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

[Grandpa]

I just hope Jordie Barrett if picked plays absolutely terribly. The thought of watching a long legged lumbering Reuben Thorne-type journeyman in the All blacks for the next ten years is the stuff of nightmares.... conversely I hope Will Jordan excites us for years to come...

[mrbrownstone]

Cullen Grace, Tyrel Lomax, and Peter Umaga-Jensen released back to the NPC this weekend.

[stemoc]

The Battle of the Former Chiefs coaches, ironically, Rennie has a better winning percentage (69%) with the chiefs compared to Fozzie (50'%)

[Ted.]

I just hope Jordie Barrett if picked plays absolutely terribly. The thought of watching a long legged lumbering Reuben Thorne-type journeyman in the All blacks for the next ten years is the stuff of nightmares.... conversely I hope Will Jordan excites us for years to come...

I hope whoever is picked plays well and continue to play well as they get picked.

[Kiwias]

I just hope Jordie Barrett if picked plays absolutely terribly. The thought of watching a long legged lumbering Reuben Thorne-type journeyman in the All blacks for the next ten years is the stuff of nightmares.... conversely I hope Will Jordan excites us for years to come...

I hope whoever is picked plays well and continue to play well as they get picked.

Yes, I would never wish a player in the ABs to play poorly.

[stemoc]

JB or reece will get picked at 14, Reece cause he is fijian and will be marking koroibete, 2 power runners with gas or Jordie for the same 2 reason Hodge gets picked at 14 by chieka, his height which allows him to catch the high balls and his boot for the long range goals...no 3rd option, but if fozzie picks JB at 14, he needs to pick a real winger at 11 and i hate to say this but Reiko is a better option, WJ can't play 11 and Bridge is lucky to make the AB's this year and too early for eroni.. reiko is the most experienced left winger in the team..thoug wont be shocked if reece is at 11 with JB at 14.. bit like the sivivatu/dagg wing pairing days

[Gumboot]

JB or reece will get picked at 14, Reece cause he is fijian and will be marking koroibete, 2 power runners with gas or Jordie for the same 2 reason Hodge gets picked at 14 by chieka, his height which allows him to catch the high balls and his boot for the long range goals...no 3rd option, but if fozzie picks JB at 14, he needs to pick a real winger at 11 and i hate to say this but Reiko is a better option, WJ can't play 11 and Bridge is lucky to make the AB's this year and too early for eroni.. reiko is the most experienced left winger in the team..thoug wont be shocked if reece is at 11 with JB at 14.. bit like the sivivatu/dagg wing pairing days

Can't remember them ever playing a test together...

[Guy Smiley]

I just hope Jordie Barrett if picked plays absolutely terribly. The thought of watching a long legged lumbering Reuben Thorne-type journeyman in the All blacks for the next ten years is the stuff of nightmares.... conversely I hope Will Jordan excites us for years to come...

I hope whoever is picked plays well and continue to play well as they get picked.

I hope to see selections based on good play displayed consistently.

[stemoc]

JB or reece will get picked at 14, Reece cause he is fijian and will be marking koroibete, 2 power runners with gas or Jordie for the same 2 reason Hodge gets picked at 14 by chieka, his height which allows him to catch the high balls and his boot for the long range goals...no 3rd option, but if fozzie picks JB at 14, he needs to pick a real winger at 11 and i hate to say this but Reiko is a better option, WJ can't play 11 and Bridge is lucky to make the AB's this year and too early for eroni.. reiko is the most experienced left winger in the team..thoug wont be shocked if reece is at 11 with JB at 14.. bit like the sivivatu/dagg wing pairing days

Can't remember them ever playing a test together...

they played for a year i think but i meant savea and wrote saveavatu and fixed it to sivivatu ..hehe ..but yeah savea the power winger on the left and dagg the industrious (for a better term) winger on the right..having a fullback cum winger on the right has worked well for the AB's for years (howlett, jane, smith, dagg, nms ) but in most of these games, they always had a specialist left winger to complement them..

[el camino]

Crowd Goes Wild guys think Beauden is gonna be picked at 10... seems to be a few rumours going round.
I think he deserves to be on the bench after his form this year

[Enzedder]

Crowd Goes Wild guys think Beauden is gonna be picked at 10... seems to be a few rumours going round.
I think he deserves to be on the bench after his form this year

If that's the case, DMac will be at 15. Jordie B and Richie Mo will be on the bench with TJ.

[Jb1981]

Crowd Goes Wild guys think Beauden is gonna be picked at 10... seems to be a few rumours going round.
I think he deserves to be on the bench after his form this year

I agree. I am in the Mo’unga camp but trying to be objective about this, I don’t see how Barrett could justify the spot. You could point to his experience but right now that is it. If that is the call, hearing the rationale will be interesting.

[Enzedder]

Good to see that Tupou Vaa'i has continued with his high energy fizz at training as well.

He was the surprise package of Ian Foster's first All Blacks squad and has since handled his promotion with such aplomb that a test debut awaits this weekend. And yet, the best from Taranaki and Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa'i is unlikely to come against the Wallabies, but in the coming years as his physical and mental strength further matures.

The prestige attached to a maiden All Blacks call-up was there for all to see when Vaa'i shared the video of his family's reaction to his selection in the national team – their pure joy evident in screams and tears that, in the age of social media, soon went viral.

Rather than be swept up in the emotion of it all, Vaa'i quickly knuckled down to work by helping Taranaki claim the Ranfurly Shield before settling into the All Blacks over the past two weeks.

The 20-year-old's rapid rise – from labouring with his father in Auckland at the start of the year to preparing to play the Wallabies in Wellington on Sunday – is reflected in new teammate Codie Taylor's admission, one shared by many avid New Zealand rugby followers.

"The harsh truth is I didn't even know who he was at the start of the season but he's come on in leaps and bounds with the Chiefs and now he gets the chance to pull on a black jersey at some stage which is pretty cool," Taylor said.

"You've seen him run around he's not the smallest bloke – he's got that Patrick Tuipulotu size about him and presence. He's only 20 years old, that's a bit scary. If that's how big they're getting at that age there's no chance for us old boys."

Comparisons to Tuipulotu could be somewhat of a premonition in that it took the Blues captain the best part of five years to mould into the truly consistent world-class lock who now uses the full capacity of his size to devastating effect.

At 1.96 metres and 116kg, Vaa'I sure is an imposing specimen.

Quinten Strange's ankle injury during the All Blacks camp in Hamilton last week near assures Vaa'i a position on the bench this week covering starting locks Sam Whitelock and Tuipulotu.

With Scott Barrett nearing a return from toe surgery, and Brodie Retallick due to home from Japan next year, Vaa'i is likely to slide down the pecking order but, for now, he's already impressing those that matter most.

"He was one guy after being named that then went back to his province and went to another level," All Blacks forwards coach John Plumtree enthused. "I was really excited about that. I watched him play at the New Zealand 20s and kept my eye on him and then the Chiefs gave him an opportunity and I connected with [Chiefs forwards coach] Neil Barnes and kept on watching him.

"You look at his physical profile he's obviously a nice big boy and he loves learning as well. It doesn't look like the environment intimidates him at all. He's walking around with his chest out smiling so I think we've got a good one there."

At the start of this new era, Vaa'i is exactly the prospect the All Blacks are keen to unearth.

[Gumboot]

Good to see that Tupou Vaa'i has continued with his high energy fizz at training as well.

Yep, he's a great young player. Hope he gets a run on Sunday.

[Ymx]

Crowd Goes Wild guys think Beauden is gonna be picked at 10... seems to be a few rumours going round.
I think he deserves to be on the bench after his form this year

I agree. I am in the Mo’unga camp but trying to be objective about this, I don’t see how Barrett could justify the spot. You could point to his experience but right now that is it. If that is the call, hearing the rationale will be interesting.

We should keep a Fozzie major decision list, and monitor how these pan out, or if they get reverted.

1. Sam Cane appointed as captain a long time before tests.
2. BB installed at 10 at first test.

[Flockwitt]

It'll be an interesting team announcement. I suspect Foster will be too conservative. He'll go with historical combinations that he's comfortable with for his first run out. Happy to be proven wrong.

[Gumboot]

If you're only as good as your last test, Mo'unga's got a problem.

[Not_Couch]

I just hope Jordie Barrett if picked plays absolutely terribly. The thought of watching a long legged lumbering Reuben Thorne-type journeyman in the All blacks for the next ten years is the stuff of nightmares.... conversely I hope Will Jordan excites us for years to come...

I hope whoever is picked plays well and continue to play well as they get picked.

I hope to see selections based on good play displayed consistently.

Unless your name is Sam Cane you get automatic immunity even though your the fourth best 7 in the country

[Jb1981]

If you're only as good as your last test, Mo'unga's got a problem.

I assume you mean the semi final rather than his last test, the third place match. If that is the case, a lot of them have a problem - we were well outplayed.

It is a very simplistic saying. I would prefer something like: “you are only as good as your last three years, not the memory of an 18 month period nearly five years ago”, but that’s just me.

[Gumboot]

If you're only as good as your last test, Mo'unga's got a problem.

I assume you mean the semi final rather than his last test, the third place match. If that is the case, a lot of them have a problem - we were well outplayed.

It is a very simplistic saying. I would prefer something like: “you are only as good as your last three years, not the memory of an 18 month period nearly five years ago”, but that’s just me.

Yeah, I meant the SF.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

If you're only as good as your last test, Mo'unga's got a problem.

I assume you mean the semi final rather than his last test, the third place match. If that is the case, a lot of them have a problem - we were well outplayed.

It is a very simplistic saying. I would prefer something like: “you are only as good as your last three years, not the memory of an 18 month period nearly five years ago”, but that’s just me.

Yeah, I meant the SF.

The tight five in particular should be very worried. The loose forwards would be concerned as well.

After that we could potentially discuss the backs.

Way too simplistic an insight Gumboot, I'm afraid.

[Grandpa]

I just hope Jordie Barrett if picked plays absolutely terribly. The thought of watching a long legged lumbering Reuben Thorne-type journeyman in the All blacks for the next ten years is the stuff of nightmares.... conversely I hope Will Jordan excites us for years to come...

I hope whoever is picked plays well and continue to play well as they get picked.

I hope to see selections based on good play displayed consistently.

OK, I hope Joyride Barrett plays the best he can play, and it's still not good enough ever to be picked again. Surely it stands out like dog's bollocks that he is barely journeyman level even at Super level?.

[Carter's Choice]

I have been as critical of Jordie Barrett as anyone, especially when he turned his back on Canterbury and the Crusaders for the bright lights and big spending ways of Taranaki and the Hurricanes. But he's had a great year this year at SR Aotearoa level, and as well as David Havili played for the Crusaders, JB arguably played better. If Jordie Barrett is selected for the AB's this year, he would finally be deserved of the selection for the first time in his career.

[Kiwias]

I hope whoever is picked plays well and continue to play well as they get picked.

I hope to see selections based on good play displayed consistently.

OK, I hope Joyride Barrett plays the best he can play, and it's still not good enough ever to be picked again. Surely it stands out like dog's bollocks that he is barely journeyman level even at Super level?.

JB was the best 15 in SR Aotearoa, in both skill and consistency. And I don't even like him.

[stemoc]

no, Will Jordan was...

[Grandpa]

I hope to see selections based on good play displayed consistently.

OK, I hope Joyride Barrett plays the best he can play, and it's still not good enough ever to be picked again. Surely it stands out like dog's bollocks that he is barely journeyman level even at Super level?.

JB was the best 15 in SR Aotearoa, in both skill and consistency. And I don't even like him.

For me... he was just a gangly, slow, lumbering jack of all trades... no x factor whatsoever... whereas his brother (BB) stood out from the off.... though took the selectors a while to cotton on with him... Jordie is a moden day Bernie McCahill...

I've saw nothing in Super Ruby to change my mind. Will Jordan though... Caleb Clarke... they both have it...

[Grandpa]

no, Will Jordan was...

Easily......

[Guy Smiley]

I have been as critical of Jordie Barrett as anyone, especially when he turned his back on Canterbury and the Crusaders for the bright lights and big spending ways of Taranaki and the Hurricanes. But he's had a great year this year at SR Aotearoa level, and as well as David Havili played for the Crusaders, JB arguably played better. If Jordie Barrett is selected for the AB's this year, he would finally be deserved of the selection for the first time in his career.

He’ll be selected for his long range penalty potential above all else.

[JPNZ]

NZ TAB

New Zealand = $1.16
Australia = $4.85

Bookies really piling on NZ

Australia out to $5.40 now

[obelixtim]

NZ TAB

New Zealand = $1.16
Australia = $4.85

Bookies really piling on NZ

Australia out to $5.40 now

That would be a good insurance bet for a lazy 50 bucks.

[Thommo]

Those are some tasty odds.

I had $20 on Australia to win at $10 in that match the ABs won at the death in Dunedin a few years ago. That hurt me.

[akann]

NZ TAB

New Zealand = $1.16
Australia = $4.85

Bookies really piling on NZ

Australia out to $5.40 now

TAB Australia are paying $7 for the Wallabies.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Is anyone surprised this test hasn't sold out yet?

It's at 4pm on a Sunday on a date that was announced much later than would normally be the case. Remaining tickets cost $100 for an adult.

I'd take the fact there are still a few thousand seats left as a win, under the circumstances.

[Carter's Choice]

Is anyone surprised this test hasn't sold out yet?

It's at 4pm on a Sunday on a date that was announced much later than would normally be the case. Remaining tickets cost $100 for an adult.

I'd take the fact there are still a few thousand seats left as a win, under the circumstances.

Sunday is a terrible day for Rugby. If people are paying $100 per test they want to make a day/evening out of the event. Not be forced to attend the event sober because they have work the next day.

[stemoc]

I have been as critical of Jordie Barrett as anyone, especially when he turned his back on Canterbury and the Crusaders for the bright lights and big spending ways of Taranaki and the Hurricanes. But he's had a great year this year at SR Aotearoa level, and as well as David Havili played for the Crusaders, JB arguably played better. If Jordie Barrett is selected for the AB's this year, he would finally be deserved of the selection for the first time in his career.

He’ll be selected for his long range penalty potential above all else.

as i have been saying , the Reece Hodge of the All Blacks, that said Hodge is likely to start at 15 this weekend due to DHP still not 100% yet..we could see Jordie at 14 or 15 this weekend

[Kiwias]

no, Will Jordan was...

I believe Jordan has greater potential than JB but believe that JB was the more consistent performer this year.

[JPNZ]

Is anyone surprised this test hasn't sold out yet?

It's at 4pm on a Sunday on a date that was announced much later than would normally be the case. Remaining tickets cost $100 for an adult.

I'd take the fact there are still a few thousand seats left as a win, under the circumstances.

Sunday is a terrible day for Rugby. If people are paying $100 per test they want to make a day/evening out of the event. Not be forced to attend the event sober because they have work the next day.

Exactly, the NZ government should have left it this saturday and next, who gives a toss about the election being on the same day? Polls have been open since 3rd October already and the game is only 2 hours of a whole day voting window

[Carter's Choice]

Is anyone surprised this test hasn't sold out yet?

It's at 4pm on a Sunday on a date that was announced much later than would normally be the case. Remaining tickets cost $100 for an adult.

I'd take the fact there are still a few thousand seats left as a win, under the circumstances.

Sunday is a terrible day for Rugby. If people are paying $100 per test they want to make a day/evening out of the event. Not be forced to attend the event sober because they have work the next day.

Exactly, the NZ government should have left it this saturday and next, who gives a toss about the election being on the same day? Polls have been open since 3rd October already and the game is only 2 hours of a whole day voting window

A Friday night test on election eve would have been better than a Sunday afternoon test.

[Dan54]

Starting to wonder who will be in team, anyone been to any trainings this week to see anything? Who's training well, who's running where?

I note on one Aus rugby bored some seemingly thinking that they wanting Jordan picked because he can't tackle. I surely never seen that, but it just shows how some can pull shit out of their arse!

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Starting to wonder who will be in team, anyone been to any trainings this week to see anything? Who's training well, who's running where?

I note on one Aus rugby bored some seemingly thinking that they wanting Jordan picked because he can't tackle. I surely never seen that, but it just shows how some can pull shit out of their arse!

I bet Foster will make a statement by naming Beauden Barrett at 10.

Like Hansen, he loves Barrett and wants to please him after Barrett loudly proclaimed it was his favourite position earlier this year.

Mo'unga will have to ride the pine until it becomes painfully obvious, once again, that Barrett struggles against a rush defence.