Bledisloe #4 New Zealand vs Australia Nov 7 2020

[Up the Guts]

They would start McKenzie who has plenty of experience/ talent and would waltz into the Wallabies 10 position.

Has McKenzie ever started a test at 10?

I would prefer to play the ABs with him at 10 than Ioane.

 

[Rugby Head]

Has McKenzie ever started a test at 10?

I would prefer to play the ABs with him at 10 than Ioane.

Either way- Ioane/ McKenzie > Hodge/ Lolessio/ Harrison

 

[Rugby Head]

Also, anyone notice not a single Highlanders player in the NZ team? Could this be a first?

 

[The Phoenix]

yep - I feel for Bell who is going to have to debut with Hanigan likely the man trying to give him weight from the back.

And we saw how well that worked against the Reds in the first Super RugbyAU match didn't we?

 

[Braveheart81]

Has McKenzie ever started a test at 10?

He started a test against France in Dunedin in 2018 at 10. NZ won 49-14 with McKenzie scoring two tries.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

McKenzie who has plenty of experience/ talent and would waltz into the Wallabies 10 position.

Maybe Twiggy could make a few calls and get this fast-tracked.

Please.

 

[Lorenzo]

The selections pretty much show that the Wallabies can't and won't even try to match the All Blacks by playing expansively. The game plan will be conservative and there's an element of 'hoping' we can remain competitive through box kicks/ up and unders, making our tackles and accruing penalties.

we haven't been able to match them 'expansively' on any kind of consistent basis for about 20 years. We can keep the game competitive until it opens up and then we get pumped. Not sure what tests people are watching if they can't see this. The more 'expansive' the matches get, the worse the scorelines get for us.

winning some percentage of the matches can be achieved by at least not playing to their strengths and us executing the basics well. being able to consistently win pretty is probably going to require a generation of improvements at every level of the game.

 

[Warpath]

Funny last week i said if To'omua or JOC (James O'Connor) doesn't return, Hodges at 10, rennie listened lol, but still some weak players there..no samu, no naisarani .. last week i said NZ by 35 and i was very very close, this week i say NZ by 40... NZ don't need Mounga to beat this wallabies team.

 

[Viking]

We would take him right now wouldn’t we, or Foley?

Either of them right now are 5 times better options then Hodge or NL.

 

[rodha]

we haven't been able to match them 'expansively' on any kind of consistent basis for about 20 years. We can keep the game competitive until it opens up and then we get pumped. Not sure what tests people are watching if they can't see this. The more 'expansive' the matches get, the worse the scorelines get for us.

winning some percentage of the matches can be achieved by at least not playing to their strengths and us executing the basics well. being able to consistently win pretty is probably going to require a generation of improvements at every level of the game.

Deans understood this, did he not? He recognized the piggies he had weren't good enough to match the ABs 'expansively' and whilst he only managed 3 wins & 2 draws during his tenure, the losing margins were considerably lower compared to the subsequent Bledisloe blow-outs under MacKenzie, then Cheika.

 

[Viking]

Even Jono Lance would be handy about now.

 

[fatprop]

Hodge at 10 is madness!!!

..Well I guess its that or a 20 year old who already proved Test rugby was too much for him

I don't think we even learnt that, we were under the pump from the start, he didn't have a chance and neither will Hodge

 

[fatprop]

Just when the BB and Moúnga combo was starting to really click they rest Moúnga.

I still fear BB at 10 more-so.

I fear Laumape

 

[Sully]

Yes, I don't understand why Rennie didn't make attempt to lure back any of Kerevi, Arnold, Rodda, Skelton or Latu?

Those guys are experienced and proven test quality players & you're missing a few of those guys at the moment.

All you have to do is get rid of the bloody Giteau's law so you can actually field a competitive side - because you're probably going to get your dicks kicked in with this team..

Which one would you play at flyhalf?

 

[dru]

Hodge at 10 is simply recognising how green Lolesio was (and the injuries). It also suggests that Harrison is not considered near the pace. Hodge holds things until the game develops and we can introduce Lolesio more safely. Seems logical to me, though I wouldn’t be surprised by Hodge to fullback when Lolesio enters the field. Banks claiming 15 over DHP is interesting but not really material, IMO.

I am surprised at Hanigan in the row and the absence of Sio. Clearly statements are being made in training.

I’ll be very interested in the look of the team once the bench is emptied.

 

[dru]

Which one would you play at flyhalf?

It’s a flip between Kerevi and Big Will.

 

[Sully]

It’s a flip between Kerevi and Big Will.

Big Will because his distribution skills are better.

 

[dru]

Big Will because his distribution skills are better.

Yeah like it, and defence in the channel would be awesome as long as they run at him.

 

[KiwiM]

He started a test against France in Dunedin in 2018 at 10. NZ won 49-14 with McKenzie scoring two tries.

That's deceptive - that was the 3rd test and France had one foot on the plane - under the roof in Dunedin it was perfectly suited to DMac.

As an AB fan I would not want DMac starting at 10 in a test.

 

[Braveheart81]

That's deceptive - that was the 3rd test and France had one foot on the plane - under the roof in Dunedin it was perfectly suited to DMac.

As an AB fan I would not want DMac starting at 10 in a test.

I was just answering the question.