Bledisloe I: All Blacks vs Wallabies: MATCH THREAD: Oct 11

[Thommo]

Petaia is out for 6 weeks, isn't he?

[Guy Smiley]

So what would be worse ab fans? Poor selections but a good team performance playing with structure and cohesion? Or ambitious “good” selections but a team playing with no direction.

Most of us expect Foster to get both wrong. If he gets one right, which should it be?

Jordie having his usual meh level game but kicking a 50m penalty resulting in a new cathedral named after him.

[Gumboot]

Petaia is out for 6 weeks, isn't he?

He's a rare talent. Hope he gets to play in at least one of the Bleds.

[stemoc]

how fast have ppl forgotten about reece hodge? :P he was always in cheikas 23 and now rennie won't even put him on the bench? unlikely..as i said before, he is the Jordie barrett of australia, he will be in the 23 either at 14 or 23.

[Gumboot]

how fast have ppl forgotten about reece hodge?

Reece whodge?

[Wang]

Petaia is out for 6 weeks, isn't he?

3-6 possibly, depending on the severity. He’s not very durable this fella. Hope he puts this behind him and has the rest of this year injury free.
I see Uelese training with the others today in soft contact.

[MungoMan]

how fast have ppl forgotten about reece hodge?

Reece whodge?

[stemoc]

can someone explain why the other Reece has a cauliflower ear now?

[Jerome_Kaino]

can someone explain why the other Reece has a cauliflower ear now?

Maybe from boxing with his wife?

[Quade]

can someone explain why the other Reece has a cauliflower ear now?

Maybe from boxing with his wife?

Harsh, but fair.

[MungoMan]

can someone explain why the other Reece has a cauliflower ear now?

Maybe from boxing with his wife?

Harsh, but fair.

Dropping his right guard when he's leading with the left.

[Carter's Choice]

You'd have to think that the Rugby Championship scheduling farce will take some of the sheen off these two tests

[Gumboot]

The kick off time for both games has been changed from 3:30 to 4pm.

[stemoc]

Bad news Australians, NZRU has already commissioned a new Barrett to replace her dad , you are screwed for another 15 years

[Enzedder]

Non-neutral referees have been appointed for next month’s Bledisloe Cup tests between the All Blacks and Australia in New Zealand.

Kiwi Paul Williams will whistle the opener in Wellington on October 11, before Australian Angus Gardner controls the match at Eden Park the following week.

World Rugby has not yet made Rugby Championship appointments, but expect more of the same due to various travel and quarantining restrictions limiting global movement.

Match officials will come from regional hubs and will be regularly tested for Covid-19.

[Wignu]

Meh, just get Gardner to ref all of the tests, despite some of his foibles he's better than all the Kiwi ones x 1,00000,0000 ....

[Enzedder]

Uncapped All Black Quinten Strange has left the All Blacks camp in Hamilton with an ankle injury.

The Crusaders lock is understood to be sidelined for six to eight weeks, effectively ruling him out of the upcoming Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship.

thankfully

Meanwhile, Hurricanes midfielder Ngani Laumape, Crusaders captain Scott Barrett and Otago hooker Liam Coltman have joined the camp.

Laumape (broken forearm) and Barrett (toe) will have their respective injuries assessed but both are expected to be among the 11 players added to the original 35-man squad, along with Wellington midfielder Peter Umaga-Jensen who is in line to replace the injured Braydon Ennor, for the Rugby Championship.

[JPNZ]

Looks like Crusaders Lock Mitch Dunshea has been called in..

[Gumboot]

Looks like Crusaders Lock Mitch Dunshea has been called in..

Gotta feel for Strange, he was just over his last injury, I think.

Who's the next lock off the rank, assuming they pick another one among the extra eleven?

[Carter's Choice]

Looks like Crusaders Lock Mitch Dunshea has been called in..

NZR will stop at nothing to weaken Canterbury Rugby. Surely they could have brought in Manaaki Selby-Rickett or one of those gun North Harbour locks?

[Sandstorm]

Playing on consecutive Sundays avoids the second test falling on Election Day.

Voting on a Saturday instead of mid-week so that everyone gets an extra day off work? How barbaric.

[el camino]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all ... ydon-ennor

Ngani Laumape and Peter Umaga-Jensen in the squad for Braydon Ennor/extra cover respectively. No idea about any of the other rumoured 11 at this stage. Maybe there will be another announcement ahead of the flight to Australia.

[stemoc]

ennor should not have been selected in the first place..u never select an injured player

[JPNZ]

NZ TAB

New Zealand = $1.16
Australia = $4.85

[Jb1981]

Those are decent odds for anyone wanting an insurance bet on the Wallabies.

I really don’t see it as that one sided. It’s the first test for both sides, there is the Foster factor and Rennie, however rusty they could be, will have the Wallabies fired up.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Those are decent odds for anyone wanting an insurance bet on the Wallabies.

I really don’t see it as that one sided. It’s the first test for both sides, there is the Foster factor and Rennie, however rusty they could be, will have the Wallabies fired up.

Count me in for some of that. I can imagine an Ian Foster coached AB side being rusty as fuck. Wallabies bring their A game and it's not inconceivable they win.

[Enzedder]

Playing on consecutive Sundays avoids the second test falling on Election Day.

Voting on a Saturday instead of mid-week so that everyone gets an extra day off work? How barbaric.

The polls have already opened and most of us will have voted before the day anyway.

For me, the real reason for the change is that Kiwis love election night parties.

[Enzedder]

Those are decent odds for anyone wanting an insurance bet on the Wallabies.

I really don’t see it as that one sided. It’s the first test for both sides, there is the Foster factor and Rennie, however rusty they could be, will have the Wallabies fired up.

Poor old Fozzie - if they win handsomely then it will be "so they bloody well should have".

If they win narrowly or lose it will all be put down as his fault.

[Jb1981]

If Foster shows is a coherent plan, even if a flawed one, it will be an improvement from the last couple of years of Hansen.

[Kiwias]

If Foster shows is a coherent plan, even if a flawed one, it will be an improvement from the last couple of years of Hansen.

We won't really have any idea till the team has played 3~4 games.

[mrbrownstone]

So with the game fast approaching, what are the key selection dilemmas.

Front row

Moody should be locked in at loosehead. He's probably one of our most important players given the lack of depth in this position.

Hooker is Coles vs Taylor as usual. No bad options really. I guess there is a question of whether Aumua gets a bench spot for impact and to start blooding him slowly.

Tighthead is Laulala vs Tuungafasi. The incumbent vs arguably the form prop from SRA. A rare tight five spot where we have good depth at the moment. I'd still favour Laulala, but imagine they split game time fairly evenly either way.

Locks

Whitelock and Tuipolotu surely nailed on. Question is whether Vaa'i gets a bench spot, or Dunshea jumps ahead in the pecking order.

Loose forwards

Who knows. Cane obviously has to start, and Savea should too. The question is then culling Sotutu, Frizell, Papalii, Grace, and Ioane into the final starting spot and one bench spot. You'd imagine Frizell starting blindside and Sotutu bench, but who knows what Foster is thinking.

Halves

Well documented. Smith vs TJ and Mo'unga vs Barrett.

Midfield

I think the only question should be which number jerseys ALB and Goodhue wear. I'm not convinced Reiko is a starting centre at test level, and Laumape is only just back in the squad.

Outside Backs

Truly anyone's guess I think. We have J. Barrett, B. Barrett, Jordan, Reiko, Bridge, Clake, Reece, DMac capable of filling these 3 spots in some combination. If you can name what the back 3 is going to be today you're doing well.

[Enzedder]

I wonder if they go with their original World Cup plan and have DMac at the back and Barrett (B) on the pine.

I hope not - Dmac is injury cover for mine.

[Kiwias]

I wonder if they go with their original World Cup plan and have DMac at the back and Barrett (B) on the pine.

I hope not - Dmac is injury cover for mine.

For mine too.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Those are decent odds for anyone wanting an insurance bet on the Wallabies.

I really don’t see it as that one sided. It’s the first test for both sides, there is the Foster factor and Rennie, however rusty they could be, will have the Wallabies fired up.

Poor old Fozzie - if they win handsomely then it will be "so they bloody well should have".

If they win narrowly or lose it will all be put down as his fault.

Stiff shit, that's what happens when you get an undeserved promotion. You have to work doubly hard to prove yourself.

[Carter's Choice]

Stiff shit, that's what happens when you get an undeserved promotion. You have to work doubly hard to prove yourself.

100%

[Carter's Choice]

The XXIII I think that Ian Foster will select;

15. Beauden Barrett
14. Jordie Barrett
13. Rieko Ioane
12. Jack Goodhue
11. Caleb Clarke
10. Richie Mo'unga
9. Aaron Smith

8. Ardie Savea
7. Sam Cane
6. Shannon Frizell
5. Sam Whitelock
4. Patrick tuipulotu
3. Ofa Tu'ungfasi
2. Codie Taylor
1. Joe Moody

16. Dane Cole
17. Karl Tu'inukuafe
18. Nepo Laulala
19. Quentin Strange
20. Hoskins Sotutu
21. TJ Perenara
22. Anton Lienart-Brown
23. Will Jordan (possibly McKenzie playing the 1st test and Jordan playing the 2nd)

I posted this team back in Sept. I still think it will be pretty close, just swap the injured Strange for Vaa'i at no.19.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

I suspect Bananas Foster will select Beauden Barrett at 10. He's been talking him up as a first five of late, and if the Wallabies make the mistake of hanging off him like they have done in the past, he may well have a hold on the jersey for some time.

I still think Richie Mo'unga is the better first five, but that's how I think Foster may play it.

[Magpie26]

The XXIII I think that Ian Foster will select;

15. Beauden Barrett
14. Jordie Barrett
13. Rieko Ioane
12. Jack Goodhue
11. Caleb Clarke
10. Richie Mo'unga
9. Aaron Smith

8. Ardie Savea
7. Sam Cane
6. Shannon Frizell
5. Sam Whitelock
4. Patrick tuipulotu
3. Ofa Tu'ungfasi
2. Codie Taylor
1. Joe Moody

16. Dane Cole
17. Karl Tu'inukuafe
18. Nepo Laulala
19. Quentin Strange
20. Hoskins Sotutu
21. TJ Perenara
22. Anton Lienart-Brown
23. Will Jordan (possibly McKenzie playing the 1st test and Jordan playing the 2nd)

I posted this team back in Sept. I still think it will be pretty close, just swap the injured Strange for Vaa'i at no.19.

Not sure about 13. Rieko Ioane starting. Would probably swap him with ALB and have McKenzie on the bench.

[Insane_Homer]

I'll have to set the recorder and then check bored/score to see if it's worth watching, not getting at 3am for this one

[Enzedder]

Those are decent odds for anyone wanting an insurance bet on the Wallabies.

I really don’t see it as that one sided. It’s the first test for both sides, there is the Foster factor and Rennie, however rusty they could be, will have the Wallabies fired up.

Poor old Fozzie - if they win handsomely then it will be "so they bloody well should have".

If they win narrowly or lose it will all be put down as his fault.

Stiff shit, that's what happens when you get an undeserved promotion. You have to work doubly hard to prove yourself.

Don't agree - I will judge him on his results and not the expectations of stiffed rugby fans.

I suppose my expectations are lower based on where we have been last year and also based on knowing how poor a coach Foster was..