Rugby Championship 2021

[Dan54]

I wondering what changes for this week, whats the chances of a Chiefs' backline 9-13? Weber, DMac, Taipea and ALB with maybe Bridge and Jordan on wings. Can see Akira getting a break before the Boks too. Think they will try and rest a few players anyway.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Plumtree did the media stand-up today & said that Ofa, De Groot, Taylor, Pat T & ASav are all expected to be available for selection this week & presumably all of them will be in the 23. Beaugan downplayed his calf issue but I doubt they'll risk him as he'll have to start both the SA matches (RMo only gets out of MIQ four days before the second one).

 

[Dan54]

Plumtree did the media stand-up today & said that Ofa, De Groot, Taylor, Pat T & ASav are all expected to be available for selection this week & presumably all of them will be in the 23. Beaugan downplayed his calf issue but I doubt they'll risk him as he'll have to start both the SA matches (RMo only gets out of MIQ four days before the second one).

Yep and would pay to give DMac a decent run at 10, just in case.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

ASmith to skip the rest of TRC:

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Edit: there's now a stuff article saying he won't leave NZ before baby is born: due date is mid-November, last AB Test is 20/11 so unless baby arrives really early he ain't leaving NZ this year.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Meanwhile, "Springboks lock Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg is leaving the Rugby Championship squad for personal reasons and won’t be replaced."

Stuff

i.stuff.co.nz

 

[Dan54]

Just watching podcast early today and James Parson and Bryn Hall bought up intereting point. Probably some of best perfoming players from 2 tests on weekend were QC (Quade Cooper), Kerevi (and Hooper) for Wallabies for ABs BB, TJP and Lurch for ABs, things they had in common, just coming off season in Japan.

 

[Bullrush]

Just watching podcast early today and James Parson and Bryn Hall bought up intereting point. Probably some of best perfoming players from 2 tests on weekend were QC (Quade Cooper), Kerevi (and Hooper) for Wallabies for ABs BB, TJP and Lurch for ABs, things they had in common, just coming off season in Japan.

Years ago I remember listening to Leon MacDonald after coming back from Japan to play in NZ and he basically said that he was in some of the best shape he had been in for years. He said the training in Japan had been hard and he had gotten really fit but the games weren't as tough or as physically damaging as they were at home.

I think Japan may be seen as a great option for top players to go not just for a payday but as an opportunity to get healthy, get over niggly injuries but stay fit and keep reasonably rugby sharp.

 

[Braveheart81]

One of the big benefits for the international players in Japan is they rarely play 80 minutes because they have to be replaced to bring on another international player.

 

[Dan54]

Well a ballsy call, but not suprising , changed a whole lot. I don't mind though
All Blacks team to face Argentina in Rugby Championship Rd 4 in Brisbane on Saturday:

1. Joe Moody (51)
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho (5)
3. Tyrel Lomax (9)
4. Patrick Tuipulotu (38)
5. Tupou Vaa’i (6)
6. Ethan Blackadder (4)
7. Ardie Savea (53) – captain
8. Hoskins Sotutu (6)
9. TJ Perenara (72)
10. Damian McKenzie (34)
11. George Bridge (14)
12. Quinn Tupaea (2)
13. Rieko Ioane (41)
14. Will Jordan (7)
15. Jordie Barrett (29)
RESERVES:
16. Codie Taylor (61)
17. George Bower (6)
18. Ofa Tuungafasi (39)
19. Scott Barrett (45)
20. Luke Jacobson (8)
21. Finlay Christie (2)
22. Beauden Barrett (95)
23. Braydon Ennor (1)

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Given the schedule & playing group it's pretty much all they could do for this one (other than taking an extra 5/8 option, of course). Gotta hope DMac either goes the 80 or Beaugan only gets 10-15 at the end & doesn't blow his calf.

Edit: 371 caps in the XV & 628 in the 23 with four half-centurions: last week it was 486, 640 & four so starting to build some real depth across most positions.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

LOL Fozzie has rolled the dice bigtime, gambling that the Argie's have nothing.

THAT WORKED OUT WELL LAST YEAR.

Just pencilled in any old squaddie that hasnt had a run lately.

Holy shit, the forward pack, aside from Moody, have a LOT to prove.

 

[Derpus]

LOL Fozzie has rolled the dice bigtime, gambling that the Argie's have nothing.

THAT WORKED OUT WELL LAST YEAR.

Just pencilled in any old squaddie that hasnt had a run lately.

Holy shit, the forward pack, aside from Moody, have a LOT to prove.

All Argentina can do is tackle.

Be brillo if you shanked another one but there is fuck-all chance of that.

 

[Dan54]

I will be interested to see how DMac goes tonight. I know he tends to drift/run sideways at times , actually a lot like RMo. They both drift out looking for gaps etc to exploit, where BB is a 10 that plays pretty flat to the line and aims at gaps in front of him. When RMo plays and he gpt Havili at 12 , DH is the the one taking the ball off set piece often as he flatter and RMo loops around him, I not real sure Tupaea will give DMac rhe same luxury tonight as he a different style 12.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Gunna be a lot of side-to-side & back again, I feel, unless they use JBar in the midfield channels.

 

[zer0]

Lets just go full Harlem Globetrotters. Slap Sotutu into first-five to drop short balls, or deft short kicks, for Aumua the human cannon ball at second-five or fire long cut out passes to Akira the metre-eater at centre.

 

[zer0]

It's pretty inspirational that the Boks are even playing in this tournament. Seems Etzebeth and many of their forwards suffer from serious chronic medical conditions, severe forms of arthritis, perhaps, and struggle to go more than 14 seconds without being attended to by a legion of medical staff for a minute or two. Leaving the care home -- whence I assume they all reside, what with all this constant need for medical attention -- must be a pretty daunting experience. They have displayed true courage simply by turning up to Australia, let alone finding the willpower to partake in a match of rugby union football.

In saying that. Would be a shame if a cheeky Maori halfback lawbook know-it-all from Porirua were to callously quick tap as many penalties as possible over the next two weeks. Would be a truly heartless attitude toward these brave, presumably arthritis ravaged, heroes. You'd just absolutely hate to see it.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

It's pretty inspirational that the Boks are even playing in this tournament. Seems Etzebeth and many of their forwards suffer from serious chronic medical conditions, severe forms of arthritis, perhaps, and struggle to go more than 14 seconds without being attended to by a legion of medical staff for a minute or two. Leaving the care home -- whence I assume they all reside, what with all this constant need for medical attention -- must be a pretty daunting experience. They have displayed true courage simply by turning up to Australia, let alone finding the willpower to partake in a match of rugby union football.

In saying that. Would be a shame if a cheeky Maori halfback lawbook know-it-all from Porirua were to callously quick tap as many penalties as possible over the next two weeks. Would be a truly heartless attitude toward these brave, presumably arthritis ravaged, heroes. You'd just absolutely hate to see it.

Absolutely nailed-on game plan. No stoppages, 100% Helter Skelter, maybe bring back Cruden for some insane fake-taking-the-3-turndowns and quick taps. And half-mental dinked dropouts from own 22.

We are going Fullblown 100% Polynesian Basketball Funny Car Blitzkrieg Onehunga Drag Strip Mall versus these poor decrepit anti-rugby invalids who are perpetually in need of some ice to the back of the neck. Maybe they are suffering from menopause.

 

[dru]

Absolutely nailed-on game plan. No stoppages, 100% Helter Skelter, maybe bring back Cruden for some insane fake-taking-the-3-turndowns and quick taps. And half-mental dinked dropouts from own 22.

We are going Fullblown 100% Polynesian Basketball Funny Car Blitzkrieg Onehunga Drag Strip Mall versus these poor decrepit anti-rugby invalids who are perpetually in need of some ice to the back of the neck. Maybe they are suffering from menopause.

The Irish have shown that a "play no rugby" strategy can beat the ABs. Go for it on your Onehunga Drag Strip.

Personally I suspect the ABs will follow the respect they showed the WBs. Points by 3 until comfortable on the score board then drop the respect - let it rip. Unlikely the Boks can win, but game #100 will be interesting.

 

[dru]

Aparently ABs can reclaim world #1 tonight.

 

[cyclopath]

Aparently ABs can reclaim world #1 tonight.

Sauce applied!