Bledisloe 2 at Eden Park 18/10/20

[Rugby Head]

Confirmed...

:'(

 

[Wilson]

Really glad to see that they've backed the debutants from last week. Big call on some of the other changes, but none of them look too much like gambles at this stage.

 

[Up the Guts]

In fairness, if this was the first season I'd seen Hanigan play it wouldn't be the most outlandish selection.

But if he performs as he has done in the past for the Wallabies it will be "how didn't you see this coming?"

At least, at worst Ned is jut anonymous and won't derail the side.

 

[Joe Blow]

Not sure about Hanigan but he has beefed up and has been playing well........at lock. He should be playing 6 week in and out with the Tahs.
Otherwise it looks pretty good. Was Samu injured?
My tip - Liam Wright to have a block busting half at 6.

 

[Dctarget]

here. we. fucking. go.

What bizzaro world parallel timelines shit is this where I see Hanigan starting against the darkness on the deathstar and think 'oh jeez man we actually have a chance'.

 

[Blue]

Hanigan

Military medium and can't even make it swing.

If he had a haircut nobody would ever even notice him on the park.

Seriously? wtf.

 

[Braveheart81]

My tip - Liam Wright to have a block busting half at 6.

It will be interesting to see what the plan is for him.

I would have thought that like last week, Wilson is the most likely backrower to be replaced with a planned substitution which would mean Wright plays 8.

 

[qwerty51]

Don't say it, don't say it, don't say it

Is the Wallabies pack better than the NZ pack?

 

[Blue]

Fair promotion for Caleb Clarke - he looked dangerous with every touch last week.

One scary, scary dude.

 

[Rugby Head]

It will be interesting to see what the plan is for him.

I would have thought that like last week, Wilson is the most likely backrower to be replaced with a planned substitution which would mean Wright plays 8.

Surely Hanigan goes first.

 

[Dctarget]

Will be interesting to see how Wilson's game changes, if it all, with an 8 on his back. Hope he's practiced a bit at the back of a scrum.

 

[drewprint]

I can only guess Hanigan has been given the most simple of gruntwork remits: clear rucks, catch a few lineouts and pressure theirs, and tackle your guts out. There’s plenty of running and flash elsewhere in the pack.

 

[BDA]

Not sure about hanigan. Hope he silences the doubters on sunday. Given the amount of opportunities he's been given he really needs to have a standout game.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Not watching.

Can't look.

Can't make me watch.

Was there behind the posts last time it happened in 1986. Not doing that again. You can't make me.

Might read a book instead. What better time to finally learn to read.

Might go outside for a walk instead. Bit of fresh air. Bit of blood through the legs.

Might make up some fake wanger ailments and give Cyclo a ring on the golf course just as he's about to tee off. Hopefully his phone rings halfway through his first backswing.

There, feeling better already.

 

[fatprop]

It will be interesting to see what the plan is for him.

I would have thought that like last week, Wilson is the most likely backrower to be replaced with a planned substitution which would mean Wright plays 8.

Looking at the bench, I think they will be budgeting Wilson to play near 80

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Yoink, I'll take that. Installed as new avatar within femtoseconds.

 

[Braveheart81]

Surely Hanigan goes first.

Wilson is more likely to shoulder the workload of carries in the first half and Hanigan is very much an 80 minute player with a big engine.

I think how they both perform will come into it but from a game plan perspective Hanigan doesn't seem like the sort of player you tell to go out there and leave nothing in the tank after 50 minutes. Wilson very much is and that is essentially what they did last week.

Wilson's role will now be to play tighter than he did last week in attack.

 

[Derpus]

Not sure about hanigan. Hope he silences the doubters on sunday. Given the amount of opportunities he's been given he really needs to have a standout game.

He was given a few starts, years ago. Way too early and because we had no depth.

I think if you watched him this season he's actually been pretty good. High work rate, great in the lineout and has added a bit of size and accuracy at the breakdown.

This should really be his debut.

Edit: i hope we don't see too many carries from him though, still think his technique is pretty average.

 

[Joe Blow]

It will be interesting to see what the plan is for him.

I would have thought that like last week, Wilson is the most likely backrower to be replaced with a planned substitution which would mean Wright plays 8.

Or LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) moves to 8?
I think Ned is a good choice. He’s very busy around the breakdown and a big step up from Samu in the lineout. Hope he goes well.

 

[fatprop]

Not sure about hanigan. Hope he silences the doubters on sunday. Given the amount of opportunities he's been given he really needs to have a standout game.

Hanigan isn't crap but is unlikely to ever have a standout game, that isn't his role, he is there to cleanout, make his tackles, don't get turned over and be a pest at lineout