All Blacks vs Springboks - Twickenham
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@His-Bobness said in All Blacks vs Springboks - Twickenham:
The Springboks did what they always do and we didn’t adjust. This perplexing failure of the ABs to deal with the predictable is the biggest worry.
They didn’t adjust quickly enough to the referee, who like most northern hemisphere whistlers seemed to intent to show his superiors his affinity with every minor clause in the rule book.
They knew what the Boks would bring, but continued to put themselves under unnecessary further pressure with poor exits, dropped balls and constant infringements.
Their heads clearly weren’t in the right place and the Boks, having had their arses smacked in Auckland a couple of months ago, were up for this one.
I don’t think the ABs turned into a bad team overnight but I do believe this humiliation suggests the mental fragility that bedevilled them for much of the past four-year World Cup cycle is still there.
Perhaps they’re reading too many of their own positive press notices or perhaps many of the veteran members of the team like Beauden Barrett feel they’re on a victory lap. Either way, there’s a residual flakiness to the team. If their tails aren’t up, they are instantly flustered and then compound the damage with stupid errors and acts of outright stupidity like that of the other Barretts.
What is the source of it? While Schmidt and Ryan have clearly brought the team forward on a technical basis, the top two inches are missing and that comes down to Foster. He seems a genuinely nice bloke and is clearly well-regarded by many of the players. But the mental softness I think comes from him, as shown in his own undying loyalty to Cane as captain and Beauden Barrett.
Can they turn it around in the WC proper? I very much doubt it. World Cups are won by teams with strong set piece, impregnable defences, astute kicking, mental and physical discipline and an ability to adapt to the ref.
On all those measures, I wouldn’t be putting money on the ABs.
Ive felt for a long time that Beaudy is playing touch footie. He isn't taking contact, he isn't aggressively taking it to the line.
Look at DC's final performance in 2015. The tackling was superb. Body on the line stuff. Beaudy is throwing the odd skip pass, the odd chip kick. All icing. But there is no cake.
Boot the fucking leather off it down to their end. Come to claim a high ball and clean everyone out who gets in your way.
Look at Dagg or Ben Smith. They were a presence back there.
Beaudy is ruining his legacy.
Give me Will Jordan at 15, Telea and Narawa or Leicester on the wings. It couldn't be any worse.
Jordan should have had way more time at 15 than he has had so far. He should be getting his hands on the ball as much as possible. He scored with his first touch today.
Same goes for Roigard and Jacobsen in their respective shirts. Under utilised.
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@His-Bobness I don’t think the ABs are a poor team now. I just think the strategy they have is wrong. It all starts with a high risk kicking game. A blindside bomb in their 22, cross kicks in our 22… the mindset is wrong for tight test matches.
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The mental fragility has been there since 2017 under Hansen. I think it's actually improved, but still a long way to go and ain't going to be properly fixed under Foster's tenure.
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NH scribes will be cleaning the front of their pants up and getting ready to type up a storm now.
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@Mattasaurus And it’s deserved at least on that showing.
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@booboo said in All Blacks vs Springboks - Twickenham:
@MiketheSnow said in All Blacks vs Springboks - Twickenham:
Hammering
Boks barely got out of 3rd gear
We didn't get out of first, so not completely flattering.
Both SA’s choice
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@chimoaus said in All Blacks vs Springboks - Twickenham:
One bonus is there is absolutely no expectation from me we will win this WC, probably first time I have ever gone into a WC feeling that. I can enjoy the cup without pressure and if we do turn it around I will be stoked.
Have to totally agree. Well said that man.
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Worried about the situation at 10.
I cannot visualise Mo'unga or Barrett schooling the French or Irish and after today the Boks.
I just can't see it.
Flat track fly halves.
I haven't seen a dragging a game by the scruff of the neck performance from ether of them in recent memory.
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Don’t ya love a Fern thread after an AB loss.
Time to unload on our preconditioned selection issues or talk about players “we missed” or about the mentality of certain players.
We got beaten. We gave away a shed load of penalties. We were camped in our 22 as a result. We made errors when we had some momentum. We didn’t get the result we wanted just before half time with that try. We had cards. Boks capitalised on us having to defend for long periods.
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@Joans-Town-Jones It's a meaningless fixture at the end of the day. Yeah, we shouldn't be getting smashed, but better to happen now then when it counts.
We already smashed the Boks this year with something on the line yet that doesn't seem to matter now?
Some real drama queens on here at times.
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@Steve said in All Blacks vs Springboks - Twickenham:
Worried about the situation at 10.
I cannot visualise Mo'unga or Barrett schooling the French or Irish and after today the Boks.
I just can't see it.
Flat track fly halves.
I haven't seen a dragging a game by the scruff of the neck performance from ether of them in recent memory.
People definitely weren't saying this after we schooled the Boks at Mt Smart and Richie Mo scored 20+ points...
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@ACT-Crusader Yup, happens every time
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@Steve said in All Blacks vs Springboks - Twickenham:
Worried about the situation at 10.
I cannot visualise Mo'unga or Barrett schooling the French or Irish and after today the Boks.
I just can't see it.
Flat track fly halves.
I haven't seen a dragging a game by the scruff of the neck performance from ether of them in recent memory.
I want to see them kicking long and starting the game in their territory - especially when you are struggling to win contact. Mounga can play that game. Not sure about Beaudy?
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks vs Springboks - Twickenham:
@ACT-Crusader Yup, happens every time
But you know if I was picking the team it would’ve been Moody, Taylor, Newell, Whitelock….
😎
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Springboks - Twickenham:
We were camped in our 22 as a result.
Also because the best territory kicker in the squad is Roigard - our starting backline can't flip field position with distance exits
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Springboks - Twickenham:
Don’t ya love a Fern thread after an AB loss.
Time to unload on our preconditioned selection issues or talk about players “we missed” or about the mentality of certain players.
We got beaten. We gave away a shed load of penalties. We were camped in our 22 as a result. We made errors when we had some momentum. We didn’t get the result we wanted just before half time with that try. We had cards. Boks capitalised on us having to defend for long periods.
Very well said
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@kev said in All Blacks vs Springboks - Twickenham:
@His-Bobness I don’t think the ABs are a poor team now. I just think the strategy they have is wrong. It all starts with a high risk kicking game. A blindside bomb in their 22, cross kicks in our 22… the mindset is wrong for tight test matches.
Being beaten by a record 28 points is the definition NOT a tight test match
