Rugby Championship

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/83056077/chiefs-midfielder-anton-lienertbrown-replaces-sonny-bill-williams-in-all-blacks

Anton Lienert-Brown called up for the All Blacks over Seta Tamanivalu to replace Sonny Bill Williams. Who do you guys start against Australia?

Crotty and Moala would be a good combo I think but likely to be fekitoa and Crotty. Lienert brown off the bench with Crotty and Moala starting is what I'd like to see with sopoanga and perenara rounding out the bench. Dagg at fullback with smith and naholo on the wings. Barrett has to start though.

A lot of new combinations there though apart for the back 3. Not sure how many minutes Barrett and smith have played together at 9 and 10.

On a slightly different note also how do you guys feel about the amount of crusaders forwards selected considering they were the 4th NZ team?

4th NZ team wasn't exactly that far from the 1st NZ team to be honest. I'm not fussed about the amount of Crusader forwards in the squad. I wouldn't drop any of them.

The forward pack nearly picks itself. Only question is Cane or Savea to start, and which one on the bench?
Backs are more of a question. Would go for:

Smith
Barrett
Naholo
Crotty
Moala
Smith
Dagg

21. TJP
22. Cruden
23. Fekitoa

But I suspect we will see Crotty & Fekitoa starting with Moala on the bench, and Savea Snr starting too. Not sure whether they will start Cruden or Barrett either...they are rather loyal so perhaps Cruden?

Really gutted about SBW, was looking forward to him coming back into the squad.

I think Sparkys backline is bang on, though in saying that I don't think Cruden is good off the bench but do agree that Barrett has to start.

Not too concerned with the Crusaders forwards as that's been the case over a number of years now and they seem to lift more in the AB environment.

Will be a tough game vs Australia, they've had longer to prepare (a month I think?), while we come in battled hardened but probably not as fresh, think the Aussies will get up in the first game but would love to be proved wrong.

Be interesting to see how Argentina go this year, I think they've had enough time in the comp now to start making moves.

What do you guys think will be the AB team vs Wallabies this Saturday night?

Boring Prediction...

1. Moody
2. Coles (if fit)
3. Franks
4. Retallick
5. Whitelock
6. Kaino
7. Cane
8. Read
9. Smith
10. Cruden
11. Naholo
12. Crotty
13. Fekitoa
14. Smith
15. Dagg

I'd like Barrett to start but I don't think he will. Main variables will probably be the 11 and 13 jersey.

Personally I'd like Barrett to start but I don't think they will.

1. Crockett
2. Harris
3. Franks
4. Retallick
5. Whitelock
6. Kaino
7. Savea
8. Read
9. Smith
10. Cruden
11. Naholo
12. Crotty
13. Moala
14. Smith
15. Dagg

16. Harris/Taylor
17. Hames
18. Tu'ungafasi
19. Tuipulotu
20. Squire
21. Perenara
22. Barrett
23. Fekitoa

Think Cane and Coles should be rested, they've been hammered this season. Not sure about Moody - think he might be injured?

Oh yeah, does look like Moody is likely to be injured. Shows how much attention I've been paying.

If cane isn't fit Todd may be rewarded for staying with nz rugby by getting another cap. Would be a consolation prize for him but I probably wouldn't be surprised if he snuck in if cane is out

Yeah you're probably right gimp, I assume that after a long super rugby season and the way the nz conference turned out that most of the Hurricanes players would be given a rest, the other 4 teams have had a decent rest and should be ready to roll, especially the blues and crusader players.

Moala is out - http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11694940

I think Crotty/Fekitoa is pretty much guaranteed at this point.

Gutted!!

Hope Feki steps up! I personally would use Moala at 12 and Crotty at 13.

We gotta keep a bit of faith on Fekitoa. He's got the skills and has often been really good for the All Blacks.

I prefer Crotty at 12 and about Moala... perhaps 13 or even 14

All Blacks 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Waisake Naholo, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Kane Hames, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Liam Squire, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Julian Savea.

Barrett at 10, two loosies on the bench and Read providing lock cover, and Savea wearing jersey 23.

Questions:
How would the All Blacks cope with an early injury to either Whitelock or Retallick?
Is Ben Smith the cover at 12 and 13?
When in the 60th minute Aaron Cruden takes the field, will he do it for Barrett and take over the kicking duties? Will he do it for Dagg with Barrett moving to 15?

Squire can lock, as can Kaino. But no specialist.....

Ben smith looks the likely, who would probably then replace Dagg, once Barrett goes to fullback.

Steve told me.

Ben Smith would cover 13 but 12 would be Fekitoa moving in one. Lineout should be ok but scrum maybe not.

Chewy are you originally from Hawkes Bay? My auntie and uncle live 5 minutes away from Te Aute College. Kane Hames soon to be added to the list of Te Aute AB alumni.

Not originally, but 10 years in Napier as a young lad. Yea that's a bit of a buzz for the Te Aute faithful!!

Really?

Any student with an upbringing in tech could have put that there.

NO THE AUSSIES PUT IT THERE

If you'd had a stripper there, there would have been much less fuss!

Would have been happy with a 32-3 scoreline at full time. Can both sides just declare and we can stop this injury train?

Things turned a bit shit when Crotty went off. It helps to have proper centres playing in the centres. Great first half performance though!

We are running out of hookers though. James Parsons up next?

Called up.

James Parsons, Liam Coltman (Hooker)
Seta Tamanivalu, Rieko Ioane (Midfield)
Damian McKenzie (Fullback)

So assuming Moody, Taylor, Coles, Harris, Moala, Crotty, Naholo aren't available for the next match... What's the 23?

1. Crockett
2. Parsons
3. Franks
4. Retallick
5. Whitelock
6. Kaino
7. Cane
8. Read
9. Smith
10. Barrett
11. J Savea
12. Lienert-Brown
13. Fekitoa
14. Smith
15. Dagg

16. Coltman
17. Hames
18. Faumuina
19. Squire
20. A Savea
21. Perenara
22. Cruden
23. Ioane

Thoughts?

Possibly Fekitoa to 12 and Tamanivalu starting at 13 with Lienert-Brown at 23? Or McKenzie at 23? Other than those possibilities, the team picks itself.