How are the ABs tracking for the RC?
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@MN5 said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
@mimic said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
@westcoastie said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
@akan004 BBBT also hadn't played interational rugby in the rough & tough abrasive nature JK has since 2006. 12 seasons worth by 2019 (subtracted one for the time off in Japan)
BBBT also wasn't first choice for a lot of that. Yes he played NRL, but not quite the same high-tempo stuff is it?
But BBBT may prove to be the exception rather than the rule - equally I could point out the quick drop-off for Rodney and Jerry...JK never played ORIGIN. NRL is a lot more high tempo than Rugby imo, and it's just as abrasive. Look at all the shoulder charges that used to be legal.
BBBT's fitness was right up there with the best of them, and his time with the Broncos/Qld contributed to that.Is this gonna be a 'fucken orjin is the toughest fucken game on fucken earth maaaaaattttteeeee' type post?
You're better than that mimic.
JK would have eaten those origin forwards alive - finish with the rugby version of the bold ;).
On DMac - he's bigger than Cruden who managed to survive 50 tests for the ABs. I reckon his weight is going to start hitting the mid to late 80kgs soon anyway.
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@Nepia said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
On DMac - he's bigger than Cruden who managed to survive 50 tests for the ABs
... but after a few tests held together with string and bandages. FFS, Cruden looks like a walking advertisement for voltaren, and his form has dropped off over time. Not an advertisement for the longevity of small men at the top level
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I see Aura has all gone and poked off again, dammit!!
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@Hooroo said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
I see Aura has all gone and poked off again, dammit!!
At least Pete's keeping her alive!
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Surely we must still be equal 3rd faves with the Argies for TRC, surely we cant be lower than them?
Plus ol' woodenhead said our Aura was gone too after the loss last week, meaning we will not be expected to a win a game on the EOYT, now we will get to learn what it feels like ot be normal rugby fans
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@MN5 said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
@mimic said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
@westcoastie said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
@akan004 BBBT also hadn't played interational rugby in the rough & tough abrasive nature JK has since 2006. 12 seasons worth by 2019 (subtracted one for the time off in Japan)
BBBT also wasn't first choice for a lot of that. Yes he played NRL, but not quite the same high-tempo stuff is it?
But BBBT may prove to be the exception rather than the rule - equally I could point out the quick drop-off for Rodney and Jerry...JK never played ORIGIN. NRL is a lot more high tempo than Rugby imo, and it's just as abrasive. Look at all the shoulder charges that used to be legal.
BBBT's fitness was right up there with the best of them, and his time with the Broncos/Qld contributed to that.Is this gonna be a 'fucken orjin is the toughest fucken game on fucken earth maaaaaattttteeeee' type post?
You're better than that mimic.
Slightly off topic but the way origin is commentated is in stark contrast to the way test matches are.
I watched the decider the other night and I actually found the commentary quite fun. "The perfect half of footy, these guys are unbelievable athletes!" etc. That was after the first half, which was far from the perfect half of footy with some pretty notable errors from both teams leading to tries leaked or tries butchered. But it added to the occasion rather then taking away from it.
Some might say they are over the top, and they probably are a bit, but it's a far cry from fucking Nisbo or Marshall bitching and moaning and whining about mainly the ref but also other "pet hates" they have about the game (scrums, knock downs etc). As @mariner4life said in the other thread they spend ages pouring over slow-mo footage to work out which team was "hard done by". It's negative and fuck and takes away from the experience.
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@No-Quarter said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
@MN5 said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
@mimic said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
@westcoastie said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
@akan004 BBBT also hadn't played interational rugby in the rough & tough abrasive nature JK has since 2006. 12 seasons worth by 2019 (subtracted one for the time off in Japan)
BBBT also wasn't first choice for a lot of that. Yes he played NRL, but not quite the same high-tempo stuff is it?
But BBBT may prove to be the exception rather than the rule - equally I could point out the quick drop-off for Rodney and Jerry...JK never played ORIGIN. NRL is a lot more high tempo than Rugby imo, and it's just as abrasive. Look at all the shoulder charges that used to be legal.
BBBT's fitness was right up there with the best of them, and his time with the Broncos/Qld contributed to that.Is this gonna be a 'fucken orjin is the toughest fucken game on fucken earth maaaaaattttteeeee' type post?
You're better than that mimic.
Slightly off topic but the way origin is commentated is in start contrast to the way test matches are.
I watched the decider the other night and I actually found the commentary quite fun. "The perfect half of footy, these guys are unbelievable athletes!" etc. That was after the first half, which was far from the perfect half of footy with some pretty notable errors from both teams leading to tries leaked or tries butchered. But it added to the occasion rather then taking away from it.
Some might say they are over the top, and they probably are a bit, but it's a far cry from fucking Nisbo or Marshall bitching and moaning and whining about mainly the ref but also other "pet hates" they have about the game (scrums, knock downs etc). As @mariner4life said in the other thread they spend ages pouring over slow-mo footage to work out which team was "hard done by". It's negative and fuck and takes away from the experience.
Disagree on your assessment of Nisbo and Marshy.
I find them incredibly positive. Marshall has imo dragged Nisbo back up to his previous professional standards after the Mexted years rubbed off on him and he used his position as a soapbox to agitate on all parts of the game that annoy him.
In their current set up, they're probably too guilty of being too fair/neutral. So in pointing out how the opposition are unlucky they're not giving enough thought to refereeing. Therefore there are replays and comments about how unlucky e.g. The Lions are if the ref missed a second ricochet meaning he ruled a knock on from a kick contest incorrectly against the tourists.
I agree they need to be 'neutral' to the ref. Rather than try to emphasise their neutrality/ fair mindedness on the luck of the two teams.
But in general I do not find them whiney. I really think we're very lucky compared to some of the dross foreign broadcasts.
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@No-Quarter managed to watch Lions series mostly with the British commentary which was sooo much better than listening to Nisbo, Marshall, TJ & Smith.
I'd love to see a commentary team made up of a caller who at least gets names right (Nisbo often gets players muddled) a couple of recent players, and then a side-line guy. The British commentary had some young guy I didn't recognise as a host - Sean Fitzpartrick, McGheechan, an Irish guy and a few others as experts.
So I'd plump for Andrew Mulligan to host (or Dominic Bowden lolz) Cullen, Wilson (need someone from the forwards) Kronfield? then I'd love to have Piri Weepu or Karl Te Nana with special comments at ground level - those last two would get some excellent stuff from players etc. -
@westcoastie I listened to about 20 mins in the 2nd test with the British comms, even TR Jnr suggested we change back and he thinks Marshall is a muppet too!
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@taniwharugby maybe I just enjoyed not listening to Marshall & Nisbo
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We can scratch Ben Smith from the RC and EOYT squads! Only available for Bledisloe I and II! That's assuming the media got it right ....
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11891328
Smith may not be the only leading All Black to be rested from certain tests this year. The All Blacks will take a 37-man squad on their end of season tour but have already been open about monitoring workloads and potentially resting some players from the taxing Argentina and South Africa away leg of the Rugby Championship. -
@Stargazer Would have rather seen him take the sabbatical after the RC and come back a month later next year. The Boks are going to cause us the most problems this year, not the wobs. That test in SA could be a 50/50 proposition without our full strength team.
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@gt12 said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
Good on him for taking some rest, but I've got a feeling that he's going to lose his jersey while he's out. That leaves a huuuuuge opportunity for Jordie to get the 15 jersey - especially if he kicks the goals.
Another chance for Shag to grow our depth, after seeing that Jordie can handle the step up and NMS ready to ease back in. No word of him going to play abroad? Just a break?
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@gt12 said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
Good on him for taking some rest, but I've got a feeling that he's going to lose his jersey while he's out. That leaves a huuuuuge opportunity for Jordie to get the 15 jersey - especially if he kicks the goals.
i said it in another thread so dont want to repeat myself ,
but BSmith is an exceptionally good right wing ,
dagg could end up being the one under threat if Jordie becomes a must pick
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That's a good point, and you're probably right that in the medium term the person in most danger is Dagg (I'm assuming that Savea has already lost his place to Ioane).
Interestingly, Jordie looked better and better at 13 the more the game went on. If he sees his long term future in the midfield, he could try to move there next year. Would be fucking awesome for the ABs if we had a 190sonething goal kicking 13 with 10 years or so future capability.
Right now, I think his immediate super and AB future should be at 15 though.
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@gt12 said in How are the ABs tracking for the RC?:
That's a good point, and you're probably right that in the medium term the person in most danger is Dagg (I'm assuming that Savea has already lost his place to Ioane).
Interestingly, Jordie looked better and better at 13 the more the game went on. If he sees his long term future in the midfield, he could try to move there next year. Would be fucking awesome for the ABs if we had a 190sonething goal kicking 13 with 10 years or so future capability.
Right now, I think his immediate super and AB future should be at 15 though.
So many things can change in 2 years , but if i had to predict now , the back 3 at the next WC ,
I would go BSmith , Jordie , Reiko
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Out of Interest, is there any players playing in the Northern Hemisphere who if they returned, would they be in the reckoning for the All Blacks. Obviously if Luatua returned quickly he would be used, but are there any others such as Bundee Aki, Charles Piutau, there could be a few years left in Nonu. Slade, No?
