Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV
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@bovidae said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
I thought TJP was the best player on the field in the 1st half...for the Baabaas. TKB's service was so much better in the 2nd half.
Sopoaga played poorly in a continuation of his form in the Brisbane test.
Kaino looked well off the pace, and he won't improve without gametime.
On a more positive note, Naholo looked really sharp and Romero was abrasive up front.
As far as I'm concerned, RM has overtaken LS as backup AB 10. Sopoaga is just not looking any threat on attack, which allows the defence to freely drift, and it's kills backline moves.
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@billy-tell said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
@bovidae said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
I thought TJP was the best player on the field in the 1st half...for the Baabaas. TKB's service was so much better in the 2nd half.
Sopoaga played poorly in a continuation of his form in the Brisbane test.
Kaino looked well off the pace, and he won't improve without gametime.
On a more positive note, Naholo looked really sharp and Romero was abrasive up front.
As far as I'm concerned, RM has overtaken LS as backup AB 10. Sopoaga is just not looking any threat on attack, which allows the defence to freely drift, and it's kills backline moves.
I am tired from work at the moment but who is RM? I can't get Ritchie McCaw out of my head and while that would be a fair shout, I doubt that is who RM is
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Not writing Lima off yet ,
But I was always a bit curious, before cruden left , he was part of the squad for quite some time , but they elected to hardly ever use him . There was little indication of him ever moving into contention.
In their minds he was a clear third it seems .
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@kiwiinmelb said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
Not writing Lima off yet ,
Lima's a new daddy. He's been bleary-eyed distracted the past couple months with diaper duty.
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Watching the first half again c/YouTube...
Thoughts, Beaudy 1. he needs to get back to playing on instinct. 2. He looked short of a run - a few times he was just chugging back to position or alternatively 3. he was trying to stay aware of big picture as Captain. Which I think is a nice accolade for him, and happy for him to fill-in, but not sure if he'll ever be the long-term C. (S.Whitelock should be next in-line)
We were as pieced and cobbled together as that BaaBaas team really - so expecting a fluid, wondrous performance was always unlikely.
Still in the first half, Harris & ALB with the fumbles. Havili took a big knock when going up for that high ball in our 22, about 30min in.
Fifita break was classy, Hurricanes 9-10-12-Fifita combo there helped probably, and should've ended with a try to either Laumape, or Tamanivalu. Didn't help ALB got taken out well off the ball on the right-hand side.
Luatua massive for BaaBaas, Andy Ellis showing experience. Mo'unga doing some nice stuff, but kicking wasn't a strength for him, thus the AB's conversation around him may need to be revised.
For the most part, its not been all bad, new combos, moist conditions, inexperience, opposition prepared to give it a go, opposition defence well organised - Deans clearly with time to analyse where the AB's can be targetted.
Kaino = was he even playing?
Traffic hardly went the Bus' way either - so a Cross for Jules, because he needs to get involved in that case like Naholo did.Nice move by Naholo to leap over Beaudy, setting up Fifita for his try.
Second half to come...
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@justanotherfan said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
What time does the AB team bus arrive? They are been taught a lesson by club players here.
Sure as the sun rises trolling South African pokes nose in when the ABs muddle for a bit.
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Actually, before I read the rest of the thread here is my 2c.
We'll take the win.
Even though there was only one First XV player in tge starting XV I expect an All Blacks' team skills to be a hell of a lot sharper than that. Passing accuracy was abominable. Destroyed a lot of momentum and they compounded errors too often. A poor pass slightly behind a player compounded by trying to force the ball to the original spaces under pressure.
We will not be able to rely on test match opposition forgetting how to catch themselves so we can score 21 quick points.
Nigel missed a fair amount. Not his best game.
Did that kick that Mo'unga kept in cross the line of touch?
Regardless missed touch from penalties is inexcusable (twice!).
Good to come back like we did.
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@booboo I thought MOungas knee was on the line anyway...
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@taniwharugby said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
@booboo I thought MOungas knee was on the line anyway...
Didn't really get a good look at that did we?
Seemed like it was at one stage huh? Not sure if he managed to get it off the line before he caught it.
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@booboo said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
Nigel missed a fair amount. Not his best game.
I think he was missing stuff on purpose TBF, but, if the reffing team had let the push on Savea go I would have given up on the game. You want a free flowing game, but if you're going to ignore the laws completely then no one should bother.
I think my hunt for the Hungus Masaga replacement has ended (and with apologies to @Higgins) come on down Hungus Fifita. Damn man, you had two chances to pass that would have put the player's in under the post! Although, the greatest hungus of all in sport is still Solomone Kata of Tonga and the Warriors (boo).
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@booboo said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
@nepia yeah tgat push unduly upset me. As did Ellis' knock on in the first half
Haha, I was laughing at that, it was like finally I get to watch Ellis do stuff like that against the ABs, and Nigel lets it go!
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Watching the second half,
Laumape deserves some more chances with the top side, with the best guys around him. Certainly we look better attacking-wise comparing him vs SBW. Not sure how good/bad his D was (nothing obviously shocking so thats a bonus)Ardie went to 8 for Kaino.
Naholo showed good recovery to chase down the try that was disallowed, should've got a yellow card for stupidly taking out the BaaBaa 11 in the air (65min) mostly he showed good awareness for where he was in relation to high balls for the rest of the game.
Mostly we stopped doing dumb shit in the second half, thus not giving the ball away so much.
Sopoaga trys hard, needs more time to get anywhere near putting the pressure on Barrett for the 10.
Kwagga Smith was real-good for BaaBaas. I wouldn't mind him in the AB's based on that game.
Overall, not that bad, the bulk of that side will be better for the run when they come up against the French - was really a Junior AB's team wasn't it?
You'd hope the "top side" aren't too ring rusty for the French test.
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That was a good bit of fun. Well done Baabaas, they gave it a good crack and scored some great tries - awesome to see from a scratch team.
Owens let plenty go, as expected, which would have been a bit frustrating in a test but it didn't faze me today - all in the spirit of keeping the game nice and open.
Luatua is absolutely awesome, right in the prime of his career. Sucks he's not eligible because he is some player now.
For the ABs, we were very loose in the first half as expected and it didn't pay off, giving up intercepts that led to tries. 2nd half we brought Cane on who helped tidy up the ruck and we played a lot more tight and direct, ensuring the win. All good. Wouldn't read too much into that performance.
Laumape had a strong game too, good to see.
Anyway, I really enjoyed the match, long live the Baabaas!
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@kiwimurph said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
Fun game to watch.
Was impressed by Laumape. Thought he was the standout AB.
Thought Seta completely outplayed The Bus - selectors made the right (and obvious) call.
Both number 8s Kaino and Whitelock were anonymous. This could be the end for Kaino.
If Luatua stayed with the AB's - theres your starting #6 and Kieran Read cover straight away. Big loss. Charles Piatau level loss.
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@no-quarter said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
For the ABs, we were very loose in the first half as expected and it didn't pay off, giving up intercepts that led to tries. 2nd half we brought Cane on who helped tidy up the ruck and we played a lot more tigt and direct, ensuring the win. All good. Wouldn't read too much into that performance.
And also TJ Perenara got benched. I like this guy (for the Hurricanes) Gilbert Enoka needs to do some mental work with him for him to succeed with the AB's
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Saw the game this morning - I agree with @KiwiMurph, Laumape was great, made lots of good decisions and took his chance. He's knocking on the door to run with the top 15.
Fifita should be shot for fucking up that try - illustrated perfectly by Luatua who looked for people in a better situation than him, and as a result they scored.
Naholo was probably our best player in the first half, which is a bit worrying, although I though both locks got through plenty of work. I thought Harris was poor, and Hames was a bit of not much around the field. Kaino was kind of anonymous, but I noticed him making a few tackles. We looked much better when Cane came on.
Mounga took his chance well, Bucky made a lot of nice touches, and Kwagga was, I think, deservedly MOTM.
