All Blacks v. Springboks is probably going to be the game to watch. Just a hunch.

[cashead]

All Blacks
1. Joe Moody
2. Codie Taylor
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Shannon Frizell
7. Matt Todd
8. Kieran Read (c)
9. TJ Perenara
10. Richie Mo'unga
11. Rieko Ioane
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Jack Goodhue
14. Ben Smith
15. Beauden Barrett

16. Dane Coles
17. Ofa Tuungafasi
18. Angus Ta'avao
19. Vaea Fifita
20. Dalton Papalii
21. Aaron Smith
22. Anton Lienert-Brown
23. George Bridge



Springboks
1. Steven Kitshoff
2. Malcolm Marx
3. Frans Malherbe
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Franco Mostert
6. Kwagga Smith
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit
8. Duane Vermeulen (c)
9. Faf de Klerk
10. Handré Pollard
11. Makazole Mapimpi
12. Damian de Allende
13. Lukhanyo Am
14. Cheslin Kolbe
15. Willie le Roux

16. Bongi Mbonambi
17. Tendai Mtawarira
18. Trevor Nyakane
19. RG Snyman
20. Francois Louw
21. Herschel Jantjies
22. Frans Steyn
23. Jesse Kriel


So, some big changes on both ends. The big talking point for the All Blacks would be Beauden dropping back to fullback, and the big name returns to the starting XV, with a healthy dose of Crusaders added back into the mix. Matt Todd presumably is back in to compete with the Boks at the breakdown area.

On the Springbok end, it's curious to see Blitzboks stand-out Kwagga Smith recalled into the Boks, with the vastly experienced Louw dropping to the bench. Regardless, Smith has been a key part of the Lions - South Africa's stand-out Super Rugby side in the last few seasons - and the last time he played against the All Blacks, he put in one heck of a shift. With Marx also seizing the means of possession at the breakdown, the two Lions would pose quite a threat in the rucks. Faf and Pollard being reintroduced would also be a bit of a talking point, and it's a bit harsh on Elton Jantjies, who had a solid game last week, probably one of his best in Springbok colours, but Pollard also could use the game time, and Faf is pretty much the guy that South Africa is built around.

[Lizard]

Our best 1st 5/8 at fullback. Sigh.

Mind you it’s not an All Blacks World Cup year until a fullback has played centre.

[zer0]

But Mo'unga isn't at fullback... Sure our best fullback is on the right wing -- because he's also our best safety winger -- but the gap between him and B.Barrett is exponentially smaller than the gap between him and whoever would be our second best safety winger. Probably Bridge, I guess.

[Lizard]

I guess this means that Josh Ioane gets blooded against the Wallabies? Maybe if we win Bledisloe I and secure the Cup he might get an extended run in BII?

[cashead]

I guess this means that Josh Ioane gets blooded against the Wallabies? Maybe if we win Bledisloe I and secure the Cup he might get an extended run in BII?

You might as well blood the long term prospects against the minnows.

[morepork]

Our best 1st 5/8 at fullback. Sigh.

Mind you it’s not an All Blacks World Cup year until a fullback has played centre.

I reckon it could be lethal. BB carved it up in the juniors at FB. Him and Bin Smuff sweeping at the back will be pretty hard to get past too,which makes me less nervous about SBW at 2-5. I'm looking forward to it.

[J Dory]

I'm looking forward to seeing Richie and Beauden together. If it clicks ..... could be good. SA looking tasty right now, this match is a huge marker for the WC.

[Mellsblue]

I'm looking forward to seeing Richie and Beauden together. If it clicks ..... could be good. SA looking tasty right now, this match is a huge marker for the WC.

Couldn’t agree more. Whoever wins will go in to the third place playoff with a huge psychological advantage.

[morepork]

I suppose we should be flattered the English would consider it fruitful to be trawling these still waters on the SHMB.

[Digby]

What's BB like in defence these days? He always used to be the sort to drift and claim it was the inside guy's job to make the tackle, put another way is this about putting a 10 in the 10 shirt rather than a runner, or is it about hiding Beauden's defence?

[zer0]

His cover defence is very good, so there shouldn't be any real problems at fullback. Which is to be expected given he is indeed a fullback. So I'd say it's more about getting our best first-five onto the field.

As an aside I don't recall runners regularly scything through his channel. He's no Carter, let alone Wilkinson, but he's certainly no Cooper either.

[paddy no 11]

Is kolbe the best player in the world? Was incredible for Toulouse

[paddy no 11]

NZ are fucked at 1,3,6,8

Bill frizell be better than shannon

[paddy no 11]

Chronic defending mapimpi, serious wheels from barrett as ever

[16th man]

Some properly horrific reffing there.

[16th man]

Bokkies actually think of spreading it a bit and get a try.

[zer0]

Bugger. Was a good game, regardless. Not too bad an effort by a mixed bag NZ XV vs SA 1st XV. Power up, and optimise, the top match squad and the pressure will really be on the Springbok attack to improve significantly by the RWC.

I'm not a fan of him as captain, but Read's decision to take the final penalty goal instead of continuing to press was a tricky one, so will give him a pass for that one. Though his performance as a player has done nothing to dissuade my wanting Savea at #8.

EDIT: Potentially/likely loosing Retallick is pretty devastating though.

[Digby]

His cover defence is very good, so there shouldn't be any real problems at fullback. Which is to be expected given he is indeed a fullback. So I'd say it's more about getting our best first-five onto the field.

As an aside I don't recall runners regularly scything through his channel. He's no Carter, let alone Wilkinson, but he's certainly no Cooper either.

I can only assume then you didn't see his early time at 10 as he was comically bad, he did seemingly improve though so perhaps it was more a confidence issue and experience/decision making than being yellow. But it is odd to give him all those games at 10 and only now shift him to 15, odd for him and odd Mo'unga wasn't given those games if he's going to play 10 in the WC

[zer0]

But it is odd to give him all those games at 10 and only now shift him to 15, odd for him and odd Mo'unga wasn't given those games if he's going to play 10 in the WC

It's because Barrett/McKenzie was Hansen's original 10/15 pairing, but McKenzie's injury has forced him into the Mo'unga/Barrett pairing.

[Banquo]

His cover defence is very good, so there shouldn't be any real problems at fullback. Which is to be expected given he is indeed a fullback. So I'd say it's more about getting our best first-five onto the field.

As an aside I don't recall runners regularly scything through his channel. He's no Carter, let alone Wilkinson, but he's certainly no Cooper either.

I can only assume then you didn't see his early time at 10 as he was comically bad, he did seemingly improve though so perhaps it was more a confidence issue and experience/decision making than being yellow. But it is odd to give him all those games at 10 and only now shift him to 15, odd for him and odd Mo'unga wasn't given those games if he's going to play 10 in the WC

I'd take him at 10 for us in a heartbeat.

[Digby]

But it is odd to give him all those games at 10 and only now shift him to 15, odd for him and odd Mo'unga wasn't given those games if he's going to play 10 in the WC

It's because Barrett/McKenzie was Hansen's original 10/15 pairing, but McKenzie's injury has forced him into the Mo'unga/Barrett pairing.

Still odd when you could just have Barrett at 10 and Smith at 15. It just seems a bit harsh on Mo'unga, and Barrett actually to have so little time in their new roles.

[Digby]

His cover defence is very good, so there shouldn't be any real problems at fullback. Which is to be expected given he is indeed a fullback. So I'd say it's more about getting our best first-five onto the field.

As an aside I don't recall runners regularly scything through his channel. He's no Carter, let alone Wilkinson, but he's certainly no Cooper either.

I can only assume then you didn't see his early time at 10 as he was comically bad, he did seemingly improve though so perhaps it was more a confidence issue and experience/decision making than being yellow. But it is odd to give him all those games at 10 and only now shift him to 15, odd for him and odd Mo'unga wasn't given those games if he's going to play 10 in the WC

I'd take him at 10 for us in a heartbeat.

He's no Iceman

[Banquo]

I can only assume then you didn't see his early time at 10 as he was comically bad, he did seemingly improve though so perhaps it was more a confidence issue and experience/decision making than being yellow. But it is odd to give him all those games at 10 and only now shift him to 15, odd for him and odd Mo'unga wasn't given those games if he's going to play 10 in the WC

I'd take him at 10 for us in a heartbeat.

He's no Iceman

correct

[cashead]

It was a very frustrating outcome.

The Springboks dominated about 30 minutes of the first half, until they started to run out of puff, and the All Blacks seemed to have the match won, when they got hit with a surprise jab at the end that staggered them.

It's kind of like the 2008 Dunedin result, when the All Blacks seemed to have the game won, were holding out, and then got beat by a freakish try at the very end. And yeah, it was a draw, but it was like a defeat because of how it happened.

It's hard to know what to make of Mo'unga-Barrett at 10-15. They had a poor first 30, and once the forwards got their shit together and starting getting on the front foot, they played rather well.

[morepork]

What's the word on Retallika?