Scott Robertson's verdict on All Blacks debutants

Sublime attack in the first half that makes it difficult not to notice the lack of it in the second, couple of fortunate late ones too. Still not able to put my foot on any actual reason for it.

Interesting ... stat to add. I'll add that I'd love to see a Super team (a new one obviously as the current ones already having locking partnerships) with Japan's Warner Dearns and Sanaila Waqa learning their trade together, Waqa looks like an absolute beats, and athletic (and what about that chip kick regather try!!).

You know all other options were injured right? I'm very happy Razor decided to try him at 6, it by no means he was selected to play there or anywhere else but 8. Are you being genuine here? Trust us, the decision to not select Sotutu was widely critiqued here and was found to be the best/right decision.

There were a myriad of things Razor could have done, but from what is expected and accepted, Finau came in place of Frizell, and Sititi earned new blood inclusion along with Darry at lock, Tosi at prop, Ratima in the halves, Proctor in the centers, and Perofeta in the outsides. I don't think you should expect the loosies to be treated differently just because Sotutu was available. If you just think Sotutu should have been included over Sititi based on your previously conclusions at the end of SR, well, you'll just have to accept you've been proved wrong.

My opinion is that their origin in SA and Super was far more important to their success. Hence why I suggested they see the fostering of players themselves local as far more part of their 'blueprint'.

I wasn't devaluing Rassie from selecting overseas players as being critical to stopping the downhill slide the team/country was on.

Super is a much higher standard of rugby than URC, you cannot argue against that. What is also beneficial is the tournaments role in giving players the ability to succeed at International level though. Thats were a competition based on 5 separate countries wins out.

Salary caps mean nothing. If you like, you can do a study based on how much players are paid locally, and then how much they sign for overseas. From memory I think it can be two or three times as much for that top player below International level. So for example you can say that the value of players choosing to stay in a team capped at 3mil euro, is worth 9mil euro overseas. That beats the French Top 14 teams value.

So aside from your Rubbish ;) I think you might be right, the setup in Aus is a joke. A good first step would be to use a lot of kiwi players, and then a lot of their coach's. Who was Noah playing for.. thought it was a top club.. a quick look on Noahs all.rugby profile suggests to me that towards the end of his koker stint at Toulon he over took the 10 that was favoured ahead of Dan Biggar in their knockout matches, that suggests he's good enough to be a starter in the Top 14's elimination rounds AM. Again, I think you're talking a pile of kak mate!

You were talking like what happened in Perth is something they'd want to see. I was telling you that it's only the east that likes league and Perth/Force fans wouldn't have wanted to see that.

Shag did indeed not expect to continue after 2015. Then he said I will continue on till 2017 for you, then it became 2019. Not criticising Shag (though he saw the brunt of the explanations/criticsm for key failures), he is who he is as a coach, and ideally he should have had a succesful young up and comer under him. Not a 'buddy'.

They will lose if they do, I can tell you that. SA are obviously a different case, but even they will tell you that doesn't happen (they already have).

I also think this match ought to put those clamouring for an ALB/Proctor midfield to bed: both showed some good and bad touches, but both got skinned on the outside by hardly top-rate opposition. What Reiko has can't be bought - the pace to recover if he does make a mistake.

I am of course being a bit stupid, as you have pointed out, there were 3 injuries, so those 3 are the group I was expecting to be involved in the 23 from the XV side, Lord, Lakai/Sotutu etc.