New Zealand v Australia - Auckland - 23 August 2014

[KOB1987]

I wouldn't say dropped. I would say selecting a player for the conditions. Foley would better in those conditions. Isn't it expected to be wet at Eden?

If its dry I don't mind seeing Beale at 10, but in wet weather give me Foley.

Nope..

mostly sunny, 7-13 degrees, with next to no chance of rain is the current forecast

 

[Quick Hands]

Precisely and neither does the coach..

Which is why I expect him to stay with the same team. I would do the same.

 

[Viking]

When has this happened ever?

They name the side on the Tuesday. Maybe if we were in the middle of the Queensland floods and the game was at Suncorp they might make some selections based on the weather but I've never seen it happen.

Currently the weather is listed as fine for Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

Maybe that's why we haven't won a Bledisloe in 10 years. Pick players who can adapt to conditions or don't pick them.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Give 'em all a raincoat - there - problem solved

 

[Braveheart81]

Maybe that's why we haven't won a Bledisloe in 10 years. Pick players who can adapt to conditions or don't pick them.

When did Australia last play a better test in the wet against top class opposition?

 

[Antony]

Isn't it expected to be wet at Eden?

Auckland is rainy in august, but it's apparently meant to be dry on Saturday (to the extent that they can pick this stuff a week out).

We've got Smith coming back, Nonu going out, with either Crotty or Fekitoa slotting in at 12.

So likely:

1. Crockett
2. Coles
3. O. Franks
4. Whitelock
5. Retallick
6. Kaino/Messam
7. McCaw
8. Read
9. Smith
10. Cruden
11. Savea
12. Crotty
13. Smith
14. Jane/Smith/Dagg
15. Smith

Piutau played on the wing for Auckland on the weekend, but they got minced 48-9, so I doubt he'll feature.

Still a good looking side, but starting to look a bit patched together at 2 and 12.

 

[Braveheart81]

Seems like the Wallabies pulled up pretty well. To'omua was the only player that sat out training today but apparently he'll be fine for Saturday.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Rugby banter page on Facebook is saying that McCaw Kaino and Nonu are to under go scans today to determine if they will be available for the match on Saturday.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Rugby banter page on Facebook is saying that McCaw Kaino and Nonu are to under go scans today to determine if they will be available for the match on Saturday.

Nonu & Kaino yes but not McCaw if this is to be believed:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/10396074/All-Blacks-still-sweating-on-injured-duo

Looks like Conrad will be back, though, so I suspect @Antony's XV above is very much on the money. FWIW I'd bring back Dagg & drop Jane but in saying that I'd have had Dagg in Sydney, too.

 

[Phil]

Yeah, he was in my fantasy team for the first and last time.

I thought I was being smart selecting him,not only in my team but as captain!Thinking the Boks would have a big win and he would score heaps of points.How wrong!

 

[KOB1987]

I thought I was being smart selecting him,not only in my team but as captain!Thinking the Boks would have a big win and he would score heaps of points.How wrong!

exactly the same rationale and outcome here, thanks very much!

 

[Antony]

exactly the same rationale and outcome here, thanks very much!

Ditto. I'll probably drop him then he'll have a blinder this week.

 

[Pete King]

Hasnt been alot of chat about Will Skelton in wet conditions in the first test. I thought he made some really good impact, wouldnt mind seeing him a bit earlier. Carter got better but as has been mentioned was taking it up far to high. Best he (carter) just puts his head down and focuses on bashing blokes at the rucks and leaves the carries to Palu, Hooper, fardy, slipper and Kepu (carried alot better).

Could big Will come of age in Aukland???

 

[Train Without a Station]

I really thought Will only had 1 - 1.5 good involvements. Didn't think he was given enough time to really do more. If he is in the team for Saturday I'd like to see him get at least 20 minutes to actually show what he has against the All Blacks.

 

[Pete King]

Yeah agreed particularly in a game where we had a bit of possession and couldn't get across the chalk.

 

[Viking]

Would like to see McCabe get involved more too. Play more of a Digby role and go looking for the ball. Horne was superb I thought with very limited opportunity.

 

[chasmac]

You're certainly not alone. Beale has copped a lot of flack from forum members and particularly on the front page. Interestingly all the journalists have rated his performance as ok. All the player ratings I've seen have given him either the same or a higher rating than To'omua.

It seems obvious to me that out of our players, White clearly had the worst game yet somehow the attention is all on Beale. He kicked poorly and made too many bad passes. Given the conditions, it's not surprising his passing was off but it doesn't change the fact that it was.

Beales rating might personally be ok for the game but everyone outside him except Horne has got a relatively low rating. This reflects back to Beales game management and his ability to run the attack, which is an essential quality of a 5/8.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Hasnt been alot of chat about Will Skelton in wet conditions in the first test. I thought he made some really good impact, wouldnt mind seeing him a bit earlier. Carter got better but as has been mentioned was taking it up far to high. Best he (carter) just puts his head down and focuses on bashing blokes at the rucks and leaves the carries to Palu, Hooper, fardy, slipper and Kepu (carried alot better).

Could big Will come of age in Aukland???

Has someone told Carter he needs to improve his metres gained after contact stat? His body height has never worried me before.

 

[Braveheart81]

Beales rating might personally be ok for the game but everyone outside him except Horne has got a relatively low rating. This reflects back to Beales game management and his ability to run the attack, which is an essential quality of a 5/8.

I don't disagree.

It starts with the halfback though and he had the poorest game out of everyone in the team.

In torrential rain, it was hard for any of the backs from either side to have any great impact.

 

[Train Without a Station]

I don't rate the selection of Beale at 10 but I think the person most disappointed with his performance will be him because he had the opportunity to cement a spot for himself and didn't do that. Whilst he didn't play poorly enough to demand being dropped, now he's at the mercy of Link's selections, rather than forcing his own selection through performance.