NMS starting on the right wing again for this Saturday. Surprising that Ben Smith is fit to play..... Bloody Woodcock and Carter are starting.
Ben Smith, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Dan Carter, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw, Victor Vito, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Nepo Laulala, Jerome Kaino, Sam Cane, TJ Perenara, Colin Slade, Malakai Fekitoa.
Ben Smith was cleared after the game and the whole week mate. Good to see Nehe get another run, hope he goes well again. Hopefully Julian will get rid of some rust and be a star again while Carter and Aaron Smith will go great behind a pack that should get past the ball at ruck time and generate some go forward this week. Like the selection of Vito, think he might play lock for the last 20 minutes and if that goes well will make the squad ahead of Liam. Surprised by Slade being on the bench instead of Barrett, it might just be to give Slade a run but I have the feeling the coaches have gone a bit off Barrett.
He has come good but can he survive a world cup. If it was me I'd put in lima if he breaks down and leave the other two for the bench as cover.
No one game doesn't prove that, especially a game where everything was fitting into place. I don't think he's a good option because I don't think he'll last. There's no point disputing it though, he's on the plane.
Sexton's solid, yes. A lot of players are now better than Carter. I wouldn't even say he's the best in NZ anymore..........I'm annoyed that Lima didn't get played more, stunning S15 and was fucking decent in SA. One good game out of a poor string of fucking many for the year is not proving enough of Carter being the best in the world and back in shape. It's his experience that I value at this point and that's it.
His fitness and running game, E.g, the way he sliced through that gap and put Coles away not a factor?
His fitness (injury wise) could be debated. I'm not saying that he's not a capable rugby player at least, I'm just saying that he's past it - no longer the best as you claim.