55 replies to this topic

[Hooroo]

NEW ZEALAND: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Israel Dagg, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Piri Weepu; 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (capt), 6 Victor Vito, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock. Reserves: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 John Afoa, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Jerome Kaino, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Colin Slade, 22 Rene Ranger.

Happy to see these changes as the guts of the team is still there.

It's just a rest for Kaino as far as I see.

Could be the end of Rok potentially (Potentially not)

[Hooroo]

Ha! I overlooked Slade in the reserves! Good for him!

Did Ben Franks travel?

[LAKiwi]

And Mealamu starts. So over his mid-week injury.

[No Quarter]

Fark that's an exciting backline!! Good luck kicking it to Mills, Jane and Dagg!

Hope Cruds has a cracker, can't wait for this one!

[Hooroo]

Oh! and a win for Scorz!

[Tordah]

No Quarter said:

Fark that's an exciting backline!! Good luck kicking it to Mills, Jane and Dagg!

Well, can't quite say the Wobbs were notorious kickers this year.
Still, incredible "flair" in the backline. What do you reckon, is Slade gonna get game time, and if so, how much?

[North!and]

Can't wait to see Ranger inject some fire off the bench. Hope Cruden has a cracker, and Slade too if he gets off the bench. Dagg should go alright out wide in his first start. No shortage of excitement machines in this line-up.

[Hooroo]

Is this the first time the All Blacks have started with three fullbacks at the back?? It's like having three queens on a chess board! I love it

[sparky]

I love the look of that team, very attacking, especially the backline. The only thing I'm not sure of is why he has picked Boric ahead of Sam Whitelock.

[DMX]

Hooroo said:

Is this the first time the All Blacks have started with three fullbacks at the back?? It's like having three queens on a chess board! I love it

How about 4 Super 15 fullbacks in the squad! That back three is all in great form plus Ranger with big impact of the bench. Talk about veterans under pressure, there is real pressure on the Rok to get back in. Maybe hes tired, maybe injured but I as I said before he looked finished at the end of his time in the Bok game.. I love this rotation lite, but I think they will be forced to rotate a little more aggressively on EOYT.

[DMX]

sparky said:

I love the look of that team, very attacking, especially the backline. The only thing I'm not sure of is why he has picked Boric ahead of Sam Whitelock.

I thought Whitelock gives away a lot of penalties when he comes on.

[kiwiinmelb]

i thought earlier in the year they might go for 3 fullbacks with Sivi out, not that Rok has done anyting wrong,

and at the time I was thinking of Toeava , who I still think would make a good winger at international level , but hasnt Dagg made the most of his limited chances,

I think this boy could be a super star in the Cullen mould once he matures into a test hardened player,

Mils is still hanging onto his spot ok , but a back 3 of Jane, Dagg, and Toeava is one I wouldnt mind seeing sometime in the future

[Crucial]

Cartel stated that they wanted to take a small shot at giving a couple of guys run ons to see how they went rather than just as impact players.

Good call. Vito has been playing well within himself when coming of the bench, not being able to pick opportunities. Dagg has done some sensational things but we need to test him properly in a full game to seewhere the downsides may be.

I don't think it is the end for Rok yet. They won't throw away that experience.

[dingo]

If Nonu gets hurt early, who replaces him? Cruden or Ranger will create a defensive hole IMO. Maybe Mils?

Be intetesting to see what happens if the ABs are up by lots with 20 to go. Will they drag McCaw and see how Read goes there.

[Bones]

Fuckers!! Do your worst MR.

Like the look of the team, if a little nervous at the changes - still, only one who hasn't really proven much is Cruden. Vito looks up to it - just not at Kainos level. Pretty decent bench for against Aus. Hope we get to see Slade tested too, wouldn't mind seeing what he's got at this level as I'm not quite as assured of his quality as some on here seem to be.

[sparky]

dingo said:

If Nonu gets hurt early, who replaces him? Cruden or Ranger will create a defensive hole IMO. Maybe Mils?

Be intetesting to see what happens if the ABs are up by lots with 20 to go. Will they drag McCaw and see how Read goes there.

Maybe this is why they had another hard look at McAlister, a reserve 10 who could also have covered 12 must have been appealing, but Slade is in a different class to McAlister at the moment.

[Sambo]

yes Ranger on the bench - awesome!!

[matata_massive]

Bones said:

Fuckers!! Do your worst MR.

Like the look of the team, if a little nervous at the changes - still, only one who hasn't really proven much is Cruden. Vito looks up to it - just not at Kainos level. Pretty decent bench for against Aus. Hope we get to see Slade tested too, wouldn't mind seeing what he's got at this level as I'm not quite as assured of his quality as some on here seem to be.

me neither so will be good to see if he gets a chance to prove me wrong, wallabie test match in sydney is a hell of a change from ITM cup

also stoked to see Izzy getting a run, hell yeah that back 3 looks good...bring it ON!

[mencey]

Love the look of the team.

This could either be masterful or a bad fuck up, hopefully the first.

I for one cannot wait till the weekend !!

[ACT Crusader]

Was thinking the same regarding Nonu, if he goes down who??

I think Ranger will slot in because he at least plays in the midfield. Risky somewhat

But it's a good side. Happy to see Vito get his 2nd start, the guy has a tremendous workrate. But I'm glad Kaino is on the bench instead of Messam in this situation

Glad to see Owen back in the side

Boric gets an opportunity which is good IMO.

[ECNP]

I hope Slade doesn't get on - not anything against him but i would like to see Cruden go the distance - unless he's pants, its ok to drag him then

[ABman]

" If Nonu gets hurt early, who replaces him? Cruden or Ranger will create a defensive hole IMO. Maybe Mils? "

Dingo, I would think they would put Slade in from the bench. The guy is pretty versatile and has played wing, F/B, 1st five , so he could cover 2nd five for sure.

[Crucial]

Nonu doesn't go off injured often so a calculated risk I think. It may be a little off the wall but I think either Mils will move up with Ranger going to wing and Izzy to FB...or (this could be the surprise) Izzy to 12 replaced by Ranger.

I would guess that some experience in the defensive patterns would be the key hence Mils would be best option.

[Lyndhurst Park]

mencey said:

Love the look of the team.

This could either be masterful or a bad fuck up, hopefully the first.

I for one cannot wait till the weekend !!

I can't see it being a bad fuck up. Aust could win of course - but if they do it will be because they play out of their skins not 'cos The Blackness fucks up.

Aust scored a lot of points against SA and plenty of tries. The Blackness is going to need to be at their best defensively - but I think they will have too much attacking class for Aust.

[Nepia]

ABman said:

" If Nonu gets hurt early, who replaces him? Cruden or Ranger will create a defensive hole IMO. Maybe Mils? "

Dingo, I would think they would put Slade in from the bench. The guy is pretty versatile and has played win, F/B, 1st five , so he could cover 2nd five for sure.

I think this is why you'd have a guy like Lucky on the bench. As versatile as Slade is he's not a regular 12, ditto Ranger. You don't want a situation like 07 when Mils finished playing 12.

Other than that a to be expected good team. I think we lose lots with Kaino not on the field (and I say that as a big fan of Vito) mostly in and around the rucks and workrate. In saying that I think Vito can step up, he just lacks test match experience.

[Crucial]

ABs will try and play a really watertight D against Oz to knock their confidence back where it belongs.

The Convicts have had it easy at times against an inept SA defence in the last two games and got their tails up. ABs need to show them that if they want to emulate the black wave they need to find ways through a good D and be able to switch to D themselves when necessary.

At the moment Australia are playing like the 2003 ABs which will work fine until they come up against a committed defence.

[ECNP]

It will be very interesting to see if Vito can keep his workrate high - especially in the close contact stuff. Very important the AB loosie's work effectively and neutralise Pocock's influence as much as possible.

[Knock On Wood]

Quote

ABs will try and play a really watertight D against Oz to knock their confidence back where it belongs.

Whilst I agree this is the goal, I expect this AB team to be quite a bit weaker on D... Carter is HUGE defensively, and Rok has been strong defensively too.

[Sambo]

Nepia said:

I think this is why you'd have a guy like Lucky on the bench. As versatile as Slade is he's not a regular 12, ditto Ranger. You don't want a situation like 07 when Mils finished playing 12.

Other than that a to be expected good team. I think we lose lots with Kaino not on the field (and I say that as a big fan of Vito) mostly in and around the rucks and workrate. In saying that I think Vito can step up, he just lacks test match experience.

Maybe but Ranger has been around with the squad for sometime. If he is designated 12 backup for all we know he may have had 20mins each training session running at 12. Cartel will have it covered. They won't be deciding at point of injury who will go to 12. Someone would have had time training there for sure.

[Sambo]

Knock On Wood said:

Whilst I agree this is the goal, I expect this AB team to be quite a bit weaker on D... Carter is HUGE defensively, and Rok has been strong defensively too.

Well i'll take that one on. Reckon they will be well up for it on D and actually think Aus leakage of points is a much bigger concern for Aus than D for the AB's. Plus as we all know th Ab's can score as much and as quickly as anyone.