Bledisloe III: The Deadest Rubber of them all

[morepork]

I'd have to defer to resident locals here Mr. Brown. I like Ardie Surveyor, but his role will ultimately be defined by the loosie mix. Vaea Fifita is also an option at 6, currently competing with the lord of the bogans, Liam Squire. There is an argument for Cane being "steadier" than all of the above. Gives away a few penalties but.

[rowan]

Be interesting to see the touring squad after this . . .

& there it is: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all ... thern-tour

Good to see Asafo Aumua in there... but no outside backs from Wellington area??

[Spy]

Pretty much agree with Cashead's assessment. I don't think Savea has shown enough when he's been given a start to demand that he should displace Cane as the go-to starting 7.

[J Dory]

Just watched the game, already new the outcome but was still glued to the screen, hell of a match. Nice one Aus, could have gone either way but Australia took their chances. More games like that please (except with NZ winning).

[scuzzaman]

Yeah. Didn't really like that but it seems to be a regular thing with these dead matches at the end of the season.

Maybe it's the All Black's way of contributing to the popularity of rugby union in Australia? Other than gate takings it doesn't seem to serve any other purpose than to prove we can be beaten by a side that plays for 80 minutes.

[rowan]

Be interesting to see the touring squad after this . . .

& there it is: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all ... thern-tour

Good to see Asafo Aumua in there... but no outside backs from Wellington area??

Maori All Blacks squad:

Backs: Ambrose Curtis, Sean Wainui, Charlie Ngatai, Teihorangi Walden, Rob Thompson, Tim Bateman, Ihaia West, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Brad Weber, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Jonathan Ruru.
Forwards: Akira Ioane, Jordan Manihera, Sam Henwood, Dan Pryor, Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, Jarrad Hoeata, Keepa Mewett, Chris Eves, Ross Wright, Marcel Renata, Tyrel Lomax, Ash Dixon (capt), Liam Polwart.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty ... d=11935907

[rowan]

Sure am looking forward to seeing Asafo Aumua in action. Hope he gets a reasonable amount of game-time in at least one of the tests, and isn't just used as a 4th 1/4 impact player or anything...

[rowan]

J Savea called up for Baabaas to face ABs at Twickers in November. The sparks are sure to fly!

Also called up are the Crusaders’ Super Rugby winning playmakers Mitchell Drummond and Richie Mo’unga, Chiefs prop Atu Moli and lock Dominic Bird and Highlanders flanker Dillon Hunt.