Springboks V All Blacks
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@sparky Nice to see you back mate.
Think the best thing about SBW is that he gives us options. Yes its fair to say his best days are probably behind him, but he is a competitor at the highest level. He's tasted success at the highest level in different sports - he brings that edge with him, and for some of the younger, greener guys, it's good for them to have that kind of experience around them. -
With Sam Cane gone for the season,I can possibly see 3 candidates that stand out
Dylan Hunt
Blake Gibson
James LentjesBut I would not be the least surprised If they went straight past these 3 and went for Dalton Papalii.
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@sparky said in Springboks V All Blacks:
This should be the end of the road for Sonny Bill Williams as an All Black. He was very poor indeed in this game.
I'd rate Goodhue, Laumape, ALB, Crotty, Aso, Matt Procter, Rob Thompson, David Havili, Jordie Barrett and even a 36 year Maa Nonu as better bets as Midfield players for RWC 2019 ahead of him now.
Thanks for the memories, Sonny, now take your circus somewhere else.
This is when forums get stupid. You rate 3 uncapped midfielders, therefore entirely unproven, as better bets than SBW first game back from injury, and not yet entirely up to speed? You should ring talkback radio, or write a letter to Chris Rattue.
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His physicality will be missed against the likes of Ireland
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@steven-harris Dillon hunt would be my choice definitely.
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I'm reminded a lot of Dublin 2016. Expecting a big focused response after a defeat against same opponent 2 weeks before and instead they were a bit shit.
In both they were playing that opponent away, so I'm expecting it to be a tough game. But I wasn't impressed with ABs in either of those games, got completely 'out-rugbyed' for 70-80% of each game.
Won both, though ..... so fair dues.
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@rapido said in Springboks V All Blacks:
I'm reminded a lot of Dublin 2016. Expecting a big focused response after a defeat against same opponent 2 weeks before and instead they were a bit shit.
In both they were playing that opponent away, so I'm expecting it to be a tough game. But I wasn't impressed with ABs in either of those games, got completely 'out-rugbyed' for 70-80% of each game.
Won both, though ..... so fair dues.
Yeah,
I can't help but feel like we were out-coached in some aspects in both games. Our tactics and decision making in Pretoria were awful. Aimless midfiedl bombs without anyone chasing hard made me yell at the TV. I reckon it was a tactic - can't see how you'd do that over and over again unless you were under instruction.
...and now I'm grumpy again.
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@steven-harris said in Springboks V All Blacks:
With Sam Cane gone for the season,I can possibly see 3 candidates that stand out
Dylan Hunt
Blake Gibson
James LentjesBut I would not be the least surprised If they went straight past these 3 and went for Dalton Papalii.
Papali'i is the obvious choice to me but Hunt had his foot in the door on the EOYT. Hansen's comments suggest they might select 3 opensides for the tour.
Cane's injury will impact the Chiefs as well so another no.7 will be needed with Boshier and Karpik.
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@tewaio said in Springboks V All Blacks:
Such a frustrating game for 70mins. SBW and Crotty look oooooold and tired (which considering they're both injured 80% of the time is saying something). Think Mounga looks class and a proper 10, I've never been in the BB-to-fullback camp until today. Thought Scott Barrett was good, he might solve our 6 problems when BBBR comes back, think he's better than Squire. And Ardie has really stepped up, I thought he wasn't tight enough for test footy and glad to be proven wrong.
Think our best 23 one year out from RWC is:
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Moody
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Codie/Coles
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Franks
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BBBR
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Whitelock
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S Barrett
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Cane
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Read
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Smith
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Mounga
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Rieko
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ALB
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Goodhue
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B Smith
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B Barrett
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Codie/Coles
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Big Karl
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Ofa T
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Squire
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Ardie
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TJP
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SBW/Crotty, whoever is fit
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DMac
How on earth can our best 23 be one that is completely experimental and never been seen before?
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The biggest positive from this game and the Wellington game is that we completely dominated the last 10 - 15 minutes. That's where tests are won and lost - from an opposition POV I'd be pretty nervous about a gameplan that includes hanging on for dear life for the final stanza in the hope we won't score.
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@no-quarter said in Springboks V All Blacks:
The biggest positive from this game and the Wellington game is that we completely dominated the last 10 - 15 minutes. That's where tests are won and lost - from an opposition POV I'd be pretty nervous about a gameplan that includes hanging on for dear life for the final stanza in the hope we won't score.
Yep, and how far in front do you need to be? 17 points wasn't enough; 12 points with 6 to go (I think?) wasn't enough... Laura Aura is back baby
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I still want to see Goodhue paired with SBW. Sonny has a couple of lapses in D, but so did the whole bloody team. But I think those two have a lot of potential together.
I much prefer Crotty at 2nd 5, and think that he's not doing as well at 13 as he has in the past. ALB is looking like the Crotty replacement imo as he can handle both 12 and 13, but unsure if he's usurp Crotty before the WC.
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I think a lot of panic here, lets not rush but take a deep breath. We have had numerous close games going back to 2011 (the start of our domination) so its not like we have not won games like this before when Richie, Nonu etc played...we also laid into them.
The All Blacks are a team that everyone lifts for so our record is truely remarkable with that in mind, we won and I'm not sure if we played that bad. Think of it this way, SA had 67% of ball!!! if we had that what would score have been. I will reserve judgement however until NH tour, this is our WC test.
In saying that I would like to see some options emerge, for me it is adding a more dynamic ball running forward or two, that could be on the bench role or starting. With squire and BBBR back that adds to it along with Coles (who I reckon is done probably). Does Ofa start? Is it time to see what Akira offers??? can Tuipolotou keep bench spot. As for backs I would try Mounga and Barrett in backs, i think this could be devastating for us.Backs to try out on NH tour
Smith
Mounga
SBW
Goodhue
Smith
Iaone
Barrettres
TJP
ALB
Mackenzie -
@steven-harris said in Springboks V All Blacks:
With Sam Cane gone for the season,I can possibly see 3 candidates that stand out
Dylan Hunt
Blake Gibson
James LentjesBut I would not be the least surprised If they went straight past these 3 and went for Dalton Papalii.
Gareth Evans. And geezus, absolutely not Lentjes. He's awful. Gibson is injured.
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@mn5 said in Springboks V All Blacks:
It cracks me up how someone about 188cm or 6 foot 2 like McCaw, Messam, Cane, Savea or whoever is considered 'short' yet pretty much anyone over is considered 'tall'
Yeah - but, stand next to someone who is two inches taller than you and they're significantly taller.
McCaw is listed at 187cm and Read is 193cm on the AB website - photos can be deceptive but there's plenty of these two on the internet and you struggle to find one where Richie looks taller - I reckon this one is a pretty reasonable representation.
But, the real difference in my view is when these guys have to match up against someone who's taller. Put Read against a 197cm lock in a lineout and he's got a chance of being competitive - Richie might as well be the little bald guy from Benny Hill!
Same thing applies with weight in my view. A 90kg centre might not seem that much smaller than a 95kg centre - but when they come to tackle a 100kg centre - the littler guy is giving away significant bulk.
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Hansen (and Henry before him) have constantly beaten the "You can't beat experience in the big games" drum, so I reckon the chances of them heading to RWC with their first choice starting XV including all of Mo'unga, ALB, Goodhue and Rieko is about nil.
