Australia v France 3rd Test - TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT

[The InnFORCEr]

P.S - Thanks to @DoveMenAU for the tickets

[Buddha Handy]

I think we might be getting a bit of anti NSW bias get in the way with some of our comments. I know in years past Waratahs players have been picked that shouldn't have but this year they are winning games and the players are in form. People were criticizing the selections of Palu and Skelton during the week and both of them were dominant players on the weekend. Palu made a much bigger impact than McCalman would have on the weekend (although McCalman was also good off the bench) only problem is that he will probably be injured again next week.

[Pitythefool]

I am sorry but I don't get it - Skelton, whilst a lump of a lad, is great for 20 mins then goes missing. Watch him as he comes off at half time.. he can hardly walk and that is not from his work rate, its because he is unfit. Yes he scored.. yes he had a couple of runs but when has an International team had room for a player, no matter how hyped, that cannot run for at least two thirds of the game.

[shasta]

You guy's are so right ,the AB's are on a downward spiral cos they are now all too old and too slow.I just hope the mighty green and golds don't humiliate them too much on their way to winning the Bledisloe and next year the World Cup with Izzy being acclaimed as the best player the world has seen

Wow! Bit of a Freudian slip there Westie? Nobody around here said anything like that, far as I can see (but I'd take it). But the questions are being openly asked in NZ about some of your top players and whether it's wise to retain the status quo through to RWC. Nothing new there. The NZ media and public have always been the hardest judges.

Like I said, the change I would make is Carter to 12 (if his sabbatical has worked) and Fekitoa at 13. I'd stick with Barett and Cruden to fight it out for 12 looking to the future.

[westies man]

All Blacks have a squad of 32 with 10 players 30 yrs and over so next yr that will make them lacking in the run up to world cup as they seem to carry them to long..

SBW anyone

[GIGS20]

You guy's are so right ,the AB's are on a downward spiral cos they are now all too old and too slow.I just hope the mighty green and golds don't humiliate them too much on their way to winning the Bledisloe and next year the World Cup with Izzy being acclaimed as the best player the world has seen

Jeez you can get precious where the ABs are concerned Westie.

You're normally a pretty solid bloke, but scratch at the wrong nerve.......

I reckon the ABs looked a little off against England, Game one was a joke but the rest of the series they were deserving winners......the question is really about how that English team stacks up against the French. By all reports (I havent watched any 6 nations) they were a level above and that means we have some improving to do. There is, though, some wisdom to the concern about an ageing AllBlacks coming into another World Cup. I think the greater concern isn't that the team is getting older (it is, but the players are all earning their spot) it is more a case of what is in the wings. Why is Keven Mealamu the second best Hooker in the country? He's about a million years old, playing at the level he is is remarkable, but there will have to come a point where he hangs up the zimmer and lets a young buck have a crack.....how much will they lose as a result. The same can be said for a fair number of their pack and a couple of their backs.

If those observations interfere with your religious practices then you might just have to genuflect to your altar a couple more times, because that's how I see it (and like every year, I enter the Bledisloe season thinking "why NOT this year")

[hertryk]

Jeez you can get precious where the ABs are concerned Westie.

You're normally a pretty solid bloke, but scratch at the wrong nerve.......

I reckon the ABs looked a little off against England, Game one was a joke but the rest of the series they were deserving winners......the question is really about how that English team stacks up against the French. By all reports (I havent watched any 6 nations) they were a level above and that means we have some improving to do. There is, though, some wisdom to the concern about an ageing AllBlacks coming into another World Cup. I think the greater concern isn't that the team is getting older (it is, but the players are all earning their spot) it is more a case of what is in the wings. Why is Keven Mealamu the second best Hooker in the country? He's about a million years old, playing at the level he is is remarkable, but there will have to come a point where he hangs up the zimmer and lets a young buck have a crack.....how much will they lose as a result. The same can be said for a fair number of their pack and a couple of their backs.

If those observations interfere with your religious practices then you might just have to genuflect to your altar a couple more times, because that's how I see it (and like every year, I enter the Bledisloe season thinking "why NOT this year")

The same can be said for the BOCS! Schalk Burger, victor , Steyn to name just 3!

[GIGS20]

Yeah, but I think the Bokke will suffer more for it!

[shasta]

SBW anyone

Spoiled for choice as usual.

[westies man]

Jeez you can get precious where the ABs are concerned Westie.

You're normally a pretty solid bloke, but scratch at the wrong nerve.......

I reckon the ABs looked a little off against England, Game one was a joke but the rest of the series they were deserving winners......the question is really about how that English team stacks up against the French. By all reports (I havent watched any 6 nations) they were a level above and that means we have some improving to do. There is, though, some wisdom to the concern about an ageing AllBlacks coming into another World Cup. I think the greater concern isn't that the team is getting older (it is, but the players are all earning their spot) it is more a case of what is in the wings. Why is Keven Mealamu the second best Hooker in the country? He's about a million years old, playing at the level he is is remarkable, but there will have to come a point where he hangs up the zimmer and lets a young buck have a crack.....how much will they lose as a result. The same can be said for a fair number of their pack and a couple of their backs.

If those observations interfere with your religious practices then you might just have to genuflect to your altar a couple more times, because that's how I see it (and like every year, I enter the Bledisloe season thinking "why NOT this year")

Just a little bit of a wind up Gigs, didn't think you would take it so serious and your right ,carton collection time is just round the corner

[shasta]

Just a little bit of a wind up Gigs, didn't think you would take it so serious and your right ,carton collection time is just round the corner

Count your self lucky. At least your masochistic mates seem to pay up, by the looks anyway.

[GIGS20]

Just a little bit of a wind up Gigs, didn't think you would take it so serious and your right ,carton collection time is just round the corner

Cool, so I like, totally missed that, but I know I'm as precious as I accuse you of being.

You never know, we might get it this year, stranger things have happend, pigs are already winging their way south for the winter now that NSW has won Origin.

[shasta]

Cool, so I like, totally missed that, but I know I'm as precious as I accuse you of being.

You never know, we might get it this year, stranger things have happend, pigs are already winging their way south for the winter now that NSW has won Origin.

Coulda picked a better omen. Origin only took the Blues 8 years.

[GIGS20]

Shas, it feels like we haven't won a Bledisloe in that long.

[Hoolly Doolly]

what is this bledisloe that you speaketh?