Easysaid - Rugby Union Picks

[TBsp75]

You like it?

I understand they are getting a few players back? Is this them fronting up at home?

i think they get couple back (Wycliff Palu, Sekope Kepu, Drew Mitchell) and Ioane in doubt.
as long as genia, pocock & o'connor still injuried i don't think they stand a chance. they're just not in a good form as a team. played really badly against argen last time but they got away with a win.(we overated pumas)
ABs aimming for 17 win streak and the cup with full squad.

[hawley]

i think they get couple back (Wycliff Palu, Sekope Kepu, Drew Mitchell) and Ioane in doubt.
as long as genia, pocock & o'connor still injuried i don't think they stand a chance. they're just not in a good form as a team. played really badly against argen last time but they got away with a win.(we overated pumas)
ABs aimming for 17 win streak and the cup with full squad.

And will always look to destroy Australia regardless of the situation

[RLF]

You like it?

I understand they are getting a few players back? Is this them fronting up at home?

At Suncorp definitely. Line should be 8 at the most.

OtagovTasman is a bit of a coin flip. Probably unders if it's 45+
Counties 10-20

Wellington 10-20
Canterbury <15

[easysaid]

Guys the ABs wont have hanson as their coach this weekend his dad is very sick..

I think the play for this game is Australia +14.5 over New Zealand (should be +16 by kickoff) for 4 Units

Reasoning behing this is quite simple, right now the AB's are steam rolling any team in their path, however 14 points is a lot to cover under any circumstances especially when your playing a team with everything to play for that have covered 14 Points 4/21 times while in the 15 years at home (covered everytime when they play in QLD). I have alot more angles on this line just saying they'll cover this line in a situation like this 7/10 times.

NOTE - I still think AB's will win this game 100%

[hawley]

If you think you can get 16 by kick-off (especially at the TAB the line will only move on way) why book the 14.5 now?

[TBsp75]

i don't think the past 15 yrs wallabies has ioane, genia, pocock, cooper, o'connor kind of players injuried all at the same time.
these are the best players in their position(prob not cooper he suits rugby league more IMO).
wallabies has good chance to cover +14.5, i just think this line is sharp so layin off it.
let's hope ABs win by exactly 2 tries and everybody wins
hope they are comfortable in their new AIG uniform

[easysaid]

If you think you can get 16 by kick-off (especially at the TAB the line will only move on way) why book the 14.5 now?

Yeah, i recommend laying just before game time (im definitely waiting) but for my thread ill take 14.5

[easysaid]

i don't think the past 15 yrs wallabies has ioane, genia, pocock, cooper, o'connor kind of players injuried all at the same time.
these are the best players in their position(prob not cooper he suits rugby league more IMO).
wallabies has good chance to cover +14.5, i just think this line is sharp so layin off it.
let's hope ABs win by exactly 2 tries and everybody wins
hope they are comfortable in their new AIG uniform

Ioane is (possible) and aslong as they have barnes out there i have faith, little dissapointed about genia and poccok tho think they will need sharpe to have a big game (need someone to lead by example).

[RLF]

Barnes is shit and he's not playing, still recovering from the lung.

[hawley]

Yeah, i recommend laying just before game time (im definitely waiting) but for my thread ill take 14.5

GL and congrats on an insane season

[davopnz]

the boys will step up for hansen and his dad. nothing will get in the way of the all blacks, we will roll them 20+

[RLF]

At Suncorp? No chance, it will be close. Australia only got up for Suncorp last year and will probably do the same this year.

[TBsp75]

wallabies line up's out.

15.Mike Harris
14.Nick Cummins, 12.Pat McCabe, 13.Ben Tapuai, 11.Adam Ashley-Cooper
10.Kurtley Beale, 9.Nick Phipps
8.Wycliff Palu,
7.Michael Hooper, 6.Scott Higginbotham
5.Nathan Sharpe(c), 4.Sitaleki Timani
3.Ben Alexander, 2.Tatafu Polota Nau, 1.Benn Robinson.

Reserves: Saia Fainga'a, James Slipper, Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis, Liam Gill, Brett Sheehan, Drew Mitchell.

Hensen's dad passed away. R.I.P.

[RLF]

Palu back is huge, it creates a much better backrow balance. Samo and Higginbotham both play too loose and there wasn't enough workrate in the tight. Still +13.5 here for all the Aus books need someone to move it.

[davopnz]

yeah last year when they were actually good and had genia, pocock and horwill...

15.Mike Harris
14.Nick Cummins, 12.Pat McCabe, 13.Ben Tapuai, 11.Adam Ashley-Cooper
10.Kurtley Beale, 9.Nick Phipps

this is a joke..cummins, mccabe and tapuai will get eaten alive. I'll let you see for yourself.

suncorp doesn't mean crap when you have players that wouldn't even make an nz super franchise, it's much more scary playing at the high veldt than suncorp.


prepare yourself for one of the most fired up all blacks teams you'll ever see when they step up for hansen and his father.

[easysaid]

Dude, your forgetting 14 points in a lot to cover in any international game. I expect line to be at 9.5 despite all this hansen's dad crap, wallabies have alot more to play for their fans & media have lost faith in them (going so far as saying rugby union will die off in aussie if they dont change). I think the wallabies want this and need this more.

[davopnz]

if we can cover 14 points against south africa at the high veldt who are a much, much, much better them that previously thumped a very similar looking aussie side then i have no doubt we can cover that at suncorp.

the wallabies might want and need this one more but they probably say that at camp every week, robbie deans is an idiot and the depleted wallabies are crap.

we'll see what happens come saturday night

[RLF]

Nasi Manu is out and Matt Todd likely as well. Taranaki in with a shot if their own injury problems are positive.

Anyone else like Wellington @ 4.50?

[TBsp75]

Nasi Manu is out and Matt Todd likely as well. Taranaki in with a shot if their own injury problems are positive.

Anyone else like Wellington @ 4.50?

how long will they be out for? young whitelock will prob take the flanker position who is another quality player. i think it's worth a try tho.

y'all like tasman +6.5?

[TBsp75]

and thoughts on naki +18.5?

[easysaid]

if we can cover 14 points against south africa at the high veldt who are a much, much, much better them that previously thumped a very similar looking aussie side then i have no doubt we can cover that at suncorp.

the wallabies might want and need this one more but they probably say that at camp every week, robbie deans is an idiot and the depleted wallabies are crap.

we'll see what happens come saturday night

That SA game was stale mate untill about 15 minutes to go, once the aussies get a sniff theres no turning back. I reckon if they are within a chance at 30 minutes to go aussie get the spread.. if ab's come out firing they should poor on the tries.

[TBsp75]

Tasman has been thrown a curve ball just two days out from their ITM Cup Championship semi-final against Otago.
Flanker Jordan Taufua, who has been a regular for the side throughout the round robin, has been called back to injury plagued Canterbury for their Premiership semi-final against Taranaki on Saturday.
The four time defending champions have been hit with an injury problem in the loose forwards with Nasi Manu ruled out and Matt Todd in doubt.
It means Tasman will be without Taufua for Friday's Championship semi-final against Otago in Dunedin.
Taufua was on loan to the Makos.

[davopnz]

That SA game was stale mate untill about 15 minutes to go, once the aussies get a sniff theres no turning back. I reckon if they are within a chance at 30 minutes to go aussie get the spread.. if ab's come out firing they should poor on the tries.

it was more like sa hanging on for dear life as opposed to a stale mate, we were all over them 4 tries to 1 speaks for that. Rolland is a horrible referee and plays right into sa's hands but not even he could stop an all blacks rape. we'll see what happens, i wouldn't be putting money anywhere near an aussie side without genia, he is the only genuine threat that concerns the all blacks, if he were playing the game plan would be based around shutting him down but he's not.

[davopnz]

Tasman has been thrown a curve ball just two days out from their ITM Cup Championship semi-final against Otago.
Flanker Jordan Taufua, who has been a regular for the side throughout the round robin, has been called back to injury plagued Canterbury for their Premiership semi-final against Taranaki on Saturday.
The four time defending champions have been hit with an injury problem in the loose forwards with Nasi Manu ruled out and Matt Todd in doubt.
It means Tasman will be without Taufua for Friday's Championship semi-final against Otago in Dunedin.
Taufua was on loan to the Makos.

huge loss imo, taufua is just as good if not better than mr dropsies manu. makes me really like canterbury and otago

[TBsp75]

all blacks line up.

1. Tony Woodcock (91), 2. Keven Mealamu (99), 3. Charlie Faumuina (3)
4. Brodie Retallick (9), 5. Samuel Whitelock (34)
6. Liam Messam (16), 7. Richie McCaw - captain (112)
8. Kieran Read (44)
9. Aaron Smith (9), 10. Daniel Carter (91)
11. Hosea Gear (12), 12. Ma'a Nonu (72), 13. Conrad Smith (62), 14. Cory Jane (37)
15. Israel Dagg (21)


Reserves:
16. Andrew Hore (71), 17. Owen Franks (40)
18. Luke Romano (7), 19. Victor Vito (16)
20. Piri Weepu (65), 21. Aaron Cruden (17)
22. Ben Smith (8)

goin for ABs 11-30 at 1.81

[TBsp75]

huge loss imo, taufua is just as good if not better than mr dropsies manu. makes me really like canterbury and otago

i really like otago -6.5 now after looking at the line ups. tasman been in really bad form and hit hard by injuries(robbie malnek, campbel johnston). otago has adam thompson back who plays really well in dunedin. not so sure about canterbury only because -18.5 is big margin to cover and naki defeat them earlier this season. even tho cantabs wasn't in their best form, keeping cantabs tryless means nakis has good game plan for them.

any1 like couties -10.5?

[davopnz]

dont forget the conditions in that game were shocking(heavy rain and gail force winds)

[RLF]

Taranaki will be all over the Canterbury scrum, they had problems against BoP.

[easysaid]

Two plays this weekend -

Wellington -6.5 over Auckland for 4 units

Can't deny wellingtons tremendous form right now, plus last time they played auckland wellington gave a half pie effort and in a playoff no team would do such thing.

Otago -6.5 over Tasman for 4 Units

Was slightly leaning otago last weekend, but with the injuries apparent tasman has NO CHANCE!

Few other picks i cant pull the trigger on but these seem to be the best plays of the weekend.

[bertho69]

What do you think about Agen VS Bath and Gloucester vs Bordeaux ?

[RLF]

Bath -11
Bordeaux +26

[bertho69]

I took Bordeaux +27,5 !

[davopnz]

Taranaki will be all over the Canterbury scrum, they had problems against BoP.

you gotta be kidding dude that was late in the game when they had picked up injuries/subbed players off, even then they didn't lose a scrum it ust got messy. Did you see the start of the game, where bop was taking lineouts over a scrums because they were getting so dominated?

[RLF]

Wyatt Crockett is starting

[sweepem]

Canterbury will win but not by 20 points. I thought the spread would be around 11-13 and not 19.5. wtf?