Bledisloe #1
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The backline issues have been a real problem. In my view the best backine over the past 3 years has been
9- A. Smith
10- B. Barrett
12- R. Crotty
13- A. Lienert-Brown
11- R. Ioane
14- W. Naholo
15- B. Smith21- TJ. Perenara
22- D. McKenzie
23- SB. WilliamsA number of players in there that have been criticised pillar to post, but it has functioned with the right balance of defence, attack and speed.
But every one of our midfielders including ALB have been injured and we simply don’t have the experienced depth that we’ve had in the past to make a replacement. Part of it is selections and part of it is cycle of player movements.
The Carter/Nonu/Smith combination didn’t play every test but they played a hell of a lot together, but when one was out we had someone that was ready made replacement.
This period has been particularly tough.
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@Machpants as dumb though?
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Well I’ve got my temper under control and, while I don’t think we’re over yet, there are some pretty hard questions that need to be answered.
Top of the list is what exactly does Ian Foster do?
Why do we persistently stand static in defence and let a team that’s on a roll carve off 10m at a time before we engage a ball carrier?
Why, apart from the great buildup to BB’s try, was our game based around passing the ball to players who were standing stock still?
What has happened to our tackling? We’re not dominating and missing way too many.
Why is ALB crabbing across the field now?
I thought Franks said during the week he was having to put some mobility and running into his game. When does he intend to start that?
Why isn’t KR in the ref’s ear? I only saw Aus get pinged once for offside but they were just as bad as us, why no mention to Garces? Why didn’t he challenge the touchie’s call for a lineout instead of a knock on in the lead up to try number 5 (may be wrong number, I can’t count well once I’ve lost the will to live).
Jeez someone call Wayne Smith and beg him to come down to a training session, because it has become pretty farking clear where the brains were in our heyday.
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@Machpants said in Bledisloe #1:
@kev said in Bledisloe #1:
@Yeetyaah players have become mentally lazy - the penalties conceded this year, the dropped passes, poor technique shown by SB. The Coaches keep telling us it’s the start of the test season. Well last night was the delivery night and a big fail, prior to the send off.
We've consistantly been the amongst the worst nations for penailties and cards for ages
If you don't have the ball, you will concede more penalties.
Our game plan should basically be:
First half: try to keep the ball, not much kicking, don't try to play at full tempo.
Second half: up the tempo.
Right now our first half strategy is simply to play at full tempo and kick lots. This just means we get no possession. Since we are defending, we concede penalties.
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@taniwharugby said in Bledisloe #1:
@Machpants as dumb though?
Hard to find stats on that, but I've been searing at ABs stupidity around dumb penalties and needless kciking for ages.
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@Machpants yea who knows...I feel our penalties have been dumber/sillier ones in the past year or so.
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@taniwharugby said in Bledisloe #1:
@Machpants yea who knows...I feel our penalties have been dumber/sillier ones in the past year or so.
SBW and Barrett red cards were so unnecessary and dumb. Shows to me there hasn’t been much learning from past mistakes.
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Problem 1: Lack of flexibility in games. We used to be street smart. We used to be masters at adapting our tactics during the game based on what our opponents were up to.
Then Richie McCaw retired, then Wayne Smith left and that massive strategic advantage disappeared. The team in the last 12 months look unable to react to the unexpected. Kieran Read leads by example wonderfully , but unlike Sean Fitzpatrick or the GOAT, he doesn't speak to the ref much or direct his troops during the later stages of games.
Problem 2: Lack of accuracy and lack of ability to keep the ball in the first half. Ten years ago, most teams would kick a lot in the first half. Lots of teams have reduced their dependency on long punts, we are kicking the ball more. Others sides are able to build an early platform of dominant possession. I can't remember the last time we did that.
Problem 3: Lack of cohesion and energy in the squad. Players used to enjoy playing for the All Blacks and being part of the environment. There was a zip to our play. It is noticeable now that guys like Moody and Franks, even Sam Whitelock seem a lot happier playing for the Crusaders than for the All Blacks. Young coaches like Razor and ROG seem much better at building a rapport with their players and motivating them to excellence than Hansen or Foster.
Problem 4 - Failure to learn from mistakes and react between tests. The stubborness of the coaches is a real weakness. We used to masters at adapting rapidly after setbacks. But we now lack the flexibility and intelligence of old. Scott Barrett's red card was so similar to SBW's one. Did they do any video analysis of Jerome Graces'? Why hasn't ALB been coached not to crab in midfield? Why is Ben Smith still picked at Right Wing when he obviously lacks sufficient gas now? Why wasn't the lack of ball-carriers or dominant tacklers in the forwards if Brodie Retallick is injured anticipated? Can't help thinking that Akira Ioane should have been given more of a chance.
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@ACT-Crusader that backline is full of aged players who haven’t played well for a while or have been injured:
Crotty is like crystal with injuries. Such a risk having a player subject to ongoing concussions,
Naholo is gone but right to ask the question about like for like replacement - size, speed, strength.
ALB - thought he was a bit directionless at centre last night, but with forwards losing contact that doesnt help. Goodhue has been form centre at this level and should be locked in but with ALB as his partner.
Ben Smith hasn’t been the same player this year but could still do Dan Carter.
But it comes back to some basics:
- forwards losing the collision, missed tackles and not generating go forward ball.
- giving the ball back to the opposition with kicks and penalties
If you get those things right last nights backline will work fine.
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They tackled better than OZ regarding missed tackles but it was still a bad night. Though a red card will do that. ABs made 160/198 and OZ 80/110.
Players that missed more than 3
Read - 22 tackles and 6 misses
BB - 2 tackles and 3 misses
Ioane - 4 tackles and 3 misses
A.Smith - 9 tackles and 3 misses
Whitelock - 17 tackles and 4 misses
Moli - 4 tackles and 3 missesBased on ESPN stats
https://www.espn.com/rugby/playerstats?gameId=294511&league=244293 -
The missed tackles were already high before the card. They really started raking up from the 20min mark.
A lot of it is too do with the poor options (kicking from hand and penalties conceded). We gifted possession to the Aussies so we had to do a ridiculous amount of tackling compared to themRead missing 6 is bad. However Read being asked to attempt 28 is the real problem.
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@Toddy said in Bledisloe #1:
They tackled better than OZ regarding missed tackles but it was still a bad night. Though a red card will do that. ABs made 160/198 and OZ 80/110.
Players that missed more than 3
Read - 22 tackles and 6 misses
BB - 2 tackles and 3 misses
Ioane - 4 tackles and 3 misses
A.Smith - 9 tackles and 3 misses
Whitelock - 17 tackles and 4 misses
Moli - 4 tackles and 3 missesBased on ESPN stats
https://www.espn.com/rugby/playerstats?gameId=294511&league=244293Link not working for me. How many did Mounga miss?
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@Hooroo said in Bledisloe #1:
@Toddy said in Bledisloe #1:
They tackled better than OZ regarding missed tackles but it was still a bad night. Though a red card will do that. ABs made 160/198 and OZ 80/110.
Players that missed more than 3
Read - 22 tackles and 6 misses
BB - 2 tackles and 3 misses
Ioane - 4 tackles and 3 misses
A.Smith - 9 tackles and 3 misses
Whitelock - 17 tackles and 4 misses
Moli - 4 tackles and 3 missesBased on ESPN stats
https://www.espn.com/rugby/playerstats?gameId=294511&league=244293Link not working for me. How many did Mounga miss?
Worked second shot. Made 11 and missed 1
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@Hooroo said in Bledisloe #1:
@Toddy said in Bledisloe #1:
They tackled better than OZ regarding missed tackles but it was still a bad night. Though a red card will do that. ABs made 160/198 and OZ 80/110.
Players that missed more than 3
Read - 22 tackles and 6 misses
BB - 2 tackles and 3 misses
Ioane - 4 tackles and 3 misses
A.Smith - 9 tackles and 3 misses
Whitelock - 17 tackles and 4 misses
Moli - 4 tackles and 3 missesBased on ESPN stats
https://www.espn.com/rugby/playerstats?gameId=294511&league=244293Link not working for me. How many did Mounga miss?
Made 12, missed 0
according ESPN, Opta and SANZAAR stats -
@Stargazer said in Bledisloe #1:
@Hooroo said in Bledisloe #1:
@Toddy said in Bledisloe #1:
They tackled better than OZ regarding missed tackles but it was still a bad night. Though a red card will do that. ABs made 160/198 and OZ 80/110.
Players that missed more than 3
Read - 22 tackles and 6 misses
BB - 2 tackles and 3 misses
Ioane - 4 tackles and 3 misses
A.Smith - 9 tackles and 3 misses
Whitelock - 17 tackles and 4 misses
Moli - 4 tackles and 3 missesBased on ESPN stats
https://www.espn.com/rugby/playerstats?gameId=294511&league=244293Link not working for me. How many did Mounga miss?
Made 12, missed 0
according ESPN, Opta and SANZAAR statsI misread Turnover Conceded as missed tackle on my phone.
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These ratings are a joke. Read gets an 8/10. Goodhue plays 17 minutes and gets 7/10, but Bridge plays 16 minutes and he "didn't see enough to be rated."
