All Blacks 2024
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2024:
I wouldn't be totally against letting two or three overseas-based players play for the ABs in a World Cup year to boost the squad strength a little bit and cover injuries, but anything north of that is not necessary.
im not convinced we need to go overseas just yet, we havent see what a squad picked purely on form can achieve, seems like we dont have the depth IMO because we've still mostly seen the same people getting picked....plus people like BB, Cane and Savea were constant starters this year and were playing in japan earlier in the year...maybe if we stuck to the best combinations from super rugby (9-10, 12-13, front row, 4-5)....we might see more cohesion
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i think it is hilarious that DMac made the team of the year (not a decision i would have made but that's not the point) but our genius coaching group dropped him to the bench for an absolute spud who, all year, has made the team worse.
BB is basically living off burning an English prop in the first test of the year (go look who threw the pass to put him outside his man as well).
It is fucking infuriating.
But hey, the coaches and all the media seem to think he's amazing so what the fuck do we know aye?
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@kpkanz said in All Blacks 2024:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2024:
Robertson to up ante on selecting overseas players for All Blacks
The All Blacks coach, reflecting on his first year in charge, said he will make a submission to the NZ Rugby board about changing the selection criteria.
Or 2004 where we transformed the team in ONE EOYT by leaving behind Spencer/Marshall and a bunch of experienced MUST HAVE players.
And the next gen took over and dominated the world.
hmm interesting - this made me remember how Razor exited the AB's. He was the incumbent Mitch didn't take him on EOYT so he could get in great shape for next season as he'd have a heavy workload. Then he never got picked again. Suffice to say Mitch was never going to be on his xmas card list. (sauce: completely random convo with Razor in a lift somewhere in Paris back in my I was overseas days still remember how filthy he was).
wonder if that baggage is impacting his selection thinking..
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024:
And when DMac comes on he ends up at fullback so doesn't have as many touches of the ball, unless BB shovels out a wide pass with no space to operate in.
That’s the part that is driving me nuts.
Dmac start at 10 then finish at 15 sounds ok. Heaps of touches as we play fast early then he moves out to 15 with Barrett on, I can understand.
Start Barrett then move him to 15 and Dmac to 10 to play fast for the final 20, ok, not my choice but I see it.
Start Barrett and keep him there for 80, with Dmac getting 20 minutes at 15, to do what? He’s been creating for others and I guess we have to stop that.
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2024:
I am trying to work out what's gone so wrong with our backline.
These are my guesses.
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Aging players are kept in the squad when once upon a time two bad performances would have led to the selectors hitting the ejector seat button.
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Some of our backs ain't fast enough.
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Our backs ain't spending enough time together on the training paddock working on combinations, attacking angles and the timing of passes.
I'd welcome other suggestions.
Our backline attack has completely stagnated since having BB at 10.
I may seem obsessed with this notion since it's all I've posted recently..but it's infuriating to see something eventuate that seemed so obvious from the outside.
Beauden has never looked good against the rush. He has a horrible passing game, he doesn't run flat to draw in defenders and free the outside backs. He telegraphs his passes and shovels it on, it's just trash. And our attack greatly suffers.
Amazing how we were consistently getting around rush defense with Dmac at 10 (someone with an actual passing game), and it's suddenly disappeared again with BB back.
I'm just in disbelief he is still getting picked to start at 10.
Honestly he must be the most charming person on the planet off the field to keep getting picked.
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2024:
Interestingly I was talking to a mate about Razor, and he has a mate (haha yeah I know, mate of mate) with significant first hand experience of Razor in a professional capacity. He doesn't rate his vaunted coaching ability or his man management skills. It's one person's opinion of course, but it feels quite plausible based on this season's events. He had the whole buffet that is NZs top rugby talent to fuse into a quality team, and we got what we got, a pupu platter of inconsistency. I believe we can do better
His record is all that matters. Can’t be beaten. This first year at test level was ok but not great. 2nd year will be interesting.
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@Nepia said in All Blacks 2024:
@kpkanz said in All Blacks 2024:
someone with an actual passing game
But BB has the best kick pass game in the country.
Wouldn’t even say that - practices the most
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@kev said in All Blacks 2024:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2024:
Interestingly I was talking to a mate about Razor, and he has a mate (haha yeah I know, mate of mate) with significant first hand experience of Razor in a professional capacity. He doesn't rate his vaunted coaching ability or his man management skills. It's one person's opinion of course, but it feels quite plausible based on this season's events. He had the whole buffet that is NZs top rugby talent to fuse into a quality team, and we got what we got, a pupu platter of inconsistency. I believe we can do better
His record is all that matters. Can’t be beaten. This first year at test level was ok but not great. 2nd year will be interesting.
Didn't you hear, apparently SR record doesn't count 😉. His record this year has been average.
So I agree next year is huge. We won't be complaining if he runs the table next year, or close. If he muddles along again, questions should be answered that his team trimmed , just like Fozzie -
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@sparky said in All Blacks 2024:
I am trying to work out what's gone so wrong with our backline.
These are my guesses.
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Aging players are kept in the squad when once upon a time two bad performances would have led to the selectors hitting the ejector seat button.
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Some of our backs ain't fast enough.
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Our backs ain't spending enough time together on the training paddock working on combinations, attacking angles and the timing of passes.
I'd welcome other suggestions.
No 3 - I look at skill sets of players. Reiko just doesn’t execute consistently - his catch and pass % are too low. My perception is that it’s mostly around him that it breaks down. Tough position in today’s game with the rush D.
If you add BB kicking the ball away, most of our issues are in the backs.
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@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2024:
When is there going to be an announcement on Richie Mounga, the headlines keep coming up and it is hidden by a paywall?
I saw something earlier - will see if I can dig it out. NZR apparently hoping he'll be back May next year to play for the ABs.
I am disappointed. Fuck it, I'm massively underwhelmed. If he's the answer to our Test malaise I'll eat my hat
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here it is
Inside Rugby: How the All Blacks are hoping to bring back Richie Mo'unga
OPINION: New Zealand Rugby's bid to bring Mo'unga home faces challenges.
and the paywall free version
https://archive.ph/TjEq3 -
@WillieTheWaiter said in All Blacks 2024:
(sauce: completely random convo with Razor in a lift somewhere in Paris back in my I was overseas days still remember how filthy he was)
That was 20 years ago
I remember you speaking to the rest of the group just after that.. you were surprised that he was so willing to shit on Mitchell to a random kiwi
Wasn't he pissed at Deans too?
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At least Paul clearly recognises that a likely outcome of Mo'unga coming back is Dmac going, and given the relationship between Toshiba and the Chiefs, Dmac would be their ideal replacement.
All in all, some interesting ideas in that article, but the glaring one to me, is that the sabbatical system was created for Carter.
Mo'unga is a Temu version, and the fact that NZR is bending over now to do this silly shit speaks to the clown show it has become.
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@Duluth said in All Blacks 2024:
@WillieTheWaiter said in All Blacks 2024:
(sauce: completely random convo with Razor in a lift somewhere in Paris back in my I was overseas days still remember how filthy he was)
That was 20 years ago
I remember you speaking to the rest of the group just after that.. you were surprised that he was so willing to shit on Mitchell to a random kiwi
Wasn't he pissed at Deans too?
dunno my memory ain't that good! just remember him raging about mitch.
had a 30 year uni reunion on the weekend - just a bunch of people looking at each other say yeh can kinda remember you but not really... so not just my memory that's gettin hazy!
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I’d back Razor to be across these issues and to be able to fix them.
The only thing stopping Razor I think is himself. Unlike Foster, he provably has the ability as a head coach, and success has followed him at all levels.
The key issue next year will be selection, because despite everything, I’d argue we outplayed everyone in every test (from a tactical standpoint) except for maybe the Boks, but even then it is splitting hairs.
The forwards I think is more about evolution than revolution.
We have got 6 good props, 2 very good hookers + a good young prospect in Bell and hopefully a returning Samasoni, so no issues in the front row.
Six locks have been in the squad this year, IMO, have to get Holland in the 23, but this is evolution rather than revolution.
Loose forwards, in Sititi, Savea, Lakai and Papalii, we have the makings of a great loose forward trio. I think long-term, we probably need a hulking blindside, but that could be Haig and Finau who have already been in the squad, with Sititi/Savea at 8.
Backline might be more about revolution though.
Halfback, we have Roigard, then open season. I hope they haven’t written off Fakatava, because he is the closest in play-style to Roigard, and in the absence of a world beating first five, playing off 9 is important. Ratima has some work to do, but should be retained… feel like Hotham is TJ mark two.
First Five, may need to tweak the game plan to factor that neither BB or DMac are great playmakers. Boks have played great rugby with Pollard at 10, so food for thought as to whether you need a running first five. Hard to see how Jacomb makes inroads sitting behind DMac, Plummer is overseas, the Canes and Crusaders 10s don’t seem to be there. Not going to pretend like I’m not a bit biased, but it Millar has a solid season, when the music stops he might be the last one standing.
Midfield, J Barrett is by far and away our best 12. No coincidence we played our worst rugby this year when he was off the field. ALB is not a 12, so need to find good backup. Ioane had a good year, but next year we really need to test if Proctor can be even better - which we won’t know until we try. Havili and ALB should be swept out… Higgins, Tupaea and McLeod these ones to watch as squadies I think.
Outside Backs, need revolution here. Clarke had a good year, Jordan had a good year and Tele’a ended the year well, but feel like the rest is open season. To help control test matches, the second fullback model I think is needed. Jordan back to the wing, as he is always going to be the best fullback on the wing (Like B Smith) and let’s look at a couple of fullbacks. Love the obvious one already in the environment.
Room for some bolters, let’s see what Super Rugby brings, and I think we can really judge where this team is heading at the end of next year.
