All Blacks vs Pumas II
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@Hooroo to your B team comment, this is where Iâd have these players with some conjecture over some of the rankings. Incoming

1 Joe Moody (51) - 1st choice LH
2 Samisoni Taukeiâaho (5) - 3rd/4th choice Hooker (Coles, Taylor, Aumua(?))
3 Tyrel Lomax (9) - 3rd choice TH (Ofa, Laulala)
4 Patrick Tuipulotu (38) - 4th choice Lock (Whitelock, Retallick, Barrett)
5 Tupou Vaaâi (6) - 5th choice Lock (as above)
6 Ethan Blackadder (4) - 3rd choice Blindside (Ioane, Frizell)
7 Ardie Savea (53) â captain - 2nd/3rd choice Openside (Cane, Papaliâi(?))
8 Hoskins Sotutu (6) - 3rd choice No. 8 (Savea, Jacobsen)
9 TJ Perenara (72) - 2nd choice HB (Smith)
10 Damian McKenzie (34) - 3rd choice 1st 5 (Moâunga, Barrett)
11 George Bridge (14) - 2nd/3rd choice LW (Ioane, Clarke(?))
12 Quinn Tupaea (2) - 3rd choice 2nd 5 (Havili, Goodhue)
13 Rieko Ioane (41) - 2nd/3rd choice centre (ALB, Goodhue(?))
14 Will Jordan (7) - 2nd choice RW (Reece)
15 Jordie Barrett (29) - 1st choice FB@act-crusader yikes
I suggest ALB is probably our first choice 12, and Goodhue our first choice 13 ... But not sure those who count see it that way
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@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@machpants He was pretty dire in Super rugby. He needs to go and get back some confidence in domestic rugby like Grace Cullen. Huge futures but right now there are better players ahead of them..
Sigh. He was playing with a misdiagnosed injury.
@kirwan said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@machpants He was pretty dire in Super rugby. He needs to go and get back some confidence in domestic rugby like Grace Cullen. Huge futures but right now there are better players ahead of them..
Sigh. He was playing with a misdiagnosed injury.
Yeah, whenever I was playing shit it was because of injury too.
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@act-crusader yikes
I suggest ALB is probably our first choice 12, and Goodhue our first choice 13 ... But not sure those who count see it that way
@booboo said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@act-crusader yikes
I suggest ALB is probably our first choice 12, and Goodhue our first choice 13 ... But not sure those who count see it that way
Problem being, Goodhue has been a shell of his former self, very meh. Must be a misdiagnosed injury.
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@act-crusader yikes
I suggest ALB is probably our first choice 12, and Goodhue our first choice 13 ... But not sure those who count see it that way
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@kirwan said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@machpants He was pretty dire in Super rugby. He needs to go and get back some confidence in domestic rugby like Grace Cullen. Huge futures but right now there are better players ahead of them..
Sigh. He was playing with a misdiagnosed injury.
Yeah, whenever I was playing shit it was because of injury too.
@bones said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@kirwan said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@machpants He was pretty dire in Super rugby. He needs to go and get back some confidence in domestic rugby like Grace Cullen. Huge futures but right now there are better players ahead of them..
Sigh. He was playing with a misdiagnosed injury.
Yeah, whenever I was playing shit it was because of injury too.
Righto. So leg injuries don't affect form for wingers anymore? If you were paying more attention, you'd have seen a trainer shadowing him for some of the games trying to keep him out there.
And him limping off.
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@act-crusader yikes
I suggest ALB is probably our first choice 12, and Goodhue our first choice 13 ... But not sure those who count see it that way
@booboo said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@act-crusader yikes
I suggest ALB is probably our first choice 12, and Goodhue our first choice 13 ... But not sure those who count see it that way
I always reckon ALB is a better 13 than Goodhue, and Havili is now best 12 we got. I actually tjink Tupaea will put a bit of pressure on as a 12 too.
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@booboo said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@act-crusader yikes
I suggest ALB is probably our first choice 12, and Goodhue our first choice 13 ... But not sure those who count see it that way
I always reckon ALB is a better 13 than Goodhue, and Havili is now best 12 we got. I actually tjink Tupaea will put a bit of pressure on as a 12 too.
@dan54 said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@booboo said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@act-crusader yikes
I suggest ALB is probably our first choice 12, and Goodhue our first choice 13 ... But not sure those who count see it that way
I always reckon ALB is a better 13 than Goodhue, and Havili is now best 12 we got. I actually tjink Tupaea will put a bit of pressure on as a 12 too.
Tupaea had a long way to go, long long way. I don't rate him at all. Goodhue has gone backwards at a rate of knots, really it's havili, ALB, and Reiko.... Daylight
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@bones said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@kirwan said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@machpants He was pretty dire in Super rugby. He needs to go and get back some confidence in domestic rugby like Grace Cullen. Huge futures but right now there are better players ahead of them..
Sigh. He was playing with a misdiagnosed injury.
Yeah, whenever I was playing shit it was because of injury too.
Righto. So leg injuries don't affect form for wingers anymore? If you were paying more attention, you'd have seen a trainer shadowing him for some of the games trying to keep him out there.
And him limping off.
@kirwan said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@bones said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@kirwan said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@machpants He was pretty dire in Super rugby. He needs to go and get back some confidence in domestic rugby like Grace Cullen. Huge futures but right now there are better players ahead of them..
Sigh. He was playing with a misdiagnosed injury.
Yeah, whenever I was playing shit it was because of injury too.
Righto. So leg injuries don't affect form for wingers anymore? If you were paying more attention, you'd have seen a trainer shadowing him for some of the games trying to keep him out there.
And him limping off.
And playing pretty shit. I saw that bit. Why does it matter if it's because of injury?
The only thing that matters is how he's playing - so now he's not injured he can prove he's better than in SR this year.
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@act-crusader yikes
I suggest ALB is probably our first choice 12, and Goodhue our first choice 13 ... But not sure those who count see it that way
@booboo said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@act-crusader yikes
I suggest ALB is probably our first choice 12, and Goodhue our first choice 13 ... But not sure those who count see it that way
I reckon that's not too far away - spot on in 2019 IMO.
But, we haven't seen much of Jack at centre in the past couple of years and he's down my list at second five. Pretty hard to keep him ahead of ALB at centre right now, because he's not got recent runs on the board.
So, we will see when he comes back and surely the Crusaders will mainly pair him with Havili at 2nd five.
I mainly agree with ACTs rankings - except 14, which we already discussed.

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@bones said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@kirwan said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@machpants He was pretty dire in Super rugby. He needs to go and get back some confidence in domestic rugby like Grace Cullen. Huge futures but right now there are better players ahead of them..
Sigh. He was playing with a misdiagnosed injury.
Yeah, whenever I was playing shit it was because of injury too.
Righto. So leg injuries don't affect form for wingers anymore? If you were paying more attention, you'd have seen a trainer shadowing him for some of the games trying to keep him out there.
And him limping off.
@kirwan said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@bones said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@kirwan said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@machpants He was pretty dire in Super rugby. He needs to go and get back some confidence in domestic rugby like Grace Cullen. Huge futures but right now there are better players ahead of them..
Sigh. He was playing with a misdiagnosed injury.
Yeah, whenever I was playing shit it was because of injury too.
Righto. So leg injuries don't affect form for wingers anymore? If you were paying more attention, you'd have seen a trainer shadowing him for some of the games trying to keep him out there.
And him limping off.
Jimmy Connors' autobiography "The Outsider" is a very entertaining read. I recommend it.
I'll chuck this quote into the mix (and duck)...

Pancho (Segura, his coach) and I had a good relationship from the very beginning.
"All I ask," Pancho said, "Is that you believe in yourself. No negative thoughts. No excuses. Lose like a man and win like a man. If you're injured, don't play; if you play, you're not injured. Always give 100 percent and I'll be happy."
These words stuck with me throughout my career.
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@kirwan said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@bones said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@kirwan said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@machpants He was pretty dire in Super rugby. He needs to go and get back some confidence in domestic rugby like Grace Cullen. Huge futures but right now there are better players ahead of them..
Sigh. He was playing with a misdiagnosed injury.
Yeah, whenever I was playing shit it was because of injury too.
Righto. So leg injuries don't affect form for wingers anymore? If you were paying more attention, you'd have seen a trainer shadowing him for some of the games trying to keep him out there.
And him limping off.
Jimmy Connors' autobiography "The Outsider" is a very entertaining read. I recommend it.
I'll chuck this quote into the mix (and duck)...

Pancho (Segura, his coach) and I had a good relationship from the very beginning.
"All I ask," Pancho said, "Is that you believe in yourself. No negative thoughts. No excuses. Lose like a man and win like a man. If you're injured, don't play; if you play, you're not injured. Always give 100 percent and I'll be happy."
These words stuck with me throughout my career.
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NZ by 23-29
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@booboo said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@act-crusader yikes
I suggest ALB is probably our first choice 12, and Goodhue our first choice 13 ... But not sure those who count see it that way
I always reckon ALB is a better 13 than Goodhue, and Havili is now best 12 we got. I actually tjink Tupaea will put a bit of pressure on as a 12 too.
@dan54 said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@booboo said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@act-crusader yikes
I suggest ALB is probably our first choice 12, and Goodhue our first choice 13 ... But not sure those who count see it that way
I always reckon ALB is a better 13 than Goodhue, and Havili is now best 12 we got. I actually tjink Tupaea will put a bit of pressure on as a 12 too.
Yeah Iâve always liked ALB at 13 and reckon heâs played his best test footy there.
It was a pretty good combo (when one of them wasnât crook) 12-Crotty 13-ALB
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@act-crusader sum of the parts will be the key though. Still very much a team game.
@crucial said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@act-crusader sum of the parts will be the key though. Still very much a team game.
Yeah still some very good pieces there.
I like the front row. A little worried about the locking pair, but Tui has experience so thatâs something.
Back row have 2 work horses and a damaging ball runner.
9 and 10 - hold ya breath kids

The midfield could be explosive but worry about defence and communication coming together.
Back 3 - George to score a double
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@daffy-jaffy said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
Richard Knowler's question sums up nz rugby journalism.
Richard Knowler "Just one specialist lock on the bench in Scott Barrett, does that mean Luke Jacobson is covering the engine room?"
Fozzie: "......."
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Although I don't like any of options, with 2 years to a RWC I don't think we should be shuffling players around now the AB's are starting to show a more coherent structure based on specialization (and competition per place). 6-7-8 and 12-13 starting to look much better.
Havilli is a class act, but he's still bedding down at 12 - yet still offers way more potential than anyone we've seen there since Nonu. If Havilli and ALB play, leave them at 12 and 13.
I'd treat it like RWC 2007, down to #3 or #4 first five. Who would play at 10 in 2023 if RM and BB are both injured? Risk a loss as a team learning experience now. If DMac, play DMac at 10, if Jordie play Jordie at 10, DMac at 15.
AND if DMac at 10, tell the b_gger (when he runs) to run straight and direct until the AB's are 20 ahead. At least that way the team knows what the f*ck he's doing. If he can't do that at 10 now, imho drop him because ... he's never learning ... and there are certainly 2 better options at 15 by the RWC.
@l_n_p have you guys ever watched NRL? Their playmakers (who are far better than Union playmakers imo) just about run sideways more than they run forward⌠if youâre fast enough and agile enough then running across field occasionally can cause a defence to bite out of the line, leaving holes. If the space is there in front of him, he takes it by running straight. If itâs not there then he tries to create something but changing running lines.
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@crucial said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
@act-crusader sum of the parts will be the key though. Still very much a team game.
Yeah still some very good pieces there.
I like the front row. A little worried about the locking pair, but Tui has experience so thatâs something.
Back row have 2 work horses and a damaging ball runner.
9 and 10 - hold ya breath kids

The midfield could be explosive but worry about defence and communication coming together.
Back 3 - George to score a double
@act-crusader you and your optimism.
I saw the team and thought yuck. Felt a bit sorry for the likes of Jordan and Jordie who are fighting for a spot and have to do it outside a mish-mash team.
I expect us to win and will be livid if we lose. But if this team clicks and looks gooood, well that's fucken fantastic and I will only be left with about half a leg dangling off the Fozzy bandwagon. Ok maybe a whole leg.
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@l_n_p have you guys ever watched NRL? Their playmakers (who are far better than Union playmakers imo) just about run sideways more than they run forward⌠if youâre fast enough and agile enough then running across field occasionally can cause a defence to bite out of the line, leaving holes. If the space is there in front of him, he takes it by running straight. If itâs not there then he tries to create something but changing running lines.
@yeahtheboys said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
who are far better than Union playmakers imo
Can't say I see a lot of union playmakers in league. Is DC on a jolly?
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@yeahtheboys said in All Blacks vs Pumas II:
who are far better than Union playmakers imo
Can't say I see a lot of union playmakers in league. Is DC on a jolly?
@bones huh