All Blacks overhaul starting XV with 13 changes for Wales

For me, it's never a good sign when I can consistently pick a better team than the All Blacks coach. It went away when Henry took over, and by miles, stayed that way under Hansen, came back at the end of Hansen and then full noise when Foster took over.

If I can pick a player who the AB selectors don’t, and when that player is finally selected he stays, or conversely if I pick a player to drop, who when finally dropped never comes back, then I know there is a problem.

Unfortunately, and much to my surprise, my ability to do better than the AB coach has stayed with Robertson. I was never able to outpick him when he was Crusaders coach. Can now, and easily. Which is extremely disappointing.

Hopefully what we're seeing in this team is the last hurrah for a group of players who are being moved on because they are past or who have never been good enough.

1. Taukei’aho, who has nothing of the dynamism he had when he first arrived and is getting in the way of younger, more talented players.

2. Kirifi, who lacks the physical presence for the job.

3. Lienert-Brown, who has never established himself as a first team AB even though he started playing for them ten seasons ago.

4. Bower, who has been overtaken by younger, bigger props.

5. Christie, who was always a poor fit in the AB's, with no running game and at best adequate pass.

6. Reece, who was shown to be out of his depth in RWC 2019, and shouldn't have been picked since.

7. Tupaea, whose defence has always been very weak and demonstrated that vividly against England.

I'd keep Ioane, btw. The AB's midfield defence is unbelievably bad. Ioane is the best midfield defender they have by a long, long way.

Hopefully, older, injury prone players Aumua, Tu’ungafasi, Perofeta and Jacobson are also gone, as well as those who have been picked, tried and failed over the last two years, Finau, Carter, Proctor and Tavatavanawai.

In a lot of ways though the real test for Robertson is Beauden Barrett. He could have been the greatest fullback to ever play the game, should have finished in RWC 2023. But instead he insisted he was a 10, has been indulged as that by three successive AB coaches, and keeps on hanging on, hoping to be the AB 10 in a world cup winning team. Which is never going to happen.

It would take too long to list all his defects as a 10, but the simple fact is that Hansen and Foster both ended up dropping him as first choice 10 because they misjudged his abilities and recognised that the way he plays was damaging the team. And now he's 34. Robertson cannot ever pick him again. The real question is, does he have the backbone and the smarts to do that.

Not playing guys like Sam Darry , ( not even in the 23), he is potentially an AB great and was in great form for Canterbury . That is spineless. George Bell should be starting. No inspiration what so ever. George comes off the bench , a form player. They play poorly and then some players get ripped out of the NPC and do not play hardly, when they should be given a go.Half the NZ 15 should be in the AB’s, ( at least Christian Lio-Willie is on the bench), Braydon Ennor particularly.

A card for ALB, unless he leaves the field injured.

Best 15 of the season.

Strongest 10,11,12,13,14, possibly even 15, 5,6,7,8, 1,2 (I’d finish with Taylor), possibly even 3 with Newell’s struggles to replicate early season form.

Were on the up boys Razor even sounded honest in the interview weve hit the nadir and Razors on the up!

I don’t know. ALB and Reiko?

I don’t remember when was the last time ALB performed well in the AB jersey. The last few he joined off the bench that I remember, he was not good at all.

Hmmmm

The rest of the selection is fine I think.

Excited to see how Love is used.

What a joke, still picking the same failed players from the last half dozen years, what's the point of Dmac over Love ALB and Reiko .l hope we lose .

What a joke of a team or I mean the coach. Nevermind bleeding fresh new players put in has beens instead. Abs are struggling with modest teams so playing players that have no future in the team for having consecutive lack of form.

I.e ioane,reece, Christie etc is just pointless going forward.

Maybe it's time for a new coach for the rebuilding phase as we are we have no shot for the world cup.

Just disappointed

I miss Ben. 🥹

I was so looking forward to the article about how Wales are actually the best team in the world.

It was about time we saw some changes. But this probably was the game for the rest of the squad to get a run.

Looking forward to seeing Ruben Love at 15. Although I would have been even more excited seeing him start at 10 and move to 15? But I know that would be asking too much.

Maybe he and DMac switch later in the game? Probably not. Too adventurous an idea.

Perhaps, with hindsight, the ABs should have tried to schedule this game earlier in the competition. But again, that’s probably too much to ask.

The backline looks a good mix. Lots of running in them. Although there’ll be a few moans about the midfield.

Wales by 1 point.

I probably won’t watch. Love is getting a chance so late in a match with no real stakes…

The return of former stars — ALB, Rieko, Reece. It doesn’t inspire anything in me!

See you next year with a new coach, I hope!

Great team Razor&co meke to see some changes nice balance hopefully we get to see a Love 10 Leicester 12 Reiko 13 Jordan 15 to finish

Jordie Barrett has a high ankle? Too much puff puff, not enough pass…

Should have way too much power for Wales