All Blacks v. Springboks is probably going to be the game to watch. Just a hunch.

[Lizard]

Our best 1st 5/8 at fullback. Sigh.

Mind you it’s not an All Blacks World Cup year until a fullback has played centre.

[zer0]

But Mo'unga isn't at fullback... Sure our best fullback is on the right wing -- because he's also our best safety winger -- but the gap between him and B.Barrett is exponentially smaller than the gap between him and whoever would be our second best safety winger. Probably Bridge, I guess.

[Lizard]

I guess this means that Josh Ioane gets blooded against the Wallabies? Maybe if we win Bledisloe I and secure the Cup he might get an extended run in BII?

[morepork]

Our best 1st 5/8 at fullback. Sigh.

Mind you it’s not an All Blacks World Cup year until a fullback has played centre.

I reckon it could be lethal. BB carved it up in the juniors at FB. Him and Bin Smuff sweeping at the back will be pretty hard to get past too,which makes me less nervous about SBW at 2-5. I'm looking forward to it.

[J Dory]

I'm looking forward to seeing Richie and Beauden together. If it clicks ..... could be good. SA looking tasty right now, this match is a huge marker for the WC.

[Mellsblue]

I'm looking forward to seeing Richie and Beauden together. If it clicks ..... could be good. SA looking tasty right now, this match is a huge marker for the WC.

Couldn’t agree more. Whoever wins will go in to the third place playoff with a huge psychological advantage.

[morepork]

I suppose we should be flattered the English would consider it fruitful to be trawling these still waters on the SHMB.

[Digby]

What's BB like in defence these days? He always used to be the sort to drift and claim it was the inside guy's job to make the tackle, put another way is this about putting a 10 in the 10 shirt rather than a runner, or is it about hiding Beauden's defence?

[zer0]

His cover defence is very good, so there shouldn't be any real problems at fullback. Which is to be expected given he is indeed a fullback. So I'd say it's more about getting our best first-five onto the field.

As an aside I don't recall runners regularly scything through his channel. He's no Carter, let alone Wilkinson, but he's certainly no Cooper either.

[paddy no 11]

Is kolbe the best player in the world? Was incredible for Toulouse

[paddy no 11]

NZ are fucked at 1,3,6,8

Bill frizell be better than shannon

[paddy no 11]

Chronic defending mapimpi, serious wheels from barrett as ever

[16th man]

Some properly horrific reffing there.

[16th man]

Bokkies actually think of spreading it a bit and get a try.

[zer0]

Bugger. Was a good game, regardless. Not too bad an effort by a mixed bag NZ XV vs SA 1st XV. Power up, and optimise, the top match squad and the pressure will really be on the Springbok attack to improve significantly by the RWC.

I'm not a fan of him as captain, but Read's decision to take the final penalty goal instead of continuing to press was a tricky one, so will give him a pass for that one. Though his performance as a player has done nothing to dissuade my wanting Savea at #8.

EDIT: Potentially/likely loosing Retallick is pretty devastating though.

[Digby]

His cover defence is very good, so there shouldn't be any real problems at fullback. Which is to be expected given he is indeed a fullback. So I'd say it's more about getting our best first-five onto the field.

As an aside I don't recall runners regularly scything through his channel. He's no Carter, let alone Wilkinson, but he's certainly no Cooper either.

I can only assume then you didn't see his early time at 10 as he was comically bad, he did seemingly improve though so perhaps it was more a confidence issue and experience/decision making than being yellow. But it is odd to give him all those games at 10 and only now shift him to 15, odd for him and odd Mo'unga wasn't given those games if he's going to play 10 in the WC

[zer0]

But it is odd to give him all those games at 10 and only now shift him to 15, odd for him and odd Mo'unga wasn't given those games if he's going to play 10 in the WC

It's because Barrett/McKenzie was Hansen's original 10/15 pairing, but McKenzie's injury has forced him into the Mo'unga/Barrett pairing.

[Banquo]

His cover defence is very good, so there shouldn't be any real problems at fullback. Which is to be expected given he is indeed a fullback. So I'd say it's more about getting our best first-five onto the field.

As an aside I don't recall runners regularly scything through his channel. He's no Carter, let alone Wilkinson, but he's certainly no Cooper either.

I can only assume then you didn't see his early time at 10 as he was comically bad, he did seemingly improve though so perhaps it was more a confidence issue and experience/decision making than being yellow. But it is odd to give him all those games at 10 and only now shift him to 15, odd for him and odd Mo'unga wasn't given those games if he's going to play 10 in the WC

I'd take him at 10 for us in a heartbeat.

[Digby]

But it is odd to give him all those games at 10 and only now shift him to 15, odd for him and odd Mo'unga wasn't given those games if he's going to play 10 in the WC

It's because Barrett/McKenzie was Hansen's original 10/15 pairing, but McKenzie's injury has forced him into the Mo'unga/Barrett pairing.

Still odd when you could just have Barrett at 10 and Smith at 15. It just seems a bit harsh on Mo'unga, and Barrett actually to have so little time in their new roles.

[Digby]

His cover defence is very good, so there shouldn't be any real problems at fullback. Which is to be expected given he is indeed a fullback. So I'd say it's more about getting our best first-five onto the field.

As an aside I don't recall runners regularly scything through his channel. He's no Carter, let alone Wilkinson, but he's certainly no Cooper either.

I can only assume then you didn't see his early time at 10 as he was comically bad, he did seemingly improve though so perhaps it was more a confidence issue and experience/decision making than being yellow. But it is odd to give him all those games at 10 and only now shift him to 15, odd for him and odd Mo'unga wasn't given those games if he's going to play 10 in the WC

I'd take him at 10 for us in a heartbeat.

He's no Iceman

[Banquo]

I can only assume then you didn't see his early time at 10 as he was comically bad, he did seemingly improve though so perhaps it was more a confidence issue and experience/decision making than being yellow. But it is odd to give him all those games at 10 and only now shift him to 15, odd for him and odd Mo'unga wasn't given those games if he's going to play 10 in the WC

I'd take him at 10 for us in a heartbeat.

He's no Iceman

correct

[morepork]

What's the word on Retallika?

[Silvercloud]

That's good news Cas. Upsetting to see him in such pain.

[Scrumhead]

Yep. Sadly, a lot of world class players are already missing the RWC, so I’d rather not see Retallick join that list.

An 8 week recovery would be well ahead of schedule for a dislocated shoulder, but if he’s looking like he could make it in 10-12, NZ could (and should) take him for the knock-out stages (QFs are 19th & 20th October)

Let’s face it, while their opening game with SA is massive for who comes first or second, it’s still the only big game they have in their group. They should win the rest at a canter, so they should be fine to make do without Retallick.

Interesting article from Rugby Pass, if he doesn’t make it though: https://www.rugbypass.com/news/all-blac ... ick-injury

[Banquo]

Yep. Sadly, a lot of world class players are already missing the RWC, so I’d rather not see Retallick join that list.

An 8 week recovery would be well ahead of schedule for a dislocated shoulder, but if he’s looking like he could make it in 10-12, NZ could (and should) take him for the knock-out stages (QFs are 19th & 20th October)

Let’s face it, while their opening game with SA is massive for who comes first or second, it’s still the only big game they have in their group. They should win the rest at a canter, so they should be fine to make do without Retallick.

Interesting article from Rugby Pass, if he doesn’t make it though: https://www.rugbypass.com/news/all-blac ... ick-injury

Who is out already, out of interest.