All Blacks Vs Springboks RC Week 2
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@Bovidae Willie play 15 like a 10. They could select Willemse in 15, but Pollard is injured or KLA but he is a wing/15. Both play most of their rugby in 15 for their franchises. Willemse maybe more in 12. Willemse never play 10 at the Stormers.
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@Bovidae I think your view of Le Roux is tainted by the second NZ game in 2021 when he was truly awful.
Personally I would have transitioned away from Le Roux after 2019 in favour of Warrick Gelandt, but the selections over the last three seasons forces Nieramus to select either Le Roux or Willemse at 15.
Le Roux has been good in a very specific role for the boks in 2022 so his selection is kinda expected.
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@SidBarret Le Roux is rocks and diamonds. When he’s good he’s really good but he can be quite erratic in his decision making. He can often get caught between when it’s the right time to run, kick or pass. I think the ABs will test him.
There are some very experienced heads on that Bok bench so I expect they will empty it early to make the most of it.
Looking at that Bok team I really hope we select Finau on the bench.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks Vs Springboks RC Week 2:
Looking at that Bok team I really hope we select Finau on the bench.
Wonder if we'll see Scooter at 6. Foster/Ryan have done that before against big packs.
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@sparky said in All Blacks Vs Springboks RC Week 2:
The Big Bad Boks don’t frighten me.
Yeah, but you're not Eddie Jones.
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Pakman teams
A. Whitelock 100%
EDG/ST/TL/SW/BBBR/SC/Frizell/AS/Nuggie/DMac/JB/RI/CC/WJ/BB
Bench: OT/CT/NL/SB/LJ/FC/RM/BEI'd like to see Stevenson get a run, but with DMac unchanged that'd be just too much!
B. Whitelock < 100%
EDG/ST/TL/SB/BBBR/SC/Frizell/AS/Same backs
Bench: OT/CT/NL/Josh Lord/Finau/FC/RM/BE -
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks Vs Springboks RC Week 2:
Wonder if we'll see Scooter at 6. Foster/Ryan have done that before against big packs.
That will depend on Whitelock's fitness. If he starts, then yes, I expect SB at 6. It also provides some insurance if SW has to leave the field. Then put two loosies on the bench.
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One day you would expect the 6-2 split is going to bite them on the arse in a big game , it’s a matter of time imo
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I understand why people want Scott Barrett on the field and I understand why they want him to to be a 6, but I just don't see it working. He's not quick enough off the mark, too slow to the breakdown, not explosive enough, too slow off the scrum, not quick enough in support of the ball. None of which is a problem at lock. Trouble is, Whitelock is the key lineout lock, and Retallick does everything Barrett does but at his best he's better and bigger. Barrett is pretty much the 5.5 to the old Taine Randell 6.5. In most AB teams he'd be a sure thing, but to me he just doesn't quite fit in a side containing arguably our 2 best locks ever.
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@reprobate not sure people 'want' SB at 6, is more that some of the issues we have at 6 are papered over if we play him there.
Really think this is an opportune time to give Finau a run, see if he is the physical presence we need, or more in the Fifita mold.
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@reprobate said in All Blacks Vs Springboks RC Week 2:
I understand why people want Scott Barrett on the field and I understand why they want him to to be a 6, but I just don't see it working. He's not quick enough off the mark, too slow to the breakdown, not explosive enough, too slow off the scrum, not quick enough in support of the ball. None of which is a problem at lock. Trouble is, Whitelock is the key lineout lock, and Retallick does everything Barrett does but at his best he's better and bigger. Barrett is pretty much the 5.5 to the old Taine Randell 6.5. In most AB teams he'd be a sure thing, but to me he just doesn't quite fit in a side containing arguably our 2 best locks ever.
I'm not convinced the 2 older locks are as dynamic and dominating around the field as they were a few years ago.
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@reprobate I actually think a lot of it has to do with the unconscious things good players do in their position after doing it for so long. I highly doubt Richie consciously thought about his running lines, or where he needed to be, it was the hours and hours of game time at 7 that made it instinctive for him.
SB terrible read at 6 letting in that try may not be that he is too slow, just a lack of time at 6 to notice the nuance of the opposite 8 leaving the back of the scrum or maybe the skill of leaving the scrum a moment early in anticipation of the 8 making a run. When you play 90%+ of your games at lock he simply has not had the game time to develop the nuance that Frizell, Ioane or Finau have.
Shoehorning locks into 6 and 6 into lock often just does not work as the players must get a little confused about the minor differences in those roles.
If we want our All Blacks playing in certain positions, then their needs to be clarity around them playing those spots in super rugby.
Of course, there are exceptions with BB slotting into 15 easily but he has played a lot of games at 15 and that is possibly his best position anyway.
The reason Dmac is playing so well is he had a very successful year at 10 running the ship for the Chiefs and the time at 10 in Japan. His first stints at 10 before he left looked nothing like he does now.
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So, the big question...
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