Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV
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@pukunui said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
ALB has been pretty rubbish this year. Not blaming it all on him but he is a contributing factor in the disjointed, stuttering backline. Hopefully Goodhue is an upgrade.
I have long term concerns for ALB , like his smarts and skills,
But concerned about his physical attributes ,
might end up a bit of a waddler before he is too old , but hope im wrong
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@kiwiinmelb said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
@pukunui said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
ALB has been pretty rubbish this year. Not blaming it all on him but he is a contributing factor in the disjointed, stuttering backline. Hopefully Goodhue is an upgrade.
I have long term concerns for ALB , like his smarts and skills,
But concerned about his physical attributes ,
might end up a bit of a waddler before he is too old , but hope im wrong
I agree and the word 'waddler' sums up ALB performances so far this year...he has lost a yard or two of pace and we have not seen him reach the levels of last year.
C'mon Jack we need you to show us what you can do in Black!
Unfortunately I can't see him be given decent game time as Shag likes to drip feed the newbies initially, 5mins per game at a time . -
well, if the noises coming out of France are to be believed, they are in a bit of a shit state (more than normal) so is likely to be a fairly green looking French line-up, if it turns out to be the case, maybe he will get his chance?
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@taniwharugby I watched the Montpellier v Clermont Auvergne Top 14 clash yesterday, and honestly both teamsheets read like a first and second string NZ/PI/SA player list. Still can't figure out how France can put out anything like a meaningful national xv while there is such an influx of foreign players in their domestic league. Also Players seem to put on so much weight they are barely recognisable. The game went at a snails pace with forwards only hitting every 4th ruck - both backs and forwards were like browns cows meandering back into position I struggled to recognise Nemani Nadolo who although scored 2 tries, looked like he'd added Nikki Minaj's butt to his own. Fritz Lee has bulked up alright but not in a good way. Must be all that bread and cheese, Whoever was claiming Toeava would walk back into the ABs must have been dreaming as he just looks old and slow...
Having said tthat, Cruden was by far the best of the NZers on show, he controlled the game with assured and skillful ease and was running freely - no bandages on that troublesome knee. We are sure going to miss him at the Chiefs, and he would have been more than handy for the ABs right now. Can't help but think we should have tried harder to keep him and TKB. -
@crash said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
@taniwharugby I watched the Montpellier v Clermont Auvergne Top 14 clash yesterday, and honestly both teamsheets read like a first and second string NZ/PI/SA player list. Still can't figure out how France can put out anything like a meaningful national xv while there is such an influx of foreign players in their domestic league. Also Players seem to put on so much weight they are barely recognisable. The game went at a snails pace with forwards only hitting every 4th ruck - both backs and forwards were like browns cows meandering back into position I struggled to recognise Nemani Nadolo who although scored 2 tries, looked like he'd added Nikki Minaj's butt to his own. Fritz Lee has bulked up alright but not in a good way. Must be all that bread and cheese, Whoever was claiming Toeava would walk back into the ABs must have been dreaming as he just looks old and slow...
Good description of most Top14 rugby I've seen.
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@crash said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
@taniwharugby I watched the Montpellier v Clermont Auvergne Top 14 clash yesterday, and honestly both teamsheets read like a first and second string NZ/PI/SA player list.
You do realise that the teams were missing their internationals, who had been called up for national duties, don't you? So for that reason alone, Clermont had to miss 8 (French) players. That team also has 11 players in the injury ward, three of them long-term (including Camille Lopez and Greig Laidlaw), and one player suspended. So they had to put a lot second and third stringers in their line-up, including two amateur players from their development team.
I agree that French Top 14 rugby is a different kettle of fish, and that not everyone likes watching it or appreciates it (generally, I find it much to slow), but if you're going to make negative comments about teams, at least do it with a bit of knowledge of their circumstances.
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@stargazer said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
if you're going to make negative comments about teams, at least do it with a bit of knowledge of their circumstances.
It's a fault of their own making. Surely with such an injury issue and International duty, scrambling together a team would rely on more French players.
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@antipodean I don't understand what you're saying. Those 8 internationals have been called up for France. The players they fielded were already in their squad or development squad. Why does it matter what nationality they have?
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@stargazer better for French rugby?
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@taniwharugby I was commenting on the remark about the clubs team sheets, not the quality of the French national team or French rugby in general.
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@stargazer but that is what I think @antipodean was saying that you said you didn't understand.
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@taniwharugby Maybe I should have asked @antipodean "What is a fault of their own making"? Having many players in the XV de France? Having many injuries? Having to field many second stringers and two amateur players as a result of all those missing players? If you're missing approx. 19 first choice players (= incl. a lot of French players), isn't it unavoidable that they have to field a lot of 2nd choice players (and 3rd choice players is some positions)? How is that a fault of their own making? And why would they have to rely on more French players if they're fielding more 2nd or 3rd choice players? It all depends on the players they have in their squad (and development squad). I don't know what nationality those 2nd or 3rd choice players have, but I don't see why it matters for putting names on the club's team sheet.
My initial response wasn't about the state of French rugby and their national team, because I agree that a (big) part of the problem is the influx of a lot of foreign players. I was solely responding to the comment about the team's line-ups and the way they played in this particular game.
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@stargazer If you rely more and more on foreign players, it harms the development of local, French eligible players. If both teams are fielding as @Crash put it; 'first and second string NZ/PI/SA player' where's the depth going to come from?
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Cruden made our backline look dangerous but I have to say I have noticed a distinct improvement in the last year or two in BB's tackling. And still not sure if he is better at 10 or 15. Perhaps when Jordie returns we will have a better idea.
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@nostrildamus Defo Jordie should take over the kicking duties from his bro anyway...
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11938489
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@antipodean said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:
@stargazer If you rely more and more on foreign players, it harms the development of local, French eligible players. If both teams are fielding as @Crash put it; 'first and second string NZ/PI/SA player' where's the depth going to come from?
Exactly. But the millionaire club backers dont care a toss about international game, as long as their club keeps on winning, hence buying more foreign players
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It's also the quality of the game that is suffering in France. With all these old, fat and lazy foreigners, it doesn't make for a very good spectacle, does nothing to grow or evolve the game in France. Players like Sella, would run amok withtodays breed,.
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Have recently been watching some weekly Top 14 highlights. Echoing the above, I can't believe how many Fijian wingers play there! And sizable numbers of PI fatties, including several supersized locks.
Noticeable that many/most clubs go for size over technique. An exception is Clermont, which has two quite 'normal' (115kg) Frenchman, Slimani and Chaume (both in running for Saturday), props who often push the opposition fatties off the ball at scrum time. But somewhat easier to stop in loose than 130kg of prime PI beef! -
