Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18
-
@nzzp said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
Question for the thread in general: is the decline in AB quality linked to Wayne Smith stepping down at the end of 2017? 2018 onwards hasn't been great... seems to have been a steady decline in quality.
I think you can put it down to six legends retiring in 2015, one great taking a sabbatical, another great hanging on too long and being captain.
These things are all massive factors that are tough to overcome.
Oh and Reiko dropping the ball, fuck you Reiko
-
@nzzp said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
@Crucial said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
Good to see that Quinny has the internet at his resthome.
Wonder what he thought of the pink boots.
Seriously, though, is that a droppable offence ? So many players put the ball down one handed - if you're going to be strict, have consequences for the process not the outcome.
Who knows these days. Old timers who remember that XV really only played unless you broke your leg and had to be carried off, like to think that it’s still like that and therefore if you weren’t selected it meant punishment and demotion.
Now squads and teams are rotated so much that it’s all a bit “we really wanted to see player X” or “player Y has trained the house down this week” or better yet they make up some injury...
-
@ACT-Crusader fewer tests, though, and midweek games to blood new players. Hansen and Henry both talked about it - basically you have to win, and develop talent.
WE seem quite short on world class players right now. Two of our best weren't even in the 23 (Beaudie and Brodie)
-
@nzzp said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
@Crucial said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
Good to see that Quinny has the internet at his resthome.
Wonder what he thought of the pink boots.
Seriously, though, is that a droppable offence? So many players put the ball down one handed - if you're going to be strict, have consequences for the process not the outcome.
the more think about its not really for one hand for me, as you say lots one hand it....its how he does it, others palm it...so actually kept hold of it...he wraps his hand around the front so he can slam it down as he dives...or in this case loose control
i get the idea of diving even when not being tackled if the ball is tucked under the arm...its the safe play if you think you might drop it just dotting it down...the dot down and dive is pure showing off..and it cost us
-
@nzzp said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
Question for the thread in general: is the decline in AB quality linked to Wayne Smith stepping down at the end of 2017? 2018 onwards hasn't been great... seems to have been a steady decline in quality.
no. we just don't have the players any more. Our talent levels have dropped well away.
We were stupidly blessed for a long time, the quality of player we had, all at the same time, across the park, was quite fucking ridiculous.
What you see now are a group of players who are no better talent-wise than their opposition, so the margins become much much finer.
-
@mariner4life said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
no. we just don't have the players any more. Our talent levels have dropped well away.
dunno if I agree with that.
Talent is there, but I am not sure the elite level coaching is upto it, and agree with @nzzp which you can probably tie some of the drop off with the lack of involvement of Smith, who was very technical.
I think the last 18-24 months, we just dont look as well coached.
-
@taniwharugby said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
@mariner4life said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
no. we just don't have the players any more. Our talent levels have dropped well away.
dunno if I agree with that.
Talent is there, but I am not sure the elite level coaching is upto it, and agree with @nzzp which you can probably tie some of the drop off with the lack of involvement of Smith, who was very technical.
I think the last 18-24 months, we just dont look as well coached.
of course the talent is there, but there isn't a margin to the other side, i think it's pretty even. Which means coaching comes in to it. And that has been stale for ages.
But think back to the golden days, how often would a tight game change on the back of something outrageous from one of our champs? A big piece of play by Retallic etc. A Kaino hit. A Read carry and offload, Dan's drop goal. Ma'a beating 3 guys and chucking a 20m pass? Ben From Accounts suddenly beating 4 guys down the short side? Coaching is way easier when you just have to wait for the extraordinary talent to do something
Yesterday's game plan looked exactly like that, but who exactly was the guy that was going to pull it off? I don't see too many.
And that's fine, that is what test rugby is. But the coaching is now way more important than it was up until 2017.
-
-
-
-
@booboo said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
@Hooroo said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
Reiko gets the week off for that blunder. Nothing worse than a showboat all black.
Not sure that helps us win though.
Think he will have the message even if nobody says anything.
Lots of the greats have done it. I remember Cully dropping the ball while holding the ball in one hand once
-
@Frank Take away PUJ and that would be my team too. A fire should be lit under Pat T and Karl T replaced by Lomax.
-
Moody
Taylor
Ofa T
Whitelock
Tuipulotu
Frizzel
Cane
Sotutu
Smith
Mo'unga
ALB
Goodhue
Clarke
Bridge
B Barrett / J BarrettLomax
Coles
Karl T
Vaa'i
Savea
Perenara
R Ioane
McKenzie / J BarrettThe bracketing goes like this - if BB is fit then you don't need 10 cover on the bench, but if he's not, then you do.
Frizzel gets a chance to atone for yesterday but if he can't then I reckon he's a lost cause.
-
@booboo said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
@Hooroo said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
Reiko gets the week off for that blunder. Nothing worse than a showboat all black.
Not sure that helps us win though.
Think he will have the message even if nobody says anything.
Given ALB is the midfield replacement option, we might be better off all round.
When Laumape is back to full fitness it'd be bloody handy to have Laumape's running in the mid field, with Clarke and a (lesson learnt) Ioane out wide to pass to as well.
