Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October

[gt12]

@antipodean

I kind of agree, as it means that JG or ALB have to move, but I kind of see Jordie the same way.

He’s really a FB, and WC there, but everywhere else there are far better options - I don’t even really think he should be our primary wing cover (Ioane would be better).

[gt12]

@Hooroo said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:

@gt12 so a likely team of:

Moody/Hodgman
Coles
Tuungafasi
Tuipuloto
Whitelock
Frizzell
Cane
Sotutu
Smith
Mounga
Clarke
Goodhue
ALB
Jordie
Beauden

Taylor
Hodgman/Karl
Laulala/Lomax
Barrett
Papalii
TJP
Dmac (I think they’ll pick him)
Ioane

My team would be different btw.

[Bovidae]

@Hooroo said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:

I didn't realise Moody was touch and go?

He still has to go through the HIA return-to-play protocols. Moody might be able to play, or they decide to give him another week.

I hear Whitelock is making noises that he is good to go despite not much contact training?

Yes, Whitelock's return seems to be more certain. Also should be the first time our top 3 locks are in the 23.

[MN5]

@Chris-B said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:

@nostrildamus said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:

If Clarke is 1.84, Jordan is 1.88 and Sotutu 1.92 that photo looks about right.

Yep - though Clarke is listed widely on the interweb at 1.89.

Height can be useful.

Ask Mitch Hunt about the end of the North South match.

Some guys get measured inside with their rugby boots on.

1.86 cm Daniel Braid pioneered this back in the day

[Chris B.]

Isn't Beauden only scheduled to miss Super rugby - i.e. he'll be back for the international fixtures (well, maybe not any June internationals)?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/122022760/beauden-barrett-confirms-his-japan-sabbatical-blues-adamant-its-no-surprise

I hope we lock up the Bledisloe this weekend, especially so that Fozzie can take a bit more license with his selections (which, I'm more interested to see than any anxiety-inducing winner takes all fixture).

Barring injury and including Aaaron Smith, I'd think the team Hooroo named is nailed in for this weekend.

Plus (assuming everyone is fit and I haven't missed any babies) a bench of Hodgman, Taylor, Lomax, Vaa'i, Papali'i, TJ, Ioane, DMac. (Edit: sort of Snap gt12 - Laulala's on paternity leave, isn't he?).

Also edit - it will be Scott Barrett on the bench...

[chimoaus]

Something about Coles getting back into preinjury form just gives me wood.

[canefan]

@chimoaus said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:

Something about Coles getting back into preinjury form just gives me wood.

He was one of the main reasons we didn't beat the Lions. He has the x factor

[NTA]

Pissed off. About 40 of us at Renegades Rugby got tickets for $89 and now our associate union got hold of $49

[antipodean]

@NTA said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:

Pissed off. About 40 of us at Renegades Rugby got tickets for $89 and now our associate union got hold of $49

As you should be, we've held out to see what the Brumbies can do for us, but I'm going riding that weekend so won't be attending.

[Machpants]

@Chris-B said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:

Isn't Beauden only scheduled to miss Super rugby - i.e. he'll be back for the international fixtures (well, maybe not any June internationals)?

Lol June internationals.

1. They won't happen
2. They're now July

[voodoo]

@NTA said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:

Pissed off. About 40 of us at Renegades Rugby got tickets for $89 and now our associate union got hold of $49

Looks like I've just scored $49 tickets for me, mate, and our tribe. Looking forward to freezing my nuts off and drinking water beer from plastic cups

[NTA]

@voodoo said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:

@NTA said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:

Pissed off. About 40 of us at Renegades Rugby got tickets for $89 and now our associate union got hold of $49

Looks like I've just scored $49 tickets for me, mate, and our tribe. Looking forward to freezing my nuts off and drinking water beer from plastic cups

In a giant mausoleum

[voodoo]

@NTA said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:

@voodoo said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:

@NTA said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:

Pissed off. About 40 of us at Renegades Rugby got tickets for $89 and now our associate union got hold of $49

Looks like I've just scored $49 tickets for me, mate, and our tribe. Looking forward to freezing my nuts off and drinking water beer from plastic cups

In a giant mausoleum

That takes at least an hour to drive to from my house, and closer to 90 mins to do the ferry/train that we will actually do

[NTA]

@voodoo yeah we're heading in as a group and there is a discussion around Uber versus public transport.

[Tim]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/300143311/all-blacks-vs-australia-we-aim-to-play-a-lot-better--john-plumtrees-wallaby-warning

Plumtree confirmed in Sydney on Tuesday that on the back of a couple of hitouts since arriving for their Tri-Nations campaign, which opens with the second half of the four-match Bledisloe Cup series, all 36 players were in the selection picture for this week.

The All Blacks will have at least one key selection call to make this week, with in-form loose forward Ardie Savea remaining behind in New Zealand on paternity leave. Standout young Auckland and Blues No 8 Hoskins Sotutu is considered the firm favourite to step into the starting lineup on that back of a breakthrough season and two appearances off the bench in the first two contests.

But Plumtree made it clear that whoever was chosen in the team to be announced on Thursday, there would be no expectation on them to replicate Savea’s unique style of hyper-aggressive and athletic play.

“It’s not really a challenge as such for whoever comes in,” said Plumtree. “The players we’ve got to take Ardie’s place, we’ve got a lot of faith and trust in. They’ll bring a different skillset. We’ve got Dalton Papalii and Hokins Sotutu who are both excellent players. We’ve got Akira Ioane who had a great Super Rugby season as well. We’ve got some powerful players to replace Ardie.

[voodoo]

@NTA my lad loves the atmosphere of the train, it does add to the fun of it. And I can drink beers on the ferry which is a nice start to the outing

[Dolamite]

I wouldn’t mind Jordan on the bench for D-Mac

[Tim]

@Dolamite I'll be disappointed if we don't get a good look at Jordan.

[Bovidae]

I don't think there will be too many changes for this test. Win here, and they can give some new players an opportunity in BC 4. More likely to see the newbies in the Arg games though.

[ACT Crusader]

@Kirwan said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:

@Duluth said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:

@Kirwan said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:

BB showed in the last test he has to start, took a lot of the workload off of Ritchie and his pace creates opportunities.

Whats the better 10/15 combo? RM/BB or BB/JB?

I prefer the later but I think the coaches are worried about next year. But who knows what happens next year? Ioane could mount a serious challenge to Mo'unga (and I suspect his game is better suited to Test rugby)

BB/JB IMO. If RM needs BB selected at fullback so we can have a functioning backline, then he's not the answer at 10.

I don’t thin Foster, Fox or any of the coaches have said Mo’unga needs Barrett selected.

But having someone with the class of Barrett in the backline is going to make a difference, especially when the forwards have a bit more ascendency too.