How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?
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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...
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Interview of Steve Hansen in UK's Times indicates that ABs are holding a few things back this year. It would appear have gone into certain games with instructions NOT to a particular tactic, e.g. box kicks. Trying to make team adaptable and keep other teams from working them out too much, I guess.
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@pakman said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
Interview of Steve Hansen in UK's Times indicates that ABs are holding a few things back this year. It would appear have gone into certain games with instructions NOT to a particular tactic, e.g. box kicks. Trying to make team adaptable and keep other teams from working them out too much, I guess.
So I guess on the weekend he told TJP to pass like crap and BB to stand flat footed then shovel the ball out to see how well they coped with it?
I have to admit though, they only played the direct game for a short period to get the needed points than backed off again. -
@crucial said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
@pakman said in How would you define the AB's game style at the moment?:
Interview of Steve Hansen in UK's Times indicates that ABs are holding a few things back this year. It would appear have gone into certain games with instructions NOT to a particular tactic, e.g. box kicks. Trying to make team adaptable and keep other teams from working them out too much, I guess.
So I guess on the weekend he told TJP to pass like crap and BB to stand flat footed then shovel the ball out to see how well they coped with it?
I have to admit though, they only played the direct game for a short period to get the needed points than backed off again.It's clear to me that they know what to revert to in order to take control of a game. Hansen has stated clearly that they're trying to broaden their game.
I recall the chicken little episodes during the RWC despite him telling everyone they had a plan. Part of me is convinced that following the extraordinary success of 2016, combined with injuries this year, they're keeping it as simple as possible.
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Apart from holding some gameplay ideas back it occurred to me that the 'problem' we see in having a midfield that is gelling is due to the coaches sticking to a plan for a powerful runner at 12 with the skills of a playmaker. They have the powerful runner part but need the skills part to develop.
I don't think it is any coincidence that one of our best streaks (both on wins and playing ability) was after Nonu developed from a crash runner to a crash runner that could kick/run lines/call tactics.
If you look at England, they are persisting with a second playmaker at 12 because given the choice they get more benefit from having either one style or the other in the jersey. (eg they can change things up between Farrell and Teo). I think Eddie realises that he doesn't have the luxury of developing any strong running midfielders into dual role players while he is building confidence and a united belief in a gameplan.
For the ABs I think we will see either an upskilled SBW, Laumape or (dare I say it) Ngatai in the 12 jersey come RWC.
Players like Nonu are so rare that even Nonu took years to be Nonu. I think we are trying to make another and we have the luxury of enough other good players to carry the team while we do. -
We're definitely trying to start games stronger & faster. Issue is we're not earning the right to do some of the things we do.
Bench doesn't have enough impact at the moment for us to up tempo and blow teams off the park in second halves - hence our poor 2nd's this year. -
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@taniwharugby That's because refs are scared to penalise the All Blacks who know they can get away with nefarious and cynical means to win Tests...
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@antipodean Yup, read on a French site recently that our AB cheats are still sacrosanct and above the law, and therefore unpunishable by refs because we "own" World Rugby. They didn't explain how exactly we own WR, but obviously everyone agreed. That was after the France XV game. Apparently, PT did not only deserve red, but the ABs were constantly offside, obstructed every French player and almost every pass was forward, and the ref did nothing about it.
Obviously, the comments also included several rants about how their poor players had to endure a commercialised fake ritual before every game without the right to respond.
