Can't really do anything with this fucking vertigo, so I had this still on the sky recorded. 2 points that came up later in the year confirmed

ABs attacking shape was fucking non existent, just individual brilliance made most of the tries. As mentioned above set piece was shit, but HEY we've got individual brilliance George bridge has no positive impact, he is such a pathetic thing to have as an all black 11. That's lomu's Jersey FFS.

Also TJ was rather good, aside from his desperate desire to take every penalty quickly. Conversely DMac was a fucking idiot, with no control, crap passing (first 6 mins, 3 passes to ground), and an ability to either pass to someone in a much poorer position, or run himself into a worse position.

@cgrant said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:

Pita Ahki

Played for Tonga and NZU20s and NZ 7s? We could use someone like him. And Moala.

But if they fix their injury worries I'd have no problems with twin midfielders, just imagining what dummy running tactics one could come up with, with twins that could almost look like.

@duluth And that three-match ban will become a two-match ban ...

The No.8 will miss the Brumbies’ Super Rugby Pacific trial matches against the NSW Waratahs on January 29 and the Brumbies’ development team the following week plus their competition opener against Moana Pasifika on February 18.

But Valetini can opt to complete a Head Contact Process Coaching Intervention course to have his ban reduced to two matches.

That avenue is available to offending players in the hope of modifying specific techniques and technical issues that contributed to the foul play.

I hadn't realised that that option to complete a Head Contact Process Coaching Intervention replace one of the matches a player is suspended for, had been adopted for the November internationals. Is it part of the law trials, or is it an official rule now? I only remember it being trialled by the the U20s a few years ago.

By the way, that a game of the Brumbies development team counts towards his suspension is ridiculous.

Cool to see Mike Umaga as a halftime pundit.

@smuts said in England vs Springbokke:

I hope @Catogrande is recovering well. But I’m also hoping the boks are heading home thinking about how critical developing a more incisive attack is.

Thank you. My recovery was going well but due to recent self medication consisting mainly of Chenin blanc, I may be relapsing.

@nta said in Scotland v Japan:

@mn5 said in Scotland v Japan:

@nta said in Scotland Vs Japan:

Watched this today. Main notes:

Top quality skills on display. Like watching both these teams go around but fuck me Scotland can be cynical.

Scotland should have had a yellow card inside the first 20 minutes. Every time a ruck headed toward their line they invariably infringed. Pickerill bottled that.

Meanwhile, Williams was on one sideline calling out everything against Japan, ignoring anything in blue - both sides were playing merry hell with the last feet.

45th minute, Japan are moving upfield with pace. Ruck forms and Blue #4 is never onside - advantage.

Kick through, regather Japan 14, tackled just short by Blue 11. Ball is popped up for a supporting player but Blue 11, still on his knees, grabs it.

Clear penalty try. Nothing between Japan support runner but paint - as they say if you took out the offending player, would the try have been scored? Probably-to-definitely. Yellow card as well thanks. It was even replayed multiple times on the big screen and the officials still didn't want to know about it.

Call me cynical, but if it had gone the other way there would have been a fucking inquest and a YC/PT the way things have gone this tour.

I’ll just call you a Scotsman instead

My mother was 25% Scot, so I'm 100% not.

If you opt out of buying a round one in every four pub sessions you know why.

Ronan O'Gara on Irish podcast suggested that AB's defence was outdated -- prime example of why 'manwatching' is no longer used in North is the extraordinary number of times ABs were sucked in by the decoy runners.

It was a cool atmosphere too.

$9 a can opened up the ole wallet a bit but who cares in that situation. Was a very fun evening.

Book ended the game with beers at the Eastside which I haven't been to in a very long time.

@bovidae said in France v Black Ferns 2:

I still can't believe that a player can have played 30+ tests as a hooker but still can't throw for shit.

Anton Oliver?

seriously, though, it's in the mens game to a certain extent. Halfbacks with 10s of caps who can't pass (Justin, TJP)

@stargazer said in France v Black Ferns 1:

@bovidae Yep, I'm definitely going to watch one of the replays of that England v Canada test.

There are replays on Monday:
1.25pm (Sky Sport 9) and 10.30pm (Sky Sport 2)

The scoreline doesn't really reflect the game & worth remembering that Canada were 2 years without a test as well until they met the USA a few weeks back. Canada were well in the mix during the first half - 7-5 up on 23 minutes and brought it back from 15-7 to 15-12 on 35 mins. A good number of the Canadian squad have been playing in England & France recently, so maybe not as rusty as the Black Ferns. Full game is on YouTube (British BBC coverage)

Some beautiful tries in that match.

Red was 100% from the highlights vid.

@nta said in England v Australia:

@higgins no ruck - play on, unfortunately.

Further to that: the option for Ikitau was to hit the deck and wait, but it wouldn't have made a lot of difference - only Leota and McDermott were in frame and there were about 8 Poms on their feet.

@tim said in Taranaki v Southland (Championship SF):

@stargazer I think Sione Tuipulotu will cover lock. They only have 4 specialist locks in their squad.

One of whom (Poloniati) does not even start for the 'Poo.

@mikethesnow said in Scotland v Springboks - Raeburn Shield Match:

@mn5 said in Scotland v Springboks - Raeburn Shield Match:

@mikethesnow said in Scotland v Springboks - Raeburn Shield Match:

@mn5 said in Scotland v Springboks - Raeburn Shield Match:

@mikethesnow said in Scotland v Springboks - Raeburn Shield Match:

@mn5 said in Scotland v Springboks - Raeburn Shield Match:

@mikethesnow said in Scotland v Springboks - Raeburn Shield Match:

@tordah said in Scotland v Springboks - Raeburn Shield Match:

All over. Finn "Dan Carter" Russell not having his best game, but not helped by Scottish forwards getting absolutely dominated.

Showed today he’s not a Test player

Well, aside from 50 odd caps for Scotland, two Lions tours and generally being lauded as the most creative 10 in the UK you’re definitely right.

International player who blows very hot & very cold.

That’s not a Test player in my book.

Spencer v Mehrtens springs to mind.

So if you have an off game you’re not a test player ?

He’s had a tad more than one

Oh for sure but I think an apt description of him and his style of play is “mercurial”…..a bit like Spencer as you mentioned, Quade Cooper and his coach Gregor Townsend. I don’t think you can really label him “not a test player” as just the week before he orchestrated a very good win over Australia.

He also does extremely well for someone built like a pro soccer player.

There’s no doubting his talent and skills.

He may well be remembered as one of Scotland’s greats.

Shallow pool but yeah. Up there with Townsend, Chalmers and Rutherford.

@duluth said in Waikato v Canterbury (Premiership SF):

I agree. Some goodish players and some potential. But the squad is nothing special.. I think a few people haven’t noticed the change in quality (particularly the Sky commentators)

the quality of rugby analysis and insight in the commentating teams is woeful.

@old-samurai-jack said in Hawke's Bay v Tasman (Premiership Semi-final):

Friggen brilliant! Didn't expect that at all!
As a side note, why is Ennor on tour with the ABs and a certain Tasman centre is not?

I agree, I reckon the magpies would have won if he was up there.

@no-quarter said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

@crazy-horse said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

@stodders said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

Did anyone read the player ratings today in the Sunday Times by Mr S Jones. Barrett was lucky to get a 6/10 and is almost as overrated as SBW. He does make me chuckle, especially when he's salty 🤣. He did v much enjoy the English win over NZ today. Is he really Welsh still?

Haven't read what Jones wrote, but I too am not as excited about BB's performance as most seem to be. It was typical BB in that he showed he is a very very good rugby player but an average International 10 in other aspects.

At the moment we have 2 flawed 10s, so the challenge for the coaches is how to best use their strengths. Right now they appear to prefer Beauden starting with Mo'unga on the bench, and I agree with that approach.

Beauden handles the physical stuff better, is a solid defender, and is not afraid to run straight and hard when required. He's also worth 1 - 3 tries per game at any stage pretty much out of nowhere. He's a nightmare to defend as you can't take your eye off him for a second or he'll burn you. However, he won't take control of a tight test and drive the team around the park as you'd expect a traditional 10 to do.

Mo'unga looks a million bucks when his forward pack is bitch slapping the opposition all over the park (Saders), is lethal in open play and comes into his own towards the end of the game when defenses are tiring. He also has a better kicking game from hand. However, he doesn't handle the physical teams well at all, and has gone missing against the English and the Boks when they've had our pack on the back foot, so is also unable to take control of a tight test. He's also a poor defender so doesn't often defend in the line as other teams will target him.

Given their attributes, I can understand the preference for Beauden starting, though it can be horses for courses a bit depending on the opposition.

That's spot on in my opinion even though I rank Richie as the better overall 10 (and BB has lost some of his outrageous slinky acceleration). If Jordie is kicking conversions I agree with the selection (sorry, Crusader fans, I can only defend your team for so long).

@kiwiwomble Haha, classic!

@booboo said in Italy v Argentina:

Something about this match up just screams boredom.

In fairness, Italy want to play an open game.

@pakman said in Wales v South Africa:

I haven't watched a Squidge video for while, forgot what they're like and made the mistake of trying to watch at 1x speed

Fine's tour over following three match ban

Winger Viliami Fine will miss Tonga's remaining tour matches against the French Barbarians and Romania after he was suspended for three weeks following his sending off against England.

The 23-year-old appeared before an independent judicial committee via video link, having received a red card for striking the head of England's replacement flyhalf Marcus Smith.

Fine was dismissed 13 minutes after coming onto the field as a replacement for Walter Fifita and admitted the incident was worthy of a red card.

The Disciplinary Committee ruled the Otago winger struck his opponent with the upper part of his arm, that the strike was not powerful and there was no injury to the player.

The suspension was halved from six weeks to three, after the committee accounted for Fine's clean record, early guilty plea, apology to Smith and the way in which he approached the disciplinary process.

Viliame Fine will also be banned for a third match which is still to be determined. He has the right to appeal the suspension within 48 hours.

Nov 11, 2021  /  Pacific Tonga make five changes for French Baabaas clash Tonga make five changes for French Baabaas clash

Tonga have made five personnel changes to their starting fifteen to take on the French Barbarians in their latest Northern rugby tour match in Lyon.

@junior I think NZ have been able to get this from their coaches who have been overseas and had to fashion game plans based on the players at their disposal. It has forced them to innovate.

Maybe an idea for NZ would be to (shock, horror) invite some non-NZers to coach in NZ and introduce NZ players to different approaches and techniques. Worked ok for the Crusaders with Ronan O'Gara.

@arhs said in France v Argentina:

Gardner and Carley are pretty good.

Gardner is a terrible referee.

@stodders said in Italy vs All Blacks 2021 NH Tour:

@nostrildamus said in Italy vs All Blacks 2021 NH Tour:

@stodders said in Italy vs All Blacks 2021 NH Tour:

@nostrildamus but I think a lot of energy was put into that Ireland game because they (along with SA) had given the ABs the most trouble in that 4 year WC cycle.

As England showed after beating NZ, it is difficult to climb another peak when you feel you've conquered Everest the week before.

The key to winning WCs is to not scale the peaks in the QFs. ABs were too good (and Ireland poor) in QFs. A scratchy, hard fought win would have been better preparation. A bit like a scratchy hard fought win against limited, but game opposition like Italy 😉

Ireland's team for Japan was supposedly (from Irish fans and writers) a bit of a conservative selection. They didn't get much opposition from Japan, who were v poor. What does it say when their conservative side were seemingly striking from anywhere and everywhere? Their defence can be brutal, but Japan rarely threatened for 80 mins. I've seen ABs struggle in their next game after looking other worldly in their previous game. Expectations are high now for Ireland to repeat that performance (not result) against NZ.

Ireland were up for that game because of what happened in last WC against Japan. It was also Sexton's 100th test. Now they have to scale another emotional high against NZ a week later. That's a big job for the coaching staff to get the focus right.

NZ have work ons after Italy. They enter the game with things to prove, not plaudits in their ears. Ireland go into the game in fine fettle, but with a sense of trepidation because they know what is coming. I reckon it'll be a cracker.

This is NZ's biggest game of the NH tour. Ireland are on an upward curve after finishing 6 Nations strongly and putting away Japan with ease. This is where the ABs will be put to the test, not in Paris.

Thank you much there to agree with. But do (and did) Ireland have the equivalent depth as the ABs?
From memory when we played them in that game they already and on the field had key injuries? Have they improved their depth?

Front row they have depth. Cian Healy wasn't playing last week (Furlong and Porter were the starting props). Hooker they have options. At lock, they can afford to leave a Lion in Henderson out. Back row they are spoiled for choice. Peter O'Mahoney, who was MoM against ABs when Ireland beat ABs in 2018, isn't first choice.

At 9 they have Gibson-Park who offers more of a passing game than Murray, but Murray has a grade A box kicking game. Nice blend. At 10 they struggle behind Sexton to have the same quality, but they have good enough back ups.

At 12 they have Henshaw or Aki who are both good foils for Ringrose at 13. They have plenty of v good outside backs to choose from who run fast, hard and have skills. The addition of Lowe has provided them with an extra something to unlock defences.

So yeah, I'd say depth wise they are doing fine. One of the strongest squads in the 6N now.

That is impressive if they can leave Henderson out, have not followed his recent form but he impressed me. I recognized most of the names so that surprises me as well!

@mn5 said in Scotland v Australia 2021:

@gibbon-rib said in Scotland v Australia 2021:

I just checked the 6N odds out of interest. Clearly the bookies / betting public don't think this is a new dawn for the Scots

France 48/29
England 5/2
Ireland 9/2
Wales 6/1
Scotland 12/1
Italy 1000/1

12 is better than 1000 though

True. And probably better value too.

@chris-b sorry I was being sarcastic with that comment I’m saying we are absolute choke artists.

@duluth I watched the game with one eye, while doing something else. He had a good game; influential in the pack.

Southland had a great game and was much better than the final score suggest. Injury worry for Charles Alaimalo, who's season may be over if his shoulder (?) injury is as bad as it looked.

....i went to the pub and missed the last 20

@taniwharugby said in Hawke's Bay v Northland:

@kev conditioning plays a big factor in decision making, particularly as the game goes on.

So many of our guys look unfit.

Basically a shambles, a decent 40 mins v Waikato, rest of the season pretty shit, again.

This.

@stargazer said in Spain v Fiji:

@hooroo Sorry, no idea.

Fair call, it was a shot in the dark

@bovidae Just done a quick google as I know nothing about him.

Apparently did his High Schooling in Tauranga and went to Uni at Waikato where he played for The University Club. Is now The Port Operations Co-Ordinator at Mainfreight at the Mount

@machpants said in All Blacks vs Springboks II:

There is also a premium article on Rugbypass, pointing out similar errors. In addition, the lack of growth in attacking plays, with the same plays that were used Vs Fiji& Oz, also used Vs boks. Not only that, they've been around since the Hansen era

The try mentioned is the Savea one, which was just saying beaudy brilliance, and not a set play

The try highlighted the possibilities for the All Blacks had they schemed deliberately for what they were facing, instead of rolling out Foster’s same old menu and trying to take on the Springboks in areas of strength like the maul.

Based on their two games against the Springboks, Rennie and his staff looked far superior to the All Blacks brains trust when it came to game planning for the world champions.

They tailored their game to the opposition to attack the weaknesses, whereas the All Blacks naively went brazenly forward trying to attack South Africa’s strengths and it backfired.

This should be a key lesson for Foster’s All Blacks moving forward. In the organised parts of the game, they cannot change the pieces performing the roles, run the same plays against everyone and expect them to work.

There needs to be some flexibility there and more thought into the process.

The fact that they were running the same starter play with McKenzie on the left wing showed a certain level of naivety that, to no surprise, blew up.

In tight test matches where counter-attacking opportunities dry up, the All Blacks will need to have a clinical set-piece attacking plan which, at times, needs to be adjusted for the opposition.

They might have the most attacking talent in the world, but they still need decent plans to be devised to help them get the match-ups and space they need to let their skills shine.

You cannot roll up and play the same against Fiji as you do against the Springboks and expect to win handsomely.

It could work, or it could just as easily blow up like it did twice in the Rugby Championship..

Sorry to go back to this ...
Fair enough the Boks were up in our faces, brutal, energetic rugged commonsense rugby with some nicely worked out tries, pinpointed our weakest players, Vermeulen was again very good but very good at key moments (so, great player), their locks are bigger and tougher than before and quite frankly Taylor went into his shell after his miscatch, DMac and Havili and Richie were pounced on, they just don't have the mass, Patty T is a turnover waiting to happen, and Scotty B made yet more little stupid yellow coloured mistakes in front of the ref. I don't think he is a journeyman, just a solid international quality hardworking lock with brain fades at key moments.
But we lack a hardworking hardnosed lock when Sammy W. is not there (and he is more an all-round hardworking good lock with great rugby brain rather than a hard bugger) and BBBR was still working back to his physically dominant self (but not in this match).

Loosies: I thought Akira was generally ok, Savea was good, it was at 8 that a forward went missing. When Blackadder came on he was up in their faces and battled. So I am still surprised, what the hell happened to LJ, where was he? I saw him standing behind rucks and a bit after halftime but nothing dominant, nothing much to see.
I wonder if we still have a key problem at 8 as well.

I don't blame the coaches too much (apart, as the article rightly says, not targetting opposition weaknesses). but they should have realized DH would be targetted at 12, there is little point in DMac against the ABs if there are 2 10s (and you want JB on as long as possible, he was great again), but at midfield, we lacked dominance we lacked impact, and we lacked imagination. And Samisoni is clearer better for this sort of game than Asafo.

Shout out to wings, I thought they played well. But we really have depth problems at lock and selection issues in the midfield. We were lucky the Boks persist with Pollard and Le Roux and can't get Steyn to full game fitness. He looks like a truckstop diner not a deft placement kicker but boy can he get them key territory.

I thought the ref missed neck rolls/high tackles, offsides at rucks, general offsides and so forth but hey it was what it was. We had an off night and they had an on night.
I thought we were outcoached as well, their bench timing was great again.

@southernmann I’m also impressed with Fischli

@bovidae Yeah, although at her age and players only being part-time (less than semi-)professionals at test level, other life choices may have taken over that don't allow for international rugby, camps etc. Hirini isn't there either.

@stargazer said in Scotland v Tonga:

I haven't watched this game yet. Is it worth watching, or should I just go straight to the highlights clip?

Just watch the highlights

Lost of stoppages in the second half. Tonga didn't offer much resistance.. so you'll see the shitty tackling in the tries

@bovidae said in BOP v Waikato:

Is Campbell injured too, or one of the many who have had to leave for overseas contracts?

I reckon you could make a very good combined BOP/Waikato XV from the players who didn't play in this game. 🙂

Another gone to EDIT : France, other team mates Japan