RugbyRebels

Yeah, not quite on it but still by far the better team. A few less dropped balls and I think they had the beating of SA's defence. Smith's bullets from 9 would help too.

Some of SA's kicking really is comical. It's like they truly believe the only reason they lost against Australia was not kicking enough.

ABs team announced:

1. Joe Moody (53)
2. Codie Taylor (63)
3. Nepo Laulala (36)
4. Brodie Retallick (88)
5. Scott Barrett (47)
6. Akira Ioane (9)
7. Ardie Savea (55) – captain
8. Luke Jacobson (9)
9. Brad Weber (13)
10. Beauden Barrett (97)
11. Rieko Ioane (43)
12. David Havili (10)
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (52)
14. Sevu Reece (13)
15. Jordie Barrett (31)

Reserves:

16. Asafo Aumua (3)
17. George Bower (7)
18. Ofa Tuungafasi (41)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (40)
20. Ethan Blackadder (6)
21. TJ Perenara (74)
22. Richie Mo'unga (26)
23. Damian McKenzie (36)

That's a mean as bench. I like ALB back in the middle.

Yeah, feel like Jordan is a bit hard done by, maybe he and Bridge were not secure enough under the high ball, or might just be rotation. Have my doubts about Reiko catching those up and unders.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the ABs win by twenty this week.

Reiko will be fine - or at least better than Bridge was under the high ball last week (as would Bridge be if he had another shot). There is a bit of luck in it but he is generally solid enough - and lightning once he catches it.

Rats cocks.

My prediction didn't quite play out. On the plus side, at least SA had to play a bit to win. No doubt people will claim it as some kind of vindication for their tactics in earlier games though.

Why are the ABs in the States while the rest of yooze are locked in?

morepork wrote:Why are the ABs in the States while the rest of yooze are locked in?

Haha, three quarters of the country isn't in lockdown and hasn't been since the end of August, and I don't think there have ever been any restrictions on leaving NZ anyway.

They've been overseas for about 6 weeks now anyway.