NZ v Canada

[ruggerfan]

My top 22:

Woodcock
Mealamu
O Franks
Thorn
Whitelock
Kaino
McCaw
Read
Cowen
Carter
Kahui
Nonu
Smith
Jane
Dagg

Hore
B Franks
A Williams
Thompson
Weepu
SBW
Toeava

Injuries aside. Bit risky having Weepu covering both halves but there ya have it dont think Slade or Ellis are good enough for knockout and wanna play the A team all the way.

[jules]

I have seen that suggested lineup in a couple of other places too ruggerfan.

I am a fan of Slade & Ellis, but if we are working on the assumption that the only reason someone else plays 10 is because Dan gets crocked then having Weepu in the mix as the backup and therefore adding Toeava as utility cover makes so much sense.

It would have felt pretty hairy on Saturday if France were still in the game on the scoreboard when we had to resort to a backline of: Dagg, SBW, Smith, Nonu, Slade, Carter and Ellis.

Running Toeava or Nonu on the wing just feels so much better than putting little Colin out there under the microscope!

If Weepu is in (as it appears) then like you I think I'd go with Cowan as the backup, he just has more experience and is a better defender that Ellis.

Of course this assumes that they will go with the number 1 lineup for Canada. Mils is on 98 games, that would mix things up in itself. 99 caps is better than 98!

Jules

[ruggerfan]

Have to admit my team really is geared around fitting Sonny Bill into the team, Really feel for Slade, Ellis and Guilford but they are just not performing to the standard of excellence that will be required.
 Of course there is a chance that they are playing to a plan that doesn't allow them to "show off" but I feel they are actually showing oppositions more of what their respective weaknesses can be rather than improving into the team with more gametime.
 For example Richie and Dan seemed to be having quiet games earlier but as soon as we were up against a stronger outfit, they injected themselves into the game.
 Perhaps Ted has it all under control and I'm just being an old worry wart. Oh well back to Italy v USA on the Maori channel woohoo! Loving the rugby overdose. GO BLACK!!!

Doh! realised I posted pretty much the same thing in the French match thread.

[jules]

All Blacks Team to play Canada:

Mils Muliaina, Israel Dagg, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Zac Guildford, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Brad Thorn, Anthony Boric, Piri Weepu, Colin Slade, Isaia Toeava

Notables:
Mils is back,
Dagg moves to the wing,
Guildford in on the other wing,
SBW gives Nonu a rest at 12,
Cowan is back at 9,
Read is back at 8,
Ali gives Brad a rest at 5

Obviously the nature of the competition means that they could mix up the lineup a bit.

Minor injuries to Jane and Kahui are part of the rational for Guildford and Mils coming in but I have heard a conspiracy theory type of reasoning that Mils was rested earlier to give Quickdraw McCaw the opportunity to play his 100th first, and now that that has happened Mils is back in the mix.

Not so sure about that, but assuming Mils shows he is at 100% then I would be happy enough with Dagg staying on the wing at the expense of Jane.

Looking forward to seeing Read get a run, hopefully he is fully recovered. Playing with Mccaw and Kaino those three really have been devastating in the last year or two.

Should be a high scoring afternoon game, will be taking the family out to a carnival for Redcliffs school (who were hammered in the earthquakes, so deserve support) and watching the game on a big screen there with so friends.

As for Canada, no offense buddies, but you know you've got a butt kicking coming don't you EH? Just drink a few more Molsons boys and kick back and enjoy your last game in the RWC, you guys have been awesome to watch.

Cheers, Jules

[Teach]

Slade needs at least 35 minutes, actually I hope he gets 50 minutes plus.
If he doesn't have a decent game right now, then he is still going to play like a bunch of of nerves and we can't risk him in a big game.
That would be a real shame, because I know he is a good player.

[ruggerfan]

As I've said before I really don't think 7 changes is the go at this stage of the tournament, however this team looks plenty strong enough to take out the match.

 Good to see Zac back in from the cold as I think he's gonna feature a lot in the future All Blacks, hell I think I'd have a few drinks too after what happened in Brissy.
 I hope Kieran Read can hit some form straight away, but like others wonder why there is no backup, a pretty tall order to play 80min international when he didn't even make it through the full training session.
 GOOOOOOOO BLACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Richie replaced by Vito as a "precautionary measure"   hmmmmm, not good 2 loosies that haven't played this world cup at all.
 Captain Dan Carter!

[jules]

Mccaw out is certainly not ideal, but if he has been nursing a sore foot all season then better to get some rest when he can with the knockouts coming up next week.

Great for Carter to get the captaincy. I loved his comment about not remembering when he last captained a team, "probably in an age group team when my dad was coach."

Pre-tournament it is easy to worry about the best 15 to put on the park, but as has always been the case, every team has injuries during the cup, that is why you have a squad of 30.

Australia and South Africa are suffering far worse I think. Fran Steyn is a possible match winner, sent home after a battering from some big Samoan fellas.

I hope Zac has a great game too, he certainly is very active to get involved when he's on the field which is a big part of why he got the call up I believe.

Go the Blackness!

Jules

[Teach]

Well well. Carter is not captain now.. and Slade is going to get up to 80 minutes I think?

[ruggerfan]

Worst possible news. Big drop down for this most critical of positions. Dan's defence will be missed there.

[jules]

 

No DC and things don't look quite so clear cut eh? Hopefully Slade can quell a nations nerves today. Both he and Dan will have had a restless night I'm sure!

I presume Weepu is our next kicking option after Slade? That is looking like a definite weakness if Carter is out.

Somehow it's easier to handle a tournament of dramas when they aren't happening to your team!

Jules