All Blacks vs Wales

mariner4life

Well, the cocks are out in force this morning. 
For me the worst thing Naholo did all night was hungus to bomb a try, unforgivable. But the potential his pace provides is exciting. 
I find it refreshing to have an AB side with so many work-ons.

SammyC

I think the worst thing naholo did was coming off his wing to let that first try in. 
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

booboo

On to the game ... 
I am in agreement with Mariner above. Reasonably good performance by the ABs. Couple of mistakes with a couple of blokes slightly below par. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
I'd like to see a slight shift in tactics though. More direct running from the forwards before going wide. 
And I'd like to see an improvement in execution. 
Can see some big scores in the rest of the series if the ABs do that.

SabalomG

a few people are saying drop Julian.
 
If that happens, and they decide to promote BB. so backline is Smith, Cruden, Naholo, Crotty, Fekitoa, B Smith, Barrett.
Does Sopoaga and Dagg on the bench provide sufficient cover?? Or does Dagg start, with BB still the supersub?

kiwiinmelb

I think NMS injury could maybe give Savea another life if they dont want to move Smith , Naholo on the left , NMS on the right has an exciting look to it going forward

Richie8-7

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="586859" data-time="1465680807">
<div>
Cane is a favourite son for Chiefs fans. Some of them can't tolerate any criticism of him. 
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.
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</blockquote>
Yep, and the point on my last post proven already.
 
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.

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sabalom Glitz" data-cid="586868" data-time="1465681872">
<div>
a few people are saying drop Julian.
 
If that happens, and they decide to promote BB. so backline is Smith, Cruden, Naholo, Crotty, Fekitoa, B Smith, Barrett.
Does Sopoaga and Dagg on the bench provide sufficient cover?? Or does Dagg start, with BB still the supersub?
</div>
</blockquote>
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.

sparky

No reason for big changes. 
Sam Whitelock obviously gets back in if fit. Retallick will get better once the rust has worn off. 
Aaron Cruden looks comfortable at ten, needs time to work on goal-kicking. 
Kaino had a decent game I thought. 
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 
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. 
Read, Aaron Smith and Ben Smith all looked world class. 
Naholo will get better at passing and defending I think. His potential is worth the risk. 
How to get the best out of Julian Savea? Probably needs to go to fit camp again. It worked last year. 
BB is pushing hard for a test start. 
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.

Rembrandt

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.
 
Also how about that sneaky smile and wink at the camera by Barnes after disallowing the Perenara try! (ok that didn't happen but damn that would have been funny)

Immenso Rapido

Naholo having a Toeava like start to his career. Seems like the selectors have rushed him in too soon (several times). 
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

Immenso Rapido

I'm going to sound like a dinosaur here. But on the forward pass disallowed try; why push it so close to the line and support so flat? Why not run the supporting line a metre deeper? There were no welsh defenders Tracking back in this scenario. 
A flat inside pass on the angle will always look forward, so take it out of the refs power by not making it look forward. 
Inside supporting lines are TJPs bread and butter, he should have been better at it on this occasion and allowed Cruden more scope.

mariner4life

I agree. My first thought after "fucking bullshit ref" was "why were you idiots so flat?"

SammyC

Forgot to add the thing I was most happy about last night 
Sky gave us the option of changing to alternative commentary. Much better to listen to the Welsh coverage than nisbett, Marshall etc

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="586859" data-time="1465680807">
<div>
Cane is a favourite son for Chiefs fans. Some of them can't tolerate any criticism of him. 
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.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
 
Not really. The Thorne thing went on and on and on and on and on...for years....and on and on after that.

Tim

He really was that bad.

SammyC

It's funny, I actually thought to myself during the game that Cane reminds me of Thorne. 
And that's a complement coming from me ðŸ˜‰

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="586889" data-time="1465684689">
<div>
I'm going to sound like a dinosaur here. But on the forward pass disallowed try; why push it so close to the line and support so flat? Why not run the supporting line a metre deeper? There were no welsh defenders Tracking back in this scenario. 
A flat inside pass on the angle will always look forward, so take it out of the refs power by not making it look forward. 
Inside supporting lines are TJPs bread and butter, he should have been better at it on this occasion and allowed Cruden more scope.
</div>
</blockquote>
I don't think you're a dinosaur but I don't agree with you. For the players they were involved in a play at high pace, their job is to keep up with their teammates and trying to slow down to be further behind may have put them in a worse position. They did nothing "wrong".
 
Meanwhile Barnes had the benefit of the laws of rugby, a big screen and a TMO who told him exactly what the correct call was and he bottled it.
 
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="586905" data-time="1465687668">
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It's funny, I actually thought to myself during the game that Cane reminds me of Thorne. 
And that's a complement coming from me 
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</blockquote>
I was thinking McCaw myself - when he did that big dive to secure the ball at least. ;)

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="586904" data-time="1465687608">
<div>
He really was that bad.
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</blockquote>
 
See...there's still fuckers who don't recognise Reuben's greatness.
 
Next thing they'll be rolling out the old "Suitcase".
 
Cane's had one match where a few have criticised him - he's miles away from being labelled "Basketcase". :)
 
(Actually, Mark Reason's in the Sparky camp - "Cane was out of form, looking jaded, missing tackles and not worth a start.").

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="586908" data-time="1465688545">
<div>
See...there's still fuckers who don't recognise Reuben's greatness.
 
Next thing they'll be rolling out the old "Suitcase".
 
Cane's had one match where a few have criticised him - he's miles away from being labelled "Basketcase". :)
 
(Actually, Mark Reason's in the Sparky camp - "Cane was out of form, looking jaded, missing tackles and not worth a start.").
</div>
</blockquote>
Invisible man time! ;)
 
I recognised Reuben's greatness - it was against Queensland in the 2002 Super 12, he had the complete game, passing, running, tackling, hitting rucks and being seen doing it.
 
Glad to see I'm aligning myself in the opposite camp to Reason.

SammyC

There was an article on this site a few years ago when Thorne was playing called "what exactly do you do around here" or something similar 
It broke down a match he played for the ab's. Minute by minute and highlighted his contribution to the team 
Needless to say his impact was made through accuracy and physicality in the tackle and at the breakdown/maul. Cane is very similar in my opinion

The Silver Fern

All Blacks vs Wales