Dominant All Blacks left with halfback conundrum

Jack Martin! i had a feeling they'd pretty much put him straight back in, but after reading a few thingys' on the situation I just think they may hang off a bit yet as he'll be a really 'self inflicted and lousy minded' young Maori boy Halfback and he'll be pretty much in crap state of mind, so they may start him on the next trip, ~ I dunno' but whatever they do Shag' and Co will have it well and truly organised for the good!

He won't play. The NZ media are still all over this and with the result 99.99% in favour of the AB's the Wallabies will be looking for any possible crack to exploit... on or off the field and this presents a glaring opportunity for both. Hansen won't risk it. He wants the record. Smith will be cocooned in the team environment but won't be anywhere near the green stuff on game day.

I'm not so sure Smith will start or even be in the 23. This is a big game for the All Blacks, 18 wins is a world record, so they won't want any potential distractions. Anyway, they don't need him with Perenara & Kerr-Barlow playing so well. It's more likely they'll save him the risk of more public and media scrutiny. After this one they're on the road where he can get back to normal playing routine and a long way from the NZ public and media. My guestimation - he'll be in the wider 30-man training group, mostly to get him away from everything and back into the fold, but I'll be surprised if he plays at all. He'll pop up again in Chicago for the Ireland game in Nov.

For the number of times he touched the ball the few that went to ground or wherever weren't really a big deal. He's also lucky that he's passing to guys with sublime handling skills who aren't slowed down much by having to take a ball on the bounce, off the laces or flying at their heads. He's in a similar category to Barrett with his average kicking game but more than makes up for it everywhere else. TJ's passing is sometimes wide of the mark but his running game and support play are outstanding.

It'll be interesting to see if he starts. As you say it might be a test to see if his head is in the right place as the last couple weeks will have taken a personal toll on him and nobody will know if it affects his game until he's out on the field. But with Perenara in hot form there isn't much risk if Smith is off his game - exit stage left and on for TJ.

yes All Blacks lucky to win with perenara being such a terrible player eh?(sarcasm alert!)

Yes, fair point. I also think the EoYT would be a better place to reintroduce him. The home crowd might crucify him. You know what Kiwi crowds are like. They still boo Quade.

Agreed ct....in fact, I thought he was lucky scoring his try. He would've looked silly if he missed it cos, he had players on his outside but, he got white-line-fever at the last second. His passing looked a bit lobby-isn at times too rather than the crisp, flat deliveries he's capable of sending. Another thing - I don't know why TJP was going one way and then back the other way at each ruck win. I thought the ABs game plan was to keep going the same way to use the full width of the park. It just seemed when it looked like the ABs had stretched the SBs, then the ball would be passed back to an AB line caught amongst SB players, from the previous ruck. Obviously part of the game-plan I suppose but gees, it left me wondering why the ABs would run back into, the SB defence.

Where did he play on Sat nite against the Bokke.....?? If you missed it, he played left wing. Dagg is on fire atm so, its a mystery as to why, he would be dropped.

Agree re Perenara. He tends to get excitable at times, and he's way too slow passing off the deck. Glad to see Hansen must have told him to cease and desist with his meerkat impersonation before passing the ball. I'd really like to see Mckenzie come on at 9 during the Autumn Tour.

Naholo mainly plays right wing as he does for the Highlanders.

Who said anything about need? Besides they didchange a winning team and it...won.

Perenara was woeful in the first half, the main reason the Boks were in the game was that he was spraying the ball all over the place reminiscent of Phipps at his worst. He was obviously too hyped up and dumb to see this and needed to be told by the coaches at half time. When he started delivering accurate (but pretty slow) passes in the second half the All Blacks put the Boks to the sword. Perenara should be sent away for some skills coaching to get his passing up to international level. Aaron Smith should be starting the test with Tawera Hyphen on the bench. Unless his girlfriend has no self-respect Smith should have been shown the door back home and that combined with the public humiliation should be punishment enough.

Pretty sure Smith has got the message by now...

Agreed Garth. Nugget has too much personal matters to think about and sort out - hunkering down with the ABs next week wouldn't IMO, help him or his own, from resolving those matters. In fact, I'd be betting that rugby, is the last thing on his mind, at the mo".

I reckon if Smith is in the next team, it will be from the bench. The management will want to send a message to him.

He'll start against the Wallabies at Eden Park I would imagine as apart from the game being a dead rubber, the Selectors will need to see if he's got his mind in the right. I doubt the NZRU will change anything, he's paid a huge price already and why would they want to add to it!

With the bad press NZ rugby has been getting lately and A. Smith still in the dog box re: his partner, I would not expect him to play in Eden Park. TJP to start with TKB off the bench.

Zack Barring injuries, I don't mind seeing the same AB side, that played the SBs, play the WBs.......plus, Naholo and Savea are both left wingers so, a bit hard to see Shag putting both on, at Dagg's expense.

even if he is not sanctioned, they will pot select him. mind and body will be like chalk n cheese. better for him to take a voluntary break and work on the mental side. am sure the lady is not happy being humiliated in media.