New Zealand v Wallabies, Eden Park, Sat 22nd October

[FrankLind]

Hooper would have better impact from the bench then Pocock. In my view Pocock's value is better utilised as a starter, if he is reff'd out of the game he can be subbed early for Hooper.

Hooper has been consistent but not that good to not even consider starting a player of Pococks calibre - often regarded the best 7 in the world.

I wouldn't call picking the best 7 in the country a "dick move" - maybe its just better for the team.

To be fair, if it was a choice between either of them it would be a 50/50 call between Hooper/Poey. We all know Timani will go to the bench though.

I think I'd prefer Hooper.
Pocock is a turnover expert, but he has a pretty bloody average running game and his tackles are not aggressive enough for a guy his size.

 

[Gnostic]

Here's an idea for the moderators. Can you remove the word 'Wallabies' from the thread title? Seems like there's only one team playing on Saturday.

Fuck me the lot of you are depressing. It's a game of Rugby so it's a two horse race. I've seen bigger fucking upsets in the last twelve months than us winning this one. I bet the lot of you still watch the game.

What for interests sake?

 

[Scoey]

Two matches spring to mind and both involve Japan.
Japan vs Sth Africa at the RWC and Japan vs NZ at the Olympics in the 7's.

 

[Twoilms]

Out of interest, has Poey ever started ahead of Hoops at 7 under Cheika?

 

[Braveheart81]

Out of interest, has Poey ever started ahead of Hoops at 7 under Cheika?

Yes.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[A mutterer]

I hope this was said in jest.

As captain, Hooper has been and will be a disaster.

On topic: Like others have posted, I just can't see us winning this one, but I really hope we see a tighter game than what most have been this year against the NZ team.

no it wasnt.

who else in the team is guaranteed locked into position each game and available next year? noone else in the forwards, he's a current vc, captaining when moore is inevitably subbed off.

 

[Mr Doug]

What for interests sake?

A bigger upset in the last 12 months: Australia's Daria Gavrilova thrashing world #1, Angelique Kerber, 6-3, 6-1 in the Quarter Final of the Hong Kong Open, last Friday!

 

[Brumby Jack]

All Blacks team

1. Joe Moody
2. Dane Coles
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Samuel Whitelock
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Matt Todd
8. Kieran Read
9. TJ Perenara
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Julian Savea
12. Ryan Crotty
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
14. Israel Dagg
15. Ben Smith

16. Codie Taylor
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Charlie Faumuina
19. Liam Squire
20. Ardie Savea
21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
22. Aaron Cruden
23. Malakai Fekitoa

 

[TSR]

When does Australia name our 24?

 

[Brumby Jack]

Some time today.

And might be 31 knowing Cheika.

 

[KOB1987]

It sounds like it will be a genuine 24 this time as they aren't going to make a call on Pocock until tomorrow.

 

[gel]

no it wasnt.

who else in the team is guaranteed locked into position each game and available next year? noone else in the forwards, he's a current vc, captaining when moore is inevitably subbed off.

Based on current selection practices, Mumm and Foley are certainties. I would rather have rotating captains than have Hooper as captain.

the wallabies will never have the ear of any referee while Hooper is captain, and we will continue to miss out on the 50/50 calls (and probably a fair chunk of the 10/90s as well).

 

[ACT Crusader]

A bigger upset in the last 12 months: Australia's Daria Gavrilova thrashing world #1, Angelique Kerber, 6-3, 6-1 in the Quarter Final of the Hong Kong Open, last Friday!

I just read that Gavrilova was up 6-4, 3-0 against world number 12 Suarez-Navarro when Suarez-Navarro retired hurt.

As for the test match, surely all the pressure on the ABs with the "tier 1" test record on the line against an ever improving Wallaby team that no one expects to win.

 

[dru]

Some time today.

And might be 31 knowing Cheika.

It was in small print last week. "8 to be omitted". Editors and bloggers love this stuff. Not.

 

[Viking]

I think I'd prefer Hooper.
Pocock is a turnover expert, but he has a pretty bloody average running game and his tackles are not aggressive enough for a guy his size.

Tackles aren't aggressive enough? Don't know which player you've been watching the last few years. He puts hard hitters on their ass. Recently refer to him putting the England 8 Vunipola on his backside in England Test 1. Maybe he doesn't rush out of the line often though which is probably what you are referring too as being "aggressive".

I agree that Hooper is so dynamic on attack, Poey will never be at that level, although I think he is a secure ball-runner but certainly not a tackle breaker. I'd prefer to start the defender and bring on the attacker to come on later with tired defences.

Either way both are amazing players - our best 2 players.

 

[Twoilms]

Tackles aren't aggressive enough? Don't know which player you've been watching the last few years. He puts hard hitters on their ass. Recently refer to him putting the England 8 Vunipola on his backside in England Test 1.

Shit we could make good use of Billy V. Tore our defensive line a new one multiple times.

 

[Scoey]

That All Blacks team doesn't terrify me in the way they usually do. I have no idea what we do about Barrett though. It feels a little bit like any team with him starting at the moment would win he's in such a rich vein of form.

 

[A mutterer]

Based on current selection practices, Mumm and Foley are certainties. I would rather have rotating captains than have Hooper as captain.

the wallabies will never have the ear of any referee while Hooper is captain, and we will continue to miss out on the 50/50 calls (and probably a fair chunk of the 10/90s as well).

rotating captains? never works in any code.

 

[dillyboy]

All Blacks team

1. Joe Moody
2. Dane Coles
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Samuel Whitelock
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Matt Todd
8. Kieran Read
9. TJ Perenara
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Julian Savea
12. Ryan Crotty
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
14. Israel Dagg
15. Ben Smith

16. Codie Taylor
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Charlie Faumuina
19. Liam Squire
20. Ardie Savea
21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
22. Aaron Cruden
23. Malakai Fekitoa

Ordinary looking side - we should romp it in......

 

[Braveheart81]

That All Blacks team doesn't terrify me in the way they usually do. I have no idea what we do about Barrett though. It feels a little bit like any team with him starting at the moment would win he's in such a rich vein of form.

He's clearly the best player in the world right now.

The only time I can think of where a 10 has been in such dominant form was Dan Carter in 2005 against the British and Irish Lions.