Springboks v All Blacks I
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@Billy-Webb What do you make of Marx starting? No argument he’s good enough, but disrupts the very established bomb squad front row, and also dilutes the dual turnover threat with Kwagga.
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@pakman said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
@Billy-Webb What do you make of Marx starting? No argument he’s good enough, but disrupts the very established bomb squad front row, and also dilutes the dual turnover threat with Kwagga.
Interesting point. It breaks from the norm and is being done to celebrate Marx's milestone (50th test).
Mbonambi is a stronger player in the tight and Marx more devastating in the loose - in my view. Which is why they normally start the other way around.
I guess on the flip side, it means that the bomb-squad front row is likely to be a more powerful scrumming unit... But if the game is fast and loose in the latter part, it may come back to bite us. -
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Mbombela Stadium a sold out.
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@Crucial said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
@pakman said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
Straw man team.
Ross/Sami T/Ofa/Scooter/Big Sam/Vaa'i/Cane/Sotutu/Nugget/BB/Havili/Goodhue/Rieko/Jordan/Jordie.
Bench:
Bower/Taylor/Nepo/Ardie/Akira/Christie/Mo'unga/Reece
Frizzle will be at 6. That’s the whole point of his selection. They have set themselves on wanting a player like that hence the earlier selection of SB there.
I think this is one to play a lock/utility at 6, which means Vaa'i.
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@pakman said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
@Crucial said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
@pakman said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
Straw man team.
Ross/Sami T/Ofa/Scooter/Big Sam/Vaa'i/Cane/Sotutu/Nugget/BB/Havili/Goodhue/Rieko/Jordan/Jordie.
Bench:
Bower/Taylor/Nepo/Ardie/Akira/Christie/Mo'unga/Reece
Frizzle will be at 6. That’s the whole point of his selection. They have set themselves on wanting a player like that hence the earlier selection of SB there.
I think this is one to play a lock/utility at 6, which means Vaa'i.
Possible.
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@antipodean Marx only has 50 caps?
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it's kinda interesting isn't it? how much of an impact can two new assistants have in under 2 weeks?
If we turn up with the same shape (15 players flat across the field on both sides of the ball) then once again you imagine the only way we win is if a couple of guys do some amazing shit. And our reliance on dominant spot tackles has not resulted in high contact.
But
There is always the chance that Ryan has sorted out the issues up front. We are better at the breakdown. Our set piece doesn't creak. The new attack coach has us a bit deeper and a bit narrower. Suddenly we can start to ask the Boks a few questions of our own. Maybe we aren't just giving them the ball back at half way over and over.
The optimist in me says we aren't that far off, and a few (admittedly more than minor) tweaks makes us a different prospect.
If we play the same players in the same shape, but hope to do it "better" then the odds aren't good (unless, as stated, someone gets off the chain). They'll kick us to death, take the points the territory advantage offers them, and we'll get overpowered close to the line.
Call me arrogant, but i firmly believe the result on Saturday is more down to us than them.
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@mariner4life said in Pick the score, AB v Boer v1.0:
it's kinda interesting isn't it? how much of an impact can two new assistants have in under 2 weeks?
If we turn up with the same shape (15 players flat across the field on both sides of the ball) then once again you imagine the only way we win is if a couple of guys do some amazing shit. And our reliance on dominant spot tackles has not resulted in high contact.
But
There is always the chance that Ryan has sorted out the issues up front. We are better at the breakdown. Our set piece doesn't creak. The new attack coach has us a bit deeper and a bit narrower. Suddenly we can start to ask the Boks a few questions of our own. Maybe we aren't just giving them the ball back at half way over and over.
The optimist in me says we aren't that far off, and a few (admittedly more than minor) tweaks makes us a different prospect.
If we play the same players in the same shape, but hope to do it "better" then the odds aren't good (unless, as stated, someone gets off the chain). They'll kick us to death, take the points the territory advantage offers them, and we'll get overpowered close to the line.
Call me arrogant, but i firmly believe the result on Saturday is more down to us than them.
That was your Soviet clock moment. 😉
Great post. -
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@Tim said in Pick the score, AB v Boer v1.0:
Has there been a definitive statement on Ta'avao's availability for this test?
you want communication now? that's not how we do things in the modern All Blacks son.
"Given 'em nothing" is our mantra
(which, unfortunately, is only followed by the media officers, not the defense coach)
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Interesting to look at the team that beat the Boks last year.
There will be a minimum of 10 changes from that team (the 23) - with none of the four props who played available.
According to fern majorities, there shouldn't really be anyone we miss!
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@Chris-B said in Pick the score, AB v Boer v1.0:
Interesting to look at the team that beat the Boks last year.
There will be a minimum of 10 changes from that team (the 23) - with none of the four props who played available.
According to fern majorities, there shouldn't really be anyone we miss!
Impressive to do it with no Whitelock, Smith or Cane.
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@mariner4life said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
"Given 'em nothing" is our mantra
...unless it's the ball back on halfway
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@nzzp said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
@mariner4life said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
"Given 'em nothing" is our mantra
...unless it's the ball back on halfway
Are you here all week?
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@Bovidae said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
Paul Cully lists some of the selection decisions for this test. One is starting Taukei’aho. I bet it won't happen despite being the best use of the hookers in the squad (ability and form).
That's probably the one I'm most interested in. Whether Ryan immediately demotes Taylor. It will be a good sign, for me, if he does.
But, I'm guessing:
Bower, Taylor, Taávao, Barrett, Whitelock, Ioane, Cane, Savea, Smith, Barrett, Reece, Havili, Ioane, Jordan, Barrett.
de Groot, Sami T., Lomax, Vaai, Frizell, Christie, Moúnga, Tupaea.
Cully is largely right IMO.
I'd like to see the hookers swapped.
There might be a change at 10. I think there will be concerns at 13, but the options are slim.
Clarke would be tempting, but like several options it's a long, long time since he played and having him on the bench doesn't make as much sense as having Tupaea.
Edit: I'd also prefer Newell to Lomax and that could happen.
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@Chris-B I wouldn't have Frizell on the bench. Let's be realistic, Whitelock and Barrett will play the full game so SB would move to 6 when Vaa'i is subbed on, rather than be replaced completely. Sotutu as the impact loose forward makes more sense.
Clarke has to be ready to go. Ross ahead of de Groot too.
