
They're clearly resting players given we're playing the Tonga Invitational Second XV.
BBBR doesn't need a rest he needs a game.
An underwhelming team for an underwhelming game.
It's a fixture we have desperatly been missing over the last few years. A low stakes game to start blooding new players and weeding out those that aren't up to it. I expect to see lots of changes across these three games.
It's been almost impossible to be dropped from the ABs over the last 2/3 years, to our detriment. Pretty much only got new players in when injuries happen.
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@mn5 said in All Blacks v Tonga:
Underwhelming team. They’ll only win by about 70 or so.
yeah...very little interesting this game...even less seeing the team
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@mn5 I will be surprised if they dont hit triple figures.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v Tonga:
@mn5 I will be surprised if they dont hit triple figures.
Feels like a 100 is on the cards. Lots of players in the team playing for a proper starting spot.
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@rapido said in All Blacks v Tonga:
NZRU should actually let some Tongans play professional rugby in NZ and remain Tongan (and so should the Aussies). Reap what you sow. A loss making 'The massacre of the amateur brigade'.
We have nothing to do with clubs in the NH not releasing players, and circumstances meaning even if they did they would have to spend two weeks in quarantine.
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@rapido plenty of them have played in NZ, Takalua played for Northland, was selected for Tonga, then got an overseas contract (currently at Toulon?) so they often choose to leave to earn much better money than they do as super players anyway.
