Rugby World Cup 2019 - How are we tracking?
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@sparky said in Rugby World Cup 2019 - How are we tracking?:
For what it is worth, my team for the RWC if everyone is fit:
Moody, Coles, Laulala, Retallick, S Whitelock, S Barrett, Cane/Savea, A Ioane, TTT, B Barrett, R Ioane, Laumape, Goodhue, Bridge, B Smith (c)
Moli, Taylor, Ofa T, Hemopo, Savea/Papali'i, TJP, Mo'unga, Nonu.
So many questions. Smith captain over Whitelock? So much inexperience? Two guys better known for tighthead than loosehead on the bench?
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Assuming all our current lot are fit come RWC naming time, it is likely at 6, back up utility loosie and probably another wing/FB.
My thinking is someone like Papali'i could force his way into the 32?, similarly Bridge too, but barring injury there isnt likely to be too many changes from the squad that scored 25 points in 2 games v England & Ireland.
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@bones This game reminded me of Nantes 1986. The end of the road for some. Jack Goodhue in his first year of Test Rugby was the coolest head for the ABs yesterday. Ben Smith is a superb captain for the Highlanders so no concern there.
Time to blend young hungry talent with some experienced players. Like we did in 1987 and 2011. 2015 is not the only blueprint for success.
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@bones Fair enough. I thought Moli was outstanding for the Barbarians last year, but I doubt he'll be fit.
Karl Tu'inukuafe will probably be a wiser man next year for the lesson he was taught yesterday by the might Furlong. He can stay as a bench option.
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Ireland now the big favourites for the RWC. They beat the All Blacks comfortably with what is still a tough side with the likes of Conor Murray and Robbie Henshaw to come back.
And don't write off England, Wales or South Africa either. All three have looked excellent in patches in recent test.
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@sparky said in Rugby World Cup 2019 - How are we tracking?:
Ireland now the big favourites for the RWC. They beat the All Blacks comfortably with what is still a tough side with the likes of Conor Murray and Robbie Henshaw to come back.
And don't write off England, Wales or South Africa either. All three have looked excellent in patches in recent test.
Thanks Steve.
I’d actually throw France in the mix. I think the signs are there and with some half decent coaching should improve quite a bit over the next 9 months.
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@sparky I wouldn't say they beat us comfortably. We made it easy for them to some extent with our dumb tactics of kicking the ball away, ill discipline and by not capitalising on the chances that we had created. They also had to rely on a moment of brilliance which led to their try but even that was somewhat fortunate. Read actually goes down injured after the lineout had been won by Ireland and it effectively took him out of the defensive line which allowed Stockdale to then make some yards before the chip.
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If we were being super picky, I'd challenge your idea that they didn't win on most stats, and given that you focus on our 88% tackle efficiency to their 87% (which is hardly much of a difference maker at 87.2 vs 87.8) and their lineout percentage of 84% to our 87% (which is all of one line out), I wonder why you think them almost doubling our score isn't significant? Especially, since we didn't score a try?
How about their run metres, where their 370 odd dwarf our 330ish? Or, clean breaks? Mauls won? Fewer turnovers conceded? Overall possession? Territory? Penalty goals? Tries? Kicks from Hand? Runs?
Of the approximately 25 stats provided by ESPN, I agree that many were very close, but we led in only offloads, defensive efficiency, line out percentage, and passes. I agree that they didn't beat us comfortably, but I also think that the numbers paint a pretty bleak picture.
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@gt12
Fair points, though some stats usually correlate more closely to success than others, tackle % and lineout % are usually pretty key. Many of the stats (rucks won/ scrum % ) were identical and others were close. Which is why I don't say they were comfortably better though that might be a semantic argument.The inability to score a try in 120+ minutes is the biggest worry for me. When was the last time we went that long?
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I think the 1014 guys suggested that having better tackle efficiency was crucial for Ireland, but it didn't turn out to be so, which conceivably makes things worse?
Anyway, your general point I agree with, and the try thing is a fucking good question, but I've spent too much time on ESPN today to find that out
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It hasn't been the best year in terms of the play on the field, but frankly we have peaked early before and gone on to fail at the RWC. Hansen has a decent pool of players, his record suggests that he knows what he is doing, he can put it all together in time for japan next year. The venue will be to our advantage, warm weather and a nice dry fast track. The Jaaps will like it too....
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so apparently CAne is looking at the last 4 rounds of Super XX to get back into action!
He said he was hoping to play some part in the final stages of the Chiefs' 2019 campaign, meaning a potential return in May, with his recovery not "tracking too bad".
Assuming he comes back firing, could be a blessing, that is assuming he does manage to hit the field running....
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