Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November
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@Kiwiwomble I can't even remember him passing. He gives his all but his all is half of what it was last season
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@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
Huge, huge improvement in the tight five with SB there!
True. The tight forwards made us happy today
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Concerns:
everything I said they should change that they did change was a success: apart from the kicks, and they kept JB at 14 and JG at 12 and Sotutu on the bench (but hey I like Ardie) and they still bench the wrong players at the wrong times. Tis a concern because I expect to be wrong (I am only a fan after all). But we have to keep some of that Foster vision so I understand Coles on the wing (never saw that before), or cross kicks from Barrett to Barrett (wow, don't stop a good thing, or a bad thing).
Good to see SB not doing stupid stuff as he is a hard worker, but am alarmed we have Argies under the pump and do stupid things, get 1 yellow card, they don't ?! I thought we were working on discipline??!
I'm not sure Lomax is ready for AB level and Taylor should know better than risk, well, that just was not needed. And he was a top hooker, what has happened?
Most alarmingly, while some of the old heads (Sammy W, Moody, Cane, Smith) are still great team men and hardworkers, the most skilled players are the new guys (Akira, Sotutu, Jordan, Clarke) and our 10s have trouble with the basics.
Richie has done some great try-saving tackles, kicked well, and played unbelievably in one game (and BB did well as well) but he was supposed to play behind dominant packs (only). Well, they were fairly dominant tonight but he did not play well. His running etc were badly judged.
So apart from half-hearted selections, bad bench timings, and inflexible tactics (good to kick it, but sometimes), and not being able to improve the skills of AB backs, that is a (clenched teeth) pass mark from me for the coaching. They even taught their forwards to move forwards, which is something.
I am concerned with how passive Cane seems to be with refs (we are losing in the getting the ref onside battle) but I don't think captaincy is the biggest problem. Tactics. And not finding our best players until the end of the season.
Although Foster did select at least one player out of position who has played alright: Will 'cheesecake' Jordan. Looks like an AB to me. -
@kev said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
@Victor-Meldrew said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
@antipodean said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
End of the season and what have we learnt? Akira is clearly the best 6 in New Zealand. Massive effort tonight and my MoTM.
Ardie's athleticism is a huge plus in the final quarter, but Sotutu needs to start.
Will Jordan is a shoe-in for the right wing spot. He has the golden touch Beaudy had.
Long term Rieko is a centre, just needs more time in SR to hone the positional awareness. Some good competition coming through too.
At 12 the coaches need to identiify the type of player they're after because as good as Goodhue is, he doesn't distribute.
Mo'unga is still a flat track bully.
Pretty much agree with that except I'd like to see Akira and Will Jordan with a few more tests under their belts before we nail them down in the 6 & 14 slots.
Akira's attitude change has been awesome. Huge credit to him and also the coaching staff
Goodhue doesn’t distribute? He is far and away the best distributor in the backline.
Was. At 13.
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@Kirwan No way. Pat. T has had his chances and been found wanting as a starter. Really wanted him to succeed but it seems he lacks both the physicality and stamina for test rugby.
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I really wish ALB can cement one position, I think he has played well and has more upside but seems to be used in a scatterbrain fashion.
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@kev said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
@Victor-Meldrew said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
@antipodean said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
End of the season and what have we learnt? Akira is clearly the best 6 in New Zealand. Massive effort tonight and my MoTM.
Ardie's athleticism is a huge plus in the final quarter, but Sotutu needs to start.
Will Jordan is a shoe-in for the right wing spot. He has the golden touch Beaudy had.
Long term Rieko is a centre, just needs more time in SR to hone the positional awareness. Some good competition coming through too.
At 12 the coaches need to identiify the type of player they're after because as good as Goodhue is, he doesn't distribute.
Mo'unga is still a flat track bully.
Pretty much agree with that except I'd like to see Akira and Will Jordan with a few more tests under their belts before we nail them down in the 6 & 14 slots.
Akira's attitude change has been awesome. Huge credit to him and also the coaching staff
Goodhue doesn’t distribute? He is far and away the best distributor in the backline.
I think he's trying to take it to the line too much. Not unexpected with his lack of experience at 12 and his playing outside of Ritchie (particularly tonight). Maybe in time he'll be as good a 12 as he is a 13.
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@Siam said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
Most of The new players look great. Most of The older players look cluttered and tainted
Overall The passing skills have deteriorated
🤔
yeh basically what I said. It is concerning, plus the drop in the level of the dual 10s.
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The fact that Jordie has regressed under the AB coaches is such a massive fucking black mark against them. One of many...
After spending most of his career being shunted around, he finally plays a full season in one position and really comes of age. His height, strong defense, big kick and vision all came together perfectly at 15 and he found a great balance between doing the basics well and taking opportunities when they arose without trying to do too much.
He was all class and the Canes were infinitely better when he was on the field.
So what do the AB coaches do? Chuck him out on the fucking wing where he has piss all experience and watch him flounder again as he loses confidence and reverts to trying to do too much and making silly mistakes.
It's so bloody frustrating watching it play out like a slow motion car crash as the coaches just refuse to accept they got it wrong.
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@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
@Kirwan No way. Pat. T has had his chances and been found wanting as a starter. Really wanted him to succeed but it seems he lacks both the physicality and stamina for test rugby.
I hate that I think of Ross Fillipo when I see Pat T 🥴
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@nostrildamus said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
I really wish ALB can cement one position, I think he has played well and has more upside but seems to be used in a scatterbrain fashion.
Why spoil an AB Coach's habit of a lifetime?
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Took a while, but as expected.
Margin and nilling them was very impressive though.
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@No-Quarter said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
It's so bloody frustrating watching it play out like a slow motion car crash as the coaches just refuse to accept they got it wrong.
Today, they finally (!) seemed to use his skills a bit better but the kicks to him were poor and his confidence looks to be down a fair bit.
It's to some players huge credit they have stuck to the task, so I'll give Jordie a personal pass on not being all that good at 14 as it's not his decision he's playing out of position.
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I don't think Jordie has had a fair go. Far and away the best FB in SR. Obvious to all his range of skills at FB.
Put him at FB and the dynamics of AB back play will be immediately apparent. -
@Nepia said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
I don’t have time to read thread or make any comments at the moment, but Jordie has nudes of Fozzies wife or daughter right? Right!
He offered him the last 2 malteasers in a pack 4 years ago.
Fozzie never forgets... -
Maybe Jordies talent cap is Super Rugby? Anyone thought of that..
Btw Will Jordan was the best full back in super rugby this year and its not even close.
Go take a look at any of the stats and compare the two. Jordan is clearly the pre-eminent full back in the country. -
@BerniesCorner said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
I don't think Jordie has had a fair go. Far and away the best FB in SR. Obvious to all his range of skills at FB.
Put him at FB and the dynamics of AB back play will be immediately apparent.I'd swap him for Beaudy to be honest.
Hasn't really provided much at 15 this RC.
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@kpkanz said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
Maybe Jordies talent cap is Super Rugby? Anyone thought of that..
Btw Will Jordan was the best full back in super rugby this year and its not even close.
Go take a look at any of the stats and compare the two. Jordan is clearly the pre-eminent full back in the country.👍👍👍
