RWCR1 France vs All Blacks
They said it could be a loose forward... which it should have been anyway... instead of Clarke.,..Kiwias wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 11:12 pm So who is the replacement for Narawa? Stevenson surely is the first cab off the rank
Blackadder and Finau would be handy in the squad now.. for Narawa and Jacobson...
Apart from a couple of nice touches on attack, Stevenson was pretty average against Otago last night; error prone defensively poor.Kiwias wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 11:12 pm So who is the replacement for Narawa? Stevenson surely is the first cab off the rank
I hope they pick Finau or Lord instead of a replacement outside back. At least Clarke's still out of the 23.
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I think they have enough cover for outsides, a loosie is more on the cards. Finau for me.Gumboot wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 11:51 pmApart from a couple of nice touches on attack, Stevenson was pretty average against Otago last night; error prone defensively poor.Kiwias wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 11:12 pm So who is the replacement for Narawa? Stevenson surely is the first cab off the rank
I hope they pick Finau or Lord instead of a replacement outside back. At least Clarke's still out of the 23.
I'd be very happy with Finau there.Guy Smiley wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 12:19 amI think they have enough cover for outsides, a loosie is more on the cards. Finau for me.Gumboot wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 11:51 pmApart from a couple of nice touches on attack, Stevenson was pretty average against Otago last night; error prone defensively poor.Kiwias wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 11:12 pm So who is the replacement for Narawa? Stevenson surely is the first cab off the rank
I hope they pick Finau or Lord instead of a replacement outside back. At least Clarke's still out of the 23.
Just watched the highlights and he was far from convincing on defense for Otago's first two tries.Gumboot wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 11:51 pmApart from a couple of nice touches on attack, Stevenson was pretty average against Otago last night; error prone defensively poor.Kiwias wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 11:12 pm So who is the replacement for Narawa? Stevenson surely is the first cab off the rank
I hope they pick Finau or Lord instead of a replacement outside back. At least Clarke's still out of the 23.
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All Blacks to put out a marker tomorrow. Never underestimate them.
Fixxed.OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 3:26 am France to put out a marker tomorrow. Never underestimate them.
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https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby-wor ... cup-opener
Off.
Marc Hinton
His team-mates have dubbed him Mr Fixit, and All Blacks coach Ian Foster was backing veteran midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown to capably fill the void
Fuck.The 26-year-old Barrett picked up a knee injury in the wake of the Twickenham shellacking at the hands of the South Africans, and though Foster confirmed it was not considered serious, it was bad enough to keep him off the training paddock all week in Lyon. The coach said he had no hesitation in turning to the 28-year-old, 63-test Lienert Brown to partner Rieko Ioane in midfield.
Off.
This.OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 3:26 am All Blacks to put out a marker tomorrow. Never underestimate them.
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Anton Lienert-Brown is a nice lad. Very assured in his early outings for the ABs but has has a string of injuries.
I hope he does well.
I hope he does well.
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There is not much change in the All Blacks team that were bliksemed by the Bokke. They will go into this game with a blue eye.
This. They'll do to France the same as they did to SA and Australia in the last competitive matches they played... France will wonder what has hit them...OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 3:26 am All Blacks to put out a marker tomorrow. Never underestimate them.

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Has been said many times by me and the likes of J2M, but Christie is no intl SH. Laulala is not in the side for his handling! I don't get the move of the dim Barrett to lock. Surely there were other candidate for 2nd row rather than messing around with your backrow?Gumboot wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 6:32 pmWell that sucks balls.Grandpa wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 4:06 pm Dalton Papalii is not a 6!!! He's played what, half a test there for the All Blacks? Hardly ever for the Blues... what's going on? No faith in Jacobson as a 6 then? Why did they pick him?
Finaly Christie on the bench...
No Jordie and Narawa out the tournament. Finau has to come in...![]()
This team looks weak. You're right Gramps, Papali'i is not a blindside. Laulala's handling is shit, and his defence is so sloppy he might as well not bother. Christie ahead of Roigard? Fuck. Right. Off.
My earlier prediction of a 29-point thrashing might have been too conservative. We're screwed.
Scott Barrett is a lock. He rarely plays at 6... agree about Christie and Laulala though...Torquemada 1420 wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 10:43 amHas been said many times by me and the likes of J2M, but Christie is no intl SH. Laulala is not in the side for his handling! I don't get the move of the dim Barrett to lock. Surely there were other candidate for 2nd row rather than messing around with your backrow?Gumboot wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 6:32 pmWell that sucks balls.Grandpa wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 4:06 pm Dalton Papalii is not a 6!!! He's played what, half a test there for the All Blacks? Hardly ever for the Blues... what's going on? No faith in Jacobson as a 6 then? Why did they pick him?
Finaly Christie on the bench...
No Jordie and Narawa out the tournament. Finau has to come in...![]()
This team looks weak. You're right Gramps, Papali'i is not a blindside. Laulala's handling is shit, and his defence is so sloppy he might as well not bother. Christie ahead of Roigard? Fuck. Right. Off.
My earlier prediction of a 29-point thrashing might have been too conservative. We're screwed.
Just as Papali'i is a 7 and plays there for the Blues, so Scott Barrett is a lock. We have to get past an obsession with shoe-horning players into positions they hardly ever play.Grandpa wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 11:06 amScott Barrett is a lock. He rarely plays at 6... agree about Christie and Laulala though...Torquemada 1420 wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 10:43 amHas been said many times by me and the likes of J2M, but Christie is no intl SH. Laulala is not in the side for his handling! I don't get the move of the dim Barrett to lock. Surely there were other candidate for 2nd row rather than messing around with your backrow?Gumboot wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 6:32 pm
Well that sucks balls.![]()
This team looks weak. You're right Gramps, Papali'i is not a blindside. Laulala's handling is shit, and his defence is so sloppy he might as well not bother. Christie ahead of Roigard? Fuck. Right. Off.
My earlier prediction of a 29-point thrashing might have been too conservative. We're screwed.
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Then I guess the question is what cover was there for BS?Grandpa wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 11:06 amScott Barrett is a lock. He rarely plays at 6... agree about Christie and Laulala though...Torquemada 1420 wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 10:43 amHas been said many times by me and the likes of J2M, but Christie is no intl SH. Laulala is not in the side for his handling! I don't get the move of the dim Barrett to lock. Surely there were other candidate for 2nd row rather than messing around with your backrow?Gumboot wrote: Wed Sep 06, 2023 6:32 pm
Well that sucks balls.![]()
This team looks weak. You're right Gramps, Papali'i is not a blindside. Laulala's handling is shit, and his defence is so sloppy he might as well not bother. Christie ahead of Roigard? Fuck. Right. Off.
My earlier prediction of a 29-point thrashing might have been too conservative. We're screwed.
We all said the squad had too many wingers and not enough flankers/locks... and so it rears it's head in the first match! A lock and flanker injured and we're a bit stuffed... but I still think NZ can win tomorrow... will all depend on their emotional state.. and France's.Torquemada 1420 wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 1:56 pmThen I guess the question is what cover was there for BS?Grandpa wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 11:06 amScott Barrett is a lock. He rarely plays at 6... agree about Christie and Laulala though...Torquemada 1420 wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 10:43 am
Has been said many times by me and the likes of J2M, but Christie is no intl SH. Laulala is not in the side for his handling! I don't get the move of the dim Barrett to lock. Surely there were other candidate for 2nd row rather than messing around with your backrow?
Reviewing the AB lineup for the first up game against France, who are admittedly missing a couple of players, zero confidence. We are going to get bounced in this one by thirty odd points. On the bright side we should still make the quarters, where we'll get bounced anyways. Thanks for the memories Fozz, or should I say nightmares.
God I’d love us to eat our words, but by fark has there been a worse duo than Foster and Cane? They have truly set so many new records.Jethro wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 7:36 pm Reviewing the AB lineup for the first up game against France, who are admittedly missing a couple of players, zero confidence. We are going to get bounced in this one by thirty odd points. On the bright side we should still make the quarters, where we'll get bounced anyways. Thanks for the memories Fozz, or should I say nightmares.
What’s next? Loss to Italy to send us packing sounds like the apt farewell.
Yep, our first ever loss to the Azzurri is very much on the cards.Ymx wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 7:44 pmGod I’d love us to eat our words, but by fark has there been a worse duo than Foster and Cane? They have truly set so many new records.
What’s next? Loss to Italy to send us packing sounds like the apt farewell.

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Have you not paid attention to the Glorious Reign of Ian fucking Foster?
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I know the way world rugby runs that there really aren't that many teams that get to play in the world cup (which is fucked, for my money) but have NZ and France played in them more than any other two team combination?
These teams have met seven times at World CupsGuy Smiley wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 8:58 pm I know the way world rugby runs that there really aren't that many teams that get to play in the world cup (which is fucked, for my money) but have NZ and France played in them more than any other two team combination?
France v NZ
England v Australia
Australia v Wales
https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/news ... n-fixtures
I thought Wales vs Fiji would be up there but I guess not?Grandpa wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 9:24 pmThese teams have met seven times at World CupsGuy Smiley wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 8:58 pm I know the way world rugby runs that there really aren't that many teams that get to play in the world cup (which is fucked, for my money) but have NZ and France played in them more than any other two team combination?
France v NZ
England v Australia
Australia v Wales
https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/news ... n-fixtures
They seem to be in the same group every time
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TBF, if France has any realistic pretensions of winning the thing, they need to defeat NZ. With all due respect to the ABs, Ire and SA are far sterner tests at the moment.
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Metro will be fun when you throw in the smell of p*ss.SaintK wrote: Fri Sep 08, 2023 5:53 am Well I hope both sides have their hydration sorted out
It was 35C walking round Paris last night![]()
Well I was supposed to be in Paris Today but good old RER D made me work from home...Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri Sep 08, 2023 6:13 amMetro will be fun when you throw in the smell of p*ss.SaintK wrote: Fri Sep 08, 2023 5:53 am Well I hope both sides have their hydration sorted out
It was 35C walking round Paris last night![]()
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F**k knows what is going on with the RER. When I was there for the Aus game, I skipped D and used 13 and the tram!laurent wrote: Fri Sep 08, 2023 6:28 amWell I was supposed to be in Paris Today but good old RER D made me work from home...Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri Sep 08, 2023 6:13 amMetro will be fun when you throw in the smell of p*ss.SaintK wrote: Fri Sep 08, 2023 5:53 am Well I hope both sides have their hydration sorted out
It was 35C walking round Paris last night![]()
D is at my doorstep if it does not run properly I stay at home...Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri Sep 08, 2023 7:47 amF**k knows what is going on with the RER. When I was there for the Aus game, I skipped D and used 13 and the tram!laurent wrote: Fri Sep 08, 2023 6:28 amWell I was supposed to be in Paris Today but good old RER D made me work from home...Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri Sep 08, 2023 6:13 am
Metro will be fun when you throw in the smell of p*ss.
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You are at the South end?laurent wrote: Fri Sep 08, 2023 7:55 amD is at my doorstep if it does not run properly I stay at home...Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri Sep 08, 2023 7:47 amF**k knows what is going on with the RER. When I was there for the Aus game, I skipped D and used 13 and the tram!laurent wrote: Fri Sep 08, 2023 6:28 am
Well I was supposed to be in Paris Today but good old RER D made me work from home...