NZ July 2021 Tests (& other matches)

[KiwiM]

^ yeah, I discounted Rieko on both counts as well so it's gotta be either Reece or Jordan which might be ok v Fiji but could potentially blow up in our faces v Au, SA (assuming we play them which is by no means certain ATM), Arg, etc. a bit like what happened when Dagg first started being used as a winger.

I trust Reece and Jordan more than I trust Bridge.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ huh, who'd have guessed? ;-)

 

[KiwiM]

^ huh, who'd have guessed? ;-)

Given how poorly Bridge is playing I don't see how selecting someone else can 'blow up in our faces'. He's doing bugger all. You could have put Sio Tomkinson on the AB wing the last fortnight and got the same production.

 

[Dan54]

AB team named for Saturday, looks close to No 1 line up.
1 George Bower (2)
2 Codie Taylor (57)
3 Nepo Laulala (30)
4 Scott Barrett (41)
5 Samuel Whitelock (124) - captain
6 Akira Ioane (3)
7 Ardie Savea (49)
8 Luke Jacobson (4)

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9 Aaron Smith (98)
10 Richie Mo’unga (23)
11 Sevu Reece (9)
12 David Havili (4)
13 Anton Lienert-Brown (49)
14 Will Jordan (4)
15 Damian McKenzie (29)
Reserves: 16 Dane Coles (76), 17 Ethan de Groot (1), 18 Angus Ta’avao (15), 19 Brodie Retallick (82), 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Brad Weber (8), 22 Beauden Barrett (90), 23 Rieko Ioane (35)
I think if eveything goes as almost expected, this would be very close to team for first Bled, with probably Retallick and Barrett swapping places.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

NZ vs Fiji Test 2

1 George Bower (2)
2 Codie Taylor (57)
3 Nepo Laulala (30)
4 Scott Barrett (41)
5 Samuel Whitelock (124) - captain
6 Akira Ioane (3)
7 Ardie Savea (49)
8 Luke Jacobson (4)
9 Aaron Smith (98)
10 Richie Mo’unga (23)
11 Sevu Reece (9)
12 David Havili (4)
13 Anton Lienert-Brown (49)
14 Will Jordan (4)
15 Damian McKenzie (29)
Reserves: 16 Dane Coles (76), 17 Ethan de Groot (1), 18 Angus Ta’avao (15), 19 Brodie Retallick (82), 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Brad Weber (8), 22 Beauden Barrett (90), 23 Rieko Ioane (35).

Still huge questions over that front row. Laulala that big fat baby needs to seriously pull finger

OMG the backs are midgets

LOL Jordie out of the 23 altogether. Thank God that stupid indulgent experiment is over!

 

[Dctarget]

Amazing that Richie has so few caps, I feel like he’s been around for ages now. Guess BB was the 10 for yonks.

 

[zer0]

Tupou Vaa'i be like:

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ gotta be injured, surely?

Match officials have been confirmed:

Referee: Damon Murphy (Aus)

Assistant referees: Graham Cooper (Aus), Jordan Way (Aus)

TMO: James Leckie (Aus)

 

[Dan54]

Feel for Vai'i as I a real fan, but I guess it's one of those things, think probably the feeling is that a bit of physicality should be added? And Retalick probably needs a bit more game time. And maybe after inury?
Some ways a bit of a lesson, it's not meant to be easy. I do think he will be in RC squad and get a bit of game time then.

 

[Hawko]

AB team named for Saturday, looks close to No 1 line up.
1 George Bower (2)
2 Codie Taylor (57)
3 Nepo Laulala (30)
4 Scott Barrett (41)
5 Samuel Whitelock (124) - captain
6 Akira Ioane (3)
7 Ardie Savea (49)
8 Luke Jacobson (4)

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9 Aaron Smith (98)
10 Richie Mo’unga (23)
11 Sevu Reece (9)
12 David Havili (4)
13 Anton Lienert-Brown (49)
14 Will Jordan (4)
15 Damian McKenzie (29)
Reserves: 16 Dane Coles (76), 17 Ethan de Groot (1), 18 Angus Ta’avao (15), 19 Brodie Retallick (82), 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Brad Weber (8), 22 Beauden Barrett (90), 23 Rieko Ioane (35)
I think if eveything goes as almost expected, this would be very close to team for first Bled, with probably Retallick and Barrett swapping places.

Any team with Scott Barrett in the 23 is not close to the best available.

 

[Dan54]

Dane Coles out tomorrow, so Taukaiho may get first test.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Knee injury means no "Demoltion Man" Botia for Fiji: Kini Murimurivalu, Setareki Tuicuvu, Waisea Nayacalevu, Eneriko Buliruarua, Nemani Nadolo, Ben Volavola, Frank Lomani, Peceli Yato, Mesulame Kunavula, Johnny Dyer, Leone Nakarawa (c), Temo Mayanavanua, Mesake Doge, Sam Matavesi, Peni Ravai. Reserves: Mesulame Dolokoto, Eroni Mawi, Leeroy Atalifo, Albert Tuisue, Kitione Kamikamica, Moses Sorovi, Teti Tela, Manasa Mataele.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Bad* news from the 'tron is it's pissing down & expected to get heavier with the possibility of gales & lightning by game time.

* the good news, of course, is that Aux is still a good 90km away

 

[Dan54]

Bad* news from the 'tron is it's pissing down & expected to get heavier with the possibility of gales & lightning by game time.

* the good news, of course, is that Aux is still a good 90km away

Yep, looks like we got some s*** weather passing through everywhere, it blowing and raining in the Naki, and not looking very good at all, contimplating giving live rugby a miss today, as it finals up in Inglewood, and not sure I need to be on raods in this weather.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ I'd stay home, Dan, heavy rain & damaging winds down Wellington/ Kapiti ways already so if we're getting them this evening that can only mean Whanganui & 'naki are next gunna cop it pretty soon.

 

[Dan54]

^ I'd stay home, Dan, heavy rain & damaging winds down Wellington/ Kapiti ways already so if we're getting them this evening that can only mean Whanganui & 'naki are next gunna cop it pretty soon.

Mate , it has hit us about 2-3 hours ago ago, what I would quietly suggest is pretty rough weather,and although I am lost sitting at home on a Staurday, I don't think I would of had to fight for a car park at rugby.
Is it hitting up there yet?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ rain has eased off & wind has dropped but looking very dark to the North & West so I'd say it'll probably arrive in an hour or two.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Well despite all the dire predictions & what's been happening across the upper South & lower North Islands it's actually turned out to be not too bad an evening, even had some blue sky just before sunset. Hopefully it's not an eye of the storm scenario.

 

[zer0]

Have to give them their dues. They took a national anthem that is uniformly shit when not performed by a professional baritone and, thought, "you know what this is the Tron. We're better than that" and, somehow, managed to dig real deep and make it even shitter with a knock off OTT MURICA approach. The Tron always delivers.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Not sure Fiji can win this in multiples of three.....