All Blacks vs Wales Test #2
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Midfield still a work in progress. I thought seta was good overall, and would be pleased with his night as would the coaches. For mine the dream pairing on talent is SBW at 12 and Ngatai at 13, which may never eventuate if the selectors don't view CN as a 13. And we can't even contemplate that pairing until SBW returns in September.<br><br>
We'll just have to be patient with our midfield. 12 is a holding pattern and we're auditioning guys for 13 and the bench. -
Seta certainly looks more composed than Malakai at present, he won't wanna see that fend again though
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Agree with most ...<br><br>
Think a lot of people in media miss how much the likes of cane and crotty do. It's not flash..it's the graft, the glue etc.<br><br>
A Smith is just awesome. Would love to see lima get a start next week. BB was good tonight but still not a starter for mine -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mattasaurus" data-cid="589603" data-time="1466287292"><p>Agree with most ...<br><br>
Think a lot of people in media miss how much the likes of cane and crotty do. It's not flash..it's the graft, the glue etc.<br><br>
A Smith is just awesome. Would love to see lima get a start next week. BB was good tonight but still not a starter for mine</p></blockquote>
Totally agree! I also think crotty and cane are important to the team,don't tend to make to many mistakes and I think crotty was excellent actually. <br><br><br>
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk -
I think BB is a sensational footballer, especially in broken play, but his tactical kicking just doesn't cut it when games are still an arm wrestle. Sorry if some of the posters think I'm a "hater" (what a baby-talk word BTW) but it's frustrating when the team is under pressure to see clearing kicks only get enough distance to put us back at the 22 only this time without the throw in to the lineout.<br><br>
We could get away with him starting at first five if someone else could clear the ball effectively but Crotty and Tamanivalu both showed off their kicking repertoire and it looks like it won't be them.<br><br>
Sign me up as one of those who think BB is best used as he has been used, as maybe the best bench impact player in the world. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pakman" data-cid="589565" data-time="1466267270">
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<p> In a perfect world would like to see Ngatai/Fekitoa combo get a run. </p>
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<p>Fekitoa has been in the squad since 2014 and has played 2 and half seasons of Super rugby.</p>
<p>To me, he looks much the same player as he always has, immensely physical, but plays a headless chook. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="JC" data-cid="589605" data-time="1466287659">
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<p>We could get away with him starting at first five if someone else could clear the ball effectively but Crotty and Tamanivalu both showed off their kicking repertoire and it looks like it won't be them.</p>
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<p>Dagg??</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="589596" data-time="1466283368"><p>
I would like to see McKenzie get capped,I think he deserves it,I think he can do the impact off the bench like Barrett does<br><br><br>
Ahead of who ? Barrett or Lima ? <br><br><br>
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk</p></blockquote> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="JC" data-cid="589605" data-time="1466287659">
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<p>I think BB is a sensational footballer, especially in broken play, but his tactical kicking just doesn't cut it when games are still an arm wrestle. Sorry if some of the posters think I'm a "hater" (what a baby-talk word BTW) but it's frustrating when the team is under pressure to see clearing kicks only get enough distance to put us back at the 22 only this time without the throw in to the lineout.<br><br>
We could get away with him starting at first five if someone else could clear the ball effectively but Crotty and Tamanivalu both showed off their kicking repertoire and it looks like it won't be them.<br><br>
Sign me up as one of those who think BB is best used as he has been used, as maybe the best bench impact player in the world.</p>
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<p>If Dagg and Ngatai are playing then we don't need our first five to kick deep. I think Barrett's kicking in general play is fine. He just doesn't have the distance.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="589590" data-time="1466281048">
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<p>Agree on Crotty there nzzp. He's trundling along and not doing much if anything wrong, but just seems a bit lacklustre.</p>
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<p>Agreed. People from down south will harp on about him but the guy doesn't make any mistakes because he does sweet fuck all in the first place. He's not likely to get dropped anytime soon due to lack of options but the fact is is that he is nothing more than a journeyman.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Frank" data-cid="589608" data-time="1466289366"><p>Dagg??</p></blockquote>
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No problem with Dagg in theory. But last night we saw the reality and that was that BB took on most of the clearances and did an only average job. Dagg got good distance when he got the chance but he's not the receiver from a breakdown as often as the first five is, is he?<br><br>
Maybe as Hydro says Ngatai coming back will help -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="589611" data-time="1466290789">
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<p>Agreed. People from down south will harp on about him but the guy doesn't make any mistakes because he does sweet fuck all in the first place. He's not likely to get dropped anytime soon due to lack of options but the fact is is that he is nothing more than a journeyman.</p>
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<p>I'm not from down south and I don't agree with you. Crotty was massive on defensive. It may not be the x-factor stuff, but it's very necessary. Good sub for Conrad, except that they give him the 12 jersey instead of the 13 jersey.</p>
<p>If you didn't see him do more than "sweet fuck all" then your one-eye is just blind.</p> -
<p>Just tweeted by Nigel Yalden:</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://twitter.com/hashtag/AllBlacks?src=hash'>#<b>AllBlacks</b></a> update: Cruden & Fekitoa 2 b monitored b4 decision will be made on availability; Barrett has flu; will stay in Wellington tonight</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="589616" data-time="1466292910">
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<p><strong>I'm not from down south and I don't agree with you.</strong> Crotty was massive on defensive. It may not be the x-factor stuff, but it's very necessary. Good sub for Conrad, except that they give him the 12 jersey instead of the 13 jersey.</p>
<p>If you didn't see him do more than "sweet fuck all" then your one-eye is just blind.</p>
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<p>You do heart the Crusaders though ;).</p>
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<p>I think Crotty was better last week than this week. But I don't think any of our new midfield options has put in a really good game in these last two tests, but we're comparing them with Nonu/Smith (and SBW cameos) so we need a bit of time to let them settle in. I'm just disappointed that Ngatai is still on concussion watch because I think he's going to be the mainstay of our midfield for a while and is better than the 3 we've had running around (but then again I heart the Chiefs).</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="589616" data-time="1466292910">
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<p>I'm not from down south and I don't agree with you. Crotty was massive on defensive. It may not be the x-factor stuff, but it's very necessary. Good sub for Conrad, except that they give him the 12 jersey instead of the 13 jersey.</p>
<p>If you didn't see him do more than "sweet fuck all" then your one-eye is just blind.</p>
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<p>Hmmm you do wank on about the Crusaders a lot so you sure you're not from down south
? His defence was ok nothing more. It's all you'll get from him. Would much rather see Ngatai get a run once he's fit.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="589591" data-time="1466281710"><p>
I disagree! Think he done a lot more than fekitoa and taminevalu have. I would prefer crotty moves to 13 though<br><br><br>
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk</p></blockquote>I thought I saw him at 13 for most of the second half and Crotty looked more effective -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="589617" data-time="1466292941"><p>
Just tweeted by Nigel Yalden:<br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AllBlacks?src=hash">#<strong>AllBlacks</strong></a> update: Cruden & Fekitoa 2 b monitored b4 decision will be made on availability; Barrett has flu; will stay in Wellington tonight</p></blockquote>Was BB playing with the flu? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="589619" data-time="1466293349">
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<p><strong>You do heart the Crusaders though</strong> ;).</p>
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<p>I think Crotty was better last week than this week. But I don't think any of our new midfield options has put in a really good game in these last two tests, but we're comparing them with Nonu/Smith (and SBW cameos) so we need a bit of time to let them settle in. I'm just disappointed that Ngatai is still on concussion watch because I think he's going to be the mainstay of our midfield for a while and is better than the 3 we've had running around (but then again I heart the Chiefs).</p>
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<p>I look more at individual players than the teams they play for, although I do like the way the Crusaders play, but I could say the same about the Highlanders, Canes and sometimes the Chiefs.</p>
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<p>If my reactions sometimes seems biased towards certain players, it has more to do with the (negative) exaggeration with which some Ferners comment on these players. Like "x" is shit, or "y" is useless or doesn't do more than "sweet fuck all". Comments like that annoy me. If players were shit and useless they wouldn't be selected in the ABs. Some are still developing in their roles. Some are better than others in particular aspects of their game, but that doesn't make the others shit. If I called people Barrett haters on the Fern, it was because of comments like these, not because they criticised aspects of his game.</p>
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<p>This forum is so dominated by people from the Northern half of the North Island that I also sometimes feel like expressing a different, less Chiefs or Blues biased opinion.</p>
