RugbyRebels

As we all know, the All Blacks have not lost at Eden Park since about the time Damien McKenzie was conceived.

On the other hand, Wales haven't played us there since Owen Franks was in nappies.

The TAB has Wales at $3.75 to be the next team to beat us, ahead of everyone else but Aussie ($2.25), which seems curious given they are at $8.50 to win the first test, surely their best chance.

Seems as though Whitelock will not be playing in this test.

Whitelock has been on light training duties in Auckland this week and it seems unlikely the All Blacks will push his recovery from a hamstring injury. As a result, new father Brodie Retallick is expected to be paired with Crusaders lock Luke Romano, with Blues powerhouse Patrick Tuipulotu the other starting option.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all- ... lacks-test

As they say, one of Tuipulotu or Romano to start with the other on the bench. While Tuipulotu had well and truly overtaken Romano before his pre-RWC injury, I have a feeling they'll start with Romano on the basis of experience. Plus the Crusaders pack has been going alright.

Pre RWC Hansen was happy with a steady rotation of Whitelock, Retallick and Romano. I'm sure he would actually welcome the chance to give Tuipulotu a run as well.

Nosferatu has fathered a human child?

That's a tad harsh.


Anyway....
1. Joe Moody
2. Dane Coles
3. Owen Franks
4. Luke Romano
5. Brodie Retallick
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Sam Cane
8. Kieran Read

F*ckin' 'ell.

Moody is looking well set in.

I remember just how dangerous Coles and Franks were at the RWC.
I don't think it would be possible to pick a Rest of the World 8 that could compete with that pack.

When are the teams officially named?

WTF happened to team-naming-Tuesday?

That's hardly going to give us enough time to criticise the midfield, explain why the bench is unbalanced and speculate as to why Crockett is still an All Black.

We're also not going to have enough time to sort out the various Jonses, Davies and Williamses on the Welsh side.

And, most importantly of all, "who will lead the haka?"

zer0 wrote:And, most importantly of all, "who will lead the haka?"

Has anyone cleared it with the Welsh that we would like to please do a Haka?

And the leadership question is a good one. There aren't any Maori players with the requisite mana in the likely XV. Brodie would be a good choice, but personally I would love to see the pocket-rocket hairdresser, Aaron Smith, giving it both barrels.

Teams up:

New Zealand: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Seta Tamanivalu

Starting XV is as expected. Tamanivalu about the only slightly interesting pick in the reserves.

The team:

1. Joe Moody (11 test caps)
2. Dane Coles (36)
3. Owen Franks (78)
4. Luke Romano (22)
5. Brodie Retallick (47)
6. Jerome Kaino (67)
7. Sam Cane (31)
8. Kieran Read - captain (84)
9. Aaron Smith (47)
10. Aaron Cruden (37)
11. Julian Savea (41)
12. Ryan Crotty (15)
13. Malakai Fekitoa (13)
14. Waisake Naholo (3)
15. Ben Smith (48)

16. Nathan Harris (2)
17. Wyatt Crockett (45)
18. Charlie Faumuina (33)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (7)
20. Ardie Savea
21. TJ Perenara (17)
22. Beauden Barrett (36)
23. Seta Tamanivalu

cashead wrote:

Lizard wrote:

zer0 wrote:And, most importantly of all, "who will lead the haka?"

Has anyone cleared it with the Welsh that we would like to please do a Haka?

And the leadership question is a good one. There aren't any Maori players with the requisite mana in the likely XV. Brodie would be a good choice, but personally I would love to see the pocket-rocket hairdresser, Aaron Smith, giving it both barrels.

The two Aarons and Dane Coles are both within the team leadership group, and identify as Maori.

Joe Moody is Maori.

Wales team:

Liam Williams (Scarlets),
George North (Northampton Saints),
Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne),
Jamie Roberts (Harlequins),
Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons),
Dan Biggar (Ospreys),
Rhys Webb (Ospreys),
Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues),
Ken Owens (Scarlets),
Samson Lee (Scarlets),
Bradley Davies (Wasps),
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys),
Ross Moriarty (Gloucester),
Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, CAPT),
Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Rob Evans (Ospreys), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets).

Sopoaga is massively unlucky. I had just come round to the idea that he should start. Barrett presumably gets the bench gig because he's the most versatile and Cruden starts for his experience. Hansen really doesn't like changing his team if he has to.

Eugene Wrayburn wrote:Sopoaga is massively unlucky. I had just come round to the idea that he should start. Barrett presumably gets the bench gig because he's the most versatile and Cruden starts for his experience. Hansen really doesn't like changing his team if he has to.

Hopefully he gets a shot in the second test.

By my count that's two non-kicking, shaky-under-the-high-ball wingers we're fielding. Have we time warped back to pre-2009 or something?

Well, fullbacks are one of the only three proper rugby players on the field (first fives and one of the midfielders typically being the other two). Having an extra one never hurts. Especially when all you're loosing out on is a parasitic winger.

zer0 wrote:And, most importantly of all, "who will lead the haka?"

FFS: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/ar ... d=11653419

I don't know if that's depressing or funny.

Depressingly funny, mayhaps?

EDIT: A.Smith would probably have an aneurysm by the end of it. Read would elicit a giggle. Mr Smiley trying to be all serious.

Lizard wrote:

zer0 wrote:And, most importantly of all, "who will lead the haka?"

FFS: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/ar ... d=11653419

I don't know if that's depressing or funny.

May as well get it over with and just hire an AIG-Adidas Limited Official Mascot to lead the AIG-Adidas Limited All Blacks Haka (TM), then we don't need to worry about silly little things like actual Maori heritage or who leads it.

zer0 wrote:Depressingly funny, mayhaps?

EDIT: A.Smith would probably have an aneurysm by the end of it. Read would elicit a giggle. Mr Smiley trying to be all serious.

I'd be a bit concerned that A. Smith might get carried away and actually whip it out.

Lizard wrote:Wales team:

Liam Williams (Scarlets),
George North (Northampton Saints),
Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne),
Jamie Roberts (Harlequins),
Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons),
Dan Biggar (Ospreys),
Rhys Webb (Ospreys),
Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues),
Ken Owens (Scarlets),
Samson Lee (Scarlets),
Bradley Davies (Wasps),
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys),
Ross Moriarty (Gloucester),
Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, CAPT),
Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Rob Evans (Ospreys), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets).

Cheers Liz, any chance you could update this with the weird nicknames that the welsh board will use in lieu of something that any other human could understand?

canta_brian wrote:

Lizard wrote:Wales team:

Liam Williams (Scarlets),
George North (Northampton Saints),
Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne),
Jamie Roberts (Harlequins),
Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons),
Dan Biggar (Ospreys),
Rhys Webb (Ospreys),
Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues),
Ken Owens (Scarlets),
Samson Lee (Scarlets),
Bradley Davies (Wasps),
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys),
Ross Moriarty (Gloucester),
Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, CAPT),
Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Rob Evans (Ospreys), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets).

Cheers Liz, any chance you could update this with the weird nicknames that the welsh board will use in lieu of something that any other human could understand?

You'll have to ask a Welshperson to do that. I wouldn't have a bloody clue.