All Blacks v England
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v England:
I like Sotutu on the bench, along with Bower and Sami gives us some good ball carrying up front.
Only two issues with the starting XV, I would’ve started Sami and Reece.
As for the bench, not a huge fan of Nepo in that role. This is the second time ALB and Havili have been on bench together which means Ioane is moving to the wing at some point.
Pretty much agree.
I like the team generally, but think it could have been just that little bit better.
I, unlike most, don't mind CT starting with Sami off the bench.
Think I'd have preferred Newell or Ofa to NL.
Wouldn't have minded Vaa'i on the bench for Frizz.
And having both ALB and DH doesn't scream change makers.
But hairs are being split.
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Great that Telea has another shot, he certainly provides some x-factor, woulda liked to see Reece over Havili on the bench, because otherwise it looks like they will change the mid-field to bring both Havili and ALB on at some point, which seems wrong.
Still feel there is a real hope from the coaching team that all of Brodie, Sam & Scott will be fit and well for the next 12 months.
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@booboo said in All Blacks v England:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks v England:
I don't know what to make of the selection of Sotutu, as Savea isn't going to be subbed.
Got to have cover.
Harmon covers 7 and 8.
I hope we see Sotutu used though. Even if it means Savea moving to 7.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v England:
@Steve said in All Blacks v England:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v England:
@Steve said in All Blacks v England:
A reserve 9 who was launched out of the squad as yesterdays man and is now back in the squad.
Makes perfect sense to me. Fakatava getting injured reduced his options for the 3rd halfback role. Christie wasn't that flash last week & TJP grabbed his chance & did pretty well.
But hadn't Weber usurped him at some time this year? If I recall correctly?
Christie, Favakata & now TJP have usurped Weber
https://apnews.com/article/sports-europe-japan-new-zealand-2aa02bfabb33ee09ea24bda580ee7a3f
While what you are saying is right in real terms, my point is that when Fakatava got injured it was Weber who was the next cab off the rank.
Its Foster in a nutshell. Sowakula, Perofeta, Weber , Ennor, Tuipolutu, Jacobsen. Leicester
Some players do the Hokey Cokey in and out of squads.
It must kill their confidence.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v England:
Great that Telea has another shot, he certainly provides some x-factor, woulda liked to see Reece over Havili on the bench, because otherwise it looks like they will change the mid-field to bring both Havili and ALB on at some point, which seems wrong.
Still feel there is a real hope from the coaching team that all of Brodie, Sam & Scott will be fit and well for the next 12 months.
Delighted he is getting another chance, but for me he has no X factor. He just does everything right. He is 7.5 out of 10 at everything. The kiwi-mapimpi.
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@Steve said in All Blacks v England:
While what you are saying is right in real terms, my point is that when Fakatava got injured it was Weber who was the next cab off the rank.
They brought Weber and TJP in for two games each on this tour. It just so happens that TJP's are at the business end.
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@Steve said in All Blacks v England:
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v England:
Great that Telea has another shot, he certainly provides some x-factor, woulda liked to see Reece over Havili on the bench, because otherwise it looks like they will change the mid-field to bring both Havili and ALB on at some point, which seems wrong.
Still feel there is a real hope from the coaching team that all of Brodie, Sam & Scott will be fit and well for the next 12 months.
Delighted he is getting another chance, but for me he has no X factor. He just does everything right. He is 7.5 out of 10 at everything. The kiwi-mapimpi.
He's a bit of a Bridge except he can get past defenders sometimes.
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks v England:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v England:
@Steve said in All Blacks v England:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v England:
@Steve said in All Blacks v England:
A reserve 9 who was launched out of the squad as yesterdays man and is now back in the squad.
Makes perfect sense to me. Fakatava getting injured reduced his options for the 3rd halfback role. Christie wasn't that flash last week & TJP grabbed his chance & did pretty well.
But hadn't Weber usurped him at some time this year? If I recall correctly?
Christie, Favakata & now TJP have usurped Weber
I actually think TJ and Weber have surpassed Christie and Fakatava, and would be close to WC selection next year.
Not Weber ffs. He was hopelessly ineffective in the ABs XV v Baabaas match. Got spectacularly ragdolled and his passing was slow and laboured. The contrast when Ratima came on was stark. Offered so much more - variation in attack, better options on defence.
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I think with the halfbacks they are all players that have fluctuating form. Good idea to keep them all floating around and when needed select whoever is on form. Apart from Fakatava they all now have the experience to drop into the team. TJ is riding a high at the moment but earlier in the year he looked ready for pasture. He was terrible for NZM. Weber had a good spell in Super and early NPC then faded. Christie looked an adequate sub for most of the year but has deteriorated as the year has gone on.
I wouldn't be making RWC plans on any single one of them yet. -
@Crucial said in All Blacks v England:
I think with the halfbacks they are all players that have fluctuating form. Good idea to keep them all floating around and when needed select whoever is on form. Apart from Fakatava they all now have the experience to drop into the team. TJ is riding a high at the moment but earlier in the year he looked ready for pasture. He was terrible for NZM. Weber had a good spell in Super and early NPC then faded. Christie looked an adequate sub for most of the year but has deteriorated as the year has gone on.
I wouldn't be making RWC plans on any single one of them yet.Agree that’s going to be completely up to who is travelling the best come WC selection time.
Apart from Smith the other 2 HB spots are anyone’s to grab .
I would not be surprised to see a bolter make it we see one come out of the woodwork at WC time. -
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@Jailbreak7 Ok mate, to be honest I haven't watched Baabaas game, which is incredible in this household. Just ran out of time monady and haven't really spent the time to watch as yet.
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Cant see the point of Sotutu as a bench option, unless it is to confuse England, and / or give all the squad a run. Would rather have had Harmon, - think this type of brutal forward-oriented game would really suit him,
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks v England:
@Chris yep would be happy to see a bolter come out, Ratima or someone have Super to make a mark I guessing.
It would have to come out of SR I would think.
Ratima springs to mind Roigard maybe I would like to see a real running threat selected to add a point of difference. -
@Jailbreak7 said in All Blacks v England:
Cant see the point of Sotutu as a bench option, unless it is to confuse England, and / or give all the squad a run. Would rather have had Harmon, - think this type of brutal forward-oriented game would really suit him,
It’s a strange one has Akira fallen back in the pecking order now or is it a horses for courses selection.
Blackadder and I suppose Grace come back into the selection mix next year a few to select from.
MMT also looks like he could be worth a look. -
@Jailbreak7 said in All Blacks v England:
Cant see the point of Sotutu as a bench option, unless it is to confuse England, and / or give all the squad a run. Would rather have had Harmon, - think this type of brutal forward-oriented game would really suit him,
I think he's pure injury cover. They expect Ardie to play 80mins as he always does, and if he gets injured it's a like for like with Hoskins. If Paps goes down, Ardie shifts to 7 and Hoskins to 8.
It's a little luxury of having Ardies massive motor that we can afford to have a specialist 8 on the bench.
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Rate our forward pack now. All 8 need to be on song. Unbelievable quite frankly compared to the start of the year.
Come on, lets do this.
Amped -
Accuracy
Discipline
Patience -
