Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October
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Another question: should they be thinking and working towards the next RWC team?
Or are the three amigos (Cider Tapwater and Chardonnay) just trying to impress by the end of their contract through not undertaking anything too risky (read: strategy, cojones, creativity or invention). -
@nostrildamus said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:
Another question: should they be thinking and working towards the next RWC team?
Or are the three amigos (Cider Tapwater and Chardonnay) just trying to impress by the end of their contract through not undertaking anything too risky (read: strategy, cojones, creativity or invention).I guess we only have history to go by when it comes to RWC build ups.
So new coaching team after a RWC campaign that we lost the previous year and that coach was there for the next RWC - eg Henry in 2004, John Hart 1996.
That first squad Henry selected in 2004 (England series) had some players that stayed on to 2007 RWC but many didn’t. Many in Hart’s 96 squad retired in the cycle and the 99 (never happened...) RWC squad was quite different.
So you play for the here and now, knowing that some will likely be still around and others may not and there will be newbies.
If you’ve got players right now in that 21-25 yo age range now, you would hope that that come 2023 they will have 30 odd more tests under their belt and really hitting their straps.
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The Hart era is often seen as an anomaly but then there was Mitchell and, possibly, Foster?
I could be wrong but think AB fan sentiment oriented more to pick the best team at the time but now with the increasing number of strong competitors more fans might want to have a more long-range RWC-targeted team selection strategy? -
@nostrildamus said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:
The Hart era is often seen as an anomaly but then there was Mitchell and, possibly, Foster?
I could be wrong but think AB fan sentiment oriented more to pick the best team at the time but now with the increasing number of strong competitors more fans might want to have a more long-range RWC-targeted team selection strategy?Mitchell came in mid-cycle so had less time than Hart to build something.
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@nostrildamus said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:
The Hart era is often seen as an anomaly but then there was Mitchell and, possibly, Foster?
I could be wrong but think AB fan sentiment oriented more to pick the best team at the time but now with the increasing number of strong competitors more fans might want to have a more long-range RWC-targeted team selection strategy?I might be a bit old school here, but pick your best team every time (injuries happen but we have some depth), play them in position (or at least where they have experience), build combinations and when a RWC comes around it should be sorted. There will be enough "blooded" players.
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@Snowy said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:
@nostrildamus said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:
The Hart era is often seen as an anomaly but then there was Mitchell and, possibly, Foster?
I could be wrong but think AB fan sentiment oriented more to pick the best team at the time but now with the increasing number of strong competitors more fans might want to have a more long-range RWC-targeted team selection strategy?I might be a bit old school here, but pick your best team every time (injuries happen but we have some depth), play them in position (or at least where they have experience), build combinations and when a RWC comes around it should be sorted. There will be enough "blooded" players.
It’s certainly an interesting balance. When you look the success of the ABs in 05-06, the depth of players that was built (eg “2 x AB XVs”), from the outside looking in it didn’t appear they knew what their best team was come 2007. Rather they had players that knew their role should they get selected. The number of changes to the midfield, wings, locks was very high during that period.
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@ACT-Crusader Yep. Look where that got us.
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@Snowy I partially agree with you (esp at 9-10 and midfield) but it also requires faith in coach selections-that they are not so conservative or loyal they miss up and coming better players.
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@nostrildamus said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:
@Snowy I partially agree with you (esp at 9-10 and midfield) but it also requires faith in coach selections-that they are not so conservative or loyal they miss up and coming better players.
To an extent re loyalty, but I did say "pick your best team" so a Caleb Clarke would be picked not an encumbent just for the sake of it.
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AB fans want us to build to be as strong as possible at the next world cup
this must be done while winning every single test between now and then picking the best team for every game
these wins should be dominant and by a double figure margin
and earned with beautiful free-flowing rugby. set up by dominant forwards in tight.
so no worries aye?
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@mariner4life Yes. That's the spirit.
Those that think that winning all the time is bad are losers.
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Anyone expecting big changes tomorrow should probably have a think about who the selection panel is.
I would suggest there will be no changes to the backs and but there could be a couple of changes in the forwards probably only daddy duties and concussion the only real changes, namely 8, probably 5 and 1. Bench could be interesting though
I will probably know soon enough if official timing is tomorrow
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Speaking of the best players, Hamish Bidwell has an opinion:
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@nostrildamus said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:
Speaking of the best players, Hamish Bidwell has an opinion:
Well that's a load of shite. Kirifi and Papalii have both had great games at Super level, it's plain wrong to suggest otherwise.
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@mariner4life said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:
AB fans want us to build to be as strong as possible at the next world cup
this must be done while winning every single test between now and then picking the best team for every game
these wins should be dominant and by a double figure margin
and earned with beautiful free-flowing rugby. set up by dominant forwards in tight.
so no worries aye?
All sweet aye cuz.
And let’s not forget a coach that is slim, speaks eloquently to the media, and tells us why Akira isn’t selected in the starting lineup each test 😎
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@bayimports said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:
Anyone expecting big changes tomorrow should probably have a think about who the selection panel is.
I would suggest there will be no changes to the backs and but there could be a couple of changes in the forwards probably only daddy duties and concussion the only real changes, namely 8, probably 5 and 1. Bench could be interesting though
I will probably know soon enough if official timing is tomorrow
If the sauce is indeed the correct ingredient, then the guess above turns out to be very accurate, sorry wont post until later as too many journos have enough time to create stories this early. Fill in the blanks for starting XV, that was quite easy. If anyone correctly predicts the bench though they get a virtual beer, I didn't, most will get close, but in its entirety may not be so easy. Should at least create some fun for the afternoon.
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@bayimports said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:
If anyone correctly predicts the bench though they get a virtual beer, I didn't, most will get close, but in its entirety may not be so easy. Should at least create some fun for the afternoon.
Are they trying to fit even more 10's & 15's into the team?
I'll have stab and go with both Dmac and Jordan both on the bench (which makes no sense by the way).
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@bayimports said in Bledisloe Three: Sydney, 31 October:
Bench could be interesting though
Kirifi leapfrogs Papali'i and goes straight onto the bench?
He's been doing a lot of media this week
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Lachlan Boshier's All Blacks omission is no longer acceptable
