Italy v All Blacks: When in Rome...

[Lizard]

It's perhaps a good thing that we've got a somewhat easier game ahead of Ireland II. Retallick is likely to be back. Even if not, you would hope we've seen the end of this Kaino at lock foolishness.

Of interest to me is whether Hansen gives Dunny Smith another start to try to get him back into form, or let TJ run the show.

One thing that we should be doing (but won't) is finding another goalkicker. McKenzie at fullback, moving B Smith to the wing, would be worth a look.

[morepork]

I'd let TJ back at it. He was better last time out.

[J Dory]

Tough call TJ versus Smith. Smith's passing off the floor and speed to the ruck versus TJs running game, with both of them being more than decent at the others strong point. I'd like to see Smith get another go.

[cashead]

I'd start Smith again. He was clearly short of playing time, and preferably he'd have a game under his belt before he's given another tilt at Ireland. It also appears Ioane is in line for a cap.

[Lizard]

Bit of a B team named. Perenara isn't even in the XXIII.


1. Wyatt Crockett (55)
2. Codie Taylor (12)
3. Charlie Faumuina (43)
4. Patrick Tuipulotu (11)
5. Scott Barrett (1)
6. Elliot Dixon (2)
7. Sam Cane – captain (38)
8. Steven Luatua (14)
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow (24)
10. Aaron Cruden (44)
11. Waisake Naholo (9)
12. Anton Lienert-Brown (6)
13. Malakai Fekitoa (21)
14. Israel Dagg (58)
15. Damian McKenzie (1)

16. Liam Coltman *
17. Joe Moody (21)
18. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (3)
19. Brodie Retallick (57)
20. Matt Todd (6)
21. Aaron Smith (55)
22. Lima Sopoaga (5)
23. Rieko Ioane *

[cashead]

Missed the first half, but a pasting in the end. 68-10, 11 tries to the ABs, with Ioane and Coltman getting their caps.

[morepork]

Was a lot of fumbled passes and things, but the ABs just looked looked like scoring from anywhere. Run, score, jog back to hal way (no high fives or any of that school yard nonsense. All business). Scrum was very strong.

[J Dory]

Hard to really enjoy that, Italy never in the game. Bring on next week.

[cashead]

What I have noticed no one is talking about is that in the last couple of weeks, both Barrett and Cruden's goalkicking have actually improved considerably. Well, they ABs went through 2013 with Cruden doing the lion's share of the kicking and he got pretty much everything today, and Barrett got the majority of them in the loss to Ireland - a vast improvement on the previous fixtures this year.

[canta_brian]

I thought Sopoaga' kicking looked fine today also.

They had all the time in the world today, but the team looked a decent balance. Good to see Retallica back in the 2nd half too.

[dk4]

First time I have seen Sopoaga play and he seems to have alot to offer. Very quick feet. Will he be on the bench in Dublin?

Our scrum was quite good. Impressed with the hooker options.

Which locks will they select for Dublin? Retallicka and who else?

Suspect Kaino.& Read are back and Perenara is starting.

Savea on the wing?

ALB w Fekitoa on centre?

Then Dagg at 14? He was quite good today.

[cashead]

Dagg at 14 and Smith at 15, with them doing swap-dee-doos all day, definitely Lienert-Brown in the midfield, Barrett or Cruden at 10, with probably Perenara at 9 (Smith or Kerr-Barlow on the bench - TKB played well), Read at 8, Cane at 7, and Kaino at 6, with Retallick starting (if Whitelock's fit, put him on the bench).

[Spy]

What I have noticed no one is talking about is that in the last couple of weeks, both Barrett and Cruden's goalkicking have actually improved considerably. Well, they ABs went through 2013 with Cruden doing the lion's share of the kicking and he got pretty much everything today, and Barrett got the majority of them in the loss to Ireland - a vast improvement on the previous fixtures this year.

Barrett missed an easy one last week to start, but then nailed a real toughie later on to even it up. The rest of his kicks were pretty straight-forward IIRC, but good to see that he did knock them over. I guess an adequate and non-decisive kicking display was lowish on the order of talking points from last week.

I thought Sopoaga' kicking looked fine today also.

He's an excellent goalkicker. Pretty good all round player too, although he had an ugly missed covering tackle in the Italian try today. Thought we might have seen a bit more of him this year, but Cruden started the season, then Barrett's been so red-hot that he's not really had a look in.

Dagg at 14 and Smith at 15, with them doing swap-dee-doos all day, definitely Lienert-Brown in the midfield, Barrett or Cruden at 10, with probably Perenara at 9 (Smith or Kerr-Barlow on the bench - TKB played well), Read at 8, Cane at 7, and Kaino at 6, with Retallick starting (if Whitelock's fit, put him on the bench).

Sounds about right. ALB has created more in midfield than anyone else this year. What a surprise package.

[dk4]

And front row of Franks/Coles and ?

[Lizard]

Even if Italy never believed they could win, is it too much to ask for them to show at least a little ambition? All they did was kick the ball to us and wait for us to run in another try.

[morepork]

Even if Italy never believed they could win, is it too much to ask for them to show at least a little ambition? All they did was kick the ball to us and wait for us to run in another try.

Italy are so fucking annoying to watch for that reason.

However, they just rolled the Boks. Haven't seen it, but I'm guessing it wasn't a classic.

[Len]

Irish commentators asking for a red. Fuck off idiots. His arms were wrapped.

Edit: wrong thread

[cashead]

Yeah, so how about them Boks, eh?

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Yeah, so how about them Boks, eh?

coach is gone surely.

[Lizard]

Yeah, so how about them Boks, eh?

coach is gone surely.

At least their media are keeping it all in perspective

[Mr Mwenda]

I was looking for highlights and watched some saffa post-match analysis. I was surprised they were so down on their team, it was all about how awful the books were with nothing about italy doing anything right. Really odd. I feel for the boks' coach, he may not be great but how can he get sa playing modern rugby if he's castigated for every slip on the way?

Italy were gonna do either the aussies or the boks one of these years so it ay the end of the world.