RaceCafe..#1...Tipsters Thread.... Share Your Fancies For Fun...Lets See Who The Best Tipsters Here Are.
THE TORCH

AB's team announced.

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Guildford, Delany and Ben smith all selected. very surprising Flynn was picked over DeMelmanche. I think this could be Donalds last tour with the likes of Cruden, Robinson and McCalister. Isaac Ross missing out, told to go and work on his strenght.

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dont agree with ellis.not tough enough.prefer mathewson.All Blacks quite weak at halfback.

notable ommissions are hosea gear and

isaac ross.

too many winger fullback types ie jane,ben smith etc should have made room for another specialist centre in case conrad breaks down again.Nonu is not a centre and ellison is green.Also what is the point of taking delaney plus donald as back up to carter as well as mcallister?

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Only two hookers? (I only read the team on teletext .. it may be wrong).

Well there are only 6 matches and they all on a Saturday so I suppose they reckon Hore and Oram sufficient. After all if they really get stuck, anyone can play hooker (like in League) as the halves throw the pill into the second row.

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Not glad to see Joe go.

Tis sad to see someone who has given such superb service for the Black jersey, to be so sadly out of form.

Hope he forces his way back into the team with performances for the Blues next year.

I like Delany - Auck product as he is. But why take Donald as well ???? Dont get that with McAllister and Carter there too.

Feel sorry for De Malmanche and Elliot.

Nice to see Ben Smith in - that try that he set up for Thomson was just superb.

Feel sorry for Israel Dagg right now. He shows loyalty for the Bay and Highlanders then sees Smith sneak in to the ABs!! Puts his fullback position at Highlanders in some doubt now. Some ordinary play in the NPC seems to have cost Dagg an AB jersey.

Dont agree with all decisions but am looking forward to the games

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Well there are only 6 matches and they all on a Saturday so I suppose they reckon Hore and Oram sufficient. After all if they really get stuck, anyone can play hooker (like in League) as the halves throw the pill into the second row.

Oram??? Was this supposed to be a take off of the injury situation LJ. Bit more to hooking than just hooking the ball. See Afoa is back up, rather surprising

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Not glad to see Joe go.

Tis sad to see someone who has given such superb service for the Black jersey, to be so sadly out of form.

Hope he forces his way back into the team with performances for the Blues next year.

I like Delany - Auck product as he is. But why take Donald as well ???? Dont get that with McAllister and Carter there too.

Feel sorry for De Malmanche and Elliot.

Nice to see Ben Smith in - that try that he set up for Thomson was just superb.

Feel sorry for Israel Dagg right now. He shows loyalty for the Bay and Highlanders then sees Smith sneak in to the ABs!! Puts his fullback position at Highlanders in some doubt now. Some ordinary play in the NPC seems to have cost Dagg an AB jersey.

Dont agree with all decisions but am looking forward to the games

De Malmanche has had a moose! Why oh why would you want to "rest and recuperate" after sitting on the ABs bench all season?! Talk about take your spot for granted! Had a good game Saturday night but all too late pal.

Dagg must be a bit confused and apprehensive at the moment. Not only is he now competing with an AB for the Highlanders fullback position, but must also be wondering "what if" after turning down the Crusaders!

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Well there are only 6 matches and they all on a Saturday so I suppose they reckon Hore and Oram sufficient. After all if they really get stuck, anyone can play hooker (like in League) as the halves throw the pill into the second row.

Eljay selecting Oram at hooker for the All Black tour jogged my memory.

I recall Oram's father, Mark Oram a physiotherpist and rep rugby player himself, would not allow Jacob to play rugby as a youngster, because he worried about him getting injured!!

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I am generally ok with the squad as a whole.

They need to use this tour as a chance to blood the young players for 2011. I would be giving a lot of game time to Guilford,Jane and Ben Smith.... and I do agree with comments about taking 3 specialist first fives (and McAllister) and only taking 2 specialist Hookers....one who has broken his arm more often than CT has bagged Rugby League on this website.

One player who I like for the future and would love to have seen picked ahead of Ellis is Kahn Fotualii...maybe 2011 is to soon for him to be given a chance but as I said about Ben Smith this guy has The X factor as well.

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I am generally ok with the squad as a whole.

They need to use this tour as a chance to blood the young players for 2011. I would be giving a lot of game time to Guilford,Jane and Ben Smith.... and I do agree with comments about taking 3 specialist first fives (and McAllister) and only taking 2 specialist Hookers....one who has broken his arm more often than CT has bagged Rugby League on this website.

One player who I like for the future and would love to have seen picked ahead of Ellis is Kahn Fotualii...maybe 2011 is to soon for him to be given a chance but as I said about Ben Smith this guy has The X factor as well.

Yup. Feel a bit sorry for guys like Slade and Dagg. Lets hope Cruden carves in the Super 14 and forces his way in while the Wayne Smith FINALLY wakes up to the fact that Ellis and Donald are duds of the lowest kind. QED.

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One player who I like for the future and would love to have seen picked ahead of Ellis is Kahn Fotualii...maybe 2011 is to soon for him to be given a chance but as I said about Ben Smith this guy has The X factor as well.

Well Kahn has gone well this year but has had a number of chances with other teams in other years.

I really liked the look of that Otago boy Roman? - first time I have ever seen him but I think he is one for the future :)

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Had time to digest it a bit more and while I am overall happy with team there are some strange calls made.

Why take 4 specialist full backs (even though they are calling them something else) Mils, Jane, Smith & Elliason?

How did Smith get in ahead of Dagg? Who is the Highlanders fullback? Selectors state with Cruden that they want super 14 experience. Which of these 2 have most of that?

Are our wingers that bad around the country that we have to take 2 fullbacks as wingers? Really only Zac & Sivi as real wingers. Gear unlucky.

Where are the specialist mid fielders? Have really only got Nonu. + McAlister & Smith (who havn't played much lately because of injury anyway) and Elliason who as mentioned I think is a fullback. Will Donald cover again when Smith & McAlister sit out most of tour with injuries?

What has McAlister done to warrant a place?

Why take 3 1st 5s + back up (McAlister)? Obviously Carter will play at least 4 tests against Oz, England, Wales & France leaving the other 2 warming the bench and/or fighting over 2 tests.

How did Delaney get in ahead of Cruden? Selectors say they want Super 14 experience. How much has Delaney had?

Surely experience with culture, etc would do Cruden more good than Delaney

Only contentious issue with 1/2 back would be Ellis over the Wellington pair. No real problem with that.

Why take 7 loosies including 4 No 6s Kaino, Read, Messam & Thompson with So'oialo, Eaton & Boric also part time 6s

How did Latimer make it ahead of Waldrom (Scott). Tank Engine also unlucky.

Why send Ross to Gym? Was our best lock during the Super 14 & All Black games. Probably given bit much responsibility. Surely experience would count for just as much as bulk in todays game. Can do gym work during summer and come back to Super 14 bit late. Going to put heavy work load on Thorn again.

How has Flynn suddenly become No 2 hooker? What has Elliott & De Malmanche done wrong? Throw Ins? Surely all our hookers have had that problem including Hore. Do hookers have to throw the ball in?

How is Tialata still rated? Overall dont think we could do much better with props although personally would have given MacIntosh some experience in big time and left Tialata at home.

As said I do generally agree with team just few questions. Will win 6-0 with only problem being BaaBaas which could be SA in disguise. Says more about weakness of NH rugby than strength of this team.

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Had time to digest it a bit more and while I am overall happy with team there are some strange calls made.

Why take 4 specialist full backs (even though they are calling them something else) Mils, Jane, Smith & Elliason?

How did Smith get in ahead of Dagg? Who is the Highlanders fullback? Selectors state with Cruden that they want super 14 experience. Which of these 2 have most of that?

Are our wingers that bad around the country that we have to take 2 fullbacks as wingers? Really only Zac & Sivi as real wingers. Gear unlucky.

Where are the specialist mid fielders? Have really only got Nonu. + McAlister & Smith (who havn't played much lately because of injury anyway) and Elliason who as mentioned I think is a fullback. Will Donald cover again when Smith & McAlister sit out most of tour with injuries?

What has McAlister done to warrant a place?

Why take 3 1st 5s + back up (McAlister)? Obviously Carter will play at least 4 tests against Oz, England, Wales & France leaving the other 2 warming the bench and/or fighting over 2 tests.

How did Delaney get in ahead of Cruden? Selectors say they want Super 14 experience. How much has Delaney had?

Surely experience with culture, etc would do Cruden more good than Delaney

Only contentious issue with 1/2 back would be Ellis over the Wellington pair. No real problem with that.

Why take 7 loosies including 4 No 6s Kaino, Read, Messam & Thompson with So'oialo, Eaton & Boric also part time 6s

How did Latimer make it ahead of Waldrom (Scott). Tank Engine also unlucky.

Why send Ross to Gym? Was our best lock during the Super 14 & All Black games. Probably given bit much responsibility. Surely experience would count for just as much as bulk in todays game. Can do gym work during summer and come back to Super 14 bit late. Going to put heavy work load on Thorn again.

How has Flynn suddenly become No 2 hooker? What has Elliott & De Malmanche done wrong? Throw Ins? Surely all our hookers have had that problem including Hore. Do hookers have to throw the ball in?

How is Tialata still rated? Overall dont think we could do much better with props although personally would have given MacIntosh some experience in big time and left Tialata at home.

As said I do generally agree with team just few questions. Will win 6-0 with only problem being BaaBaas which could be SA in disguise. Says more about weakness of NH rugby than strength of this team.

Scooter Waldrom is injured which is why he's not in the squad.

I am nervous with the fact that as you have highlighted the 3 wise men seem to have picked 33 (mostly) form players....but don't seem to have picked people for specialist positions, which makes me nervous.

I would like at some stage of the tour though see Delaney at first five Carter at second five and Smith at centre....not solely to see Delaney at first five but more to see DC at second 5 as I do wonder about 2011 combination possibly being Cruden in the 10 jersey and Carter in the 12.

Jezza

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Had time to digest it a bit more and while I am overall happy with team there are some strange calls made.

Why take 4 specialist full backs (even though they are calling them something else) Mils, Jane, Smith & Elliason?

How did Smith get in ahead of Dagg? Who is the Highlanders fullback? Selectors state with Cruden that they want super 14 experience. Which of these 2 have most of that?

Are our wingers that bad around the country that we have to take 2 fullbacks as wingers? Really only Zac & Sivi as real wingers. Gear unlucky.

Where are the specialist mid fielders? Have really only got Nonu. + McAlister & Smith (who havn't played much lately because of injury anyway) and Elliason who as mentioned I think is a fullback. Will Donald cover again when Smith & McAlister sit out most of tour with injuries?

What has McAlister done to warrant a place?

Why take 3 1st 5s + back up (McAlister)? Obviously Carter will play at least 4 tests against Oz, England, Wales & France leaving the other 2 warming the bench and/or fighting over 2 tests.

How did Delaney get in ahead of Cruden? Selectors say they want Super 14 experience. How much has Delaney had?

Surely experience with culture, etc would do Cruden more good than Delaney

Only contentious issue with 1/2 back would be Ellis over the Wellington pair. No real problem with that.

Why take 7 loosies including 4 No 6s Kaino, Read, Messam & Thompson with So'oialo, Eaton & Boric also part time 6s

How did Latimer make it ahead of Waldrom (Scott). Tank Engine also unlucky.

Why send Ross to Gym? Was our best lock during the Super 14 & All Black games. Probably given bit much responsibility. Surely experience would count for just as much as bulk in todays game. Can do gym work during summer and come back to Super 14 bit late. Going to put heavy work load on Thorn again.

How has Flynn suddenly become No 2 hooker? What has Elliott & De Malmanche done wrong? Throw Ins? Surely all our hookers have had that problem including Hore. Do hookers have to throw the ball in?

How is Tialata still rated? Overall dont think we could do much better with props although personally would have given MacIntosh some experience in big time and left Tialata at home.

As said I do generally agree with team just few questions. Will win 6-0 with only problem being BaaBaas which could be SA in disguise. Says more about weakness of NH rugby than strength of this team.

All these fullback come wingers are in there because the 3 Wise Men want a back three who can catch and return kicks. They clearly don't rate Joe and Hosea in this area. Sivi and Zac have both played fullback at some stage.

McAlistair's recent Northern Hemisphere experience may have helped him get selection.

Delaney has been the form 1st Five of the Air NZ. At times outstanding. He deserved selction. No need to rush Cruden.

Agree re Ellis, he is real lucky to be playing in the Canterbury team.

Agree re Scott Waldrom, he's a real honest player. However, The Tank Engine reminds me of those greedy school boys who never look for the pass.

Would the Wise Men have dropped Isaac Ross without asking Senior All Blacks what they thought of him?. I don't think so.

Flynn probably always rated above the other two when he was fit. He's currently fit and playing well.

Tend to agree re Tialata, but he can scrummage and this big up North.

6 -0! I don't know about that. Welsh and the French will be up for it.

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