All Blacks to play Fiji in Dunedin

[TRF_Cymro]

New Zealand will play a one-off Test against Fiji on July 22 as part of its build-up to this year's Rugby World Cup.

http://www.planet-rugby.co.uk/story/0,25883,16024_6903045,00.html​

 

[Amobokoboko]

Yes, should be a good game. Curious to see who will make the squad as it will take during the Tri Nations

 

[psychic duck]

Yes, should be a good game. Curious to see who will make the squad as it will take during the Tri Nations

not if Fiji pick a side which gets thrashed 91-0 again ...

 

[Amobokoboko]

That's a 50-50 chance, and as an AB fan it's always nice to see lots of tries. Especially with the RWC coming up, all the wingers would like to prove themselves.

 

[Shaggy]

I'm guessing that we will see Dan Carter's back up playing in this match (whoever that is), and maybe the likes of Robbie Fruean and Matt Todd might get a run to see how they cope at test match level.

... an interesting poll on the NZ Rugby show Re-Union, where there was a preference for a North Island V South Island type match preferred instead of a test match

 

[Charles]

... an interesting poll on the NZ Rugby show Re-Union, where there was a preference for a North Island V South Island type match preferred instead of a test match

Yeah, I'd be really keen on a North-South game...A game against Fiji is meaningless. Fiji will want to avoid any injuries and play a damage limitation game, and the Kiwi players will also want to avoid injuries except for the bolters...

I don't know enough but if someone wants to put North and South XV I'd be interested to see them...

 

[Amobokoboko]

You mean a 75% cantab team vs a Northland team. Is actually also quiet a good idea.

 

[Shaggy]

You mean a 75% cantab team vs a Northland team. Is actually also quiet a good idea.

Apparently they had the suggested make ups of the teams the week before on Re-Union, but I didn't see it ... as pointed out on other threads from time to time, many of the Crusaders line up are from the North Island anyway, I guess the South Island could put together a fairly good side though ... they'd probably be a few Southland player in it.

The North South game used to be an annual fixture back in the amateur days, and was usually a pretty good game

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

not if Fiji pick a side which gets thrashed 91-0 again ...

Fiji will likely play with a team without their european stars and have mostly local or NZ based talent in the team to face the ABs...This game is likely to be a 50+ blowout unfortunatly.

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

No! Fiji can do it! Come on Fiji, show the All Blacks are beatable. If you don't, then Tonga will have to...

 

[Melhor Time]

Another stupid mistake from New Zealand rugby. They could easily host Fiji at a more appropriate time and in a more apporpriate place but no its going to be a match in July which is when Dunedin gets snow! If its really about money for the Christchurch Quake then a largerb venue could be used easily. That said it will not be full but could be in a different venue.

Its not even going to be in the new stadium. Rather they are going to open the closed Carisbrook which was shut down from test rugby following the match last year vs Wales. Dumb, dumb, dumb. All in the name of the earthquake in ChCh. Seriously this match should be used at one of the upgraded stadiums that never get Al Blacks matches. One in a warmer place. Napier or Rotorua being my suggestions.

- Never play a home game vs a Pacific Island team in winter. Never, never, never.

- Never play against a Pacific Island team in the South Island. It always needs to be in the North Island where it is warmer.

- Fijian community down there??? Tiny compared to elsewhere.

Really bad venue choice.

 

[Shaggy]

Another stupid mistake from New Zealand rugby. They could easily host Fiji at a more appropriate time and in a more apporpriate place but no its going to be a match in July which is when Dunedin gets snow! If its really about money for the Christchurch Quake then a largerb venue could be used easily. That said it will not be full but could be in a different venue.

Its not even going to be in the new stadium. Rather they are going to open the closed Carisbrook which was shut down from test rugby following the match last year vs Wales. Dumb, dumb, dumb. All in the name of the earthquake in ChCh. Seriously this match should be used at one of the upgraded stadiums that never get Al Blacks matches. One in a warmer place. Napier or Rotorua being my suggestions.

- Never play a home game vs a Pacific Island team in winter. Never, never, never.

- Never play against a Pacific Island team in the South Island. It always needs to be in the North Island where it is warmer.

- Fijian community down there??? Tiny compared to elsewhere.

Really bad venue choice.

If it's for the Christchurch Quake/the people of Christchurch, Dunedin is the logical choice, as the Christchurch Stadium is out of action, Carisbrook is the most accessible international stadium for the Christchurch public ... If the Fijian team is going to be made up of mainly Australasian based players as some suggest, the players are going to be used to playing in Dunedin winter conditions anyway through ITM cup etc.

I'm not sure that Fiji would ever turn down an opportunity to play the All blacks at any time or venue anyway, but it should help their World Cup build up ... plus it's history in the making, being the last test match to be played at Carisbrook.

... On the North Island V South Island option that I mentioned earlier in the thread, here's the teams that Re-Union suggested based on who the players played for in the ITM cup last year

North Island

Isiaia Toeava
Rene Ranger
Conrad Smith
Maa Nonu
Zac Guildford
Luke McAlister
Piri Weepu
Liam Messam
Daniel Braid
Jerome kaino
Ali Williams
Anthony Boric
John Afoa
Keven Mealamu
Tony Woodcock

Reserves
Andrew Hore
Neemia Tialata
Jared Hoeata
Victor Vito
Alby Mathewson
Mike Delany
Israel Dagg

South Island

Ben Smith
Sean Maitland
Robbie Fruean
Sonny-Bill Williams
Kade Poki
Dan Carter
Jimmy Cowan
Kieran Read
Ritchie McCaw
Adam Thomson
Sam Whitelock
Brad Thorn
Owen Franks
Cory Flynn
Ben Franks

Reserves

Jason Rutledge
Jamie Macintosh
Tom Donnelly
Matt Todd
Andy Ellis
Colin Slade
Adam Whitelock

Their team is a couple of weeks old, and i'm not sure what effect the recent injuries would have, but it would have been a great match ... probably not good in World cup year though

 

[Black Heart]

The All Blacks will roll out B side. There's no way in the world they will risk injuries to any key players particularly when the game is of no importance, (in the rugby sence of course) There's also no way that any Fiji team will beat the All Blacks on New Zealand soil in any forseeable future so the selectors can be a bit liberal with their choices.

 

[nickdnz]

If it's for the Christchurch Quake/the people of Christchurch, Dunedin is the logical choice, as the Christchurch Stadium is out of action, Carisbrook is the most accessible international stadium for the Christchurch public ... If the Fijian team is going to be made up of mainly Australasian based players as some suggest, the players are going to be used to playing in Dunedin winter conditions anyway through ITM cup etc.

I'm not sure that Fiji would ever turn down an opportunity to play the All blacks at any time or venue anyway, but it should help their World Cup build up ... plus it's history in the making, being the last test match to be played at Carisbrook.

... On the North Island V South Island option that I mentioned earlier in the thread, here's the teams that Re-Union suggested based on who the players played for in the ITM cup last year

North Island

Isiaia Toeava
Rene Ranger: Cory Jane is ahead of Ranger in this squad, and should be fit for the Fiji match.
Conrad Smith
Maa Nonu
Zac Guildford: For a start, he has played most of his top level rugby down south, so get him out of the NH, and Hosea Gear is ahead of him by far.
Luke McAlister
Piri Weepu
Liam Messam - I personally would pick the on form Vito ahead of him.
Daniel Braid
Jerome Kaino
Ali Williams
Anthony Boric
John Afoa
Keven Mealamu
Tony Woodcock

Reserves
Andrew Hore
Neemia Tialata
Jared Hoeata
Victor Vito
Alby Mathewson
Mike Delany
Israel Dagg: Once again, plays most of his highest level rugby down south for the Crusaders.

South Island

Ben Smith
Sean Maitland
Robbie Fruean
Sonny-Bill Williams
Kade Poki
Dan Carter
Jimmy Cowan
Kieran Read
Ritchie McCaw
Adam Thomson
Sam Whitelock
Brad Thorn
Owen Franks
Cory Flynn
Ben Franks

Reserves

Jason Rutledge
Jamie Macintosh
Tom Donnelly
Matt Todd
Andy Ellis
Colin Slade
Adam Whitelock

Their team is a couple of weeks old, and i'm not sure what effect the recent injuries would have, but it would have been a great match ... probably not good in World cup year though

I disagree with some of that team, especially the NH one. Yes Guildford and Dagg play for Hawkesbay, but they play more games, and at higher levels, for the Crusaders. Rene Ranger is also not a better winger than Hosea Gear, and Cory Jane has to be ahead of Guildford anyway.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Messam's on form too.

And traditionally, players are selected based on their province, not where they spend most of their time. It's why the All Blacks, when announced, generally have their province, not their Super team stated.

 

[Black Heart]

Messam's on form too.

And traditionally, players are selected based on their province, not where they spend most of their time. It's why the All Blacks, when announced, generally have their province, not their Super team stated.

I have to agree with Messam. I think he's a better all-rounder.

 

[Muzzy]

If it's for the Christchurch Quake/the people of Christchurch, Dunedin is the logical choice, as the Christchurch Stadium is out of action, Carisbrook is the most accessible international stadium for the Christchurch public ... If the Fijian team is going to be made up of mainly Australasian based players as some suggest, the players are going to be used to playing in Dunedin winter conditions anyway through ITM cup etc.

I'm not sure that Fiji would ever turn down an opportunity to play the All blacks at any time or venue anyway, but it should help their World Cup build up ... plus it's history in the making, being the last test match to be played at Carisbrook.

there aren't many fijian players in the itm cup, the only fijian player i know in the south island is otago lock Qaranaqio, and there aren't that many fijian players in the north island either, and even if there were most of the still wouldn't be in the team, for the last few years Fiji has picked an almost entirely local fijian team for the june-july season so i don't think it will be any different, i just hope fiji can score a couple tries this time. btw fiji did turn down a match with nz in 2008, thats when samoa played them instead, i guess nz must like using fiji to try out their new players, i hope fiji can pull something out for this match though