First game i had watched in a few weeks as we always seem to play while I'm working or I would have something else on and like you @Duluth AJ and RTS were easy to pick. The 3rd was near impossible to pick so I just gave it to Plummer because he scored a try haha.

Disappointing effort from a very lacklustre Auckland side.

@kev I honestly think both CTC and O'Donnell would be so much better if they were properly fit...I'd love for CTC to get really fit, he'd be a real weapon as a prop, love his work, but as it is I think his fitness causes lapses where he looks bloody strong at scrumtime, then gets demolished the next.

Got so excited about the game I forgot who played well - chose Murray for that sensational break, Reihana for the clutch kick and a good alround game, and the vision of Macilai steaming on to the ball on the break turning back the years was enough for 3rd. I think the loose forwards played well also. Couldn’t choose who.

@dogmeat said in All Blacks MOTM v Argentina II:

@Crucial I wonder why Papali'i is rated N/A when guys that came on with or after him are given a score

N/A = Not Around? 😀

Plummer seems a very good captain, talk alot, incluing alot to the ref, probably a bit much at times, but its a fine line.

Thought the starting props and Trainor went well.

Yes the Funaki - Plummer axis is working well. Good to see both getting consistent minutes.

Backline has a good balance to it - the midfield compliments each other well.

Census Johnston doing well with the scrum.

I went Tua , Rush & Macilai ..honourable mentions for Tuangafasi , Harris & McNamara

Whitelock was strong but he gave away a penalty after 15 seconds in the second half which is not how you want your leaders to lead and set the tone for the second half.

@bayimports

Yeah he played well too. Up until this game I was worried he was a dud signing

After the Waikato game:

Moorby 3
Tua 2
Nock & CTC 1 each

Season

Tua 5
Moorby 3
Milo-Harris 2
Mau'u 2
Nock 1
Te Whata Colley 1

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks MOTM v Boks II:

@MN5 said in All Blacks MOTM v Boks II:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks MOTM v Boks II:

@MN5 said in All Blacks MOTM v Boks II:

Only saw the highlights, not the full game but went for Frizell, R Ioane and Savea.

Havilii looked decent too but out of principle I can’t vote for him.

Because Tonga beat Scotland in 2012 and anyone of Tongan descent feels your highland ire a decade later?
I'm guessing this is not true but a decade long burning sense of Utu is a great reason.

Jesus Christ, what a bizarre post.

Really? It was just a test to see if you are like those Scottish men I know who hold obscure grudges that everyone else has forgotten about.

Reminds me that my Glaswegian bro in law used to say 'While the Irish English and Welsh were fighting each other we were fighting our natural enemies: ourselves."

Yeah but I’m from Wellington

Good to see Plummer back

@taniwharugby went for Moorby, Nock and Mau’u. CTC and Tua were up there as well.

Rayasi, Tuipulotu and Dalzell.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks MOTM v Boks I:

@stodders said in All Blacks MOTM v Boks I:

@Bones said in All Blacks MOTM v Boks I:

@Nepia the wish to see players actually doing something and trying fucking hard is strong. He looks like he's trying to lead and getting zero support from his other leaders.

One of the few players to tuck the ball under his arm and propel himself through the Bok defensive line, rather than catch the ball and do a jig before getting smashed.

Only 2 runs for 5 m says Barrett wasn't very effective, which was the point I was making.

But he looks the part doing those two runs.

Tua, Milo, Mau’u for me. Thought the whole forward pack played tough. And we were fit enough to stay in the game.

Sullivan, Vikena and Funaki

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks MOTM v Ireland III:

@Bones said in All Blacks MOTM v Ireland III:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks MOTM v Ireland III:

Would like to see Jordan from 15

My only worry there being he appears to make such poor reads on defence. But yeah like Bower I guess it's maybe not all down to him.

Isn't the defence read issue more of a problem on the wing? At fullback as the last line of defence for the Crusaders I haven't noticed his defensive read issue that much. He does fall off the odd tackle in defence as a fullback but so does Jordie.

It is more of a problem at wing, presumably because he hasn't played there as much (and I think Ioane's communication/organisation is lacking), but he still makes errors at fullback - tends to hang back and let overlaps happen rather than shoot up and take the extra man. he's got the acceleration to be really good at that, but doesn't get the decisions right.

The Stuff player ratings were a joke too. How did Reece get the same score (5) as Ofa?

Rieko, Smith, Bower.

A tough one with a lot of contenders.