How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?
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@cgrant said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
The ABs dominance upfront relies mostly on BBBR. Without him, the AB forwards are struggling. Not having him and BB against Australia were the decisive factors in the defeat IMO. Everything seems easier when they are on the paddock.
Not just Retallick, but let’s not underestimate the work that Moody and Franks do in the tackle and at the ruck. Both our first choice props are far more physical and effective than the two that started last night. Not that they aren’t good players, but it’s a big step down IMO. Add to that the ball playing (both) and running (Moody).
We didn’t see much of the short passing game between forwards that has been an important feature for us breaking the defensive line and getting metres up the middle. Franks, Moody and Retallick are all used in those plays.
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Staid. Stale.
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Is it a tactic of Smith to slow it down at ruck time and not pass the ball until he has his offensive line in position?
TJ seemed to have more speed at clearing tucks whereas Smith likes to yell and set it up. I just wonder if that gives the opposition time to setup.
Guess this can also come down to the forwards breaking the advantage line and presenting go forward ball.
The fact SBW made so few metres tends to indicate the D line was well set and he was just running into a wall.
We seem very bi-polar this year, brilliance mixed with complete shit.
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Tbf add in Moody, Frank's, BBBR, BB, Dagg and BFA and it changes quite a bit.
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It feels like we want to play uptempo but we don’t have the players to execute particularly our midfield. We are still looking for the right combination of 10,12,13 and with or without Barrett I don’t think we have it. We might get better mileage with Crotty at 12 and SBW at 13 but the other way round is a failure . it is also is a reason we have been so ineffective in the red zone over the past couple of games. Also think our kicking game is about 30% less effect if Ben Smith is not playing, no one can challenge in the air consistently like him. Agree with poster who said Coles should be on the bench. If Coles is not showing his X factor I think Taylor is just better in the tight and Coles would add more impact off the bench.
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@chimoaus you can counter the Smith hesitation with Perenara coming on and firing the ball all over the fucking show. The big negative this season has been handling, especially under pressure and maybe that points to @westcoastie 's fitness line, although I wouldn't be quite so sky is falling...
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@bones
I don't think the sky is falling, clearly when everyone is available we can play some brutally clinical and nearly untouchable rugby.The global commentary about needing to do something about the AB's being so dominant is rubbish (Henry & others) - I think us being so far ahead raises the bar for others to aspire to. The Aussies are building, hopefully that continues, the Poms & Irish, SA at home and we've come back to the pack with some of our guys out, and not just any guys, some of the best in the world - Moody, Franks, Retallick, Barrett & Ben Smith.
Whats that saying to be the best in the world, you need 5 best in the world in their position players, take those guys out, and we still had Coles, Whitelock, Read, Aaron Smith, Ioane - we're doing ok. -
@dmx
I think we're trying to find that Barrett-12-13 combo, its pretty clear BB is our #1 first-five. BB worked pretty effectively with Laumape & Aso at super level, and in 2016 with Crotty & ALB.2011-2015 we had Nonu & Conrad and were pretty blessed for what they brought and that experience they had, pretty sure Sopoaga starting AB debut would've been outside A.Smith and inside Nonu. Has Lima even played with SBW before?
Historically SBW has been at his most effective outside Cruden. I recall struggles outside Carter also, mostly he seemed most effective for the ABs in 2015 outside Nonu.
Maybe for a guy coming back from his Achilles, SBW should've been our bench midfield more.
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Not sure that I agree, entirely, after Soponga’s performance hard to argue about B.B. being the best 10 in the country but there have been times when the backs looked static outside B.B. and that includes ALB. Offensively SBW and Crotty definitely the worse offensive combo so far. Prior to the last game I thought the backs looked less static with Sopoanga but then he served up that stinker. As I said I am leaning towards Crotty and SBW swapping around. I think Crotty varies his lines better at 12 and it would take a bit of the decision making and handling pressure of SBW.
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@bones said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
@nostrildamus I'd say not bad, but he pulls off some outrageous clangers. Loves face-butting the turf.
it's certainly not a strength just yet. dagg is far from the running threat he once was, and he made jodie look pretty silly one on one this year.
he's just a kid though, and a big, coordinated kid who isn't shy of contact. he'll get there. -
@westcoastie said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
The global commentary about needing to do something about the AB's being so dominant is rubbish (Henry & others)
Of course it's rubbish. We just lost.
Whats that saying to be the best in the world, you need 5 best in the world in their position players, take those guys out, and we still had Coles, Whitelock, Read, Aaron Smith, Ioane - we're doing ok.
Coles is no where near the form he had last year. Whitelock must be exhausted and Ioane is on the wing.
@westcoastie said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
@dmx
I think we're trying to find that Barrett-12-13 combo, its pretty clear BB is our #1 first-five. BB worked pretty effectively with Laumape & Aso at super level, and in 2016 with Crotty & ALB.2011-2015 we had Nonu & Conrad and were pretty blessed for what they brought and that experience they had, pretty sure Sopoaga starting AB debut would've been outside A.Smith and inside Nonu. Has Lima even played with SBW before?
Historically SBW has been at his most effective outside Cruden. I recall struggles outside Carter also, mostly he seemed most effective for the ABs in 2015 outside Nonu.
Maybe for a guy coming back from his Achilles, SBW should've been our bench midfield more.
SBW looked pretty good between Carter and Nonu in the RWC final. He certainly one of the better backs on Saturday. There isn't anyone else who is screaming to be selected over him.
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@dmx and I think the BB-Crotty combo works real well, seems to be better understanding there that BB-SBW
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@reprobate he's being playing out of his favoured position too...whether midfield or FB is his best remains to be seen...
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@westcoastie said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
@dmx and I think the BB-Crotty combo works real well, seems to be better understanding there that BB-SBW
I happen to think BB-SBW complement each other nicely. With Beaudie's speed and SBW's power/ size + offload it creates opportunities. Particularly for a centre/ fullback and winger who aren't over-running the ball.
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@cgrant said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
Maybe we will see a BB - JB - Goodhue in midfield next year ?
And if that happens I guarantee there will be a mixed bag of great, good, okay, poor and terrible.
Midfield combinations need time. Since Nonu and Smith retired we have seen a host of players used with some mixed results. These are all the different combinations we have run with either starting or at some point during a test: Crotty/Fekitoa, Crotty/Tamanivalu, Crotty/Moala, ALB/Fekitoa, Taminavalu/Fekitoa, Crotty/ALB, ALB/B. Smith, ALB/Moala, Fekitoa/Moala, ALB/Ioane, SBW/ALB, SBW/Crotty, Laumape/ALB.
We had a decent run with the Crotty/Fekitoa combo, but Fekitoa went off the boil IMO and ALB emerge as a player. Only one season of SBW/Crotty and I don't think it's surprising that the jury is still out on them. It has only been one season....
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@act-crusader said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
@cgrant said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
Maybe we will see a BB - JB - Goodhue in midfield next year ?
And if that happens I guarantee there will be a mixed bag of great, good, okay, poor and terrible.
Midfield combinations need time. Since Nonu and Smith retired we have seen a host of players used with some mixed results. These are all the different combinations we have run with either starting or at some point during a test: Crotty/Fekitoa, Crotty/Tamanivalu, Crotty/Moala, ALB/Fekitoa, Taminavalu/Fekitoa, Crotty/ALB, ALB/B. Smith, ALB/Moala, Fekitoa/Moala, ALB/Ioane, SBW/ALB, SBW/Crotty, Laumape/ALB.
We had a decent run with the Crotty/Fekitoa combo, but Fekitoa went off the boil IMO and ALB emerge as a player. Only one season of SBW/Crotty and I don't think it's surprising that the jury is still out on them. It has only been one season....
Poor and terrible ? You seem to exaggerate a lot here. JB and Goodhue are sound.
For the EOYT, i'd like to see a BB - Crotty - Goodhue combination, but it won't happen, or maybe against Scotland.
