RWC: All Blacks v South Africa (Pool B)
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@Chris-B said in RWC All Blacks v South Africa:
@No-Quarter said in RWC All Blacks v South Africa:
Given we are highly unlikely to run teams off their feet in the first half, I prefer Smith at 15 and Beauden at 10 to start the test, then putting the dual playmaker role into action to finish the game.
I also have big concerns about Mo'unga starting when the heat is really on. He hasn't done well when our pack is on the back foot thus far in his career; think he is better utilised from the bench.
You probably dislike that two pivot formation as much as I dislike playing two opensides.
In all honesty, we probably need both of those things to be masterstrokes if we're going to win this RWC, because we don't have too many points of difference outside them.
Yeah, I’m not a huge fan of the dual opensides either. Smacking the Wallabies, while satisfying, didn’t really tell us a hell of a lot. Again in the 2nd 40 it could be master stroke as we run teams off their off their feet.
In summary: I’m worried about the first half against the big boys.
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The way some of you Nervous Nelly’s are going on it sounds like we are playing Ben Blair and DMac at 6 and 7 😀
Cane and Savea are fine in terms of their size. Just need to be a little more accurate at the breakdown. We haven’t historically won many turnovers at the breakdown against the Boks no matter who was playing, what we need is guys to slow the ball and then keep our own. That has more to do with timing and accuracy than their size.
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Dual opensides would provide a real speed advantage over Bok starters, who are slow. But if weather wet they will pound away to make most of size advantage.
In which case eliminating needless kicks back to them and ball retention generally wil be key.
Interesting on last Breakdown Foxy said unequivocally that Squire was the answer at 6. Also noted he's only available for a few weeks stint -- playoffs? -
@ACT-Crusader and decent clean outs.
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@pakman said in RWC All Blacks v South Africa:
@ACT-Crusader and decent clean outs.
Our tight 5 aren’t shrinking violets when it comes to that.
Also one of the pleasing things that Savea has really developed over the last year is what Rodders became an expert at and that was shifting bodies. Still not up to where Rodders level, but has been more noticeable to me.
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@ACT-Crusader said in RWC All Blacks v South Africa:
@pakman said in RWC All Blacks v South Africa:
@ACT-Crusader and decent clean outs.
Our tight 5 aren’t shrinking violets when it comes to that.
Also one of the pleasing things that Savea has really developed over the last year is what Rodders became an expert at and that was shifting bodies. Still not up to where Rodders level, but has been more noticeable to me.
Agreed, but Franks brothers in Dublin still seems a high point (or maybe just a rosy memory).
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If my calculations are correct and what I have read is accurate, the team will be named at 9:45pm, Wednesday night...
.... unless @SouthernMann
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@Hooroo well given the timing of them naming the team to play Tonga, it is clear the rules have changed, maybe they wont even name a team at all?
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@taniwharugby said in RWC All Blacks v South Africa:
@Hooroo well given the timing of them naming the team to play Tonga, it is clear the rules have changed, maybe they wont even name a team at all?
Stay tuned though, I’ll be making a big team announcement on Wednesday around 6pm AEST
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@ACT-Crusader Let me guess...
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@ACT-Crusader it has to be players in Japan right now.
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@ACT-Crusader
Brett Cameron surprise inclusion as back-up first five ? -
@Hooroo said in RWC All Blacks v South Africa:
Everything is done and dusted in the build up to this (aside from something happening on the training ground)
I think there are a few selections up for debate for this game, unlike big games in the last two world cups.
Do Reece and Bridge Start?
Does Smith go back to FullBack even if Mo'unga starts?
Does Mo'unga start ahead of BB?
Is it Crotty and ALB or SBW and Goodhue or another mix of those four?
I think the loosies are settled at Cane, Read and Savea?
Patrick T or S Barrett? I think it will be Patrick T though.
Does Jacobsen make the bench?Well one thing has been answered. Jacobsen doesn't make the bench. The more I think about it, it's definitely BB and Mo'unga starting.
Still interested in the midfield as I would start a fully fit Crotty.
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@Hooroo said in RWC All Blacks v South Africa:
Well one thing has been answered. Jacobsen doesn't make the bench. The more I think about it, it's definitely BB and Mo'unga starting.
Do you have a basis for the dual pivot conclusion? I'm not at all convinced they will do it given Ben Smiht's record -- I suspect far more that he'll be out there with BB at 10.
Also, gutted for Jacobsen. I think he was set to be an absolute star at this RWC. Frowny face.
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@nzzp said in RWC All Blacks v South Africa:
@Hooroo said in RWC All Blacks v South Africa:
Well one thing has been answered. Jacobsen doesn't make the bench. The more I think about it, it's definitely BB and Mo'unga starting.
Do you have a basis for the dual pivot conclusion? I'm not at all convinced they will do it given Ben Smiht's record -- I suspect far more that he'll be out there with BB at 10.
Also, gutted for Jacobsen. I think he was set to be an absolute star at this RWC. Frowny face.
I hope you're right but I would start Mo'unga (Not that I really mind either way)
I Think they with start both BB and Mo and have Smith on the wing which I think is a rubbish decision. I'd start with our best two wingers and Smith is not in the top 3.
Yeah, me too, I gutted for Jacobsen
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In midfield I reckon they'll go with SBW and Goodhue with ALB on the bench.
I would start ALB in place of SBW personally. -
@No-Quarter said in RWC All Blacks v South Africa:
Smacking the Wallabies, while satisfying, didn’t really tell us a hell of a lot.
Geez they can't really win eh. Playing the Wallabies in bled 1 wasn't going to tell us a lot, so they lost. Everyone was pretty nervous about bled 2 and there was a lot said about whether this team could step up....but now stepping up and then some didn't really tell us a hell of a lot.
Go figure.
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@Hooroo After Bled 2, I think the starting backs will be left unchanged -- AS/RM/SBW. BB15. Rieko back and probably Bridge (is he faster than Reece?). Biggest question 13. Can make a case for both Crotty and Goodhue, the later being my preference at 13. TJP/ALB/BDR on bench.
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@Bones said in RWC All Blacks v South Africa:
@No-Quarter said in RWC All Blacks v South Africa:
Smacking the Wallabies, while satisfying, didn’t really tell us a hell of a lot.
Geez they can't really win eh. Playing the Wallabies in bled 1 wasn't going to tell us a lot, so they lost. Everyone was pretty nervous about bled 2 and there was a lot said about whether this team could step up....but now stepping up and then some didn't really tell us a hell of a lot.
Go figure.
Well in the context of my post, which was about duel opensides, smacking the Wallabies didn’t give us a strong indication of how the tactic will go against the big sides - Ireland, SA, England - which is my chief concern.
In fact in Bled 1 we were comprehensively outmuscled which doesn’t bode well.
It may turn out to be a master stroke, I hope so, but I am pretty concerned about how we will weather the storm in the first 40.
