ABs v Georgia Friday 2nd October 8pm

Yeah_Right

W Crockett 1 K Asieshvili
DS Coles 2 S Mamukashvili
C Faumuina 3 L Chilachava
BA Retallick 4 L Datunashvili
SL Whitelock 5 G Chkhaidze
J Kaino 6 S Sutiashvili
(C)RH McCaw 7 M Gorgodze (C)
KJ Read 8 L Lomidze
AL Smith 9 G Begadze
DW Carter 10 L Malaguradze
SJ Savea 11 A Todua
SW Williams 12 T Mchedlidze
CG Smith 13 D Kacharava
W Naholo 14 G Aptsiauri
BR Smith 15 B Tsiklauri
SUBSTITUTES
K Mealamu 16 S Maisuradze
TD Woodcock 17 M Nariashvili
OT Franks 18 A Peikrishvili
VVJ Vito 19 K Mikautadze
SJ Cane 20 V Kolelishvili
TNJ Kerr-Barlow 21 V Lobzhanidze
TTR Perenara 22 M Sharikadze
MF Fekitoa 23 M Giorgadze

OFFICIALS
Referee
Pascal Gauzere
Assistant Referees
Angus Gardner
Mathieu Raynal
TV Match Official
Shaun Veldsman

For the first time in history, the Rising Power in the East will square off with the Blackness. I don't think anyone is expecting a Japan v RSA result and that includes the Georgians. Milton Haig (Georgia's kiwi born coach) has pretty much stated this, saying that some of their more experienced players were told a month ago that they would miss out on this game as they look to target Namibia next week and secure third in the group.

I know very little about the Georgian team. Their young halfback has been moved to the bench and expect him to tear into everything when he comes on in the second half. Godzilla has been moved to 7. I have no idea if he has ever played there before but to me it suggests that Georgia are looking to turn this into a forwards slug fest. Which lets face it is no surprise to anyone. I expect them to use pick-n-go and mauls a lot, kick for territory and attack the ABs in the set pieces. The danger with this is any mistakes (a bad kick chase line, a turnover at the breakdown, a dropped ball) and they could be standing under their posts, asking WTF just happened.

The ABs have been building steadily through the tournament and have been quite happy to have other teams grabbing the headlines. Looking at their team selection, they want to play this game at pace and run the Georgians off their feet. Yeah, yeah I know that's a fairly standard AB game plan but Faumuina and Crockett are the 2 most mobile props in the squad and the regular starters (TBag and O Franks) are on the bench. There is no lock on the bench, instead it's two loosies.

The All Blacks face a minor injury crisis in backline with Nonu (shoulder) Barrett (whiplash) and Slade (calf) all out for this match. Nonu has been the best 12 in the world for the past couple of seasons but his place is now under threat from SBW. He will be looking to continue his good form and show his mate Sam that it is possible to go from league forward to test quality rugby midfielder. There are 2 halfbacks on the bench both of whom are outstanding talents but would make me nervous if they were on at a crunch time in a knockout game. Should be fine in this one though.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing Naholo get his first run of the tournament. The talk out of the ABs training camp is that the magic leaves and prayers have done the trick. Apparently he has been making a lot of his teammates look foolish in training. I also want to see Ben Smith and Savea really hit some form and start playing somewhere near their best.

My prediction is the ABs by 60+ Kia Kaha!!

Note: can one of the mods please sort the team lists into a table? I'm on an iPad and haven't a clue how to do it. Cheers.

pickarooney

Can you change the team name to New Zealand or NZ ?

Two OHs injured already. I'd be pulling Carter off early but which of the SHs can play 10?

Ceadog

pickarooney wrote: »

Can you change the team name to New Zealand or NZ ?

Two OHs injured already. I'd be pulling Carter off early but which of the SHs can play 10?

Perenara, I think.

Yeah_Right

pickarooney wrote: »

Can you change the team name to New Zealand or NZ ?

Two OHs injured already. I'd be pulling Carter off early but which of the SHs can play 10?

Matt Williams is that you? Would you like it changed to Bloody New Zealand?

Yeah Perenara is covering 10. Apparently played there a bit as a youngster but I've never seen him there so no idea how he'll go.

croket

Unfortunately I expect the biggest RWC score in this game.
All Blacks first team vs Georgia second team...

Yeah_Right wrote: »

I know very little about the Georgian team. Their young halfback has been moved to the bench and expect him to tear into everything when he comes on in the second half. Godzilla has been moved to 7. I have no idea if he has ever played there before but to me it suggests that Georgia are looking to turn this into a forwards slug fest.

He often plays #7, it was his main position when he played for Montpellier

Yeah_Right

Very excited about this. Looking for a big performance from the boys.

C'mon the Black!!!

aimee1

Georgia make 10 changes. Think if NZ click could hit 100

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Nice to see a few of the Georgian players looking absolutely delighted to be facing the Haka.

Kiwi_knock

Some recovery from a broken leg

sydthebeat

Naholo!!!!!

DDC1990

Shiiiiit Naholo is like Nandolo with hair!

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

I'm fuming now that Fantasy Rugger randomly changed their transfer rules. I had it all worked out to get Naholo in my team and I couldn't do it

sydneybound

Reckon the ABs will win by at least 70 points

DDC1990

croket wrote: »

Unfortunately I expect the biggest RWC score in this game.
All Blacks first team vs Georgia second team...


He often plays #7, it was his main position when he played for Montpellier

Isn't the 6 and 7 role reversed in France?

DDC1990

Try!

What. A. Game

thomond2006

Well this game is fun.

razorblunt

Sneaky Georgians were just lulling them into a false sense of security.

vienne86

Well now - try Georgia! AB's were NOT expecting that!

DDC1990

What a finish.

vienne86

Eazy-peazy for NZ.

Kiwi_knock

Nice bosh by Savea.

DDC1990

Nice from Gorgodze

vienne86

What a huge bloody kick at goal - anothe three points for Georgia.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Is anyone else having problems with Boards tonight?

Narcissus

Lol at Gorgodze

laugh

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Is anyone else having problems with Boards tonight?

It doesn't seem to have any memory of what threads you've viewed right now.

Also if I refresh the thread it goes back to page 1.

Dave_The_Sheep

Thank you, Savea. Two tries again as my fantasy rugby captain.

laugh

NZ 10 is a bit weak from the kicking tee.

vienne86

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Is anyone else having problems with Boards tonight?

Bit of a problem when I refresh.

Stev_o

This ref is a bit crap.

DDC1990

Glorious rugby!

Beautiful.

Kiwi_knock

Very smart by McCaw

dastardly00

laugh wrote: »

NZ 10 is a bit weak from the kicking tee.

Another miss! :eek:

Cool_CM

Jaysus, another Carter miss.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

My bet on Dane Coles being top try scorer is still alive!

Del.Monte

Dane Coles - a class act.

vienne86

That's the BP.....just over 20 minutes.

Crap kicking from the tee won't matter.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Does anyone else on this NZ team kick?

nehe milner skudder

Sans lube

razorblunt

Mccaw has to be in or out of the lineout he can't mess around.

beertons

Not quiet the whitewash predicted. Never seen Carter miss so many conversions. He's a bit older now I suppose.

nehe milner skudder

Leave him alone

nehe milner skudder

Leave him alone

vienne86

Georgian scrum is decent.

thomond2006

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

My bet on Dane Coles being top try scorer is still alive!

I'm on Savea and he's 5/6 right now with 4 tries in the books.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Ref is a bit of a whinger.

laugh

WTF is going on with boards.

vienne86

This isn't too easy for NZ - huge hits going in from Georgia.

vienne86

These are very uncharacteristic errors from NZ - Hansen will be raging.

beertons

thomond2006 wrote: »

I'm on Savea and he's 5/6 right now with 4 tries in the books.

Was he 5/2 before tournament started?


How many knock on's!