All Blacks v Pumas
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What we know: Crotty, Cane and Crockett are available for selection. Naholo and Franks are not. Kaino will play for Auckland.
Here's possibly a hint at who will play against the Pumas on Saturday: Barrett instead of Whitelock starting?
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Lock is an interesting position for the ABs.
We've possibly got the two best locks in the world, but then the drop-off is huge. Barrett is apparently third in line, but he's several inches short of the desired height and still pretty green. Romano's not quite good enough, Tuipolotou has not built on his early promise and Broadhurst is forced out of the game.
Big gap for someone else to step into IMO.
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@Chris-B. said in All Blacks v Pumas:
Lock is an interesting position for the ABs.
We've possibly got the two best locks in the world, but then the drop-off is huge. Barrett is apparently third in line, but he's several inches short of the desired height and still pretty green. Romano's not quite good enough, Tuipolotou has not built on his early promise and Broadhurst is forced out of the game.
Big gap for someone else to step into IMO.
Romano seems to have led a pretty charmed life to get as many caps as he's had
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Last year, the All Blacks selectors indicated a preference for a combination of athletic locks and power locks. They seem to do the same this year and that explains why Romano is there. While Whitelock and Barrett are more athletic locks and Retallick fits both descriptions, Romano is the best power lock available (although well behind Brodie). So I'm not surprised Romano is there, because PT - who can also be considered a power lock - is clearly not up to it at the moment.
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AB selectors need to prioritize defence. Leaking too many tries. When was the last time ABs gave up 45 straight points?
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@Salacious-Crumb said in All Blacks v Pumas:
AB selectors need to prioritize defence. Leaking too many tries. When was the last time ABs gave up 45 straight points?
i was thinking the same thing during the wallaby game , lions found plenty of gaps too
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apparently Foster reckons we are giving them the chances through our attacking errors more so than defensive lapses
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@Salacious-Crumb said in All Blacks v Pumas:
AB selectors need to prioritize defence. Leaking too many tries. When was the last time ABs gave up 45 straight points?
Yeah, but, it's a balancing act between how adventurous you want to be on attack and how many points you are willing to concede.
For example, England in 2003 were outstanding on defense. But a lot of that is because their whole attack revolved around Wilkinson kicking drop goals and penalties, so they rarely had to defend turnover ball etc.
Wayne Smith has talked about the link between throwing the ball around and a watertight defense in the past. Typically the ABs have struck a great balance, but recently we've certainly been leaving ourselves a bit open. Not having McCaw to cover our asses probably has an impact there.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v Pumas:
apparently Foster reckons we are giving them the chances through our attacking errors more so than defensive lapses
I'd agree with that. When we've been loose with the ball and turned it over, the Lions and Aussies have capitalised.
A bit more patience is what is needed. Even Aaron Smith in that second Bledisloe was playing like a juiced up energizer bunny.
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@No-Quarter Probably largely linked to the sub-par handling being demonstrated this year. We're not usually that prone to spillages and turnovers all over the show.
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ALL BLACKS: Damian McKenzie, Israel Dagg, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Kieran Read (c), Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifita, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Joe Moody.
Reserves: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Scott Barrett, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Lima Sopoaga, Ngani Laumape.
Return of the hot stepper.
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@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks v Pumas:
ALL BLACKS: Damian McKenzie, Israel Dagg, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Kieran Read (c), Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifita, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Joe Moody.
Reserves: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Scott Barrett, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Lima Sopoaga, Ngani Laumape.
Return of the hot stepper.
Good to see Nehe back.
Little bit of rotation without going OTT. Good.
Sammy deserves a rest.
Would be fun to watch Laumape and Dubs together although I don't expect that to be plan A.
Only question for me is TKB on the bench. No problem in as much as he is clearly in the 3 best halfbacks, but as he's leaving are we missing a chance to get another 9 blooded? Or is Weber next in line and still not 100% so TKB is stop gap as nobody else is ready?
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interesting team , you can visualize everything clicking , and them running in some great tries ,
and you can visualize it going the other way , where it doesnt quite run that smoothly , and they make hard work of it -
NMS and Dmac together in the back 3 is very short arse ,
Opposition coaches would see an opportunity there , to send some tall guys through to compete in the air
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@kiwiinmelb Izzy and SBW will just have to work doubly hard on D to make up for the lack of height then...SBW owes us one anyway
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@booboo said in All Blacks v Pumas:
@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks v Pumas:
ALL BLACKS: Damian McKenzie, Israel Dagg, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Kieran Read (c), Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifita, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Joe Moody.
Reserves: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Scott Barrett, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Lima Sopoaga, Ngani Laumape.
Return of the hot stepper.
Good to see Nehe back.
Little bit of rotation without going OTT. Good.
Sammy deserves a rest.
Would be fun to watch Laumape and Dubs together although I don't expect that to be plan A.
Only question for me is TKB on the bench. No problem in as much as he is clearly in the 3 best halfbacks, but as he's leaving are we missing a chance to get another 9 blooded? Or is Weber next in line and still not 100% so TKB is stop gap as nobody else is ready?
I think the options are way open for halfbacks. I'd say a close eye is being kept on the NPC with the likes of TTT and JT as youngsters finding their feet.
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@Crash said in All Blacks v Pumas:
@kiwiinmelb Izzy and SBW will just have to work doubly hard on D to make up for the lack of height then...SBW owes us one anyway
Yeah, he could drop a shoulder into any kick chasers.....
