NZ v Japan

First topic message reminder :

Is there TV coverage of this Match cannot see it in the TV Guide

My observations:

This game was only a festival game for the benefit of the sponsors, (and for the ABs to pick up a bit of cash) Mccaw and Carter would have gone ahead and been in Paris at the time of kick off with the rest of the squad, but their appearance for promo purposes meant they got to eat rice instead of snails.

In the future, Luatua is going to get a lot of time at number two/three at lineout time.

If the half backs were picked on current form then Andy Ellis would have played last night.

Piutau is a better wing than a fullback.

Why does Saili have to stand so far from his 5/8th?

Finally the man I really enjoyed watching last night was Craig Wing, I hadnt seen him play for a couple of years, but knocking holes in the AB mid field was only one of the items on his list of duties, this guy has always been an utter talent, but I would never have thought he'd turn up in an All Black game as a second five eigth.

Luatua is prominent in the lineouts thats for sure. Based on that you'd think he'll be around for a while but he does need to feature more prominently in the loose as well. Saiili might just be the casualty from all this if it werent for the fact that after Nonu theres not a lot.