They have rewarded a lot of Canes for their Title. 

I thought Vaa'i was a glaring omission, but turns out he's not considered due to concussion. 

If they see Savea as an 8, then this makes it even harder for Kirifi to swallow his omission from the squad.  Most people's reasoning was that Kirifi is a specialist 7 and Savea is going to play there.

Earbanean:

 

If they see Savea as an 8, then this makes it even harder for Kirifi to swallow his omission from the squad.  Most people's reasoning was that Kirifi is a specialist 7 and Savea is going to play there.

 

If you watched the video I posted, it explains the likely reason for his ommission. He's also 5'11 vs 6'1 and 6'3 of the others. Lineout seems to be an area they are focused on. France has some massively tall loose forwards and locks.  

Kirifi is pretty much the shortest and lightest of the NZR loose forwards. It was always the reason given for his non selection by prior coaches.  Parker is tallest and heaviest.

Savea has been preferred at 8 pretty consistently for the AB's. Likely only moving back to 7 (or twice at 6), due to injury or trying to make room for a newbie. 

I don't usually listen to the rock, but as I was channel surfing on the way to work and Brad Weber was on and talking about being at a party with Bryce during the super rugby final.  There was some backwards and forwards and someone mentioned smack talking and Brad was saying Bryce was pretty well behaved, he obviously felt the power in the room. Bryce replied with, I was trying to talk smack but every time I opened my mouth the canes scored a try. 

I had to ROFL at that.

Brads expectation is a 39-24 win to the AB's. 

I'll be interested to see how our defence looks under Tana U'maga

I was surprised that they threw Love in the deep end and had him start at 10.... I though they might bring him off the bench for a couple of games, but they obviously have faith in him to do the job, so that's great.

OnceBitten:

 

I was surprised that they threw Love in the deep end and had him start at 10.... I though they might bring him off the bench for a couple of games, but they obviously have faith in him to do the job, so that's great.

 

Nah, I've been all in on Love starting at 10 for some time.  i.e. since I launched the 'Love Boat'.  IMO, we've got to find out about him quickly, before we go to SA, and this is the way to do it.  FWIW, DMac is there as backup if it goes pear shaped.  Personally, I don't think it will.  

I was surprised by Jacobson at  and Jordan at 14, but after press conference etc, it makes perfect sense to me now. 

They see 7 as a trench warfare, at the breakdown, over the ball, etc role.  That suits a Jacobson better and frees Savea and Lakai to do what they do best, which involves carrying a bit wider.  I guess they're going back closer to the style of a McCaw or Cane.

Jordan on the wing makes sense because they say we need aerial wings - which I've always thought too.  Clarke on the left is really strong in the air.  With no Narawa or Fihaki, I think Jordan makes sense for the other wing.  Having Ioane and Reece on the wings is one decision that people seem to acknowledge as a mistake last year.  Although admittedly that was forced by injuries to Clarke and Narawa.  

Earbanean:

 

Nah, I've been all in on Love starting at 10 for some time.  i.e. since I launched the 'Love Boat'.  IMO, we've got to find out about him quickly, before we go to SA, and this is the way to do it.  FWIW, DMac is there as backup if it goes pear shaped.  Personally, I don't think it will.  

 

Dmac is a specialist 10 in my opinion - B Barrett can play both, so in that case I'd have Love 10 and Barrett at 15 with Dmac on the bench

OnceBitten:

 

Dmac is a specialist 10 in my opinion - B Barrett can play both, so in that case I'd have Love 10 and Barrett at 15 with Dmac on the bench

 

Wow, that's a take. 

He displays none of the characteristics of a classic specialist 10, at least not consistently, certainly almost never at test level. His out of hand kicking, his game reading, are both well below the standard of almost every other test 10. Even when he goes on his scything runs, he is as likely to get isolated because neither his team mates or the opposition know what he is going to do, so no cleaners are ready.  He runs laterally a lot, but unlike someone like Reece, who does the same thing, Reece is almost always cognizant of the fact he will get turned over if he is too far from his support people. 

IF Dmac and BB were going to be in the match day 23, I'd agree RL at 10 right now (let's see how that goes) and BB at 15 and Dmac off the bench. 

networkn:

 

Wow, that's a take. 

 

He displays none of the characteristics of a classic specialist 10, at least not consistently, certainly almost never at test level. His out of hand kicking, his game reading, are both well below the standard of almost every other test 10. Even when he goes on his scything runs, he is as likely to get isolated because neither his team mates or the opposition know what he is going to do, so no cleaners are ready.  He runs laterally a lot, but unlike someone like Reece, who does the same thing, Reece is almost always cognizant of the fact he will get turned over if he is too far from his support people. 

 

IF Dmac and BB were going to be in the match day 23, I'd agree RL at 10 right now (let's see how that goes) and BB at 15 and Dmac off the bench. 

 

Yeah, that's more or less how I see it to.  The want to play a heads up counter attacking game and DMac is one of the best in the business at that.  However, IMO he has shown that he's not a test level 'game driver'.  So not suitable as a test 10, but they want him on the field.  Obviously in this 23 he covers 10 in an injury scenario.  

networkn:

 

 

 

Wow, that's a take. 

 

He displays none of the characteristics of a classic specialist 10, at least not consistently, certainly almost never at test level. His out of hand kicking, his game reading, are both well below the standard of almost every other test 10. Even when he goes on his scything runs, he is as likely to get isolated because neither his team mates or the opposition know what he is going to do, so no cleaners are ready.  He runs laterally a lot, but unlike someone like Reece, who does the same thing, Reece is almost always cognizant of the fact he will get turned over if he is too far from his support people. 

 

IF Dmac and BB were going to be in the match day 23, I'd agree RL at 10 right now (let's see how that goes) and BB at 15 and Dmac off the bench. 

 

Dmac had an off game in the super rugby final.... but usually he's pretty sharp at 10 and that's why I prefer him there rather than B Barrett

B Barrett is pretty good at 10 and better (IMO) than Dmac at 15... that's why I'd have B Barret at 15 with Love at 10 and Dmac on the bench as cover

OnceBitten:

 

Dmac had an off game in the super rugby final.... but usually he's pretty sharp at 10 and that's why I prefer him there rather than B Barrett

 

B Barrett is pretty good at 10 and better (IMO) than Dmac at 15... that's why I'd have B Barret at 15 with Love at 10 and Dmac on the bench as cover

 

I am not judging him on his finals performance, it was an aberation for him to be THAT bad, but it does show that under pressure he doesn't really cope, and he doesn't 'see' the game and therefore, doesn't change what needs to happen, making him unsuitable at 10 for the AB's. 3 coaches have tried and failed to get him there. 

He's a fine 10 at Super Rugby level. 

He is most definitely not sharp at AB's level. He has the occasional passable game. He does have reasonable impact most of the time, but so does BB.  

Despite all of that, he is OK (for now) as bench cover for 15/10

OnceBitten:

 

I was surprised that they threw Love in the deep end and had him start at 10.... I though they might bring him off the bench for a couple of games, but they obviously have faith in him to do the job, so that's great.

 

I'm surprised too.  I thought they'd bring Love off the bench against France and Ireland and start him against Italy.

It's good to see though.  And it makes sense to give him game time against serious opposition before the SA series.