Italy vs All Blacks

[Bones]

@stargazer gorgeous ball from your boy RM.

[ShadowTrooper]

@bones said in Italy vs All Blacks:

@stargazer gorgeous ball from your boy RM.

The whole backline looks a better balance with RM and TTT as the halves

[booboo]

Enjoyed that. Expected a real negative slog. Good on them for being so positive.

[ShadowTrooper]

I liked Ta'avao's input today and I want to see more of him and Paps in Black

[Stargazer]

ABs did what they had to do and did it well. I found the game quite boring, but that's what you get with such a weak opponent. No real contest.

[Bones]

Scott Barrett is a pretty shit starter eh.

[ShadowTrooper]

@stargazer I enjoyed it, think the boys needed to get a bit of enjoyment back into their game, nice to see the pressure relieved and to see us play and attack freely

[Stargazer]

I would have preferred a stronger opponent, maybe Scotland, to finish the tour.

[TeWaio]

@stargazer said in Italy vs All Blacks:

I would have preferred a stronger opponent, maybe Scotland, to finish the tour.

Fuck that, they'd have probably rolled us!

[Wairau]

Glad that Jordie finished the year on a positive note like that, he's very talented and has a good future with the ABs.

I'd like to see Mounga, Rieko, Laumape, Goodhue, JB, BB in 2020 (with perhaps Bridge and McKenzie back reserves). Talk about spoilt for choice-we have George Bridge, McKenzie, Ben Smith for a bit longer, ALB, Crotty, Naholo, SBW, Havili.

[MiketheSnow]

@tewaio said in Italy vs All Blacks:

@stargazer said in Italy vs All Blacks:

I would have preferred a stronger opponent, maybe Scotland, to finish the tour.

Fuck that, they'd have probably rolled us!

Obviously didn't watch the Scottish match today

[sparky]

@bones

Yep, he should be first-choice second Five-eight for the All Blacks in 2019.

Pleased for Jordie Barrett. He should now be in the RWC squad if fit.

[Bones]

@sparky great array of skills and has not put a foot wrong in black at all it seems. Is really starting to read the game excellently.

[kiwiinmelb]

I think a laumape goodhue midfield has a well rounded look to it , and is one I would like to see given a shot ,

Not exact clones , but has a similar look structure wise to nonu Conrad

[taniwharugby]

@kiwiinmelb problem is they have fuck all games to try combinations...Laumape-Goodhue and ALB-Goodhue are pairings we should have seen but haven't.

[African Monkey]

@siam It works against rubbish opposition like this but as we saw in the last couple of weeks it didn't work.

[kiwiinmelb]

@taniwharugby said in Italy vs All Blacks:

@kiwiinmelb problem is they have fuck all games to try combinations...Laumape-Goodhue and ALB-Goodhue are pairings we should have seen but haven't.

Yep in a WC year , we probably wont see it ,

And i think they will continue their obsession with SBW at 12 when he is available .

[ShadowTrooper]

@taniwharugby yeh because they've been fucking around with SBW ....

[taniwharugby]

@kiwiinmelb TBH an in form SBW is probably what they need to deal with the rush defence, problem is, we are unlikely to see a completely fit SBW let alone a form SBW, who I believe was last sighted in bursts in early 2017.

Laumape could provide a similar impact, but won't get many chances barring injuries to both SBW and Crotty

[kiwiinmelb]

@taniwharugby yeah , and i guess heading into 2015 , there were similar questions asked about Carter , who if we remember looked a shadow of the great player in super rugby , then look what happened in the WC finals ,

So maybe they will attempt to nurse him through , if it comes off it will look like another masterstroke , if it doesnt , they will cop it from all angles.