[2020 RC/Tri Nations] Round 1: Australia v New Zealand (Bledisloe 3) (31/10/2020)

[Umaga's Witness]

I know it's ages away but I can't wait. Two weeks between games is too much!

So Ardie and Nepo won't be playing as they are on paternity leave. I don't know whether moody will be recovered but I'd give him a rest just in case.

If we lose this one we still have one more chance. Maybe they'll try a few changes this time then. Something like

hodgman. Karl
Coles. Taylor
Ofa. Lomax
Whitelock
Tuipolotu. S barrett
Frizell
Cane
A ione. Sotutu
Tj. Weber
B barrett. Mounga
Clarke
Lienert brown
Umaga jensen
Jordan
J barrett. R ione

mounga coming off the bench to make things happen if needed. Jordie getting his chance at fullback.

 

[The Seeker]

I think the Wallabies will win game three. Just a hunch, I wouldn't bet the kids college tuition money on it.

 

[TheOvalBall]

I know it's ages away but I can't wait. Two weeks between games is too much!

Ages away ? It's on this Saturday.

Really looking forward to it as well!

 

[Kiwiwomble]

i would really like us to use a specialist winger rather than Jordie. Yes he has converted the chances hes been given...but running and dotting down in the corner is minimum requirements for a winger, I want my international winger, if given a little space, to beat his mark, skin the cover and draw the fullback to put someone else away....and i dont see Jordie doing that, i looked up a highlight reel of his and it went

try saving cover tackle
cross field kickpass
cross field kickpass
behind the back pass
crash ball from 5m to score a try

not exactly the highlight reel for a winger, midfielder maybe

We seem to be prioritising his height over speed or elusiveness... which is completely over thinking it

 

[Umaga's Witness]

i would really like us to use a specialist winger rather than Jordie. Yes he has converted the chances hes been given...but running and dotting down in the corner is minimum requirements for a winger, I want my international winger, if given a little space, to beat his mark, skin the cover and draw the fullback to put someone else away....and i dont see Jordie doing that, i looked up a highlight reel of his and it went

try saving cover tackle
cross field kickpass
cross field kickpass
behind the back pass
crash ball from 5m to score a try

not exactly the highlight reel for a winger, midfielder maybe

We seem to be prioritising his height over speed or elusiveness... which is completely over thinking it

Yeah I reckon we have just chosen him because he deserves to be rewarded for his form, even though that form doesn't translate to playing in the wing. Give him a go at fullback I reckon. I'm not saying he is a better international fullback than Beauden or Damian but I think he deserves a chance to show whether or not he is. He is great under the high ball and maybe against some opposition that will be important for a winger, but in two matches against the wallabies I don't think he has caught a single high ball.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Ages away ? It's on this Saturday.

Really looking forward to it as well!

Saturday? Would you stop the torture Please, You're killing me!

 

[TheOvalBall]

Saturday? Would you stop the torture Please, You're killing me!

I have no stake in this match, and i cannot wait!

 

[mania]

weather forecast is for rain. Yes. no one plays in wet weather like the ABs do. definitely advantage ABs

 

[The Seeker]

weather forecast is for rain. Yes. no one plays in wet weather like the ABs do. definitely advantage ABs

You should have seen round one of the World Tens Series Rugby in Bermuda over the weekend. The Rhinos (from California) beat the London Royals in a torrential rainstorm, 7-6. It was a lot of fun to watch and probably even more fun to play in. This picture is from the beginning of the match, by the end of it I could barely see the players on my screen.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Yeah I reckon we have just chosen him because he deserves to be rewarded for his form, even though that form doesn't translate to playing in the wing. Give him a go at fullback I reckon. I'm not saying he is a better international fullback than Beauden or Damian but I think he deserves a chance to show whether or not he is. He is great under the high ball and maybe against some opposition that will be important for a winger, but in two matches against the wallabies I don't think he has caught a single high ball.

the more i think about it the more im convinced the selectors are just a bit afraid to not play "world player of the year and god answer to everything BB"...and then loose, and have to explain why they didn't play him, grow a pair and pick the best team...not just the 15 "best" players

 

[Oliver Madden]

As much as I love the Six Nations this game is the main event for me this weekend. I expect a very close game. I think under Rennie the games in Australia will go back to being the one-score nail-biters that they used to be. whoever wins I think it will be a less than 7 point margin. i think the Wallabies could do this. That may be heart ruling head. Just think a Bledisloe decider on Aussie soil would be something else!.

 

[TheOvalBall]

 

[TheOvalBall]

 

[TheOvalBall]

 

[mania]

As much as I love the Six Nations this game is the main event for me this weekend. I expect a very close game. I think under Rennie the games in Australia will go back to being the one-score nail-biters that they used to be. whoever wins I think it will be a less than 7 point margin. i think the Wallabies could do this. That may be heart ruling head. Just think a Bledisloe decider on Aussie soil would be something else!.

agree. this is not the WBs that we've seen over the last decade. these WBs dont crumble under pressure. that edenPark game i felt the WBs were in a good position to take it at half time and for most of the 3rd quarter

 

[Kiwiwomble]

As much as I love the Six Nations this game is the main event for me this weekend. I expect a very close game. I think under Rennie the games in Australia will go back to being the one-score nail-biters that they used to be. whoever wins I think it will be a less than 7 point margin. i think the Wallabies could do this. That may be heart ruling head. Just think a Bledisloe decider on Aussie soil would be something else!.

hope youre right, with all the changes with rugby in the SH we really need aussie rugby to be strong

 

[Oliver Madden]

agree. this is not the WBs that we've seen over the last decade. these WBs dont crumble under pressure. that edenPark game i felt the WBs were in a good position to take it at half time and for most of the 3rd quarter

I agree on this point. Even though it was a 20 point win in the end for the AB's it didn't feel like the usual annihilation for Oz at Eden Park. The Aussies had a couple of good chances at the start of the second half which had they taken one of them it could have been a different story. It wasn't like the last five years at Eden Park when NZ have blown them away by HT. I think the final scored flattered NZ. A 12 point margin would have been more accurate i would say. That's why I think this game will be very tight.

 

[Hulk Hogan]

I'll be at the game in a corporate box. If my kiwi housemate goes you guys will lose. the All Blacks have never won when he's in the crowd.

 

[The Seeker]

Since the next two games will be played in Australia, I thought I'd share this new video from their fellow Aussies.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

I'll be at the game in a corporate box. If my kiwi housemate goes you guys will lose. the All Blacks have never won when he's in the crowd.

It'll be more fun if you just go by yourself.

So... who will be in the team this time, or who should be?

maybe

slipper. Sio
Paenga-Amosa. Faingaa
Alaalatoa. Tupou
Solokai-loto
Hosea. Philip
L Wright
Hooper
Wilson. Naisarani.
White. The reds guy
O'Connor. Lolesio
T Wright
simone
Petaia. Hodge
Daugunu
Haylett-Petty

in the forwards, Alaalatoa starts due to superior work rate. Paenga-Amosa stays for same reason. Liam Wright adds to the speed to the breakdown, but they will be short on strong ball carriers which is why Hosea comes in and for Philip not solokai loto. Naisarani provides a strong carry off the bench.

In the backs, if Haylett-Petty can't last too long O'Connor can move to fullback with Lolesio coming into ten. Hodge comes on For whoever is playing the worst. Koroibete gets a rest due to some poor defensive reads.