Gumboot wrote: Thu Aug 26, 2021 9:20 am
Now that a few of our usual starters are confirmed absentees from the Perth team, I wonder if Fozzie will go all experimental in the name of growing depth for the long slog ahead. Or will he plug the gaps and hold the course?
Well, say he does and they lose twice to South Africa, that might make his position a bit uncomfortable.
I meant for the Perth test against the Wallabies. Not even thinking about the Boks yet. First things first.
Ah, ok. Thought that he would try to play the strongest team vs the Boks.
Well, say he does and they lose twice to South Africa, that might make his position a bit uncomfortable.
I meant for the Perth test against the Wallabies. Not even thinking about the Boks yet. First things first.
Ah, ok. Thought that he would try to play the strongest team vs the Boks.
No doubt both sides will throw everything at the Townsville test. Should be a cracker. I have a soft spot for the place fwiw. Spent a few weeks on Magnetic Island as a teenager. Fun times.
Calculon wrote: Fri Aug 27, 2021 8:38 am
Am I right in thinking this will effectively be a home game for the ABs considering the amount of kiwis living in Australia?
Wow. I did not know it was that bad. Is there going to be criminal charges?
Nah, he got diversion, which suggests there was a bit more (or less) to it than that article portrays.
The Australian sanctimony seems a bit misplaced given Cooper, Hunt, Daly, Latu etc.
Maybe I'm too cynical but I wonder if he would have got away with a diversion if he wasn't an All Black. Whatever provocation he felt he got, he punched a women hard enough to break one of her teeth, and give her a split lip. Even worse IMO, he then sent a message telling her to hide because he is going to fuck her up.
So who's our back-up first five for Beaudie until Mo'unga returns? My preference would be McKenzie, but if he's still starting at fullback that could be a stretch.
Fozzie explains the reasoning behind not taking a bigger squad to Aus, and what they see as the first-five pecking order in Mo'unga's absence.
...Unless things change, anyone who travels with the squad is likely going to have to remain with the team until the scheduled return date in late November. While Foster didn’t rule the prospect out entirely, the stars would need to align for a travelling squad member to head back to NZ early.
“It’s not a ‘no go’ but at the moment we have no ability to send players back so once they come, they’re with us,” he said.
It’s for this very reason why Foster isn’t taking a supersized squad to Australia just yet; should players travel over and not be needed on the field, they’ll be faced with an exceptionally long tour without much to show for it at the end of the year.
That’s why the All Blacks have elected to travel with just one specialist first five, Beauden Barrett, while Mo’unga remains at home awaiting the arrival of his second child.
“We’ve always said Damian [McKenzie] is our third 10 so we’ve definitely taken two 10s and then when we look at it, we’re hopeful that Richie can get over sooner than later,” Foster said. “In the meantime, it’s one of those dilemmas where if you bring over someone else, once they come in the plane, they’re with us for 15 weeks without maybe a lot of light because they’re not getting a lot of rugby. We’ve elected to go with the decision we’ve got.
“We’ve got Beaudy, Damian. Yes, we can use Davey [Havili] and Jordie [Barrett] short term but if Richie’s not going to come over for a long period then clearly we’ll probably have to change that decision but short term, we’re satisfied.”
Gumboot wrote: Fri Aug 27, 2021 11:14 pm
So who's our back-up first five for Beaudie until Mo'unga returns? My preference would be McKenzie, but if he's still starting at fullback that could be a stretch.
Gumboot wrote: Fri Aug 27, 2021 11:30 pm
Fozzie explains the reasoning behind not taking a bigger squad to Aus, and what they see as the first-five pecking order in Mo'unga's absence.
...Unless things change, anyone who travels with the squad is likely going to have to remain with the team until the scheduled return date in late November. While Foster didn’t rule the prospect out entirely, the stars would need to align for a travelling squad member to head back to NZ early.
“It’s not a ‘no go’ but at the moment we have no ability to send players back so once they come, they’re with us,” he said.
It’s for this very reason why Foster isn’t taking a supersized squad to Australia just yet; should players travel over and not be needed on the field, they’ll be faced with an exceptionally long tour without much to show for it at the end of the year.
That’s why the All Blacks have elected to travel with just one specialist first five, Beauden Barrett, while Mo’unga remains at home awaiting the arrival of his second child.
“We’ve always said Damian [McKenzie] is our third 10 so we’ve definitely taken two 10s and then when we look at it, we’re hopeful that Richie can get over sooner than later,” Foster said. “In the meantime, it’s one of those dilemmas where if you bring over someone else, once they come in the plane, they’re with us for 15 weeks without maybe a lot of light because they’re not getting a lot of rugby. We’ve elected to go with the decision we’ve got.
“We’ve got Beaudy, Damian. Yes, we can use Davey [Havili] and Jordie [Barrett] short term but if Richie’s not going to come over for a long period then clearly we’ll probably have to change that decision but short term, we’re satisfied.”
Springboks, Pumas strike up cordial relationship in bio-bubble after niggly Tests
By Mike Greenaway Time of article published 2h ago
DURBAN - The Springboks and Argentina’s Los Pumas were not exactly best friends in the niggly Test matches they recently played in Gqeberha, but they are now bosom buddies as the two squads make the best of life in their mutual bio-bubble in Brisbane.
Bok coach Jacques Nienaber said from Queensland that after flying out of South African together, the squads have been locked into isolation in the same resort and have to share facilities ahead of their respective Rugby Championship matches against Australia and New Zealand.
“Ourselves and the Argentinians are quarantined together, we share the gym, the eating hall and the training field but obviously not at the same times and I must say they have been extremely cordial in our daily discussions as to how we accommodate each other,” Nienaber said.
“Intermingling with anybody but our own squad is strictly not allowed. We can walk around outside our rooms but we can’t, for instance, go to the swimming pool and relax,” he explained. “We are not confined to rooms, we can walk in the open air, but we can’t use the luxuries of the resort such as the pool.”
Nienaber said that nobody, not even hotel staff, can enter the Boks’ “red zone” which is their living quarters, so the players are having to tidy up for themselves.
“Then we have an ‘orange zone’ where our meals are prepared and then placed in the eating hall,” he continued. “They announce when the food is ready and then we go and dish it up ourselves, with the Pumas having different eating times to us.
“It has been phenomenal how the two squads have gone out of their way to make it work,” Nienaber said. “There has to be compromising for both sides when it comes to working out a daily schedule for the gym and the training field.”
Fortunately, there has been no compromising on what the Boks can do when they get on to the pitch.
“We can have normal, full-contact training sessions, so we will be ready for our first game (on September 12 against Australia),” Nienaber concluded.
OomStruisbaai wrote: Tue Aug 31, 2021 3:15 pm
Bokke & Pumas one rugby family
IOL
Springboks, Pumas strike up cordial relationship in bio-bubble after niggly Tests
By Mike Greenaway Time of article published 2h ago
DURBAN - The Springboks and Argentina’s Los Pumas were not exactly best friends in the niggly Test matches they recently played in Gqeberha, but they are now bosom buddies as the two squads make the best of life in their mutual bio-bubble in Brisbane.
Bok coach Jacques Nienaber said from Queensland that after flying out of South African together, the squads have been locked into isolation in the same resort and have to share facilities ahead of their respective Rugby Championship matches against Australia and New Zealand.
“Ourselves and the Argentinians are quarantined together, we share the gym, the eating hall and the training field but obviously not at the same times and I must say they have been extremely cordial in our daily discussions as to how we accommodate each other,” Nienaber said.
“Intermingling with anybody but our own squad is strictly not allowed. We can walk around outside our rooms but we can’t, for instance, go to the swimming pool and relax,” he explained. “We are not confined to rooms, we can walk in the open air, but we can’t use the luxuries of the resort such as the pool.”
Nienaber said that nobody, not even hotel staff, can enter the Boks’ “red zone” which is their living quarters, so the players are having to tidy up for themselves.
“Then we have an ‘orange zone’ where our meals are prepared and then placed in the eating hall,” he continued. “They announce when the food is ready and then we go and dish it up ourselves, with the Pumas having different eating times to us.
“It has been phenomenal how the two squads have gone out of their way to make it work,” Nienaber said. “There has to be compromising for both sides when it comes to working out a daily schedule for the gym and the training field.”
Fortunately, there has been no compromising on what the Boks can do when they get on to the pitch.
“We can have normal, full-contact training sessions, so we will be ready for our first game (on September 12 against Australia),” Nienaber concluded.
Calculon wrote: Fri Aug 27, 2021 8:38 am
Am I right in thinking this will effectively be a home game for the ABs considering the amount of kiwis living in Australia?
Yes 90% of the Aussie population is Kiwi, with a further 8% Asian, and finally 2% Skippies, living mainly at Broken Hill and Mount Isa.
Calculon wrote: Fri Aug 27, 2021 8:38 am
Am I right in thinking this will effectively be a home game for the ABs considering the amount of kiwis living in Australia?
Yes 90% of the Aussie population is Kiwi, with a further 8% Asian, and finally 2% Skippies, living mainly at Broken Hill and Mount Isa.
Calculon wrote: Fri Aug 27, 2021 8:38 am
Am I right in thinking this will effectively be a home game for the ABs considering the amount of kiwis living in Australia?
Yes 90% of the Aussie population is Kiwi, with a further 8% Asian, and finally 2% Skippies, living mainly at Broken Hill and Mount Isa.
Tom Banks, Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Tate McDermott, Rob Valetini, Michael Hooper (captain), Lachlan Swinton, Matt Philip, Darcy Swain, Allan Alaalatoa, Folau Fainga’a, James Slipper.
Reserves: Lachlan Lonergan, Angus Bell, Taniela Tupou, Izack Rodda, Pete Samu, Nic White, Reece Hodge, Jordan Petaia
Killer backline. If the pack can get them enough quick ball they could run rampant.
More relevantly, nor does the actual current captain Savea.
Jacobson vs Blackadder seems like tinkering at the margins, since the choice of tackler to bring on at 60 mins doesn't change the fundamental imbalance in the starting back row. Predestined though after Savea was named captain — no need for a reserve #8.
More relevantly, nor does the actual current captain Savea.
Jacobson vs Blackadder seems like tinkering at the margins, since the choice of tackler to bring on at 60 mins doesn't change the fundamental imbalance in the starting back row. Predestined though after Savea was named captain — no need for a reserve #8.
So only one of the numerous current and future captains actually plays for Canterbury. Phew!
Not really that bothered by Jacobson's temporary absence tbh. Is Aumua fully fit? If so, is Taukei'aho now ahead of him?
Ymx wrote: Fri Sep 03, 2021 9:37 am
You want to include Sam Whitelocks captained wins in Sam Canes Captain stats?
Not sure you know how this works.
Nah, it was nice of Whitelock to hold the fort in Cane's absence though.
At least we know that if (when) Cane's out injured again there's at least one reasonably competent deputy available. Hopefully our latest replacement stop-gap skipper can carry on the good work of our previous temporary fill-in captain.
We were all calling for a settled set of loosies, let a combination develop. Sotutu has been the casualty of that I think. He's got time on his side. He'll get his chances again. They might prefer him as sub against the Boks too I'm wondering and playing Ethan now vs. the Wobs in a horses for courses vein.
Hmmm.. just wondering if the coaches don't have one eye on what they're going to do when Cane comes back. Ethan has more utility value for the place holder in the squad as opposed to be expected to start and Sotutu may be the one for the chop going forward.