[Bledisloe 3] Australia v New Zealand in Brisbane 18/10/14

[TRF Mr Fish]

Well, no Cruden again!

ALL BLACKS: Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Malakai Fekitoa, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Cane, TJ Perenara, Colin Slade, Charles Piutau

Kaino also getting a rest, Crockett returns from injury and a few changes on the bench.

 

[Jaguares]

Well, no Cruden again!

ALL BLACKS: Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Malakai Fekitoa, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Cane, TJ Perenara, Colin Slade, Charles Piutau

Kaino also getting a rest, Crockett returns from injury and a few changes on the bench.

Thanks for the lineup! :cheers:

 

[nzlizard]

Not actually surprised about the no Cruden thing,

Main reason he is not there is because of his night on the ****, Barrett played awesome and I have no problems with him starting but we all know that Cruden > Slade is true also, and I agree with this approach, youngish guy handed the start and this is a good way to tell him to pull his head in as the game only really means something in the win/loss ratio for the team.

I wonder if Kaino still has a ****ling injury and resting him for the EOYT is the focus.

Would have liked to see Piutau start over Jane and certainly hope he gets at least half a game.

Good to see they have stayed with Fekitoa.

 

[donmcdazzle]

Not actually surprised about the no Cruden thing,

Main reason he is not there is because of his night on the ****, Barrett played awesome and I have no problems with him starting but we all know that Cruden > Slade is true also, and I agree with this approach, youngish guy handed the start and this is a good way to tell him to pull his head in as the game only really means something in the win/loss ratio for the team.

I wonder if Kaino still has a ****ling injury and resting him for the EOYT is the focus.

Would have liked to see Piutau start over Jane and certainly hope he gets at least half a game.

Good to see they have stayed with Fekitoa.

Did he? I thought he was pretty average against SA.

Also, I realise that Ben Smith is resting, but has Dagg had an easy ride or what.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Did he? I thought he was pretty average against SA.

Also, I realise that Ben Smith is resting, but has Dagg had an easy ride or what.

Yeah I thought Barrett was fine in both matches, but certainly didn't produce any more than what Cruden has recently.

 

[Helmy]

I'm surprised to see Barrett getting the nod ahead of Cruden, but I hope he can produce the goods and show the selectors why he deserves to be picked there consistently. Still not convinced that Dagg is back to his best form, and it's unnecessary to be choosing him ahead of Ben Smith when Smith is playing so well.

 

[nzlizard]

Smith is being rested due to heavy workloads according to Hansen.

Cruden is still paying for his night on the ****, no doubt he will start against England(they are the first game of the home nations side of the EOYT?).

I read somewhere they are targeting DC to start against the USA.

 

[Darwin]

A bit disappointed in the ABs side to be honest. It's great to see Coles and Retallick back, but why do we have Messam at 6? Is Kaino really that fatigued?

Despite what the ABs coaches may claim Cruden is still obviously being punished for his off-field indescresion. Barrett has been solid at 10, but hasn't done near enough to surpass Cruden in the pecking order. Surely we need Cruden back starting at 10 asap? I have mixed feelings about Fekitoa at 12, but he has taken his chances so far. The outside backs are predictable, but is that really the best back three we can field (given Smith is being rested)? Dagg is neither dangerous with ball in hand nor reliable as the last line of defense, while Jane doesn't offer much more than experience these days. It would have been great to see Piutau starting this match, as he could add a lot more firepower out wide (as well as adding rock solid - and physical - defense).

We should still win this match (hopefully comfortably) but I feel we could have either been a bit more experimental, or have picked a stronger side. I don't really like the "conservative experimentation" - we end up just getting the worst of both worlds...

 

[nzlizard]

A bit disappointed in the ABs side to be honest. It's great to see Coles and Retallick back, but why do we have Messam at 6? Is Kaino really that fatigued?

Despite what the ABs coaches may claim Cruden is still obviously being punished for his off-field indescresion. Barrett has been solid at 10, but hasn't done near enough to surpass Cruden in the pecking order. Surely we need Cruden back starting at 10 asap? I have mixed feelings about Fekitoa at 12, but he has taken his chances so far. The outside backs are predictable, but is that really the best back three we can field (given Smith is being rested)? Dagg is neither dangerous with ball in hand nor reliable as the last line of defense, while Jane doesn't offer much more than experience these days. It would have been great to see Piutau starting this match, as he could add a lot more firepower out wide (as well as adding rock solid - and physical - defense).

We should still win this match (hopefully comfortably) but I feel we could have either been a bit more experimental, or have picked a stronger side. I don't really like the "conservative experimentation" - we end up just getting the worst of both worlds...

Kaino has an injury apparently, did hear but can't remember what it is.

Agree with Cruden still been punished, Barrett took his chances and did enough to maybe warrant the start, but I still feel most of it is directed at Cruden more than Barrret, I expect to see him back as 1st choice for England.

Fekitoa at 12 is awesome, needs game time ahead of the WC and this is good, star of the future for me.

All I can think of with Jane is they want a solid first half then bring Piutau on and run himat tired backs? would prefer to see Piutau start though.

With Smith being rested not much choice for fullback though.

 

[Chikwa]

Agreed conservation experiment is not progressive . If any thing the likes of Richie and read should have been rested. The question needs to be asked Can cane and kaino really fill their shoes. Fair enough giving Barrett another crack but he is not yet as effective as cruden. He was completely outplayed by pollard( Bok no 10). Why piutau has not been picked is even more puzzling than starting Jane . Cory janes tweets are more exciting than his rugby! Richie and Read need to improve their strength and fitness to combat the boks at the breakdown.interesting that the game is against the wallabies but I m thinking of the World Cup semi's. No disrespect to the wallabies who I think have improved more than their results have shown. First thing the wallabies need to do is get rid of Beale. He is not a first time offender and he has negatively affected the career of another person.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

Barrett could be out, injured his leg at training.

 

[nzlizard]

Barrett could be out, injured his leg at training.

Come back Cruden... lol if so

 

[donmcdazzle]

Barrett could be out, injured his leg at training.

Surely they'd have to start Cruden then on what Hansen was saying about how Cruden is a specialist starter whereas Slade covers more on the bench.

 

[Kapa O Pango]

Let's go Wallabies!

Even Mckenzie kicks the winning conversion.

Wallabies by 6 points, All Blacks by 9 points.

 

[Helmy]

Steve Hansen is a conservative coach, though, isn't he? I've never agreed with his getting a piggy back into the head coach position off of Henry, and think it will all blow up his face when we lose the WC next year. Am happy to be proved wrong, however.

I hope that Barrett's injury is nothing major, maybe he hasn't played a MOTM performance yet, but he'd done enough in the past to warrant being picked ahead of Cruden, imo. Now he's just got to make the most of his chances.

 

[Bean]

80+ score to NZ?

 

[InsaneAsylum]

80+ score to NZ?

I have a feeling that the Wallabies will win this, then again I could be totally wrong.

 

[Helmy]

Any further word on Barrett? Just saw this article, but it doesn't look like up-to-date info even though it was written less than an hour ago.

http://www.timescolonist.com/sports...-new-zealand-team-to-play-australia-1.1428246

 

[loosehead3]

anyone know how i can download this match?i have direct tv in the usa and they have been very good at broadcasting the rugby championship as well as super 15,itm and currie cup.but it seems they are not broadcasting this match.i usuallt dvr the games and watch them when i can

 

[Darwin]

Kaino has an injury apparently, did hear but can't remember what it is.

Agree with Cruden still been punished, Barrett took his chances and did enough to maybe warrant the start, but I still feel most of it is directed at Cruden more than Barrret, I expect to see him back as 1st choice for England.

Fekitoa at 12 is awesome, needs game time ahead of the WC and this is good, star of the future for me.

All I can think of with Jane is they want a solid first half then bring Piutau on and run himat tired backs? would prefer to see Piutau start though.

With Smith being rested not much choice for fullback though.

Thanks for letting me know re: Kaino. That explains a lot.

In terms of there not being much choice at fullback with Smith being rested I do agree in some regards. We certainly don't have any experienced options to fallback on, but personally I would have loved to have seen either Barrett or Piutau starting at fullback. For some reason Dagg gets a charmed life in the AB's 15 jersey - he plays 1-2 good games and suddenly all his poor performances seem to be forgotten by AB's selectors (and most of the media). To say Ben Smith is twice the player that Dagg is in the AB's 15 jersey would not truly reflect the difference in class between those two players at the moment. Given Smith is the best 15 in the country do we really need Dagg? I would start Smith at 15 every week, and look to develop Barrett or Piutau as a back-up option. While neither Piutau or Barrett are perfect in the 15 jersey, and we would lose Dagg's ability under the high ball / massive punt, I honestly believe they would do just as a good a job as Dagg in the AB's 15 jersey (if not better...).

Anyways..... Rugby tonight. The AB's have struggled to get up for this match in recent seasons, but they shouldn't be lacking for motivation tonight! Man for man I think the AB's have a clear advantage. I'm picking them by 15 points, but for some reason aren't quite as confident as I usually are..... perhaps because we are a Smith short this week......