Scotland v New Zealand

[dan the man]

Team will probably be:
1 Woodcock
2 Elliot
3 Afoa
4 Boric
5 Donnely
6 Messam
7 Braid
8 Read (C)
9 Cowan
10 Donald
11 Gear
12 Williams
13 Smith
14 Jane
15 Toeava

16 Hore
17 Franks
18 Whitelock
19 McCaw
20 Ellis
21 Carter
22 Muliaina

Maybe with Ellis and Cowan swapped around.

Yeah this is pretty much what i would expect, maybe swap Hore and Elliot probably swap Mathewson for Cowan... It wouldn't surprise me if Thorn started this one as well though. He thrives on heaps of gametime

 

[admartian]

Yeah I know what you mean about Donald, but Graham Henry came out pretty strongly in support of him after the Hong Kong match, so if he's going to back that up and give him another chance, Scotland is probably the game to do it ... no disrespect to Scotland, but it's probably the easiest game left to play on tour (didn't say it will be an easy game, just the easiest one left)

I'd actually think Toeava is a better 1st five than a winger, although I think he's probably best at fullback or in the centres

Yeah. Too bad we're not playing Italy this year, that would've been great to try someone like Toeava out at 10.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Yeah. Too bad we're not playing Italy this year, that would've been great to try someone like Toeava out at 10.

Toeava has only ever player a couple of times at first five, two or three years ago in the S14.

 

[Larksea]

he wasn't bad playing 10, not a goal kicker though so donald or carter would still have to be on the field.

 

[admartian]

Toeava has only ever player a couple of times at first five, two or three years ago in the S14.

Still didn't do too bad.

Plus, wouldn't hurt as a backup since Slade, Cruden, and Brett are all back here (at home).

he wasn't bad playing 10, not a goal kicker though so donald or carter would still have to be on the field.

True. Too bad Piri's not there to cover that.

Though, if he was, he'd probably be in at 10 before Toeava is.

 

[nickdnz]

he wasn't bad playing 10, not a goal kicker though so donald or carter would still have to be on the field.

Actually, he is a goal kicker. He played the 2005 U19 Tornement, goal kicking and as a replacement 10. I would mind seeing him instead of Donald as a back up, but I think it'd be hard to claoim he's New Zealand's second best 10.

 

[Larksea]

Actually, he is a goal kicker. He played the 2005 U19 Tornement, goal kicking and as a replacement 10. I would mind seeing him instead of Donald as a back up, but I think it'd be hard to claoim he's New Zealand's second best 10.

He's not a proven goal kciker for test rugby though is he? not even for NPC or Super rugby.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

He's not a proven first five for test, Super, or Provincial rugby either - I don't see why goalkicking should have different allowances.

 

[nickdnz]

LONDON, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Scotland coach Andy Robinson on Tuesday named the following team to play New Zealand at Murrayfield on Saturday (1715GMT):
Scotland: 15-Hugo Southwell, 14-Rory Lamont, 13-Max Evans, 12-Graeme Morrison, 11-Sean Lamont, 10-Dan Parks, 9-Mike Blair; 8-Richie Vernon, 7-John Barclay, 6-Kelly Brown, 5-Jim Hamilton, 4-Richie Gray, 3-Euan Murray, 2-Ross Ford, 1-Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16-Scott Lawson, 17-Alasdair Dickinson, 18-Nathan Hines, 19-Ross Rennie, 20-Rory Lawson, 21-Ruaridh Jackson, 22-Nikki Walker.

http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/news/article/-/8290394/scotland-team-play-new-zealand-saturday

Pretty much as I expected, no really big suprises.

 

[Seaton]

Yaass, my team was sort of close


Thats about the strongest side (bar Chris Cusiter, Allistair Kellock and Johnnie Beattie) that we can put out, so this is an acid test for us I feel

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hope Ruaridh Jackson gets some time: Dan Parks is incredibly boring, whereas he's good, and likes a run

 

[dan the man]

Actually, he is a goal kicker. He played the 2005 U19 Tornement, goal kicking and as a replacement 10. I would mind seeing him instead of Donald as a back up, but I think it'd be hard to claoim he's New Zealand's second best 10.

Yeah but that was a long time ago... still think i'd trust Donald or even Mils ahead of Toeava to do the kicking

 

[SavageLez]

I think Scotland could cause a little upset here if NZ take this match lightly and start without Carter and McCaw! Having said that I don't think NZ would do that. They would not want to lose momentum now going into the Rugby World Cup.

 

[Darwin]

It will be interesting to see what sort of side the AB's put out. I would be really disappointed if we put a genuine second string team out, as I really don't think that will tell us anything. Our main aim for the tour, apart from working on combiations, is establishing whether the likes of Messem, Braid, Donald, SBW etc are genuine backups for the likes of Read, McCaw, Carter, Nonu. The best way to so is to give these players a game with the full strength (or near full strength) team - if these players are to start an important match in the RWC it will be with this full strength team, so this would be a good judge of their abilities at this level.

As such I'd like the coaches to continue to rest 2-4 players per game - last game they started without Donnelly, Cowan, Smith, and Jane. Against Scotland I would maybe rest Mealamu (probably enforced in any case), McCaw, and Muliaina but leave of the team at full strength. I suppose we will find out what the AB coaches have planned on Thursday...

 

[Shaggy]

I think Scotland could cause a little upset here if NZ take this match lightly and start without Carter and McCaw! Having said that I don't think NZ would do that. They would not want to lose momentum now going into the Rugby World Cup.

I can't see it happening myself because I don't think anyone important (players, coaches) in the AB setup are taking Scotland lightly ... the policy seems to be, keep the core of the team, and make a few changes.

... Apparently it's likely that the centre combination will be SBW and Smith as that's how they've been running at training

 

[Black Heart]

I think Scotland could cause a little upset here if NZ take this match lightly and start without Carter and McCaw! Having said that I don't think NZ would do that. They would not want to lose momentum now going into the Rugby World Cup.

I wouldn't be surprised if they start without Carter or McCaw. I certainly wouldn't be surprised if they start without McCaw because Daniel Braid is a safe bet and the leadership is still in relatively good hands with players like Carter, Muliaina and Thorn.

 

[azeli]

Just reading some of the comments on Toeava at 10 - in high school (De La Salle in Auckland) he actually led them to the Auckland Championship playing first five (cant remember which year..?). I know...that was school rugby rah rah rah but he has played at first five before playing top level rugby which is why he has been tried there a few times for the blues....

 

[admartian]

It will be interesting to see what sort of side the AB's put out. I would be really disappointed if we put a genuine second string team out, as I really don't think that will tell us anything. Our main aim for the tour, apart from working on combiations, is establishing whether the likes of Messem, Braid, Donald, SBW etc are genuine backups for the likes of Read, McCaw, Carter, Nonu. The best way to so is to give these players a game with the full strength (or near full strength) team - if these players are to start an important match in the RWC it will be with this full strength team, so this would be a good judge of their abilities at this level.

As such I'd like the coaches to continue to rest 2-4 players per game - last game they started without Donnelly, Cowan, Smith, and Jane. Against Scotland I would maybe rest Mealamu (probably enforced in any case), McCaw, and Muliaina but leave of the team at full strength. I suppose we will find out what the AB coaches have planned on Thursday...

Cool. I'd be keen to see a SBW/Smith pairing.

Just reading some of the comments on Toeava at 10 - in high school (De La Salle in Auckland) he actually led them to the Auckland Championship playing first five (cant remember which year..?). I know...that was school rugby rah rah rah but he has played at first five before playing top level rugby which is why he has been tried there a few times for the blues....

Better option than Donald...

In all seriousness though, I wish we were playing Italy though so we could try something like that.

 

[seatea15]

If New Zealand field a second string team it'll be through fear of seeing their first string get beat :O)

Anyway, on a more serious note... Tough tough tough game ahead for Scotland, second string or not. I laugh when I hear about a New Zealand second string. Usually all that means is a 15 that are almost just as talented but with more to prove that the first string!

Scotland shouldn't be totally ruled out of an upset in this one as on their day they are just as good as any NH team, so the don't deserve to be ruled out when Ireland, Wales and England are/were all seen as having a chance. New Zealand are obviously and correctly the huge favourites, but I'm still excited about this game!

 

[ranger]

He's not a proven first five for test, Super, or Provincial rugby either - I don't see why goalkicking should have different allowances.

Well actually, he made his provincial debut for Auckland as a first five. When he first made the All Blacks it was on the back of his play as a first five in the age group and NPC competitions..

Either way, id put him at 10 over Donald any day of the week