The Champions of the Rugby, of 2023 at least.

[J Dory]

Teams for ABs v Boks....

New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (c), 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Tupou Vaa’i, 20 Dalton Papali’i, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Braydon Ennor, 23 Caleb Clarke

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth (c), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21 Duane Vermeulen, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok

[morepork]

There are are some old war horses in that Bok team. No prizes for guessing math their tactics.

Not convinced about Caleb Clarke. Gotta be better wingers out there Shirley? Cane shouldn't be El Capitan. Why no DMac?

[morepork]

Yeah. Tidy. Nosferatu/Retallick killing it. BB at fullback shades of his Unner Twenny self.

[cashead]

Some real Chuckle Brothers officiating from Raynal, but that's what you get with French refs isn't it? Anyone that thinks that Kolbe try didn't need any TMO scrutiny is out of their gourd.

[Banquo]

Yeah. Tidy. Nosferatu/Retallick killing it. BB at fullback shades of his Unner Twenny self.

That first five minutes was something else.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Good to see Eddie Jones has taken giving away stupid penalties from England to Australia.

[Cameo]

Yeah. Tidy. Nosferatu/Retallick killing it. BB at fullback shades of his Unner Twenny self.

That first five minutes was something else.

Yeah, it was. Brutal but ambitious with Frizzel and Jordan to the fore.

Second half, SA got some joy by piling bodies into the breakdown but all in all NZ will be delighted with their first two games of the season.

[J Dory]

Yeah. Tidy. Nosferatu/Retallick killing it. BB at fullback shades of his Unner Twenny self.

That first five minutes was something else.

Wasn't it. Great test, the swing in momentum when the Boks brought on the big beef and started bullying the break down, ABs coming back again. Loved it.

[morepork]

The French won't let us do that to them. They are even bigger, love a run or two, and don't have old man le Roux at the back to run over the top of.

Have to say I just dig seeing Cheslin Kolbe having a crack. Electric on his feet.

[Cameo]

That game has me questioning my previous certainty that BB at the back is a massive mistake. He barely ran but he had a couple of moments of creativity that made all he difference - he was good last week too.

Added to that, being on the wing doesn't seem to hamper Will Jordan too much.

I think I would still like to see Jordan at 15, but Foster now has some evidence for keeping it as it was on Saturday.

[J Dory]

The pass to Jordan was legendary. Who would want to be an abs selector.

[morepork]

That game has me questioning my previous certainty that BB at the back is a massive mistake. He barely ran but he had a couple of moments of creativity that made all he difference - he was good last week too.

Added to that, being on the wing doesn't seem to hamper Will Jordan too much.

I think I would still like to see Jordan at 15, but Foster now has some evidence for keeping it as it was on Saturday.

That is where BB cut his teeth as a yoof. It's his natural environment.

[J Dory]

<cough>warriors won again<cough>

[morepork]

Oh yes.

[morepork]

<cough>warriors won again<cough>

....and again...

[J Dory]

<cough>warriors won again<cough>

....and again...

I know, I'm starting to believe ....

[Lizard]

ABs v Boks was interesting. Probably the first time the R-Mo10/BB15 thing has really worked. But the Boks were foxing - didn’t contest some lineouts well away from their tryline, used some effective moves only once. They have form in keeping things under wraps before World Cups and I expect to see a fully armed and operational Bok team at the pointy end of that tournament.

[cashead]

I think you're giving Rassie and Nienaber way too much credit here. The Boks have shown no significant growth at any point like they did during the Jake White tenure.

[Lizard]

I think you're giving Rassie and Nienaber way too much credit here. The Boks have shown no significant growth at any point like they did during the Jake White tenure.

I hope you’re right. It would be wonderful if they got to the RWC and basically just took a big runny shit with all their clothes on. But I would not bet on that right now.

[morepork]

Wobblies are being coached on cynical defence. They got in our faces pretty good too. Still think France will have our number. Scott Barrett looking every millimetre the war horse we need, in the shape of a human dog roll. Halfbacks getting nailed is definitely a thing. A Smith had a hard day out there.

[Banquo]

argentina should have turned the boks over.

[Lizard]

Pretty satisfying result for the All Blacks, but we should at least that dominant over a team ranked 8th in the world.

[cashead]

It was fairly clinical. Just ground the Wallabies down, made them defend for long patches, won the breakdown battles that mattered, and kept them scoreless after 7 minutes.

It wasn't the most clinical performance and there were some points left out on the field (Mark Telea, I love you man, but come the fuck on), but a BP win with a 31-point margin in a test where one trophy is at stake and another that could be put up for grabs later is always going to be filed under "yep, good enough."

[cashead]

Springboks, on the other hand, were really lucky to sneak away with that win.

[cashead]

All Blacks vs Wallabies II at the Sistema Lunchbox in Dunedin
All Blacks
1. Tamaiti Williams
2. Samisoni Taukei'aho
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Samipeni Finau
7. Sam Cane (C)
8. Ardie Savea
9. Finlay Christie
10. Damian McKenzie
11. Leicester Fainga'anuku
12. Anton Lienert-Brown
13. Braydon Ennor
14. Shaun Stevenson
15. Will Jordan

16. Dane Coles
17. Ofa Tu'ungafasi
18. Fletcher Newell
19. Tupou Va'ai
20. Luke Jacobson
21. Aaron Smith
22. Richie Mo'unga
23. Dallas McLeod

Wallabies
1. Angus Bell
2. Dave Porecki
3. Pone Fa'amausili
4. Nick Frost
5. Richie Arnold
6. Tom Hooper
7. Fraser McReight
8. Rob Valetini
9. Tate McDermott (C)
10. Carter Gordon
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Samu Kerevi
13. Jordan Petaia
14. Mark Nawaqanitawase
15. Andrew Kellaway

16. Jordan Uelese
17. James Slipper
18. Zene Nonggorr
19. Will Skelton
20. Rob Leota
21. Nic White
22. Quade Cooper
23. Izaia Perese