MotM vs Ireland
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@chris-b said in MotM vs Ireland:
@nepia Thing is though, on a day like today where we got out-muscled, playing two openside flankers doesn't really help that much.
Though playing Cane who is a big powerful openside as opposed to Ardie who is a bit smaller and faster, might help - maybe along with a bigger midfield back and some people bringing the attitude of the last 20 minutes in the first 60 minutes!
But, I really don't like that two-opensides configuration. It's never been a long run success for anyone.
In my scenario we're not playing two opensides - Cane will just become a 6 and play as a 6. I think unlike when the Aussies do it that Cane could convert and become a pure 6 even though his career to date has been as 7.
In saying all that I'm not floating it realistically ... I just think Cane can do it.
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@donsteppa Speed - yes. Physicality - not so sure.
The reality is that you're bringing in Ardie's physicality vs Squire's physicality (because Cane is playing regardless) and Squire is a much bigger unit.
Plus you're losing height in lineouts, size in the collisions. It's the reason everyone's been somewhat accepting of Jordan Taufua being left out.
Not a fan - hope it doesn't happen.
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O’Mahony
Stander
Ryan -
The choice of no.6 is dependent on the role you are asking Read to play so that the loose forwards can complement eachother. If Read is now playing the tighter role as both a ball-carrier and a tackler then you need a blindside with speed to make those runs on the edges and the mobility to still do their core job at the breakdown.
In theory Squire can fill that role but he's not an 80-min player and is injury-prone. And then there is the inconsistent performances. I still think they should have looked at the trying L Whitelock at 6 as his strength is essentially tackling and hitting rucks and put Read back out wider. But I doubt he's got the legs for that now.
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@nepia maybe Cane doing what he does gives others a bit more space to play more naturally, whereas Ardies game (that has come on hugely) does not compliment them quite as well and means they have to play a bit tighter/narrower??
Just a thought.
@Bones flapenara does my head in...I used to hate it when Peter Stringer flapped his arms all the time , now we have 2 halfbacks flapping and ref watching rather than playing rugby.
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I thought Furlong was outstanding for them. Tight Head Prop dominance wins you Tests.
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@chris-b said in MotM vs Ireland:
@donsteppa Speed - yes. Physicality - not so sure.
The reality is that you're bringing in Ardie's physicality vs Squire's physicality (because Cane is playing regardless) and Squire is a much bigger unit.
Plus you're losing height in lineouts, size in the collisions. It's the reason everyone's been somewhat accepting of Jordan Taufua being left out.
Not a fan - hope it doesn't happen.
We should be fine in the lineouts though. Whitelock, Retallick and Read are all very good options.
If we talk about physicality, who offered more today Squire or Ardie? I think Nepia's idea is worth consideration but I would probably prefer Scott Barrett at 6
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@hydro11 said in MotM vs Ireland:
@chris-b said in MotM vs Ireland:
@donsteppa Speed - yes. Physicality - not so sure.
The reality is that you're bringing in Ardie's physicality vs Squire's physicality (because Cane is playing regardless) and Squire is a much bigger unit.
Plus you're losing height in lineouts, size in the collisions. It's the reason everyone's been somewhat accepting of Jordan Taufua being left out.
Not a fan - hope it doesn't happen.
We should be fine in the lineouts though. Whitelock, Retallick and Read are all very good options.
If we talk about physicality, who offered more today Squire or Ardie? I think Nepia's idea is worth consideration but I would probably prefer Scott Barrett at 6
I'd have to watch the first 30 minutes again carefully to see what Ardie did, but I was watching Squire and I was quite happy with him apart from the head high penalty.
I'm not really a huge fan of Barrett at 6 either. As M4L points out - we're playing three locks, so we get to see what he does, but not so often where his lower mobility lets him down.
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@sparky said in MotM vs Ireland:
I thought Furlong was outstanding for them. Tight Head Prop dominance wins you Tests.
Channelling my inner RedBeard: the most important position on the field is Tighthead. THe second most important is the reserve tighthead.
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Akira could have been bought in to provide the "physicality" they were looking for at 6 while they trained him hard and made him spew doing beep tests to make sure he didn't get lazy. Akira...the answer to all our problems.
Not easy being ranked 76th best in the country. -
Crotty & Goodhue for their defence. Ardie for his work-rate and managing not to do anything dumb. The rest generally stank.
Didnd't include the replacements - unfair to compare to the starting XV
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@frank said in MotM vs Ireland:
Akira could have been bought in to provide the "physicality" they were looking for at 6 while they trained him hard and made him spew doing beep tests to make sure he didn't get lazy. Akira...the answer to all our problems.
Not easy being ranked 76th best in the country.Wow, now he gets mentioned in a Man of the match thread before he's even played.
This really is next level.
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I'm wondering whether Read has fully recovered from his back injury. Apparently that sort of an injury takes at least a year to come right post surgery. Look back at the Lions series last year, the guy was immense so am not convinced that he is fully fit atm.
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@akan004 I guess you have to trust both the player who knows his own body and limits and the medical staff...you could look at Brodie as being under done or not quite there yet, Goodhue had gladular fever about a month or so back, even Coles doesnt look fully comfortable running, Squire has been in and out all season, is he at the right fitness level to be playing, is big Kark at the required fitness levels, admire him for what he has achieved, but didnt quite look up with the pace of the game yesterday (although after being demolished in that 1 scrum he hit back nicely before being subbed off)
But if the player says he's right, passes whatever tests they have to measure....
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@taniwharugby Agreed, but I seem to remember Read saying that he won't be fully recovered until next year. I could be wrong.
