I’m picking Squire to be the addition to the WC squad - he apparently played well for Tasman last week. He’s not as good as I’d like, but, he’s better than what else we have.

A big test for Hemopo too - I’d probably leave Fifita and Frizell at home and take Squire and Hemopo plus four locks, Read and Ardie, plus Cane. I assume that Todd is safe, especially if they want to use Cane and Ardie in the big games.

This week is, to me, a shoot out between Bridge and Reece. Personally, I’d take Bridge as he is the best Smith replacement, meaning that we could bench Bender if required (as I can’t see him being left out). Jordie must be the utility, perhaps covering 10 in the pool games (with TJP), so I assume he’s safe too.

I’d only take Ioane, Bender, Bridge, and Jordie as my outsides, so that I could carry an extra forward (BBBR). Personally I think Ioane needs lots of game time to find his groove. We need him at his best. That definitely means no Ioane, so it’s risky - Jordie and TJP (perhaps Crotty) must cover 10. If we lost a first five, we’re buggered.

Btw, still ogling topless girls here in the south, so will look forward to the game thread, including score updates please!

Glad I missed this game.

Will watch it once I get back from the south of France, where I’ve been occasionally watching my boy play in the med, mostly ogling topless girls, and always taking the apero.

@KiwiMurph said in Exodus 2019:

@Daffy-Jaffy That's a shame. Good player.

It is, but it's understandable - his body just isn't holding up, so he may as well cash in while he can.

He's never going to be an AB, so going now is good for him. In fact, with Jacobson having arrived, he might not have even made the Chiefs starting line up.

@Higgins said in Awesome stuff you see on the internet:

@jegga Woul;d have been interesting if one of the wild bulls had accidentally escaped into the ring whislt they were staging their protest.

I was expecting that to be the video actually. I'd love to see that.

@mariner4life

That’s a really good point, it is often the attacking teams doing the worst of it.

I still think they should do something about it, but your point is solid.

@mariner4life

I’m ok with people entering rucks on their feet too. However, watch how many time people just dive over them. That’s not only a penalty, it’s also bloody dangerous. If they focused a bit more on that, we’d actually see teams needing to commit people to rucks. I wonder what that might mean for space on the edges?

@mariner4life

Agreed. They could do things to keep it rugby though, like making sure that people can’t go clattering in to rucks, diving off their feet to take out stationery players. That’s how a team might lose one of the key people for the World Cup, amongst other things.

Plus, don’t get me started on the offside policing, or complete lack thereof.

@antipodean

If that’s the case, they need to set up better/different front running pods and put him up there.

Right now our front pods don’t even slow down the defense - they are too far in front so super hard to use anyway. I’m hoping that is one thing they have up their sleeve.

@mariner4life

As dirty as it makes me feel, I have to say that Fifita is not only a good jumper, but one other thing I noticed in the re-watch is that he’s also a pretty good lifter.

@rotated

My god, has Juan Smith been forgotten that easily?