The Rugby Championship - Round 5 (feat. Bledisloe Cup 1)

[Guy Smiley]

No new caps which is at it should be, time to make a statement

I think Ruben Love's the only player named in the Razor's first squad who hasn't been capped yet.

That's my one real area of concern. I think we are thin on the ground for pivot role type players. Sooner or later, we'll need to see guys like Love and Perofeta move into the arena.

[Gumboot]

[Guy Smiley]

I really like the way Razor speaks in these pressers... he answers honestly. I like that.

Also, reading between lines a little and bearing in mind the analysis you get from Parsons on the ARP... the backrow is relatively interchangeable during play when those players have experience in more than one spot, outside of actual scrum time. Parsons quotes stats a lot and you get a feel for the sort of workrate each player brings to the game. This week has featured a bit of talk about Ardie as a 7. I think it's a bit of a red herring now. It's his workrate and power that counts while Cane's tackle stats are through the roof... but all three backrows complement each other and perform all 3 roles.

[Gumboot]

I really like the way Razor speaks in these pressers... he answers honestly. I like that.

Also, reading between lines a little and bearing in mind the analysis you get from Parsons on the ARP... the backrow is relatively interchangeable during play when those players have experience in more than one spot, outside of actual scrum time. Parsons quotes stats a lot and you get a feel for the sort of workrate each player brings to the game. This week has featured a bit of talk about Ardie as a 7. I think it's a bit of a red herring now. It's his workrate and power that counts while Cane's tackle stats are through the roof... but all three backrows complement each other and perform all 3 roles.

Yep, that was my takeaway from Razor and the ARP as well.

I reckon Vaa'i's excellent lineout work this year has mitigated the need for a tall blindside to some degree, and really happy for Sititi, who may end up at 8 long term, a la Kieran Read. Not sure what to make of Finau tbh - he seems to have all the tools to be a terrific 6... hopefully he's just a slow burner.

Razor clearly loves Blackadder, but how long to you persevere with the guy when he seems to spend more time out injured than actually playing?

[Guy Smiley]

Blackadder is a class player. I don’t think it’s unreasonable that Razor rates him and you’d always want to have that class of player available. He can also play both sides, although I think 6 is his spot… he could swing across the whole back row.

Also worth noting as an example that isn’t meant as comparison… DC spent a lot of time injured.

[Gumboot]

The Wallabies team has been named, as per the updated OP.

Happy to add fancier team graphics if anyone has them.

[Guy Smiley]

I don’t rate Taniela Tupou the way the Aussies do and I reckon he’ll get shown up with his scrum play and scrimmaging. With ball in hand he can be damaging, granted… but call me old fashioned when I say you want more from a prop than the odd gallop in broken play.

There. I said it. Fuk u Daniela Tupoi.

[Gumboot]

If nothing else, the Tongan Thor follows the Ocker tradition of naff nicknames like the Honey Badger and the Junkyard Dog. This side of the ditch, we prefer short and pithy, like the Bus and the GOAT.

[OomStruisbaai]

White & Peranara should keep the ref honest.

[Jethro]

White & Peranara should keep the ref honest.

Thinking of running an office pool on this one, which one gets the yellow first and how many minutes into the game TJ needs to shut the fuck up and let White off side the Ref.

[Guy Smiley]

If nothing else, the Tongan Thor follows the Ocker tradition of naff nicknames like the Honey Badger and the Junkyard Dog. This side of the ditch, we prefer short and pithy, like the Bus and the GOAT.

The Honey Badger chose his own nickname. There's an interesting backstory to his family life that tells us he is a decent bloke with good character...

but you don't choose your own nickname. Fuk u Hunny Bajjer.

[Enzedder]

Come on Razor - it's now or never.

As I heard this morning - MABGA

[Gumboot]

Come on Razor - it's now or never.

As I heard this morning - MABGA

Yep, his season will be largely judged on this game. Drop it, and the next week's gonna be tough for Kiwi supporters.

[convoluted]

Come on Razor - it's now or never.

As I heard this morning - MABGA

Unfortunately, he's bent "the other way."
When asked what his plan was to counter the Wallabies today, he just regurgitated the exact same robotic memorized lines he employed for all 4 previous Rugby Championship games (to a 75 percent failure rate): "I grew up middle class. I've told the boys to Turn The Page in A New Way Forward and to play with Joy while Imagining What Can Be, Unburdened By What Has Been."

Expect it to turn to kak.

[Kiwias]

Squad update: Beauden Barrett is out with illness, meaning Will Jordan moves to fullback, Sevu Reece comes on to the wing, and Harry Plummer prepares to make his test debut off the bench

[Guy Smiley]

BB out with illness.

Jordan to 15, Sevu Reece starting on the wing and Plummer on the bench.

[Guy Smiley]

Snap Kiwias

[Kiwias]

Snap Kiwias

[Gumboot]

Bet there weren't many pundits who picked Plummer to make the ABs this year.

[Guy Smiley]

Bet there weren't many pundits who picked Plummer to make the ABs this year.

I reckon Razor will leave DMac out there for the 80 as he usually does but I’m sure some sort of reshuffle will see him out there for a cameo.

[Gumboot]

Bet there weren't many pundits who picked Plummer to make the ABs this year.

I reckon Razor will leave DMac out there for the 80 as he usually does but I’m sure some sort of reshuffle will see him out there for a cameo.

Yep.

I really hope Jordan nails it at fullback today.

[Guy Smiley]

Bet there weren't many pundits who picked Plummer to make the ABs this year.

I reckon Razor will leave DMac out there for the 80 as he usually does but I’m sure some sort of reshuffle will see him out there for a cameo.

Yep.

I really hope Jordan nails it at fullback today.

That’s down to supply and how the line shapes up. I’m keen to see how he covers just as much as what he does with ball in hand.

[Kiwias]

Bet there weren't many pundits who picked Plummer to make the ABs this year.

I am on record as reckoning a month ago or so that Plummer should be in the squad.

[Gumboot]

Bet there weren't many pundits who picked Plummer to make the ABs this year.

I am on record as reckoning a month ago or so that Plummer should be in the squad.

Nervous as fook right now. Feel like the ghost of Greg Cornelsen has been following me around all day...

[Guy Smiley]

Bet there weren't many pundits who picked Plummer to make the ABs this year.

I am on record as reckoning a month ago or so that Plummer should be in the squad.

Nervous as fook right now. Feel like the ghost of Greg Cornelsen has been following me around all day...

That’s like me with Barrett’s

[Gumboot]

Go, All Blacks!

[Jethro]

Snap Kiwias

Get a room guys

[Jethro]

Notable number of empty seats in the stadium, but still be one of the bigger sports crowds for the weekend at least, just checking .... Cats v Lions in AFL won't get the same numbers ... did I mention the Swannies in the GF

[Insane_Homer]

I really hope Jordan nails it at fullback today.

[Torquemada 1420]

FM. Really looks like game over already. Just how ugly could this get for Aus?

[Kiwias]

I really hope Jordan nails it at fullback today.

Good start by the lad

[Jethro]

Who is this Ref, advantage had gone dickhead.

[Kiwias]

Overhead view shows just how far the scrum feed is from being straight down the middle

[Torquemada 1420]

Aussies might want to think about making some first up tackles.

[Torquemada 1420]

Who is this Ref, advantage had gone dickhead.

Yeah. That was fine for a pen but not a knock on.

[Kiwias]

Aussies might want to think about making some first up tackles.

Nah, much more fun this way. The ABs are looking sharp and very focused

[Torquemada 1420]

Aussies might want to think about making some first up tackles.

Nah, much more fun this way. The ABs are looking sharp and very focused

And the recycling speed is now so fast for the ABs that there might as well be no breakdowns at all.

[Guy Smiley]

3 tries in 15 minutes and Jordan’s been in all of them.

Mind you, so has Rieko and….

[Guy Smiley]

Jesus, talk about leaving the door wide open

[Insane_Homer]

Tackling optional today