Italy v All Blacks

reprobate

@Frye I actually think Cane leaving the arena after defeating Ireland (with an injury) is a perfect ending and somewhat poetic way to finish, given his history.

Don’t see any harm in letting TJP lead the Haka one more time and sitting Cortez. Roigard can play 79 mins.

100% have to play the best team available though.

There absolutely is harm in selecting TJP over Ratima.

game_film

@reprobate Just a joke, with the Roigard 79mins follow up.

Number 10

frugby

@Bones said in New Zealand v Italy:

@frugby why Lio-Willie and why drop Sititi?

Hardly dropping Sititi is it. There is a young man who has played (every minute?) the first four tests, so I think letting him watch a game wouldn’t hurt.

I also think debuting guys who have been on tour and are therefore in the thinking is a good idea, to keep them hungry

reprobate

Not what I'd do. Why not give Sititi 40 minutes and throw every lineout to him?
Likewise Ratima - you get nothing out of playing TJ. With Ratima you can work on his kicking from the base.
Roigard-McKenzie is the combination we need, and they haven't played that much together.
There's always plenty to work on, I hate coaches wasting games with wholesale changes and caps for sentimentality or participation awards.

antipodean

@frugby said in New Zealand v Italy:

Team I’d personally pick (and I am fully aware the team won’t be anywhere near this):

de Groot

Bell

Tosi

Holland

Barrett

Lio-Willie

Cane

Lakai

Roigard

McKenzie

Tele’a

Lam

Ioane

Jordan

Love

Taylor

Williams

Newell

Lord

Savea

Perenara

Perofeta

Lienert-Brown

alt text

antipodean

@canefan said in New Zealand v Italy:

@frugby Too many noobs for me. It's still a test match

Handing out caps like participation medals.

Machpants

@nostrildamus said in New Zealand v Italy:

@brodean said in New Zealand v Italy:

The starting midfield has a bit of a tang to it.

Tang? What do you mean? I thought it meant something sharp?

Sharp lingering flavour or pungent odour, in this case the second one, week dead fish tang

frugby

@reprobate said in New Zealand v Italy:

Not what I'd do. Why not give Sititi 40 minutes and throw every lineout to him?
Likewise Ratima - you get nothing out of playing TJ. With Ratima you can work on his kicking from the base.
Roigard-McKenzie is the combination we need, and they haven't played that much together.
There's always plenty to work on, I hate coaches wasting games with wholesale changes and caps for sentimentality or participation awards.

Perenara is absolutely playing.

JayCee

I feel this team has some momentum in the right direction, finally. So let's use this opportunity to keep building our combinations even if its Italy. Especially at halfback. I would be annoyed if TJ etc gets a spot. Roigard has played sweet fuck all rugby and Ratima has been not great the past couple of tests.

foobaNZ

Is Proctor back? I'd love to see him get a run in the team proper.

I feel like when we've been forced to pick the newbies, alongside the "proper" squad, they've florished. If they get chucked in with the B team each time it doesn't give them the best chance to shine.

Roigard, DMac, Clarke, Jordie/ALB, Proctor, Jordan/Telea, Love

Would love to see that.

(up the Canes)

Bovidae

Robertson's comments suggest there won't be as many changes as people are expecting. There is no way the AB XV additions like Holland start ahead of some of the AB squad players who haven't played in the last 3 tests.

Mr Fish

@Bovidae said in New Zealand v Italy:

Robertson's comments suggest there won't be as many changes as people are expecting. There is no way the AB XV additions like Holland start ahead of some of the AB squad players who haven't played in the last 3 tests.

I don't think his comments do suggest that, to be honest.

He's said they'll select the 'best team for the game against Italy' - that's very different to the 'best team' for the game against Italy.

They also selected the 'best team for the game against Japan' - it's the same policy they've been using all year.

But I also agree that Holland won't be starting - Lord and one of the other locks will be. But Holland could get a look on the bench if the coaches decide that Barrett and Vaa'i need a rest.

Daffy Jaffy

The All Blacks are set for a chilly reception when they run out to face Italy in their final test of the 2024 season.

Weather forecasts for Turin predict temperatures could drop below zero by kickoff on Saturday night local time (9.10am Sunday) at Allianz Stadium, home of the Juventus football team.

And the team’s preparation looks set to be disrupted by a snowstorm. A weather warning has been set for the city on Thursday with 2-4 cm of snow forecast.

SBW1

Holland and Kirifi are predicted to make their debuts.

antipodean

@SBW1 said in New Zealand v Italy:

Holland and Kirifi are predicted to make their debuts.

Holland I can understand, but we have Lakai...

Crazy Horse

@antipodean said in New Zealand v Italy:

@SBW1 said in New Zealand v Italy:

Holland and Kirifi are predicted to make their debuts.

Holland I can understand, but we have Lakai...

No Savea perhaps?
Edit: or resting Sititi?

mariner4life

more likely Lakai starts and Kirifi comes off the bench? Which means no Sam Cane.

canefan

@mariner4life said in New Zealand v Italy:

more likely Lakai starts and Kirifi comes off the bench? Which means no Sam Cane.

That cut was pretty deep...

pakman

@canefan said in New Zealand v Italy:

@mariner4life said in New Zealand v Italy:

more likely Lakai starts and Kirifi comes off the bench? Which means no Sam Cane.

That cut was pretty deep...

Vaseline.

The Silver Fern

Italy v All Blacks