All Blacks vs Wallabies II: Something something mum's spaghetti

[cashead]

So the All Blacks have their backs up against the wall, and Shag's gone and made some bold changes to the team from last week.

Laulala comes in for Franks, who gets to watch from the stands, where he'll be joined by Ben Smith and Rieko Ioane who are swapped for Sevu Reece and George Bridge. Goodhue and Scott Barrett naturally will also miss this test due to injury and suspension, as the two initials SBW and ALB come into the midfield, while the Savea/Read/Cane backrow gets another chance.

The Wallabies starting side is almost entirely unchanged from last week, other than one forced by injury - Rory Arnold drops out due to a hand injury, and Adam Coleman is promoted from the bench. The reserves have also had some minor tinkering, with Rob Simmons coming in as the replacement lock, while Liam Wright and Adam Ashley-Cooper come in as reserve loose forward and reserve back three-quarter.


All Blacks
1. Joe Moody
2. Dane Coles
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Patrick Tuipulotu
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Ardie Savea
7. Sam Cane
8. Kieran Read (C)
9. Aaron Smith
10. Richie Mo'unga
11. George Bridge
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
14. Sevu Reece
15. Beauden Barrett

16. Codie Taylor
17. Ofa Tu'ungafasi
18. Angus Ta'avao
19. Jackson Hemopo
20. Matt Todd
21. TJ Perenara
22. Ngani Laumape
23. Jordie Barrett


Wallabies
1. Scott Sio
2. Tolu Latu
3. Allan Ala'alatoa
4. Izack Rodda
5. Adam Coleman
6. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
7. Michael Hooper (C)
8. Isi Naisrani
9. Nic White
10. Christian Leali'ifano
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Samu Kerevi
13. James O'Connor
14. Reece Hodge
15. Kurtley Beale

16. Folau Fainga'a
17. James Slipper
18. Taniela Tupou
19. Rob Simmons
20. Liam Wright
21. Will Genia
22. Matt Toomua
23. Adam Ashley-Cooper

[Renniks]

Not been keeping up with SH rugby lately… So if anyone feels like getting their thoughts out, and humouring me…

How does Tuipulotu compare to Retallick?

The back row looks really good to me, you mention it getting another chance, is it not ticking currently?

How's Mo'unga going? Is it worth moving Barrett to 15 to get a slightly more traditional 10, even if he's not as good a player in general?

Now to really show the ignorance, who are Bridge and Reece, and whilst this I could definitely google, whilst we're on a roll, what type of wingers are they?

[Puja]

Not been keeping up with SH rugby lately… So if anyone feels like getting their thoughts out, and humouring me…

How does Tuipulotu compare to Retallick?

The back row looks really good to me, you mention it getting another chance, is it not ticking currently?

How's Mo'unga going? Is it worth moving Barrett to 15 to get a slightly more traditional 10, even if he's not as good a player in general?

Now to really show the ignorance, who are Bridge and Reece, and whilst this I could definitely google, whilst we're on a roll, what type of wingers are they?

Very poorly.
Balance doesn't feel right as Ioane's more of an 8. Wasn't a massive success last week, but they were far from the worst issue.
I don't think it's worth it myself, but YMMV.
A full-back and a domestic abuser.

Puja

[Renniks]

Balance doesn't feel right as Ioane's more of an 8.
Puja

Typo?

---

And, obviously, thanks!

[Puja]

Balance doesn't feel right as Ioane's more of an 8.
Puja

Typo?

---

And, obviously, thanks!

Yeah sorry, meant Savea!

Puja

[zer0]

How does Tuipulotu compare to Retallick?

Like just about every lock, poorly. Tuipulotu has been very inconsistent since his 2016 false positive result, which was followed by a run of injuries.

The back row looks really good to me, you mention it getting another chance, is it not ticking currently?

Not quite because they've got Savea and Read the wrong way round. It also weakens the lineout a bit as while each can jump, they're each more 4th options to use at times rather than being consistent, reliable targets. Personally I'd have Savea at #8 and Hemopo at blindside (S.Barrett if everyone, including Retallick, were available), with Read maybe on the bench.

How's Mo'unga going? Is it worth moving Barrett to 15 to get a slightly more traditional 10, even if he's not as good a player in general?

I definitely think it's worth having him there. Though Barrett needs to stop cutting in at first receiver so much, as I think that is hampering him. As are our forwards spending half the match in hibernation mode. Barrett has also proven to be much more dangerous when he enters the line in the more traditional fullback spots further out.

Also, given B.Smith's performances have fallen off a cliff, Barrett is essential to the back three.

Now to really show the ignorance, who are Bridge and Reece, and whilst this I could definitely google, whilst we're on a roll, what type of wingers are they?

Bridge is second fullback/safety winger. Reece is a strike winger and -- as already mentioned -- domestic abuser, who really shouldn't be in the squad. Personally I'd rather have Ennor.

[Banquo]

Savea and Read mixed it up positionally in the last game. Read's defence was outstanding in the last game I thought, but he isn't what he was.

Interesting to make big changes in the backs (but not half backs) when it was possession and territory where the ABs were owned.

[Lizard]

I think Hansen was bullshitting when he said that the Bledisloe was an important goal this season. His selections look more like a predetermined development/warm-up plan.

[cashead]

Reece is a strike winger and -- as already mentioned -- domestic abuser, who really shouldn't be in the squad. Personally I'd rather have Ennor.

Reece deserves his selection purely on form, and you have to remember that he has reflected on, has attended a restorative justice meeting and has owned his behaviour. Short of wearing sackcloth and ashes, what is he meant to do?

[Puja]

Reece is a strike winger and -- as already mentioned -- domestic abuser, who really shouldn't be in the squad. Personally I'd rather have Ennor.

Reece deserves his selection purely on form, and you have to remember that he has reflected on, has attended a restorative justice meeting and has owned his behaviour. Short of wearing sackcloth and ashes, what is he meant to do?

If you were talking about something that was a long time ago, I'd agree, but it was less than a year ago. Given that his lawyers successfully extracted him from almost all consequences by arguing that it would affect his rugby career, I'd be happiest if we didn't dismiss domestic violence as "It's all in the past and he's said he won't do it again," when less than a year has passed.

Puja

[morepork]

He would have done a lag if it weren’t for the Union lawyers.

[cashead]

Reece is a strike winger and -- as already mentioned -- domestic abuser, who really shouldn't be in the squad. Personally I'd rather have Ennor.

Reece deserves his selection purely on form, and you have to remember that he has reflected on, has attended a restorative justice meeting and has owned his behaviour. Short of wearing sackcloth and ashes, what is he meant to do?

If you were talking about something that was a long time ago, I'd agree, but it was less than a year ago. Given that his lawyers successfully extracted him from almost all consequences by arguing that it would affect his rugby career, I'd be happiest if we didn't dismiss domestic violence as "It's all in the past and he's said he won't do it again," when less than a year has passed.

Puja

No one's dismissing it, I'm asking what more could he possibly do? He's attending counselling, has been sober since alcohol likely played a part in what happened, and has, based on the fact that his partner is still with him, fulfilled her conditions for restoration.

[Puja]

Reece deserves his selection purely on form, and you have to remember that he has reflected on, has attended a restorative justice meeting and has owned his behaviour. Short of wearing sackcloth and ashes, what is he meant to do?

If you were talking about something that was a long time ago, I'd agree, but it was less than a year ago. Given that his lawyers successfully extracted him from almost all consequences by arguing that it would affect his rugby career, I'd be happiest if we didn't dismiss domestic violence as "It's all in the past and he's said he won't do it again," when less than a year has passed.

Puja

No one's dismissing it, I'm asking what more could he possibly do? He's attending counselling, has been sober since alcohol likely played a part in what happened, and has, based on the fact that his partner is still with him, fulfilled her conditions for restoration.

By selecting him, the ABs are saying that it's not a problem for them. It's a long way from the "No Dicks" rule that launched a thousand leadership seminars.

Don't get me wrong, the fact that he's regretful and has taken action is lovely, and a hell of a lot better than him not changing his ways. I'm hopeful that it's a meaningful change in his life and will continue far beyond the 10 month streak that he currently has of not assaulting a partner. As you have said, there is not a lot more that he personally can do to make things better - he will still have the status of "recently assaulted a partner" until enough time has passed and it will become that he made mistakes in his youth and has now changed his ways.

Puja

[Puja]

You jammy feckers!

Good start from NZ tbf - not much going right for Australia and you're doing your jobs well. Nic White has reverted to the kind of form we're used to seeing in England this week.

Puja

[cashead]

Paddy T is having a blinder.

[Puja]

Paddy T is having a blinder.

Indeed, really stepping up.

The Kiwi commentators are outstanding - Dane Coles judo throws someone out of a ruck through the air, with one arm around the neck, after having been spoken to by the ref and they're grumbling about whether it was a yellow card or not. Australia are wasting the opportunity though. They've very much reverted to type after the shock of the interception and suddenly going 17 points down. I can't see them coming back in the second half - the confidence has gone.

Puja

[Puja]

I turned off when NZ had the penalty in injury time in the first half, assuming they'd kick it for a 20-0 lead, but I've just tuned back in (small children) to see they're 24-0 up. Did they miss the kick and then score a try early in the second half, or did they take a scrum with 7 men instead of going for the posts?

Puja

[zer0]

I turned off when NZ had the penalty in injury time in the first half, assuming they'd kick it for a 20-0 lead, but I've just tuned back in (small children) to see they're 24-0 up. Did they miss the kick and then score a try early in the second half, or did they take a scrum with 7 men instead of going for the posts?

Just missed the kick.

Definitely Tuipulotu's best test since he manhandled Argentina in 2016. Hope he can maintain it for the rest of the year. Other assorted thoughts:

• Coles needs a slap
• Laulala absolutely must start now, scrummaged strongly and involved around the field
• The loose trio was good round the field, but the lineout was wobbly which could be problematic
• The Mo'unga/Barrett axis can also kick pretty well; though the Australian back three was pretty poor
• Mo'unga better be alright otherwise we could be well f*cked
• Lienert-Brown needs to start
• It was nice having wingers that were actually involved
• Our Fijian winger is better than theirs (as a player, if not a person)
• Aggregate score was 57-47 to the AB's

[cashead]

What should be noted is that the All Blacks scrum absolutely dominated the Wallabies even when they were a man down. If I were Cheika, I'd be pretty worried.

[cashead]

I turned off when NZ had the penalty in injury time in the first half, assuming they'd kick it for a 20-0 lead, but I've just tuned back in (small children) to see they're 24-0 up. Did they miss the kick and then score a try early in the second half, or did they take a scrum with 7 men instead of going for the posts?

Just missed the kick.

Definitely Tuipulotu's best test since he manhandled Argentina in 2016. Hope he can maintain it for the rest of the year. Other assorted thoughts:

• Coles needs a slap
• Laulala absolutely must start now, scrummaged strongly and involved around the field
• The loose trio was good round the field, but the lineout was wobbly which could be problematic
• The Mo'unga/Barrett axis can also kick pretty well; though the Australian back three was pretty poor
• Mo'unga better be alright otherwise we could be well f*cked
• Lienert-Brown needs to start
• It was nice having wingers that were actually involved
• Our Fijian winger is better than theirs (as a player, if not a person)
• Aggregate score was 57-47 to the AB's

Coles played like a guy who hadn't had enough rugby in quite some time, and was simultaneously rusty and a bit too fired up.
I'm not too concerned with the line-out, which I felt got better as the game went on (and the All Blacks did a good job disrupting the Wallabies there).
If you're going to play Savea and Cane (Sane? Canea? Let's go with Sane), whom despite both being opensides have very contrasting strengths, you do need Read in there to do the donkeywork (he is to Sane what Scott Fardy was to Hoopcock) which allows both guys to do their thing.
Mo'unga, apparently, is "fine."
Lienert-Brown finished the Super Rugby season as probably the form midfielder, and has been on fire this year.
For me, the biggest thing is that the All Blacks played incredibly without Retallick. I was concerned they were too reliant on him, and Tuipulotu delivered exactly the kind of performance that should see him in the running.