All Blacks vs Pumas I
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Was awesome to see Beauden have such a good game to give Mo'unga some competition and keep him honest. But please, one starts and one on the bench. Because 1) they both want to control the game so conflict with each other in a "duel playmaker" role, and 2) either one of them will be fucking lethal off the bench against tiring defenses.
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@chris-b said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@hooroo Whitelock too, Moody, Taylor to the starting line up, then you add Coles, Clarke and Goodhue into the mix and things start to look even better.
You can make a decent case that this would be first choice starting XV if everyone was fit:
Moody, Taylor, Tuúngafasi, Whitelock, Retallick, Ioane, Cane, Savea, Smith, Mo'unga, Ioane, Lienert-Brown, Goodhue, Jordan, McKenzie.
Not quite what I would pick and probably not quite what Fozzie would pick - tighthead, midfield mix and fullback are question marks. But, only three of last nights starters and Rieko out of position.
I think ALB’s 2nd 5 starting days in black are over, other than in an emergency.
I think if all are fit I’d have
Moody, Taylor, Tuúngafasi, Whitelock, Retallick, Ioane, Cane, Savea, Smith, Mo'unga, Ioane, Havili, Lienert-Brown, Reece, J. Barrett
Coles
Tu'inukuafe
Laulala
S. Barrett
Papali’i / Jacobsen - either or really as both would equally serve what we need in terms of options
Perenara
B. Barrett
Jordan -
@kiwipie said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
The Argentina defence really was excellent. Given how easily the Aussies gave up tries after just one missed tackle, the ABs really had to work hard to get over the line and the Argies really never seemed to be outnumbered even after multiple phases.
It was telling when some of our players went searching for a gap - Havili running across players or Ioane running a drift line - instead of being more direct. More often than not the Argies were right there ready.
Was a good contrast to how the Aussies defended. On the other hand Argies attack didn’t offer our defence anything like what that the Aussies did.
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@act-crusader Be interesting to see what they do when Goodhue becomes available again, because we'll have three centres and one second-five. IMO ALB is a much better option at 2nd five than Goodhue - I've got no idea what Foster was thinking when he switched them in 2020 (from his 2019 pairing).
Reece starting? He's not even the best right wing for his NPC team!
(That's a Waugh brothers joke).
Jordan starting at 14 for me. Probably Sevu on the bench.
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i like goodhue...but not how he was used last year at 12, just running crash ball after crash ball. Sure, sometimes a good move to draw in more defenders and make space, but we just didn;t see him mix it up and distribute much
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Our secret sauce at the moment might be the close competition in the squad for places in the starting 15.
Fullback - Jordie really wanting to outdo Dmac
Wingers - Reiko really wanting a spot because ALB gets center if fit and Jordan and Reece competing for the other spot.
First-five - Beaudy knowing Richie Mounga is coming back.
Halfback - Weber and TJP competing for the starting role
Loose forwards - too much quality, so few places.
Hooker - surplus of riches now with Aumua and Samsoni
Prop - Nepo and Karl T have upped their around the field game with Moody and Ofa coming back.Good times and perhaps a pat on the back to Fozzie for creating squad competition.
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@kiwiwomble Goodhue is a very classy centre, but a pretty ordinary 2nd five.
Crusaders being forced to shift Havili from fullback might be the making of both of their test careers.
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@chris-b your obsession with height is showing through with your preference for Jordan over Reece 😉
I think Reece’s work rate and some of the other stuff, pick and go etc is pretty invaluable as a starter. Jordan has that finishers touch which is good as impact
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@act-crusader What's that boxing analogy about a good big man vs a good little man.
Wait and see. I think Jordan is going to end up a very special player.
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@kiwiwomble think they were hoping he'd run like Laumape but have his brain for the rest of his game.
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I'm just happy we have competition in the squad. It's funny how the team just seems better with a rock at 6. I think BBBR coming back and the loose forwards humming has made a big difference. Our big boys up front all seem very fit as well. The forward platform has given the backs much better ball and it's good to see them getting plenty of touches.
I also think BB is better off the bench or starting, he and Mounga just doesn't work, I sense BB has the shits being second fiddle at the back. I also think JB is starting to string together some good performances, the fact he didn't fight with RI over the grounding of the ball shows he might just be maturing into the talent we have all hoped for.
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@machpants said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Yeah Vai’i and DMac really were not much impact off the bench. I’d rate them lowest of all the 23, with Nepo gaining the third ‘bottom 3’ spot due to his FOUR penalties given.
Wasn't it five?
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@machpants oh crap was it 4? That must be going for some form of recent AB record...edit: 5?!!
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@machpants oh crap was it 4? That must be going for some form of recent AB record...edit: 5?!!
ESPN had 4, could've been more
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@bones said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@NTA @Machpants hopefully with Hansen gone, the powder isn't labelled "drop the best defender for an extra lineout option and then lose lineouts"
Code name ‘cunning plan’.
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@nostrildamus said in Wallabies vs Springboks I:
Hope George is ready.
I google George Bridge Highlights. This was the first hit on Google. 15 tries, take a look ... of them, I reckon he had to actually 'do' something in 3-4 or so; the rest were catch and run straight. Someone should do a summary if they're bored... but it supports the narrative of a solid but unspectacular winger
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Finally got a chance to watch the game. Based on this forum, I was expecting Bridge to have had a 'mare. In fact he was fine, one knock on in the 79 minute excepted. Too many people stroking each other off over bridge "say it louder baby, bridge is hopeless, that's right give me that upvote". Will never be an AB great, but he is hardly in the basket case category either.
ABs are waaaay better this season. Starts with selection, which is much better than last year. Forwards more direct. I think the ABs should ditch Coles who is now 34, 36 in 2023. The 2 hookers both had very solid games. I think the best AB loose trio would be Ioane, Cane and Jacobson, with Savea on the bench. Jacobson is a really class player.
BB, RI and BBBR were probably my 3 top players, but no-one disgraced themselves. There is great depth, if we have a weakness I'd say lock: Barrett is already a step down, I really don't rate PT at international level. The sprinbok and NH tests will be a good litmus test - teams that thrive on 10 man rugby and would be more than happy to claim an AB scalp playing that way.
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@billy-tell said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Finally got a chance to watch the game. Based on this forum, I was expecting Bridge to have had a 'mare. In fact he was fine, one knock on in the 79 minute excepted. Too many people stroking each other off over bridge "say it louder baby, bridge is hopeless, that's right give me that upvote". Will never be an AB great, but he is hardly in the basket case category either.
ABs are waaaay better this season. Starts with selection, which is much better than last year. Forwards more direct. I think the ABs should ditch Coles who is now 34, 36 in 2023. The 2 hookers both had very solid games. I think the best AB loose trio would be Ioane, Cane and Jacobson, with Savea on the bench. Jacobson is a really class player.
BB, RI and BBBR were probably my 3 top players, but no-one disgraced themselves. There is great depth, if we have a weakness I'd say lock: Barrett is already a step down, I really don't rate PT at international level. The sprinbok and NH tests will be a good litmus test - teams that thrive on 10 man rugby and would be more than happy to claim an AB scalp playing that way.
Like Mealamu in 2015? Nah, if you’re good enough you’re not too old.
About Bridge, he wasn’t pointed out as crap. Just having been totally nothing as a winger. ABs wingers are X factor awesome, or amazing 2nd fullbacks (more recently) Bridge is meh. He is fine, but there are better options to go for long term. Everything about him says Journeyman, break out in case of emergency
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@machpants said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Journeyman, break out in case of emergency
As I said in my post about his tries for teh Crusaders, solid but unspectacular
