AB team against France - Third Test

15 Ben Smith; 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane; 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Aaron Smith; 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Shannon Frizell; 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Sam Whitelock (capt); 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody.

Substitutes: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Karl Tu'inukuafe, 18 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 19 Jackson Hemopo, 20 Matt Todd, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Richie Mo'unga, 23 Jordie Barrett.

I think that the above is a better team  than the one playing in the first two tests on the following basis:-

*   Ben Smith is getting a bit long in the tooth and is too slow to be an effective wing - very effective as a full back.

*   Goodhue is a better 13 than Lienert-Brown

....notsoclevermike Read's training with the ABs and is on the cusp of returning- maybe playing for Counties first...he had surgery to correct a bulging disc...

According to Hansen.." He has been a pain in the butt at training and the boys are getting sick of him"

arse??????????

JW

Hansen is a very wise coach and he has to start building up a WC squad for next year - same as Erasmus is starting now - a bit late on the SA side.   No squad for a WC should have entirely new and untested players.   Coaches should  leave that kind of idiocy to Meyer.

There are still some problem cases in the AB squad.   They certainly cannot rely on SBW at inside center and I have serious reservations about Lienert-Brown as well.   Ben Smith is getting very close to his sell-by date as well - so they must look at alternatives.

Amongst the forwards - other than Retallick and perhaps Sam Whitelock their locks are wishy washy and I have my doubts about Read at loosie as well.   He is more off on injury than playing lately.  Cane is pedestrian and I think Hansen should look at Ardie Savea and Ioane as  options as well.

As to the new players - I like Frizell a lot and my favourite NZ center is in fact Goodhue.  Lets hope they are very successful tomorrow.             

Clevermike the days of a pure lock are gone I think, in NZ frame of thinking anyway, locks are picked as much as for their ball skills and athleticism, not just grunt , NZ locks to you maybe be wishy washy but I would bet their skill set exceeds those of our SANZAAR opponents. 

Only change i would make is Jordie at 15. Really inform right now, and well only get better. Better side in the future. This would b my ab side thinking of nxt years WC.

1. J Moody 2. D Coles or Codie Taylor 3. O Franks 4. S Whitelock 5. B Retalluck 6. L Squire 7. A Savea 8. A Ioane 9. A Smith 10. B Barrett 11. R Ioane 12. SBW 13. A Leinert Brown 14. N Milner Skudder 15. J Barrett

I like Jordie, Skudder, R Ioane. As they all offer different skill sets. Naholo great. But other players offer more versatility. I would not be surprised though to see Goodhue or Matt Proctor unsurple Anton. And I Would not write off Cane. Great link man, great tackler, and Great at breakdown. 

...notsoclevermike Shannon Frizzel also plays lock, NO 8 and flanker...nothing wishy washy there mate...Hansen likes players that can play multiple positions

...People also underestimate the leadership role Ben Smith plays at fullback...that's where he leads the Landers from and same with directing the ABs defensive line...that's what we missed last week some direction - he's right up there with Folau in my book as worlds best fullback and Jordie still has a lot to learn in that dept...

A good call by Hansen giving Mo'unga and Dmac a chance to compete against each other for the backup10 role....at a pinch either could even slot into the fullback role...versatility in being able to cover multiple positions being key to the ABs success...and we've still got another season to further increase the depth so all is going to plan for the 2019 RWC..

polyboy

That is a classic and they want players skilled in ball handling who cannot ensure that they get the ball from strong forwards and who cannot perform in crucial aspects of forward play.  It is getting worse for the AB's all the time   Just look at the Under 20  WC - their forwards were atrocious and  their wonderful backline players could not perform as a result.  

Luke

I know you are a Canes supporter - but your team above is stretching it a bit.  Cole is in the same boat as Read - when last has he played?  Also Milner-Skudder - I like the player - but he has done squad since his return from injury.

Then that center pair.   I have seen recently De Allende wiping the floor with SWB in the game between the Stormers and the Blues -  will he still be around next year?    And if there ever was a pedestrian center in NZ  - his name must have been either Crotty or Lienert-Brown.

You seem to agree with me about the rest of my comments - but I do hope that Hansen makes a success in looking for key players to expand his squad selection possibilities. 

brycy

I like Frizell as a loosie - I have never seen him playing at lock but has reservations about that one. 

Luke

The last time I saw Coles playing was in October last year when he was totally overshadowed by Marx.   He will be 32 in December the older players are the higher the danger of injuries and the longer it takes for them to recover from such.  That makes me wonder about him.

I do not say he will not make the AB WC squad - all I am saying I have doubts about him.  

Why - anyway welcome to the site Hamel  

Why - anyway welcome to the site Hamel  

Coles was worlds best hooker before injury. I still rate him better than Marx at his best. I was not saying Coles can reach the lvl of 2016 again. I was just saying I woulde nt rule hm out. 

Mikey every time you write off our chaps it comes back to bite you in the arse ,so whenever you put the mockers on our boys I take comfort .

Wardad

I did not write off your players - I was commenting on the need for Hansen to expand his players pool bearing in mind the WC next year,   I did not give the French a snowballs hope in hell of beating the AB's,   That does not mean I am running down your team.   

Fact is I was happy to see Goodhue and Frizell in the match day squad.   The other comments were based on Read and Coles not having any game time this year and the need for Hansen to have replacements in place should those to cannot play in the WC.  

There are obviously some players that I do not rate as highly than others and my comments on SBW was factual.   He was poor when playing for the Blues against the Stormers whether you like it or not.  . .      

Luke

Cole better than Marx - dream on!!!!