All Blacks v. Samoa

[cashead]

All Blacks team to play at Eden Park has been named:
1. Joe Moody
2. Codie Taylor
3. Owen Franks
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Sam Cane
8. Ardie Savea
9. Aaron Smith
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Julian Savea
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
14. Israel Dagg
15. Ben Smith (Captain)

16. Nathan Harris
17. Wyatt Crockett
18. Charlie Faumuina
19. Scott Barrett
20. Vaea Fifita
21. TJ Perenara
22. Lima Sopoaga
23. Jordie Barrett

Fifita and Jordie Barrett are the potential new caps off the bench.

Liam Squire is still recovering from a broken thumb, and Akira Ioane has been released to the MABs squad, while Kieran Read had flagged a while ago that he will be sitting this one out.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Looks weak

[Lizard]

Aaron Smith bloody lucky to get a start over TJ.

[Spy]

Looks like a best available XV, although Naholo must be pushing both Savea and Dagg close after his effort in Dunedin.

[cashead]

Between an in-form Savea and Naholo, I'd go with the former every time.

[Spy]

I agree. How in-form is Savea, though? When I've watched the Hurricanes the main threat seems to be coming from B&J Barrett. Savea's only looked OK to me. Maybe I've missed his best bits.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Doesn't look much stronger than the Blues. Certainly not a big step up. And Hansen couldn't make a difference to that. Right Warren?

[jared_7]

Can't do simultaneous hakas anymore, as it encroaches on AIG's copyright. And it would get in the way of the fireworks and lasers.

[zer0]

WTF is the TMO doing interfering with play?

[cashead]

Barrett's really upped the shit out of his kicking game.

[cashead]

And both Savea boys get a test try.

And 1 more Barrett boy to go before we get a full Barretting.

[cashead]

Aaron Smith bloody lucky to get a start over TJ.

Nah.

[jared_7]

Haven't seen much of Sopoaga but every time I get glimpses he looks awesome.

[zer0]

Sopoaga is quality. We should hopefully see much more of him in black now that Cruden is heading overseas.

ALB looks to be Nonu-ing it. A midfielder who is largely anonymous at SR level but kicks into life once he dons the black. Perenara seems to have shut up. Though maybe he wasn't on long enough to start bending the refs ear. J.Savea didn't seem to realise he was in a match until about 60 minutes in. I still think R.Ioane, or even Naholo, would be a better choice at this stage. Retallicka was great. I also found it interesting that he assumed the captaincy ahead of Cane.