500th Test.

Steve Hansen has named the same starting lineup from the All Blacks 499th test for New Zealands 500th test this saturday against France...A milestone reached by such other Rugby nations as England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Australia several years ago.

 Team:
Dagg
Smith
Smith
Nonu
Savea
Cruden
Smith
Read,
Cane
Messam
Retallick,
Romano,
Franks,
Coles,
Crockett,

Reserves:
Hore,Woodcock,Franks,Thrush,Vito,Weepu, Barrett, and Rene Ranger.

This side doesnt fill me with a lot of hope long term Laurie. Good to see the forwards looking so young, Read and Franks standing out a mile in terms of experience.

Think Dagg is getting one chance too many and for a player in the form of Ranger to have to wait 3 weeks to play maybe 20-30 minutes rugby is poor.

They'll probably win going away but something about this side that doesnt inspire as much...

The way I see it is he has intentionally stayed with the same starting xv (most coaches wouldnt have been able to resist at least making some changes) and presumably the whole team has trained during the week in that format but they have to build and improve on last weeks performance.

 My understanding is that Hansen sees Rene Ranger as an impact player only, which begs the questions, why not start with Ranger and have the benefit of his impact for 80 minutes? Savea wouldnt make a bad impact player anyway would he?

Yeah impact doesnt really apply at the start when theyre all practically impact players initially. The impact comes when 90% of the players have been running around for for an hour or so. I know thats obvious but Ranger offers more than as impact. For one his high work rate and ability to attack would both benefit from longer time on, as would his 7 skills in pilfering.

Then he comes on at 65 mins, knows he's only got 15 minutes to have an impact, then falls into the same issues he had that put him out in the first place- rushing 50/50 passes, trying low % stuff- all at a time when composure is also needed.

Just think we'll lose him if he's used on that basis.

Still has dodgy defence I reckon so I don't want to see him at centre.
Dagg stays on if the game is won, Ben Smith to Centre and Ranger on the wing

I would have put him at wing and Smith to Fullback- Dagg on the bench. Dagg's had several games well below his best now and Smith's proved he's the better onfield player, and fullback.

I wouldnt have Ranger at Centre until he was well entrenched in the starting line-up- if even then. Earlier I was but the reality with the lift in stakes to test level sure kicks in...

What is Carter status? Still injured. I cant help to think that despite not being 1st choice he's better than cruden at getting the best of nonu-smith partnership.  Nonu can do more damage as a decoy than a battling ram allowing more space for conrad smith and this is something that carter tended to use more.

aucklandlaurie wrote:Steve Hansen has named the same starting lineup from the All Blacks 499th test for New Zealands 500th test this saturday against France...A milestone reached by such other Rugby nations as England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Australia several years ago.

 Team:
Dagg
Smith
Smith
Nonu
Savea
Cruden
Smith
Read,
Cane
Messam
Retallick,
Romano,
Franks,
Coles,
Crockett,

Reserves:
Hore,Woodcock,Franks,Thrush,Vito,Weepu, Barrett, and Rene Ranger.

So! NZ yet to reach 500 test? Pfffff! This explains it ALL : beginners luck.

Its about what is a test? there is one country to have beaten New Zealand in a game that didnt qualify as a test under NZ definition.

Not enough Smiths.

aucklandlaurie wrote:Its about what is a test? there is one country to have beaten New Zealand in a game that didnt qualify as a test under NZ definition.

Countries that have beaten NZ:

England, Wales, France, South Africa, Australia, Rhodesia.


Doesn't look as good if we include them

Im surprised that Australia has played more games than NZ. Not surprised that any of the 6N teams have of course though.

France too took up the sport a lot later than NZ didnt they?

Dunno GG they did start in the 5N later but pretty sure they had a team at the end of the 19th century

You look at Ireland's record against NZ GG. If you say over a 100 years it sounds impressive. 20 something games and you think oh is that all. I get the feeling in the professional era we're close to doubling all the games of the amateur era if we're not already there.

Whitelock was training and Retallick had a hamstring injury. Feel a lot better having Whitelock in the squad as Thrush in the squad sounds like the boys made some ill advised decisions with some local scrubbers.

France team named...

Médard
Planté, Fritz, Fofana, Huget
Michalak, Machenaud
Picamoles, Le Roux, Dusautoir
Maestri, Sanson
Mas, Szarzewski, Domingo

replacements : Kayser, Debaty, Ducalcon, Vahaamahina, Nyanga, Dulin, Tales, Bastareaud

earlier this week I was hopeful that Michalak wont start at 10 since PSA said he was now seeing him more as a 9 and now he starts him at flyhalf on the basis of those half-backs having more experience together.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:You look at Ireland's record against NZ GG. If you say over a 100 years it sounds impressive. 20 something games and you think oh is that all. I get the feeling in the professional era we're close to doubling all the games of the amateur era if we're not already there.

Whitelock was training and Retallick had a hamstring injury. Feel a lot better having Whitelock in the squad as Thrush in the squad sounds like the boys made some ill advised decisions with some local scrubbers.

 I knew we should have Craig Clark in there.

whocares wrote:Dunno GG they did start in the 5N later but pretty sure they had a team at the end of the 19th century

Yeah ok. I assumed that 5N participation would be the only reason why NH teams would have more tests than SH teams.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:You look at Ireland's record against NZ GG. If you say over a 100 years it sounds impressive. 20 something games and you think oh is that all. I get the feeling in the professional era we're close to doubling all the games of the amateur era if we're not already there.

Whitelock was training and Retallick had a hamstring injury. Feel a lot better having Whitelock in the squad as Thrush in the squad sounds like the boys made some ill advised decisions with some local scrubbers.

Its not impressive its annoying. Very very annoying.
 We should have beaten the Kiwi's by now. There have been some chances.

Ireland play NZ at the JRWC today in a group decider. Look forward to this game.

19:45 Madrid time.

Dont think we have beaten NZ at junior level either.

 Thought you might see it that way. But it IS impressive as there's no logical reason why it should be the case. You're good enough to beat us. It's a source of pride for us because it stands out.

Though looking at it from your side of things annoying is the extremely polite version!

Cheers mate. Will definitely watch that tonight. 

I know it is impressive, I jest. It is annoying too.

What is this under 20 Kiwi team like?

Ireland under 20s have beaten Australia, SA, France and England in their last games against them but they also lost to Wales and Scotland away and drew with Italy in the under 20 6N.

Well drilled but usually smaller than everyone else.

Pete put up the side on another thread. Ardie Savea is the high profile name but I don't know too much about this side other than they'll be fired up after their loss to SA last time. All the more reason to watch tonight. Thank God for streaming. 

blackcanelion wrote:Jason Emery plays for the highlanders. He's a useful centre. He's  pretty much the only backline player from the 2011 secondary schools team not playing rugby league.

Is that th latest crop of Aucklanders bc?

Sam Whitelock in.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10890578

Taylorman wrote:

blackcanelion wrote:Jason Emery plays for the highlanders. He's a useful centre. He's  pretty much the only backline player from the 2011 secondary schools team not playing rugby league.

Is that th latest crop of Aucklanders bc?

I'm not sure. I have a bit of a limited understanding. However, it looks like the number of players is increasing and players with previous contact with league are going (the crossover in NZ means that many talented league players have always played union at school). It's not just the Warriors, it's also teams like Brisbane and Melbourne etc. I suspect that the success of players like Hurrel and others is working. In the end the NRL is still wealthier than the super 15 franchises. They all have second teams and juniors sides playing in regular competitions. They have scouts at big rugby games and contracting kids at young ages. I think they can earn more as a junior in league (remembering their are 16 NRL clubs looking for junior talent each year)