TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98)
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@Machpants dude that's my delusional exhibit A propping up my powder dry glimmer of hope!
We never seem to look to "earn" yards or field position, an all black strength historically. Very little forward play as I can see. All seems vulnerable to a psycho defence and a decent kicking five eight
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BFA played pretty well, but as previously mentioned, he isn't fast enough for a winger anymore. Read and SBW are well past their use-by dates, but can't be dropped, so the rest of the team selection needs to make up for that.
In that we never know which pair of kicking boots BB is gonna put on each game, I'd be more comfy if RM did that duty. Bit gutted for BBBR. Huge blow if he's out. -
@Stargazer said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
@Kirwan I think BB would have struggled at 10 tonight.
He’s handled this sort of pressure before, and he was our best player today, so I don’t accept that.
Difference too in SR where he doesn’t get the front foot ball that Richie is used to. A whiff of being a flat track bully about him.
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@Kirwan said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
@Stargazer said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
@Kirwan I think BB would have struggled at 10 tonight.
He’s handled this sort of pressure before, and he was our best player today, so I don’t accept that.
Difference too in SR where he doesn’t get the front foot ball that Richie is used to. A whiff of being a flat track bully about him.
BB was our best player today playing at fullback. That doesn't mean he would have played well at 10, tonight.
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@Stargazer he spent a lot of time at ten positionally in the second half.
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@Machpants Or other Teams have developed really professional programs and this is the new reality for NZ rugby?
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@hydro11 said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
Mounga was very good in the second half. I think that was just a consequence of him having more space then anything he did to change it.
When we started going forward...
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If Ben Smith is too slow and out of form at wing, then he's too slow and out of form at fullback. Personally, I don't think he's either, but he can't be quick at fullback and slow at wing.
I prefer Beauden at fullback, because he has space.
The issues in that game were
- how much ball we dropped cold
- a loose forward trio that add nothing in attack
- an inability to deal with the high ball
I'm not sure 1) and 3) can be fixed. Adding Ardie Surveyor helps with 2), but only if they are prepared to try something new.
I'm another who is strongly reminded of 1991.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
I have a cat now and I will kick it.
Probably a fair reflection on the overall game. Should have won it though.
Controversial opinion. Ardie should be 8 instead of Read. Not going to happen obviously but he was very ordinary.
If Read makes the starting team, now it is as a 6. If not he can be the backup 8. Ardie is the star at the back of the scrum now.
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@98blueandgold said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
@Machpants Or other Teams have developed really professional programs and this is the new reality for NZ rugby?
I don't think SA have TBH, they're in a world of hurt. Ireland, yes, SA I dunno how they dragged themselves up from Albany levels of awful - you've gotta give Rassie credit tho
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@Machpants Maybe not in terms of the overall program but they now have a team at the top that is better supported then under other regimes. Many of the last 6-8 years result you could put down to political interference when comparing to this team. They now accept players playing overseas have ignored the quota system to a degree and have a game devised by the coaches that suits them.
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Heres my summary.
Draw a fair result. That game won't live long in the memory.
BB was massive tonight, probably the reason we didn't win and yet didn't lose (missed two penalties, was a handful and his pace set up Goodhues try)
We've got two good 9's - TJP perfect to start in this game, ASmith perfect to up tempo - horses for courses there.
Offside defence is not rush defence - holy hell, what were the touchies looking at because the Saffas were just way ahead of things all night.
Welcome back Dane Coles - his spark was super important.
Zero midfield impact until ALB came on - make of that what you will.
Rieko just needs a game vs an easy beat and he'll get a sniff of it again.
Happy to see the Bo'unga combo again - I think it will work better than the Beauden-McKenzie one.Not much else to state...I don't think we're 1991 bad, and a lot of those guys still played the 1995 one too, and we weren't expected to do much then.
Cane and Savea have to come back in. If Read is to stay, hes going to have to go to 6.
Pieces for a good 24-25 players are there, but we need to keep this team on the park.
after Coles & Taylor
after Whitelock, Retallick, SBarrett
after TJP, Aaron Smith
after Cane, Ardie,
after Richie & Beauden
after ALB & Goodhue its a big drop to the next hooker, lock, halfback, first-five, midfield
