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Springboks vs All Blacks 2

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Rugby Matches
springboksallblacks
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  • BerniesCornerB Offline
    BerniesCornerB Offline
    BerniesCorner
    wrote on last edited by
    #255

    I'd be more confident Love 15, Jordan and Reece wings

    1 Reply Last reply
    2
    • BonesB Bones

      @DaGrubster to be fair, Savea isn't that raw.

      SmutsS Offline
      SmutsS Offline
      Smuts
      wrote on last edited by
      #256

      @Bones stick to maths.

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • ACT CrusaderA ACT Crusader

        @African-Monkey said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

        @ACT-Crusader said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

        @African-Monkey said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

        @ACT-Crusader said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

        @BorderJB said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

        Would like to throw a couple things out:
        Paps at 8 with Cane and Blackadder, I think as much as Blackadder doesn't dominate, he's goes well with a Cane like player.
        Having Paps at 8 gives us more options as a link player in the middle, as well as a ball runner in the wider channels.

        Also changes around 9,10,12: At the moment it looks like theres too many leaders or playmakers, it looks a bit confusing, Ratima would be a more passing half to let Dmac run things and outside him ALB as a non playmaking 12.
        While the backline went well in certain areas against SA, We need to get more out of it.

        Never mind a bit of lateral thinking but the practical reality is that your suggestions are dropping the two vice captains.

        Also, not sure how much practice Papali’i has at trapping the ball at a scrum, running off the base, linking with the halfback. Also he’s very rarely used as a lineout option and at 8 we need an option (which Ardie provides).

        He played once there for the Blues last season against the Highlanders and had an absolute mare. It was actually comical watching him attempt to play 8, similar to some of the opinions on here of late.

        Yeah I do recall him being there and it’s just not his thing. Where as someone like Messam it was a pretty natural switch from 8 to 6 and vice versa. Chris Masoe was also a very decent 7 that was a better no8.

        Papalii is an interesting case because he's built like a 6/8 but only plays as a 7. Technically he's very good at all aspects as a 7, but he lacks the bulk and power to play anywhere else, especially on the carry.

        He reminds me of the northern hemisphere loosies of the 2010s Chris Robshaw and Sam Warburton.

        Warburton is a very good comparison.

        J Offline
        J Offline
        junior
        wrote on last edited by
        #257

        @ACT-Crusader said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

        @African-Monkey said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

        @ACT-Crusader said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

        @African-Monkey said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

        @ACT-Crusader said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

        @BorderJB said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

        Would like to throw a couple things out:
        Paps at 8 with Cane and Blackadder, I think as much as Blackadder doesn't dominate, he's goes well with a Cane like player.
        Having Paps at 8 gives us more options as a link player in the middle, as well as a ball runner in the wider channels.

        Also changes around 9,10,12: At the moment it looks like theres too many leaders or playmakers, it looks a bit confusing, Ratima would be a more passing half to let Dmac run things and outside him ALB as a non playmaking 12.
        While the backline went well in certain areas against SA, We need to get more out of it.

        Never mind a bit of lateral thinking but the practical reality is that your suggestions are dropping the two vice captains.

        Also, not sure how much practice Papali’i has at trapping the ball at a scrum, running off the base, linking with the halfback. Also he’s very rarely used as a lineout option and at 8 we need an option (which Ardie provides).

        He played once there for the Blues last season against the Highlanders and had an absolute mare. It was actually comical watching him attempt to play 8, similar to some of the opinions on here of late.

        Yeah I do recall him being there and it’s just not his thing. Where as someone like Messam it was a pretty natural switch from 8 to 6 and vice versa. Chris Masoe was also a very decent 7 that was a better no8.

        Papalii is an interesting case because he's built like a 6/8 but only plays as a 7. Technically he's very good at all aspects as a 7, but he lacks the bulk and power to play anywhere else, especially on the carry.

        He reminds me of the northern hemisphere loosies of the 2010s Chris Robshaw and Sam Warburton.

        Warburton is a very good comparison.

        Yes Warburton was a great player and leader

        1 Reply Last reply
        1
        • A African Monkey

          @chchfanatic said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

          1 Williams
          2 Taylor
          3 Lomax
          4 Barrett
          5 Vaai
          6 Sititi
          7 Cane
          8 Savea
          9 Ratima
          10 McKenzie
          11 Telea
          12 Barrett
          13 Ioane
          14 Reece
          15 Jordan
          16 Aumua
          17 Ofa
          18 Newell
          19 Darry
          20 Jacobsen
          21 TJP
          22 Barrett
          23 ALB

          Blackadder injured?

          Victor MeldrewV Offline
          Victor MeldrewV Offline
          Victor Meldrew
          wrote on last edited by
          #258

          @African-Monkey said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

          @chchfanatic said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

          1 Williams
          2 Taylor
          3 Lomax
          4 Barrett
          5 Vaai
          6 Sititi
          7 Cane
          8 Savea
          9 Ratima
          10 McKenzie
          11 Telea
          12 Barrett
          13 Ioane
          14 Reece
          15 Jordan
          16 Aumua
          17 Ofa
          18 Newell
          19 Darry
          20 Jacobsen
          21 TJP
          22 Barrett
          23 ALB

          Blackadder injured?

          Tripped over tackle bag.

          SmutsS 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • Victor MeldrewV Victor Meldrew

            @African-Monkey said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

            @chchfanatic said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

            1 Williams
            2 Taylor
            3 Lomax
            4 Barrett
            5 Vaai
            6 Sititi
            7 Cane
            8 Savea
            9 Ratima
            10 McKenzie
            11 Telea
            12 Barrett
            13 Ioane
            14 Reece
            15 Jordan
            16 Aumua
            17 Ofa
            18 Newell
            19 Darry
            20 Jacobsen
            21 TJP
            22 Barrett
            23 ALB

            Blackadder injured?

            Tripped over tackle bag.

            SmutsS Offline
            SmutsS Offline
            Smuts
            wrote on last edited by
            #259

            @Victor-Meldrew must’ve been unmarked with the line at its mercy…

            1 Reply Last reply
            2
            • S Offline
              S Offline
              stodders
              wrote on last edited by
              #260

              AB fans had best hope a win is forthcoming this weekend. Bok fans know how it felt to lose multiple times in a row and the revenge dish is ready to be served for the next 12 months until battle resumes in 2025 😬

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • ACT CrusaderA ACT Crusader

                @African-Monkey said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                @ACT-Crusader said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                @African-Monkey said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                @ACT-Crusader said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                @BorderJB said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                Would like to throw a couple things out:
                Paps at 8 with Cane and Blackadder, I think as much as Blackadder doesn't dominate, he's goes well with a Cane like player.
                Having Paps at 8 gives us more options as a link player in the middle, as well as a ball runner in the wider channels.

                Also changes around 9,10,12: At the moment it looks like theres too many leaders or playmakers, it looks a bit confusing, Ratima would be a more passing half to let Dmac run things and outside him ALB as a non playmaking 12.
                While the backline went well in certain areas against SA, We need to get more out of it.

                Never mind a bit of lateral thinking but the practical reality is that your suggestions are dropping the two vice captains.

                Also, not sure how much practice Papali’i has at trapping the ball at a scrum, running off the base, linking with the halfback. Also he’s very rarely used as a lineout option and at 8 we need an option (which Ardie provides).

                He played once there for the Blues last season against the Highlanders and had an absolute mare. It was actually comical watching him attempt to play 8, similar to some of the opinions on here of late.

                Yeah I do recall him being there and it’s just not his thing. Where as someone like Messam it was a pretty natural switch from 8 to 6 and vice versa. Chris Masoe was also a very decent 7 that was a better no8.

                Papalii is an interesting case because he's built like a 6/8 but only plays as a 7. Technically he's very good at all aspects as a 7, but he lacks the bulk and power to play anywhere else, especially on the carry.

                He reminds me of the northern hemisphere loosies of the 2010s Chris Robshaw and Sam Warburton.

                Warburton is a very good comparison.

                BonesB Offline
                BonesB Offline
                Bones
                wrote on last edited by
                #261

                @ACT-Crusader said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                @African-Monkey said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                @ACT-Crusader said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                @African-Monkey said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                @ACT-Crusader said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                @BorderJB said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                Would like to throw a couple things out:
                Paps at 8 with Cane and Blackadder, I think as much as Blackadder doesn't dominate, he's goes well with a Cane like player.
                Having Paps at 8 gives us more options as a link player in the middle, as well as a ball runner in the wider channels.

                Also changes around 9,10,12: At the moment it looks like theres too many leaders or playmakers, it looks a bit confusing, Ratima would be a more passing half to let Dmac run things and outside him ALB as a non playmaking 12.
                While the backline went well in certain areas against SA, We need to get more out of it.

                Never mind a bit of lateral thinking but the practical reality is that your suggestions are dropping the two vice captains.

                Also, not sure how much practice Papali’i has at trapping the ball at a scrum, running off the base, linking with the halfback. Also he’s very rarely used as a lineout option and at 8 we need an option (which Ardie provides).

                He played once there for the Blues last season against the Highlanders and had an absolute mare. It was actually comical watching him attempt to play 8, similar to some of the opinions on here of late.

                Yeah I do recall him being there and it’s just not his thing. Where as someone like Messam it was a pretty natural switch from 8 to 6 and vice versa. Chris Masoe was also a very decent 7 that was a better no8.

                Papalii is an interesting case because he's built like a 6/8 but only plays as a 7. Technically he's very good at all aspects as a 7, but he lacks the bulk and power to play anywhere else, especially on the carry.

                He reminds me of the northern hemisphere loosies of the 2010s Chris Robshaw and Sam Warburton.

                Warburton is a very good comparison.

                I prefer Sean O'Brien as a comparison.

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • S Offline
                  S Offline
                  stodders
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #262

                  Judging by rugby twitter, the mantle of guardians of the game has definitely been passed from the ABs to the Boks. The condescension levels from SA fans for NZ rugby are off the scale. It is a far cry from the days of conspiracy theories and ref bashing that SA fans excelled at. Delicious! Enjoy the time at the top Bok fans. Eras end 😬

                  FWIW, the Bok fans on this forum are modest and knowledgeable in comparison to a good number of their countrymen and women. I enjoy their posts and humour.

                  BonesB D BerniesCornerB 3 Replies Last reply
                  3
                  • S stodders

                    Judging by rugby twitter, the mantle of guardians of the game has definitely been passed from the ABs to the Boks. The condescension levels from SA fans for NZ rugby are off the scale. It is a far cry from the days of conspiracy theories and ref bashing that SA fans excelled at. Delicious! Enjoy the time at the top Bok fans. Eras end 😬

                    FWIW, the Bok fans on this forum are modest and knowledgeable in comparison to a good number of their countrymen and women. I enjoy their posts and humour.

                    BonesB Offline
                    BonesB Offline
                    Bones
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #263

                    @stodders I'll never forget the 2011 RWC when I was with an Afrikaans meisie and we had several guests around watching the games. The crowing from the SA fellas when they trounced Namibia was a bit puzzling, but then they disappeared when we folded France. How bizarre.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • S stodders

                      Judging by rugby twitter, the mantle of guardians of the game has definitely been passed from the ABs to the Boks. The condescension levels from SA fans for NZ rugby are off the scale. It is a far cry from the days of conspiracy theories and ref bashing that SA fans excelled at. Delicious! Enjoy the time at the top Bok fans. Eras end 😬

                      FWIW, the Bok fans on this forum are modest and knowledgeable in comparison to a good number of their countrymen and women. I enjoy their posts and humour.

                      D Online
                      D Online
                      DaGrubster
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #264

                      @stodders said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                      Judging by rugby twitter, the mantle of guardians of the game has definitely been passed from the ABs to the Boks. The condescension levels from SA fans for NZ rugby are off the scale. It is a far cry from the days of conspiracy theories and ref bashing that SA fans excelled at. Delicious! Enjoy the time at the top Bok fans. Eras end 😬

                      FWIW, the Bok fans on this forum are modest and knowledgeable in comparison to a good number of their countrymen and women. I enjoy their posts and humour.

                      There has been a tonne of SA fans jumping onto the Boks bandwagon after b2b world cups. Good for SA but insufferable for others. As their are literally millions of them!!

                      P 1 Reply Last reply
                      1
                      • D DaGrubster

                        @stodders said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                        Judging by rugby twitter, the mantle of guardians of the game has definitely been passed from the ABs to the Boks. The condescension levels from SA fans for NZ rugby are off the scale. It is a far cry from the days of conspiracy theories and ref bashing that SA fans excelled at. Delicious! Enjoy the time at the top Bok fans. Eras end 😬

                        FWIW, the Bok fans on this forum are modest and knowledgeable in comparison to a good number of their countrymen and women. I enjoy their posts and humour.

                        There has been a tonne of SA fans jumping onto the Boks bandwagon after b2b world cups. Good for SA but insufferable for others. As their are literally millions of them!!

                        P Offline
                        P Offline
                        pakman
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #265

                        @DaGrubster said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                        @stodders said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                        Judging by rugby twitter, the mantle of guardians of the game has definitely been passed from the ABs to the Boks. The condescension levels from SA fans for NZ rugby are off the scale. It is a far cry from the days of conspiracy theories and ref bashing that SA fans excelled at. Delicious! Enjoy the time at the top Bok fans. Eras end 😬

                        FWIW, the Bok fans on this forum are modest and knowledgeable in comparison to a good number of their countrymen and women. I enjoy their posts and humour.

                        There has been a tonne of SA fans jumping onto the Boks bandwagon after b2b world cups. Good for SA but insufferable for others. As their are literally millions of them!!

                        many of them are only vaguely acquainted with the rules of rugby.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • C chchfanatic

                          1 Williams
                          2 Taylor
                          3 Lomax
                          4 Barrett
                          5 Vaai
                          6 Sititi
                          7 Cane
                          8 Savea
                          9 Ratima
                          10 McKenzie
                          11 Telea
                          12 Barrett
                          13 Ioane
                          14 Reece
                          15 Jordan
                          16 Aumua
                          17 Ofa
                          18 Newell
                          19 Darry
                          20 Jacobsen
                          21 TJP
                          22 Barrett
                          23 ALB

                          P Offline
                          P Offline
                          pakman
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #266

                          @chchfanatic said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                          1 Williams
                          2 Taylor
                          3 Lomax
                          4 Barrett
                          5 Vaai
                          6 Sititi
                          7 Cane
                          8 Savea
                          9 Ratima
                          10 McKenzie
                          11 Telea
                          12 Barrett
                          13 Ioane
                          14 Reece
                          15 Jordan
                          16 Aumua
                          17 Ofa
                          18 Newell
                          19 Darry
                          20 Jacobsen
                          21 TJP
                          22 Barrett
                          23 ALB

                          As Raz's barber, do you have any insight into Paps's thumb?

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • C Offline
                            C Offline
                            chchfanatic
                            wrote on last edited by chchfanatic
                            #267

                            Who is Raz?

                            P 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • C chchfanatic

                              Who is Raz?

                              P Offline
                              P Offline
                              pakman
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #268

                              @chchfanatic said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                              Who is Raz?

                              Head Coach ABs

                              C 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • P pakman

                                @chchfanatic said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                                Who is Raz?

                                Head Coach ABs

                                C Offline
                                C Offline
                                chchfanatic
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #269

                                @pakman cool nickname. You’ve nicknamed a nicknamed. Dalton is fine. Just a shit blues player.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • S stodders

                                  Judging by rugby twitter, the mantle of guardians of the game has definitely been passed from the ABs to the Boks. The condescension levels from SA fans for NZ rugby are off the scale. It is a far cry from the days of conspiracy theories and ref bashing that SA fans excelled at. Delicious! Enjoy the time at the top Bok fans. Eras end 😬

                                  FWIW, the Bok fans on this forum are modest and knowledgeable in comparison to a good number of their countrymen and women. I enjoy their posts and humour.

                                  BerniesCornerB Offline
                                  BerniesCornerB Offline
                                  BerniesCorner
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #270

                                  @stodders said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                                  Judging by rugby twitter, the mantle of guardians of the game has definitely been passed from the ABs to the Boks. The condescension levels from SA fans for NZ rugby are off the scale. It is a far cry from the days of conspiracy theories and ref bashing that SA fans excelled at. Delicious! Enjoy the time at the top Bok fans. Eras end 😬

                                  FWIW, the Bok fans on this forum are modest and knowledgeable in comparison to a good number of their countrymen and women. I enjoy their posts and humour.

                                  I've noticed some of the Bokke posters on here make up their own memories and believe them on recall.
                                  For example dropping the ball before the try line , not having control but it's ok as it's still a try.

                                  S 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • C Offline
                                    C Offline
                                    chchfanatic
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #271

                                    That team is not from my normal source.
                                    But a mate who also got the Semifinal team spot on. So fairly accurate. But we will see today.

                                    ACT CrusaderA 1 Reply Last reply
                                    1
                                    • BerniesCornerB Offline
                                      BerniesCornerB Offline
                                      BerniesCorner
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #272

                                      Is Sititi starting

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • C chchfanatic

                                        1 Williams
                                        2 Taylor
                                        3 Lomax
                                        4 Barrett
                                        5 Vaai
                                        6 Sititi
                                        7 Cane
                                        8 Savea
                                        9 Ratima
                                        10 McKenzie
                                        11 Telea
                                        12 Barrett
                                        13 Ioane
                                        14 Reece
                                        15 Jordan
                                        16 Aumua
                                        17 Ofa
                                        18 Newell
                                        19 Darry
                                        20 Jacobsen
                                        21 TJP
                                        22 Barrett
                                        23 ALB

                                        JKJ Offline
                                        JKJ Offline
                                        JK
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #273

                                        @chchfanatic said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                                        1 Williams
                                        2 Taylor
                                        3 Lomax
                                        4 Barrett
                                        5 Vaai
                                        6 Sititi
                                        7 Cane
                                        8 Savea
                                        9 Ratima
                                        10 McKenzie
                                        11 Telea
                                        12 Barrett
                                        13 Ioane
                                        14 Reece
                                        15 Jordan
                                        16 Aumua
                                        17 Ofa
                                        18 Newell
                                        19 Darry
                                        20 Jacobsen
                                        21 TJP
                                        22 Barrett
                                        23 ALB

                                        this is the same team I was provided by a very reliable source too. Very interesting

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        1
                                        • D DaGrubster

                                          @canefan said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                                          @MN5 said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                                          @No-Quarter said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                                          @reprobate said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                                          @brodean said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                                          @Chris

                                          Yes I've already said he had a good workrate.

                                          PsDT, Kaino and Juan Smith all had good workrates but they hit hard and thats the difference. These are the last three blindsides to win World Cups. Do you honestly believe that Blackadder has the upside of these players?

                                          He's never going to be a world class blindside. There are players in NZ with the potential to be that. Finau certainly has the athletic ability he just needs some consistent opportunity and guidance. He did well enough against England and should have been persevered with.

                                          So he's not as good as 3 of the best ever so shouldn't play.
                                          If that's your logic, how are we going to even field a team?

                                          The point being, he had access to Akira who everybody knows has the talent to be world class, in career best form, who also absolutely dominated the SR finals. Instead he picked a guy that has spent most of his career injured, and two rookies that Akira dominated in the final which is the closest thing we have to test footy at that level. So yes, when we watch Blackadder struggling to make an impact, we become critical.

                                          I'm becoming a broken record on this so will try and make this my last post, but the Blues backrow dominated Super rugby and were influential in the finals. It absolutely pains me that we not only left out 2 of them all together, but it's now become an area of significant weakness for us.

                                          Running riot in sevens is no guarantee of 15s dominance.

                                          But yeah, he should have been picked.

                                          He should have picked the form players Sotutu and Akira, then if they failed he could say "see?!" and bin them and no one would have any complaints, or if they ripped up trees as per SR he would have been able to ride them to some wins and look like a genius. Just a no brainer. But instead he picks a bunch of players who seem on the way down since 23, a couple of long shots from the team that got pumped by the eventual winners of SR, and some Saders who most would argue didn't earn their place on SR form and lacked miles. What a glut for punishment he is

                                          With Akira he had a number of chances over a number of years so maybe they thought he wasn’t going to cut it at test level - even though his game this season was more suited to test rugby than it ever has been.

                                          Sotutu is a bit different in that he clearly did everything he could have in responding to being dropped unceremoniously last year. He should have been back in based on his form and also as an example to others - ā€˜ you listen to our feedback and fix what we ask and you are still a chance’. Now why would anyone think they can get back in to the side because if the super MVP can’t.

                                          Furthermore, his replacement is too raw to get any meaningful minutes.

                                          kiwiinmelbK Offline
                                          kiwiinmelbK Offline
                                          kiwiinmelb
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #274

                                          @DaGrubster said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                                          @canefan said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                                          @MN5 said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                                          @No-Quarter said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                                          @reprobate said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                                          @brodean said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

                                          @Chris

                                          Yes I've already said he had a good workrate.

                                          PsDT, Kaino and Juan Smith all had good workrates but they hit hard and thats the difference. These are the last three blindsides to win World Cups. Do you honestly believe that Blackadder has the upside of these players?

                                          He's never going to be a world class blindside. There are players in NZ with the potential to be that. Finau certainly has the athletic ability he just needs some consistent opportunity and guidance. He did well enough against England and should have been persevered with.

                                          So he's not as good as 3 of the best ever so shouldn't play.
                                          If that's your logic, how are we going to even field a team?

                                          The point being, he had access to Akira who everybody knows has the talent to be world class, in career best form, who also absolutely dominated the SR finals. Instead he picked a guy that has spent most of his career injured, and two rookies that Akira dominated in the final which is the closest thing we have to test footy at that level. So yes, when we watch Blackadder struggling to make an impact, we become critical.

                                          I'm becoming a broken record on this so will try and make this my last post, but the Blues backrow dominated Super rugby and were influential in the finals. It absolutely pains me that we not only left out 2 of them all together, but it's now become an area of significant weakness for us.

                                          Running riot in sevens is no guarantee of 15s dominance.

                                          But yeah, he should have been picked.

                                          He should have picked the form players Sotutu and Akira, then if they failed he could say "see?!" and bin them and no one would have any complaints, or if they ripped up trees as per SR he would have been able to ride them to some wins and look like a genius. Just a no brainer. But instead he picks a bunch of players who seem on the way down since 23, a couple of long shots from the team that got pumped by the eventual winners of SR, and some Saders who most would argue didn't earn their place on SR form and lacked miles. What a glut for punishment he is

                                          With Akira he had a number of chances over a number of years so maybe they thought he wasn’t going to cut it at test level - even though his game this season was more suited to test rugby than it ever has been.

                                          Sotutu is a bit different in that he clearly did everything he could have in responding to being dropped unceremoniously last year. He should have been back in based on his form and also as an example to others - ā€˜ you listen to our feedback and fix what we ask and you are still a chance’. Now why would anyone think they can get back in to the side because if the super MVP can’t.

                                          Furthermore, his replacement is too raw to get any meaningful minutes.

                                          My biggest concern with the Hoskins scenario , is he through not being selected , walks out the door and plays for England, and that comes back to bite us on the arse .

                                          Not a prediction, but I think it’s a real possibility, he has a rare skill set.

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