Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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#3507034 29-Jun-2026 15:18

Yeah, fair point about Jordan. Maybe easing back in, as I think Sititi should, is the safer option in a long challenging year. If he doesn't start then interesting call for 15. I'd maybe go for DMac ahead of Moorby.

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#3507036 29-Jun-2026 15:20

networkn:

I don't see Procter at 13 unless they feel his defense has massively improved. Love if he starts will need someone reliable. Clarke seems a lock for the wing (though again, defense). Not sure Fineanganofo, I'd guess Carter and Fineanganofo from the bench.

So who's your 13? As I said above, I'm leaning towards ALB, but I guess a lot depends on whether this coaching group see Tupaea as a 13.

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#3507180 30-Jun-2026 09:33

Earbanean:

Yeah, fair point about Jordan. Maybe easing back in, as I think Sititi should, is the safer option in a long challenging year. If he doesn't start then interesting call for 15. I'd maybe go for DMac ahead of Moorby.

Dmac barring an absolute injury crisis shouldn't play anywhere but 15.

If he plays he should be off the bench once we get a few guys some experience. He is mercurial, and it's never really worked that well at test level. He reminds me heaps of Spencer though people have a romantic view of Spencer and forget all the stuff he tried that put us under pressure.

Moorby is brand new, and should be introduced off the bench, unless all the rest of the backline are experienced. We don't want to blood a whole bunch of newbies at one time IMO, it just puts them under pressure.

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#3507181 30-Jun-2026 09:35

Earbanean:

So who's your 13? As I said above, I'm leaning towards ALB, but I guess a lot depends on whether this coaching group see Tupaea as a 13.

From whom we have assuming Tupaea is a 12, it would have to be ALB.

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#3507184 30-Jun-2026 09:40

networkn:

Dmac barring an absolute injury crisis shouldn't play anywhere but 15.

If he plays he should be off the bench once we get a few guys some experience. He is mercurial, and it's never really worked that well at test level. He reminds me heaps of Spencer though people have a romantic view of Spencer and forget all the stuff he tried that put us under pressure.

Moorby is brand new, and should be introduced off the bench, unless all the rest of the backline are experienced. We don't want to blood a whole bunch of newbies at one time IMO, it just puts them under pressure.

So, if you're saying Jordan should be eased back in and DMac and Moorby should both be off the bench if they play, then who's left? Who is your starting 15? Is it Barrett?

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#3507186 30-Jun-2026 09:44

Earbanean:

So, if you're saying Jordan should be eased back in and DMac and Moorby should both be off the bench if they play, then who's left? Who is your starting 15? Is it Barrett?

I could have been clearer.

For me, Dmac shouldn't be in the squad (but would have been hard to omit with so many newish faces in this squad) , but if he plays long term, he should be a bench option. For now, he will need to play, but shouldn't be anywhere near the 10 jersey.

I have concerns about Barrett, but if he can find his form, and potentially some more of that speed he is so known for, I'd play him at 15.

For this test, Dmac would be at 15.

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Earbanean

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#3507188 30-Jun-2026 09:49

networkn:

Earbanean:

So who's your 13? As I said above, I'm leaning towards ALB, but I guess a lot depends on whether this coaching group see Tupaea as a 13.

From whom we have assuming Tupaea is a 12, it would have to be ALB.

Wow, that's quite the U-turn. Going from:

"ALB would be 5th or 6th best center based on 'form' that Dave Rennie said he was selecting on. Some favourtism is normal and probably fairly acceptable. "

to having him as your starting 13, in the space of a week or so.

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#3507191 30-Jun-2026 09:53

Earbanean:

Wow, that's quite the U-turn. Going from:

"ALB would be 5th or 6th best center based on 'form' that Dave Rennie said he was selecting on. Some favourtism is normal and probably fairly acceptable. "

to having him as your starting 13, in the space of a week or so.

Sorry you are having trouble comphrehending it. It's pretty straight forward if you aren't just constantly looking for an argument and point scoring.

There is a difference between I don't think he should be in the squad (yet, was implied), and, he's in the squad and based on other likely selections, he is the best choice from the squad we have selected.

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#3507192 30-Jun-2026 09:53

networkn:

I could have been clearer.

For me, Dmac shouldn't be in the squad (but would have been hard to omit with so many newish faces in this squad) , but if he plays long term, he should be a bench option. For now, he will need to play, but shouldn't be anywhere near the 10 jersey.

I have concerns about Barrett, but if he can find his form, and potentially some more of that speed he is so known for, I'd play him at 15.

For this test, Dmac would be at 15.

Yeah, I agree. He's a brilliant attacking player and can be devastating off the bench, but he's not a good enough 'game driver' for test 10. Assuming Love goes OK at 10 and Mo'unga integrates back in well, then DMac is down the pecking order anyway.

If Love and Mo'unga were both injured, it becomes an interesting hypothetical about who then would start at 10. Given we ended up with the 4th choice 10 on the field in the 2011 World Cup final.

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#3507197 30-Jun-2026 09:58

networkn:

Sorry you are having trouble comphrehending it. It's pretty straight forward if you aren't just constantly looking for an argument and point scoring.

There is a difference between I don't think he should be in the squad (yet, was implied), and, he's in the squad and based on other likely selections, he is the best choice from the squad we have selected.

Not looking for an argument, just trying to understand the logic. So you're saying he's best from the squad we have selected. Fair enough, but if you could select any squad, then who are the test 13s ahead of him? Surely not Ioane?

You said he was 5th or 6th best. I'm genuinely interested in who the other 4 or 5 are that you see ahead of him as a test 13?

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#3507202 30-Jun-2026 10:36

To me both Barrett and Dmac are better at 10 with Jordan at 15, but I'm picking either Barrett or Dmac will get the 15 jersey and the other will be on the bench.

Does anyone know if the French team is their A team, or is their B or C team like last time they played here?

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#3507204 30-Jun-2026 10:38

Not looking for an argument, just trying to understand the logic. So you're saying he's best from the squad we have selected. Fair enough, but if you could select any squad, then who are the test 13s ahead of him? Surely not Ioane?

No, that isn't what I said, I said given other likely selections he is the best choice. IE if Love starts at 10, there needs to be lots of experience around him, able to support him. Make it so he has 1-2 things to think about, and let others worry about the other stuff.

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#3507205 30-Jun-2026 10:39

OnceBitten:

To me both Barrett and Dmac are better at 10 with Jordan at 15, but I'm picking either Barrett or Dmac will get the 15 jersey and the other will be on the bench.

Does anyone know if the French team is their A team, or is their B or C team like last time they played here?

Dupont isn't touring down here and also isn't touring the rest of their trips either. I don't know enough about the French team, but I'd imagine it's not going to be their A.

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#3507215 30-Jun-2026 10:50

I hate how the interviews for the Rugby team go. Leading and or loaded questions that only have one possible answer, or make possible to answer only with cliches. It's such a waste of time.

They seem to be getting worse. Surely, someone can come up with a different format. Don't even get me started on the lack of microphones for the people asking questions during press conferences.

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#3507350 30-Jun-2026 14:09

OnceBitten:

Does anyone know if the French team is their A team, or is their B or C team like last time they played here?

Last year it was a B/C team and pushed us hard. This years its an A/B team and much stronger than last years. They left the top 8-9 players playing in the top 14 final last weekend out.

I think it will be a LOT closer than the TAB think

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