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2025 Bledisloe Cup Series

2025 Bledisloe Cup Series

  • NZ in disarray, the time is now.

    Votes: 18 30.5%
  • Aus to win the Bled

    Votes: 14 23.7%
  • Split series, NZ retain Bled

    Votes: 21 35.6%
  • Aus lose both tests

    Votes: 8 13.6%
  • NZ win both tests

    Votes: 4 6.8%
  • Joe Schmidt to switch booths at halftime

    Votes: 5 8.5%
  • "Dear Wallabies, please take Razor"

    Votes: 5 8.5%
  • the long suffering Wobs deserve this

    Votes: 11 18.6%
  • pole long and hard

    Votes: 8 13.6%
  • pole just long

    Votes: 6 10.2%

  • Total voters
    59

Slim 293

George Smith (75)
Moving away from the CEO and Donaldson fan club...

Skelton and Valetini back for the next game which creates a pretty good selection conundrum.

I'm not sure what Skelton's preparation is going to be like going into the week...

Normally I'd assume he starts and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) drops out, but will he need to come off the bench and if so does Hooper go back to lock with Valetini at 6?
 

Dctarget

David Wilson (68)
I haven't been able to watch the game. Not sure I want to now knowing the score. Still, to be within a chance to win at Eden Park means a solid effort.

I've read Longeran went well on debut, who else performed well? Where did we have them and where were they better? How'd our front row go?
 

hawko07

Herbert Moran (7)
I haven't been able to watch the game. Not sure I want to now knowing the score. Still, to be within a chance to win at Eden Park means a solid effort.

I've read Longeran went well on debut, who else performed well? Where did we have them and where were they better? How'd our front row go?
LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) was good, T Hooper was good. I'm still gutted with the result though, really ruined my mood for the rest of the weekend. Another year without the bledisloe, another year of "we're nearly there, we're improving, there's a good vibe within the camp, great group of guys, we're building something special, etc. etc."
 

rugbyAU

Ken Catchpole (46)
Moving away from the CEO and Donaldson fan club...

Skelton and Valetini back for the next game which creates a pretty good selection conundrum.

I'm not sure what Skelton's preparation is going to be like going into the week...

Normally I'd assume he starts and LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) drops out, but will he need to come off the bench and if so does Hooper go back to lock with Valetini at 6?
Start Skelton and Valetini with LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) on the bench
 

Slim 293

George Smith (75)
Can't Salakaia-Loto take Williams' position on the bench?

Maybe, but I'd say unlikely... Sketon, Frost and Williams have been the preferred group of locks, and still need to squeeze Hooper in there who either goes to the bench as backrow cover or potentially starts again at 6 and Valetini comes on in the second half.
 

stillmissit

Jim Lenehan (48)
The penalty was for hands in the ruck. The All Blacks formed a ruck before Potter had taken his hands off the ground so it was a) blatantly obvious, and b) breaking two laws at the same time.

Refs don't want to blow their whistle in that situation , but given he swiped the ball off the ground back to the Australian side during a ruck meant the ref couldn't manage it, and had to penalise
Strewth. I just rewatched it a few times, the rules state A ruck is formed when at least one player from each team are in CONTACT, on their feet and over the ball which is on the ground.(my caps).
My issue with this penalty is that Potter was over the ball but not in contact with an opposition player. Therefore, the ruck was not formed and he was free to pilfer. I did see the hand on the ground but hardly supporting his weight more an act of balance, many would let that go. But a pedant wouldn't.
 

Tomthumb

Jim Lenehan (48)
Strewth. I just rewatched it a few times, the rules state A ruck is formed when at least one player from each team are in CONTACT, on their feet and over the ball which is on the ground.(my caps).
My issue with this penalty is that Potter was over the ball but not in contact with an opposition player. Therefore, the ruck was not formed and he was free to pilfer. I did see the hand on the ground but hardly supporting his weight more an act of balance, many would let that go. But a pedant wouldn't.
The frustrating part is this is the same ref in the same game that allowed Ardie Savea to crawl along the ground while tackled, throw a pass a mile forward and let the All Blacks lift above the horizontal and get away with it all
 

Hogan

Ward Prentice (10)
Outplayed by HMP yesterday...
HMP was solid with the better kicking game but Donaldson was outstanding I thought in attack creating numerous opportunities for his outside backs setting up a few with final passes and scoring one himself with blistering speed. Didn’t realise he was that quick. He also beat Ryan in a race to the ball which was impressive. HMP controlled the game well behind a dominant pack and his goal kicking in blustery conditions was on point.
 
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