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?:
Remember that I wrote that for the 2018 season. By then, JB and Goodhue will have an additional SR behind them, plus maybe the June internationals.
Sure. But Fekitoa seemed to be heading in a good direction too. Until he didn't.
Even Beauden took way longer than that to settle.
And Nonu delivered some stinkers on his way to the top.
You're betting on promise from a handful of games. That is a good way to find disappointment.
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@rotated said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
They are a team that display disinterest that comes with a predictable, consistent squad where no positions are under threat - with none of the cohesiveness.
Are you talking about the Fern?
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@rotated said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
They are a team that display disinterest that comes with a predictable, consistent squad where no positions are under threat - with none of the cohesiveness.
I'm sure Kaino is pleased that his position is under no threat. And Savea A will be relieved Matt Todd has no chance. I'm mighty surprised that Savea J decided to resign his safe position too. Even Bender can't hold his preferred position.
So I think you're wrong.
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@chester-draws said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
@rotated said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
They are a team that display disinterest that comes with a predictable, consistent squad where no positions are under threat - with none of the cohesiveness.
I'm sure Kaino is pleased that his position is under no threat. And Savea A will be relieved Matt Todd has no chance. I'm mighty surprised that Savea J decided to resign his safe position too. Even Bender can't hold his preferred position.
So I think you're wrong.
Dagg and Skudder are definitely competing for the one spot.
Fifita would want what Squire has.
When Bender gets back, DMac would probably be competing with Sopoaga for the bench spot.
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@broughie said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
Too loose and not enough forward dominance. I think the Lions would have killed the team that played on Saturday. Helter skelter is a good description of their game.
But we were playing the Aussies who play equally as loose and frantic.
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@chester-draws said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
@rotated said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
They are a team that display disinterest that comes with a predictable, consistent squad where no positions are under threat - with none of the cohesiveness.
I'm sure Kaino is pleased that his position is under no threat. And Savea A will be relieved Matt Todd has no chance. I'm mighty surprised that Savea J decided to resign his safe position too. Even Bender can't hold his preferred position.
So I think you're wrong.
Squad positions are largely safe as houses and if Jules is the gold standard for how badly your form needs to drop off (and for how long) to get dropped then you have made the case for me.
This is Jerome 'I reckon you can play lock against Ireland, no worries' Kaino? Yes some 13 test veterans will eventually become too burdensome to carry - by comparison Collins and So'oialo were dispensed with much more ruthlessly.
There is certainly some competition within the squad for places - although not as much as you would like. At the same time Hansen has preached more and more that there is a squad game, not just a 23 man side - and treats it accordingly. Examples would be the split squads in a non RWC year, the inexplicable amount of injury cover that was called in for pay days despite minor injuries for the June tests, basically telling NMS he would be back in the squad if he was upright come TRC. Basically we've ended up with a bunch of players who are comfortably 'in the mix' either without the desire or opportunity to cement themselves as a automatic every test All Black.
The opposite side of that coin is that despite last week our depth is very strong, so even when disjointed and playing poorly they will always be within striking distance.
I almost think the pure rotation of 05-07 was a better approach than this.
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@act-crusader And this time is bit us in the ass.
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@broughie said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
@act-crusader And this time is bit us in the ass.
True, but we didn’t play like that against the Lions. We played far more tighter and had a better tight 5 on the park.
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@act-crusader Probably right. We need to play a little tighter and win the forward battle.
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@broughie add Moody, Franks, BBBR and there is an argument for Taylor with Coles not at his best and thats half the pack who are not a first pick.
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@taniwharugby Is it just me but is Taylor underwhelming to anyone else. Point taken with Retallick and possibly Kaino. Not sure we have loss that much, especially in LuaLua.
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After thinking through some of todays BaaBaas game, I really hope the Coaches are limiting our gameplan whilst we introduce some new blood because it really feels like the opposition have figured us out.
The template is there, when the opposition have the right cattle that is...the BIL Lions, Ireland, Wallabies, Deans clearly had a plan that worked for a while.
Probably good for the world game, and we have lost some world-class cattle but fuck that. I want to see us win and dominate.
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If the ABs have been figured out it's good that it has happened now. NZ rugby has until 2019 to work out a way to counter punch.
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I think with the large number of new players in and around they are probably still working themselves out, let alone what others think they have worked out about us.
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@westcoastie said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
After thinking through some of todays BaaBaas game, I really hope the Coaches are limiting our gameplan whilst we introduce some new blood because it really feels like the opposition have figured us out.
The template is there, when the opposition have the right cattle that is...the BIL Lions, Ireland, Wallabies, Deans clearly had a plan that worked for a while.
Probably good for the world game, and we have lost some world-class cattle but fuck that. I want to see us win and dominate.
So the opposition game plan is - get the right cattle and make sure some of the AB's prime steers aren't playing because effectively that the common denominator in all the losses you quote.
BIL have to be the luckiest team I've ever seen in over 50 years of watching Test rugby (sidepoint Saturday was 50 years since 67 AB's played England the first match I can actually remember seeing Sunday evening after the film was flown over from Oz).
Ireland monstored us but I don't think that was due to any game plan - more a combination of our hubris and a decent Irish team.
Same with Oz. They have improved markedly coupled with key guys out for AB's, Brisbane venue and psychologically prob a bit MIA
You can't read anything into an admittedly poor game against Baabaa's.
We were never as far ahead of the pack as results suggested - we've dropped a bit but more in terms of consistency than anything. Opposition certainly didn't have us figured in BIL1 or Sydney's first half or at Albany...
