v Crusaders

[Lizard]

Team named:

1. Joe Moody
2. Codie Taylor
3. Owen Franks
4. Luke Romano
5. Sam Whitelock (C)
6. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis
7. Matt Todd (VC)
8. Jordan Taufua
9. Bryn Hall
10. Richie Mo'unga
11. George Bridge
12. David Havili
13. Jack Goodhue
14. Seta Tamanivalu
15. Israel Dagg

16. Ben Funnell
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Michael Alaalatoa
19. Quinten Strange
20. Jed Brown
21. Mitchell Drummond
22. Mitchell Hunt
23. Tim Bateman

[morepork]

That is one Ice Cold Unit.

[Lizard]

For those of you not familiar, that's:

1. All Black
2. All Black
3. All Black
4. All Black
5. All Black
6. NZ U20/Maori All Black
7. All Black
8. Samoa U20/NZ U20/Barbarians/World XV
9. NZ Schools/NZ U20
10. NZ U20
11. NZ U20
12. NZ U20
13. NZ U20/NZ 7s
14. All Black
15. All Black

16. NZ Schools
17. All Black
18. Samoa U20
19. NZ U20
20. Nobody
21. NZ U20
22. NZ U20
23. NZ U19/NZ U21/Maori All Black

[Eugene Wrayburn]

i don't think I've seen Havili at 12. Much cop there?

[zer0]

I'm pretty sure Havili played in the midfield a couple of times last year and was uniformly awful.

Looking forward to the battle between the two packs. The Crusaders have comfortably the best pack in SR. Whitelock knows that and doesn't take any prisoners as captain. Should be a real battle.

[Mellsblue]

Team: S Hogg; G North, J Davies; B Te'o, L Williams; O Farrell; C Murray; M Vunipola, J George, T Furlong; AW Jones (capt), G Kruis; P O'Mahony, S O'Brien, T Faletau

Replacements: K Owens, J McGrath, D Cole, M Itoje, CJ Stander, R Webb, J Sexton, A Watson

[Mellsblue]

I wouldn't be surprised if that isn't too far away from the test match XV.

[Lizard]

So as promised by Gats that's everyone getting a start in the first 3 matches.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

I wouldn't be surprised if that isn't too far away from the test match XV.

aye. Halfpenny for Hogg. SOB to move across (or Stander in at 6) and Warburton for POM. Not sure whether Sexton or Farrell will start. Te'o may give way to Henshaw. However that's pretty much what i expect the team to be.

[Stom]

I wouldn't be surprised if that isn't too far away from the test match XV.

aye. Halfpenny for Hogg. SOB to move across (or Stander in at 6) and Warburton for POM. Not sure whether Sexton or Farrell will start. Te'o may give way to Henshaw. However that's pretty much what i expect the team to be.

Pretty bad, isn't it

I mean, the pack is OK, and the half backs are the best we can do. but those outside backs...

Sorry, let me rewrite that. Davies has the hands of a block of cement. Perfect for cementball, a tactic we all know does not stand a chance against NZ, yet we still picked him as bloody coach. FFS

[MrK]

I predict Teo and Davies to have a blinder.

[Lizard]

I predict Teo and Davies to have a blinder.

Te'o's performance will be of great interest, as will the plans used to try and give him space and opportunity.

[Stom]

I predict Teo and Davies to have a blinder.

Te'o's performance will be of great interest, as will the plans used to try and give him space and opportunity.

Plans? Plural?

[Mellsblue]

Teo is a hugely unknown quantity at test level. His only two starts are the debacle against Italy and last week against a bunch of journey men. Otherwise, he's been coming on against tired defences.

[Lizard]

I predict Teo and Davies to have a blinder.

Te'o's performance will be of great interest, as will the plans used to try and give him space and opportunity.

Plans? Plural?

I'm assuming that the plans will include both bish and bosh, at least.

[Lizard]

Teo is a hugely unknown quantity at test level. His only two starts are the debacle against Italy and last week against a bunch of journey men. Otherwise, he's been coming on against tired defences.

Exactly. That's why it's interesting. Has he really got the goods?

[Mellsblue]

Te'o's performance will be of great interest, as will the plans used to try and give him space and opportunity.

Plans? Plural?

I'm assuming that the plans will include both bish and bosh, at least.

Doubt it. Bish may be at outside centre but bosh didn't make the squad.

[Sandydragon]

Bosh is just down the road with the Welsh squad if needed.

[paddy no 11]

Whitelock to be acting the boll*cks all match tomorrow, just as well itoje isn't there for the fist pumping hair tossing histrionics

[WaspInWales]

This match has 34-19 written all over it.

[Mellsblue]

This match has 34-19 written all over it.

I'm waiting for the exit poll before I make my prediction.

[p/d]

Exactly. That's why it's interesting. Has he really got the goods?

Think he just might have. Looking forward to seeing how he works with Farrell. The few games I have watched him at Worcester he did look a class above. Good chance the back 3 will work well off him tomorrow......that's if the Lions can produce any good quick ball

[WaspInWales]

We're still in it

[WaspInWales]

The Farrell jizz fest is strong today.

[bruce]

Anybody got a stream link?