All Blacks vs Wales
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="586819" data-time="1465675472"><p>Fuck me boys. You've just won a full on test match and won it well. Now you want to bite chunks of each other. Lucky you didn't lose otherwise the blood would be flowing.<br> <br>You'e come of a long international off season, having lost a few of the absolute greats of the modern game, you'e beaten a good Welsh side. Well. <br> <br>Enjoy it and let provincial bias wait until tomorrow.<br> <br>Then bring it on. :idiot2:</p></blockquote><br>Welcome to NZ rugby, where winning is never enough
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<p>Chiefs supporters eh...</p>
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<p>I thought Cane was solid. We were a few handling errors and tackles away from a tremendous performance, which I think is to be expected in the first match in 6 months and with a significant amount of changes in the side. I'm pretty happy with where we are right now, and I think this was Wales' best chance to grab a result.</p>
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<p>Wayne Barnes...sigh. The way he handled the pass was a shocker but I've always been more worried about the way he handles the breakdown and off side line than the occasional one off error (although with a screen to look at, it makes it unforgivable). It's a free for all at ruck time, but he often finds a penalty against us when we respond in kind. And were Wales on side at any ruck? Some of our little kicks were a good way to counter this.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nostrildamus" data-cid="586814" data-time="1465674385">
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<p>>sparky is a whiney baby<br><br>
unfair imo: sparky can have a different preference for #7<br>
I was just surprised there were no Todd fanbois for once!<br><br>
nb I'd also like to see if Moala or Ngatai would go ok in the midfield- Fekitoa has the attributes but not the assurance over how many tests now? 14?</p>
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<p>It's one thing to have a preference, it's another to whine about people being mean when they disagree.</p>
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<p>Anyways, I agree with the sentiment that (J) Savea sucks. I reckon it started when Hansen said he's better than Jonah a couple years ago.</p> -
<p>I'm okay with that performance. It wasn't great but we had enough to pull away from Wales. Wales had a great game plan. Biggar and Webb both kicked very well. They targeted Savea and Naholo and most of the kicks were competitive. Faletau, North and Liam Williams were all great. I feel like that was probably Wales at their best. They will have to give a lot more if they are going to win a test.</p>
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<p>Cane and Read were the pick of the forwards. Cane played well enough I thought. He didn't get the turnovers but then again nor did Warburton. Cane was getting to the breakdowns and making tackles. I was surprised to see Savea come on for him. I thought Savea came on and gave a fantastic bench performance but he didn't look like winning turnovers either. I don't know what was going on with Retallick. He seemed to get through a decent amount of work but has no idea when to pass and missed a big tackle on Liam Williams.</p>
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<p>Julian Savea was bloody terrible. He didn't look threatening on attack at all and was repeatedly stood up on defence. Yeah, Naholo looked terrible under the high ball but he didn't get stood up like Savea and he looked bloody dangerous every time he touched the ball. The Welsh gave him way too much space - I don't think they will do that next week. J. Savea at his best is fantastic but even if he becomes one of the best attacking wingers in the world again, his frailties probably would leave him behind Naholo. I wouldn't pick Savea next week. Dagg or Barrett should go to fullback.</p>
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<p>I don't know what to make of the centres. Fekitoa didn't take his opportunity and Crotty was solid without being spectacular. I think they both deserve another chance in the series but Ngatai should probably play when he is fit.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="586852" data-time="1465680117"><p>
It's one thing to have a preference, it's another to whine about people being mean when they disagree.<br><br>
Anyways, I agree with the sentiment that (J) Savea sucks. I reckon it started when Hansen said he's better than Jonah a couple years ago.</p></blockquote>
Just to set the record straight. What I was objecting to was being called a prick....<br><br>
I welcome disagreement and different opinions. Nothing is more boring than unnecessary consensus. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="586856" data-time="1465680477">
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<p>Just to set the record straight. What I was objecting to was being called a prick....<br><br>
I welcome disagreement and different opinions.</p>
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<p>It gets a bit feral when you upset a Chiefs supporter</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="586852" data-time="1465680117">
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<p>It's one thing to have a preference, it's another to whine about people being mean when they disagree.</p>
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<p>Anyways, I agree with the sentiment that (J) Savea sucks. I reckon it started when Hansen said he's better than Jonah a couple years ago.</p>
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<p>In fairness to Hanson when he said it , he was bloody awesome at that point in time , </p>
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<p>More complete than Jonah in most areas of the game ,</p>
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<p>but its looking like a downhill spiral now </p> -
Cane is a favourite son for Chiefs fans. Some of them can't tolerate any criticism of him.<br><br>
It's a bit like the reaction you got from a few Canterbury folks a few years ago when you expressed doubt about Reuban Thorne being the greatest captain ever. -
Well, the cocks are out in force this morning. <br><br>
For me the worst thing Naholo did all night was hungus to bomb a try, unforgivable. But the potential his pace provides is exciting. <br><br>
I find it refreshing to have an AB side with so many work-ons. -
I think the worst thing naholo did was coming off his wing to let that first try in.<br><br>
But jeez he's an awesome asset to the team, give him the smallest amount of space and he's gone. So exciting to watch, you want him to get the ball everytime it looks like going his way -
On to the game ...<br><br>
I am in agreement with Mariner above. Reasonably good performance by the ABs. Couple of mistakes with a couple of blokes slightly below par.<br><br>
In my opinion I reckon we were a couple of handling errors and a couple of missed tackles away from handing out an absolute whupping. I'm talking whupping of embarrassment proportions. Take out that second 20 mins when Wales scored 13-nil on the back of those AB errors and have a think about the score.<br><br>
Wales were OK. They were not "great". They were good enough to capitalise when we made errors, and thus stayed in the game when they were otherwise being outplayed. I think it was an issue for us fans that we forgot Wales are a very competent footy team. Thus we were surprised when they stayed in the game, and have judged it as a "great" performance by them.<br><br>
I'm not going to demand changes to personnel. We went ok with the odd obvious exception. Jules needs another arse kicking. Naholo has enough upside to keep. Midfield need time to develop.<br><br>
I'd like to see a slight shift in tactics though. More direct running from the forwards before going wide.<br><br>
And I'd like to see an improvement in execution. <br><br>
Can see some big scores in the rest of the series if the ABs do that. -
<p>a few people are saying drop Julian.</p>
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<p>If that happens, and they decide to promote BB. so backline is Smith, Cruden, Naholo, Crotty, Fekitoa, B Smith, Barrett.</p>
<p>Does Sopoaga and Dagg on the bench provide sufficient cover?? Or does Dagg start, with BB still the supersub?</p> -
I think NMS injury could maybe give Savea another life if they dont want to move Smith ,<br><br>Naholo on the left , NMS on the right has an exciting look to it going forward
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="586859" data-time="1465680807">
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<p>Cane is a favourite son for Chiefs fans. Some of them can't tolerate any criticism of him.<br><br>
It's a bit like the reaction you got from a few Canterbury folks a few years ago when you expressed doubt about Reuban Thorne being the greatest captain ever.</p>
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<p>Yep, and the point on my last post proven already.</p>
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<p>Anyway, in my opinion as a Crusaders fan, Matt Todd should never be anywhere near the All Blacks. He's a good solid super rugby player. Sam Cane all day every day, with A Savea keeping him honest.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sabalom Glitz" data-cid="586868" data-time="1465681872">
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<p>a few people are saying drop Julian.</p>
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<p>If that happens, and they decide to promote BB. so backline is Smith, Cruden, Naholo, Crotty, Fekitoa, B Smith, Barrett.</p>
<p>Does Sopoaga and Dagg on the bench provide sufficient cover?? Or does Dagg start, with BB still the supersub?</p>
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<p>I would go with Sopoaga and Moala on the bench. This is why I think Moala is a valuable player but I suppose he technically isn't in the squad.</p> -
No reason for big changes.<br><br>
Sam Whitelock obviously gets back in if fit. Retallick will get better once the rust has worn off.<br>
Aaron Cruden looks comfortable at ten, needs time to work on goal-kicking.<br>
Kaino had a decent game I thought.<br>
Give Crotty-Fektitoa another go. SBW, Ngatai and Moala might all get a go later in the year. Don't expect a totally settled combo for a while<br>
Cane-Ardie Savea is now a debate worth having, but I understand the argument about Cane's experience giving him the edge at the moment.<br>
Read, Aaron Smith and Ben Smith all looked world class.<br>
Naholo will get better at passing and defending I think. His potential is worth the risk.<br>
How to get the best out of Julian Savea? Probably needs to go to fit camp again. It worked last year.<br>
BB is pushing hard for a test start. <br><br>
Nice to win well, actually by 8 points more than I predicted, and have a large number of work ons. The coaches will be busy. -
<p>Did anyone notice how much thinner J Savea looked in the face? I wonder if they may have been working him too hard to get him back in shape and that impacted his effectiveness. Felt we were missing some impact in the midfield but probably best not to change the combination now as they need more time to gel. I reckon Naholo will come right, the effort is there, he'll have a proper break-out game soon.</p>
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<p>Also how about that sneaky smile and wink at the camera by Barnes after disallowing the Perenara try! <span style="font-size:8px;">(ok that didn't happen but damn that would have been funny)</span></p> -
Naholo having a Toeava like start to his career. Seems like the selectors have rushed him in too soon (several times).<br><br>
But at least Naholo showed some really good stuff in this game as well, so hopefully his confidence doesn't go the Toeava self-doubting path
