1st Test ABs Team

[Buggaluggs]

New Zealand: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody

Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Aaron Cruden/Lima Sopoaga, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown

[bruce]

Looks weak

[dk4]

why not ALB at 13? Has Crotty experience at 13?

[dk4]

Hope Rieko practises catching bombs and tackling at restart.
Is Cruden injury worry?

[Mikey Brown]

I didn't realise the surveyor was genuinely leave-out-able. Also question Crotty at 13 but not exactly a shabby side is it. Coles out, though a shame for him, is good for us. So only two of their tight 5 will show up our centres for ball skills.

[J Dory]

Interesting bench, I guess Barrett and SBW are fullback and wing cover?

[cashead]

why not ALB at 13? Has Crotty experience at 13?

Yes he has.

[morepork]

Dunno about Crotty at 13, but happy to be wrong. Crockett the penalty machine on the bench......

No J Surveyor. Boom. Hope Rieko nails his chance like a three legged dog skinning Jack Nowell on the outside with a chop in its mouth. Hoping to see A Surveyor do his beserker impression off the bench.

[jared_7]

A bit of hype building around this game now - the media, after spending weeks ripping into almost every aspect of the Lions, has now seemingly shifted to being completely in their favour. A couple of dominant performances against the Maori and Chiefs and all of a sudden Gatland's game plan makes perfect sense and we are looking at a pretty even test.

Good stuff.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

Beauden Barrett Is a poor mans Dan Parks.

[morepork]

From the perspective of hairstyle, perhaps, yes.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

From the perspective of hairstyle, perhaps, yes.

He has a point, hes not Dan Parks

[Cameo]

I actually think that AB's team is less scary than I imagined. I'd have thought you would have one of Naholo or Savea in there and Crotty, while good, isnt as explosive as some. Still favourites though

[Spy]

Big call selecting Reiko in such a high-pressure match. Lions are sure to target him - let's hope he's up to it. It's a selection that shows, I think, that the coaching staff are concerned about the smothering defence of the Lions. They want a player who's demonstrating that he can break a one-on-one and create a break from nothing. The gamble is that he doesn't fck things up through inexperience/stage fright/pressure. Savea's not been bad this year, from what I've seen, but he's mostly been quite well contained. I think Naholo can be considered unlucky after his terrific match for the Highlanders v Lions. He was devastating in that game, and the same arguments could be advanced for his inclusion ahead of Savea, plus he has extra experience ahead of Ioane.

ALB unlucky after his very good match v Samoa, but Crotty's pretty reliable. Pack selections are as expected.

Big game this. Excited.

[cashead]

Being put on the bench isn't really a demotion in this ABs team though, as they're expected to play and contribute.

[Banquo]

Is Julian crocked?

[kk67]

I still expect the NZ pack will create havoc. There's at least 4 of them that I'd consider to be unplayable.
That would be bad enough if they were the ones playing as individuals in a scratch team. But they ain't and they aren't.

[Lizard]

Is Julian crocked?

Nope. Just not as quick as Reiko.