Japan vs All Blacks
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69-31. Well we got it done with the C team.
Not completely pointless in the end. The crowd had a fair bit to cheer about, no doubt a great night for those in attendance and a decent advert for the RWC.
Some players put their hand up - Mo'unga, Bridge, Evans. Some really didn't - NMS, Naholo, Fifita. I hope that helps the selectors decide who deserves to be there.
Laumape was awesome with ball in hand, but continues to make some errors on defense. That's his number one work-on, but for me he offers more than SBW right now.
Mo'unga is going to push Beauden very hard for that 10 jumper next year. Unlikely they'll switch before the RWC but hell is it good to have such a classy backup.
We have a big gap on the right wing at the moment and Bridge could well fill that next year if his form continues. Smart player with plenty of pace.
Obviously the biggest negative is our defense at the moment. That was makeshift team so partly to be expected, but we've been exposed a bit this year. Really need to tighten that up.
Anyway, bring on England. Been way too fucking long since we played those bastards.
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Fantastic to have Dane Coles back. The All Blacks have fortunate to have two superbs Hookers in Codie Taylor and Dane Coles to choose from.
Richie Mo'unga, Ofa T and TTT all looked sharp. Strong backup options. All three will be part of the RWC squad if fit.
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@sparky said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Laumape will be first-choice All Black second five for the World Cup game against Namibia
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Had there ever been so few comments after an ABs test?
I agree with both (edit the two before act) above, but thought TTT was poor for most of the first half - his passes inaccurate. Ginger boy seemed much faster getting the ball out.
Ref was an utter disgrace
Jordie needs a season with the canes to sort himself out
Has the obligatory ab pakeha Canterbury ten even played super rugby? Part of a small group with more ab time than super time, which means he'll crash and burn for the rest of his career if he follows the pattern.
England are toast, we should play mostly these second stringers, to make it fair. Another week together will help the defence too 😉
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@mrdenmore said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Has anyone had such a sudden fall from grace as Jordie Barrett?
Rodney So'oialo?
Jordie will be back. Young yet.
2nd season blues
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@kiwiinmelb said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Would Richie be an AB if Lima stayed ?
Oh yeah.
Huge step up from Lima
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@mrdenmore said in Japan vs All Blacks:
How is Bridge not in the All Blacks proper?
Because Steve stopped reading my emails....
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@mrdenmore said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Jordie’s confidence is absolutely shot. Everything he’s trying is not coming off. Last game in black surely.
At his age? Fuck we're hard markers
He'll be back
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@no-quarter said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Japan getting some pretty favourable decisions go their way.
Quoted as 100% correct
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@frank said in Japan vs All Blacks:
That one-handed touchdown by Laumape was Akira-like in its lack of respect.
Fuck him.
Last game in black surely ...
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@booboo I think he's been brought into the ABs squad too early and should have been given time to develop in SR first, like most other players. I've no doubt he'll be one of the contenders for both the RWC and the post-RWC squad. He's a puppy. Let him grow (not in height though).
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@higgins said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Yet another utter mysterious ruling sees a try that was clearly forced against Patrick Tuipolotu's chest awarded miles after the tackled player should have released it.
Actually in-goal you can hold the ball, dive on it and do pretty much anything you can't so in field.
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@nepia said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Is that Robbie Deans giving some comments?
Yes.
Why? I don't know. He us just slow to articulate. Probably good analysis but too slow to say it on tele.
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Got to be happy with that from this team.
tries from Japan can be put down to our mistakes and not poor d. We played way to hectic in our 22 and didn't execute exits which gave up possession in first half. Interesting because stats say we had no line-breaks conceded at half, only in back end of game when it opened up.
As for reserves I'll pass judgement when they play a proper test, by the time they came on game was all over the place but they'll learn from it.
I know this may seem strange to some but the guy I thought was strong was Whitelock, carried hard, cleaned and tackled, thought he was outstanding. -
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@frank said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Richie might be better than Beauden. Can't make my mind up.
Richie needs to carve up some Tier 1 nation's before we come to that conclusion. Making every post a winner so far and pushing Beauden hard though. Good that Beauden finally has some competition.
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@machpants said in Japan vs All Blacks:
I'm pretty confused about the refs penalties for not releasing
Quoted for relevance
