Bledisloe #1
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@booboo said in Bledisloe #1:
@Stargazer said in Bledisloe #1:
I can hear some Aussie and NH scribes cry foul already! NZR owns WR!
We don't?
Is this the Paddy O’Brien plant theory again
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@Tim said in Bledisloe #1:
Awesome, Matt Todd's on! Maybe we can fit four opensides into the next team.
Josh Blackie and Marty Holah are cleaning their boots.
In the words of Winger, Matt Todd was very good.
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So I was lucky enough to get to the game on Saturday, sure it was a bad result but the venue and atmosphere was phenomenal. I was a bit disappointed with the crowd booing but generally the banter was good natured even when a loss was becoming the obvious outcome - which didn't feel like it was going to happen until late into the second half by the way.
But a really odd thing did happen, on the way walking to the game there was a lot of AB support on the way to the stadium, at the pub next to the stadium I would have estimated the crowd at 80 to 20 in favour of us good guys. Even getting into the stadium when the Ferns were playing it would have still been an overwhelming 70:30 AB support and this was mentioned by quite a few people in our general vicinity with all of us confident that it was going to be an NZ "home" game. After kickoff still the same - majority by a mile for the ABs.Sitting in our general area were a number of people of people I guess you could call supporter neutral, ie not wearing either wallaby or AB supporter clothing and looking around the stands it still looked like a sea of black. However when it became obvious that the Wallabies could be a chance here the yellow and green started to appear - scarves and hats/caps were donned and by the end of the game it was probably more like 50:50. I asked a few others about this and they agreed, it was almost like many supporters were going to try and slip under the radar until they realised it was their night
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@ACT-Crusader said in Bledisloe #1:
@Tim said in Bledisloe #1:
Awesome, Matt Todd's on! Maybe we can fit four opensides into the next team.
Josh Blackie and Marty Holah are cleaning their boots.
In the words of Winger, Matt Todd was very good.
vg
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Bledisloe #1:
@ACT-Crusader said in Bledisloe #1:
Someone mentioned the loss to OZ in 2011 before the RWC.
We rolled out our number 1 side in that Brisbane test bar Guildford and Adam Thomson. We had some setbacks in that game (no RC or YC) but Read and Thomson both got injured in the 1st 40 and were replaced by Ali and Vito. Similar to Perth, OZ dominated the 1st half and I particularly remember how they targeted Nonu every time he carried. Nonu was made to look a little one dimensional in that test.
It should also be noted that the ABs last won both pre-RWC games against Aus in 2003. Again, play with 14 men for a half in any of those games and a spanking ensues.
My biggest concern is how rushed and almost frantic the ABs are playing in the early stages and how all the backline moves appear either over elaborate or involve a shitty little chip kick. If they keep it simple, do the basics well and not hand over possession every farging play then they should have the legs to be ahead against any team after 80 minutes.
Hmmmm.
And how did our games go against Australia in the years we didn't win the Cup?
It's not that we lost. It's how we lost. The same way we've been for two years as our results have continued to get worse and worse.
Unless you think they will put away those kicking strategies and frantic play you don't like. If so, I have a bridge to sell you. Welcome to super-coach Foster and out of ideas Hansen.
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@Chester-Draws said in Bledisloe #1:
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Bledisloe #1:
@ACT-Crusader said in Bledisloe #1:
Someone mentioned the loss to OZ in 2011 before the RWC.
We rolled out our number 1 side in that Brisbane test bar Guildford and Adam Thomson. We had some setbacks in that game (no RC or YC) but Read and Thomson both got injured in the 1st 40 and were replaced by Ali and Vito. Similar to Perth, OZ dominated the 1st half and I particularly remember how they targeted Nonu every time he carried. Nonu was made to look a little one dimensional in that test.
It should also be noted that the ABs last won both pre-RWC games against Aus in 2003. Again, play with 14 men for a half in any of those games and a spanking ensues.
My biggest concern is how rushed and almost frantic the ABs are playing in the early stages and how all the backline moves appear either over elaborate or involve a shitty little chip kick. If they keep it simple, do the basics well and not hand over possession every farging play then they should have the legs to be ahead against any team after 80 minutes.
Hmmmm.
And how did our games go against Australia in the years we didn't win the Cup?
It's not that we lost. It's how we lost. The same way we've been for two years as our results have continued to get worse and worse.
Unless you think they will put away those kicking strategies and frantic play you don't like. If so, I have a bridge to sell you. Welcome to super-coach Foster and out of ideas Hansen.
Sorry you'll have to elaborate on that part in bold. I've no idea what you're trying to get at. The ABs won both games in 2003 and looked a million bucks.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel I would most definitely not say the ABs looked a million bucks in Bledisloe 2 at Eden Park in 03. ABs won by 4 points. It got overshadowed at the time as we had won the Beldisloe back so that was all that people were concerned about.
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@KiwiMurph said in Bledisloe #1:
@Rancid-Schnitzel I would most definitely not say the ABs looked a million bucks in Bledisloe 2 at Eden Park in 03. ABs won by 4 points. It got overshadowed at the time as we had won the Beldisloe back so that was all that people were concerned about.
They looked ok. Were leading by 9 with 5 to play. Was a wet game and for some astonishing reason Mitchell only made one replacement the entire game. The point is they won both games, so I'm not sure what Chester's point is.
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I can remember a poor loss against the Aussies in 2007 as well at the MCG ,
They selected McAlister at 13 ( WTF was that? ) I can remember sitting behind the posts watching Mortlock turn him inside out
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@kiwiinmelb said in Bledisloe #1:
I can remember a poor loss against the Aussies in 2007 as well at the MCG ,
They selected McAlister at 13 ( WTF was that? ) I can remember sitting behind the posts watching Mortlock turn him inside out
I reckon that 2007 loss was arguably worse than last week. An utterly shit Aus team that should have easily been dealt with. Was a horrible display.
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@kiwiinmelb Mortlock was one of the better players I have seen though. He made fool of a few players.
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@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Bledisloe #1:
@kiwiinmelb Mortlock was one of the better players I have seen though. He made fool of a few players.
Plus he has the name of a wizard
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@NTA said in Bledisloe #1:
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Bledisloe #1:
@kiwiinmelb Mortlock was one of the better players I have seen though. He made fool of a few players.
Plus he has the name of a wizard
Lucky he's a big munter and a great rugby player. I can't image it was any fun growing up with a name like that. Who farking names their kid Stirling?
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Bledisloe #1:
@NTA said in Bledisloe #1:
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Bledisloe #1:
@kiwiinmelb Mortlock was one of the better players I have seen though. He made fool of a few players.
Plus he has the name of a wizard
Lucky he's a big munter and a great rugby player. I can't image it was any fun growing up with a name like that. Who farking names their kid Stirling?
Mr and Mrs Moss
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@kiwiinmelb said in Bledisloe #1:
They selected McAlister at 13 ( WTF was that? )
MacDonald got injured on the captain's run (or similar) and Toeava was injured, so Mils had to move back to fullback after.
Why Nick Evans was an unused sub on the bench where he could have gone to fullback I'm not sure.
Games like that or Chicago or Hong Kong are easier too just move on from because the reason for the loss is so glaring. I guess some could say that last week added to the document of sage advice passed down from AB coach to coach... don't pick a flanker at lock, don't pick a sieve at centre, don't pick Stephen Donald, play with 15 men as much as posisble....
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Bledisloe #1:
@NTA said in Bledisloe #1:
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Bledisloe #1:
@kiwiinmelb Mortlock was one of the better players I have seen though. He made fool of a few players.
Plus he has the name of a wizard
Lucky he's a big munter and a great rugby player. I can't image it was any fun growing up with a name like that. Who farking names their kid Stirling?
People who sent him to Kings.
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@NTA said in Bledisloe #1:
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Bledisloe #1:
@kiwiinmelb Mortlock was one of the better players I have seen though. He made fool of a few players.
Plus he has the name of a wizard
The Evil Wizard. He ended up being the last of the ‘smug Aussies’ that had good success against the ABs.
That 2007 loss to the Wallabies at the MCG was one of the more bizarre test matches. Firstly watching a rugby game at the MCG is horrible. Second some of our selections were questionable (Flavell starting at lock), Jonker reffed the breakdown a lot different to what was going on in other Tri nations tests, Hayman’s YC.
There were 80,000 in the crowd that night and walking to Richmond station was painful.
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Results of first 20 rewatch:
Overall OK, and were 12-10 up at end.
ABs were physical enough, but:
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Coles two dumb ass penalties, one after Savea steal and which led to first three pointer. Also bad miss on Kerevi costing 20 metres. Against that, great break to set up second try.
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Two crap kicks by BB which gifted Wobblies good possession.
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No cover for Wobblies' first try. BB was trapped in ruck having followed up a kick.
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Moody and Franks busy. Several good tackles and one good run from Moody before Scooter shelled pass from Nugget.
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Second 20 rewatch.
Not as bad as thought, but:
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Five cough ups of ball. Benda/Cane spills/Moody scrum penalty/Read fumble at 5 metre lineout/Savea turnover but passed to no one, then dumbass penalty. No wonder possession stats so low!
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Hodge clean break close to lineout, then Wobblies fast ball (at least one neck roll) for quite a few phases leads to offside 5 metres out. 13-12. Worrying.
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RM made second try saving tackle. Also an excellent chip and regather.
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Moody and Franks quite busy in trenches.
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White's sniping often found space close to ruck.
Not going to dwell on Scooter card, but note Hooper was falling in tackle, and looked to me as though SB tried to barge back of Hooper's shoulder with his. Think contact with head was secondary.
One reflection is that Oz tackling seemed to shake a few balls loose, which couldn't be said for ours.
Based on first half not sure we'll see too many changes in forwards. Perhaps Taylor to start. Patty T at lock. Expect Ofa to get run off bench. I'd like to see an enforcer at 6, with Cane and Savea sharing 7. Based on squad I'd start with Hemopo with Fifita on bench and Todd getting the week off.
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