RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks
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@taniwharugby said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
On thinking I'd prefer ALB at 12 over Havili and with instruction to run hard and straight.
Same
One thing that will count against the ALB/Ioane combo is that they've barely played together. I had a quick check I think they've only started one Test together and that was a loss to Ireland in Dublin 2021
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@KiwiMurph said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Finlay - such a Fozzie decision.
To be fair it's not like Roigard did much when he came on against SA. Maybe if he'd scored a brilliant individual try completely against the run of play in which he beat several defenders he might have done his chances some good?
But no - he didn't, we need the "slow but steady" Finlay to close out the game with his laborious passing from ruck to ruck.
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@Windows97 it fucks me off how inflexible they seem to be, decisions seem to be all pre decided and players sticking their hand up demanding to be picked seems to have no effect
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@Windows97 tbf, the only thing slow about Finlays game is his decision making.
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@Machpants said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@Bones said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@pakman Findlay 🤦
And Havili
Taking the French attitude towards us, we only need to beat them once at the RWC....
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@Kiwiwomble said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@Windows97 it fucks me off how inflexible they seem to be, decisions seem to be all pre decided and players sticking their hand up demanding to be picked seems to have no effect
Are you possibly suggesting that there should be some sort of correlation between on field performance and ongoing selection in the team?
Such outdated thinking!! What year do you think your living in? 2015??
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@Frank said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Dallas Mcleod should have been selected ahead of Havili for the reason that a lot of our plays rely on our 12 being able to truck it up. Best like for like replacement.
Not enough experience. No way I’d put a green 12 in for a game like this.
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@Billy-Tell not a dig at you because i think youre right in at least thats what they think....but god im sick of "experience" being used, is experience at not being good enough really better than the chance we'll strike gold with a player that steps up and plays above themselves when wearing a black jersey?
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@Kiwiwomble said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@Billy-Tell not a dig at you because i think youre right in at least thats what they think....but god im sick of "experience" being used, is experience at not being good enough really better than the chance we'll strike gold with a player that steps up and plays above themselves when wearing a black jersey?
Foster had his chance to give contenders experience. He just wasted too many games on players who weren't up to it
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'Weakest in history': France will 'trounce' All Blacks in opener says former French international
Former French international Olivier Magne has brutally labelled the 2023 All Blacks the weakest in history ahead of the Rugby World Cup opener in Paris on Friday night.
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@akan004 said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Magne is 100% correct. I'm not sure if even one AB would make a World XV atm. Jordan might be the only one when he's on form.
A few players that used to walk into a world xv earlier in their careers. It has a whiff of 1991 about it
Having said that I think we can beat any team when we execute well and have a bit of luck.
What will be interesting is if we get a cheesy try or two early. The pressure goes massively onto the hosts.
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The World XV is a bit different these days
The talent around is very even, and very spread. If people were asked to give the XV you would get a heap of different answers.
I'm not switching our 13, 11, or 14 with anyone. Sam Whitelock is still a very very good player. Aaron Smith is still the best 9 if you want a guy who gets the rucks fast and gets the ball well away from the breakdown super fast.
That's a 3rd of our team who would be in the conversation -
@Duluth said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@akan004 said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Magne is 100% correct. I'm not sure if even one AB would make a World XV atm. Jordan might be the only one when he's on form.
A few players that used to walk into a world xv earlier in their careers. It has a whiff of 1991 about it
Having said that I think we can beat any team when we execute well and have a bit of luck.
What will be interesting is if we get a cheesy try or two early. The pressure goes massively onto the hosts.
I agree, we can beat anyone on our day, as long as we get a fair shake in terms of rub of the green and ref calls. If things stack against us early I'm not confident we can get ourselves out of jail the way the 2011 and 2015 teams did
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@akan004 said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Magne is 100% correct. I'm not sure if even one AB would make a World XV atm. Jordan might be the only one when he's on form.
Whilst individuals are important, I think it's how those players fit together to form a team and the strategy and tactics that counts.
There have been plenty of games over the years where the team lacking the "stars" works better as a team and beats the all-stars. I guess that is what we hope this AB's side will do, work as a unit and beat the more fancied French.
