RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks
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Please let the game start! I can’t take any more of McLeod at 2nd five! Leicester at 2nd five! If only Roigard was there!
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@Darren said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
frugby are you really arguing to put shitty replacements on the bench when we have a really good match winner not being selected? That's an argument that's not making a lot of sense.
I'll probably also put McKenzie on the bench too, he could really change a game around and offer a point of difference.No I'm not arguing that. Maybe read what I actually said.
I'll say it loud and clear, I think Christie is terrible, probably not in my top 5 halfbacks in NZ, let alone being on the bench for this test.
I think Roigard is great, and will be great, but when we lose (because I think we will) people will likely scapegoat Christie, and will discuss the what if Roigard was on the bench?
In reality, I think we are more likely to lose because of a lack of a good tighthead prop, the lack of a proper blindside flanker, the lack of a hard-carrying 12 and the lack of a proper backup lock - granted in these positions, the coach's hands were somewhat tied.
Of course we could and should criticise the selection of Christie, but for the maximum 15 minutes he is likely to play, I don't actually think it greatly affects the outcome of this game.
If it does, and we lose because Christie did some terrible kicks, or some shitty passes, just like everyone else I'll be hounding it, and I hold my hands up, but I really don't believe he will he even get 10 minutes, and I don't believe it will have a material outcome on the game.
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Couldn't even tell the difference when he come on against the Bok.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@Dan54 said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Yep, and as almost president of Roigard fan club myself, I not sure if the cauldron of opening match against home team at WC best place for a kid to get experience, though I can see him getting a few games in other pool games, and maybe get a spot by QFs.
Nah, Roigard is proven winner in RWC games. Only a clown like Foster wouldn't play him....
...style of thing
Are you still banging the drum that Razor hasn't got enough international experience...
Apologies. The nerves are a bit frayed after Twickenham -
@Darren said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Couldn't even tell the difference when he come on against the Bok.
So logically then, as he made a difference and was clearly better than Smith, you're arguing he should start ahead of Smith against France?
Can't agree there.
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So, when's kick off...
Team is selected, people can piss and moan all they like, the team is pretty much what was expected.
These guys can win, however if they will remains to be seen
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Oh hell no
But everyone was having a bad day, nice to bring on someone to turn the game around a bit. Just don't think Christie does that. He is not going to add a spark that might make a difference.
I'm just not liking the makeup of this team, and the squad in general just seems to be selected badly. -
Eddie Jones recently made a comment about the importance of halfback defence in the current game so i suspect that's why Christie gets the nod.
My issue with that logic is only focusing on defence doesn't pay enough attention to kicking, distribution, decision making and sniping - all areas where Roigard is superior and indirectly can help defence (field position, smoother attack leading to less time on defence etc).
Having said all that he's picked now so I hope Finlay dominates.
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@KiwiMurph said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Eddie Jones recently made a comment about the importance of halfback defence in the current game so i suspect that's why Christie gets the nod.
My issue with that logic is only focusing on defence doesn't pay enough attention to kicking, distribution, decision making and sniping - all areas where Roigard is superior and indirectly can help defence (field position, smoother attack leading to less time on defence etc).
Having said all that he's picked now so I hope Finlay dominates.
If they wanted a defensive halfback, I feel as though Fakatava is the best defensive halfback available... maybe I'm wrong?
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@KiwiMurph said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Eddie Jones recently made a comment about the importance of halfback defence in the current game so i suspect that's why Christie gets the nod.
so now we are basing our selections on what eddie says
Christie is an excellent defender, particularly cover defence, if he can get his decision making and clearance back to what he showed when he first made the ABs then he isnt a concern.
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@Darren said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
But everyone was having a bad day,
Yeah, and as much of a Roigard fan as I am, there's the possibility that playing OK and scoring a great individual try in his second Test against a team 35 points up just might not be the definitive guide to his qualities in an RWC competition.
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@taniwharugby said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Christie is an excellent defender, particularly cover defence, if he can get his decision making and clearance back to what he showed when he first made the ABs then he isnt a concern.
He's gone backwards this year a fair way in that department. Never the quickest of players but was pretty solid in Tests last year coming on a replacement.
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The Roigard non selection is silly but it also shows how inflexible Foster is. I really don't know why we even bothered having the ABs in SR when clearly form doesn't matter to the guy, he had already picked this AB team at the start of the year.
Roigard would have been the perfect impact player on Friday. With the forecasted heat, players are bound to get tired and there will be gaps around the rucks late in the game as a result. This is the one game where you should select a guy like Roigard who has the running game to exploit those gaps.
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@akan004 said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
The Roigard non selection is silly but it also shows how inflexible Foster is. I really don't know why we even bothered having the ABs in SR when clearly form doesn't matter to the guy, he had already picked this AB team at the start of the year.
The same criticism can be made against Henry and Hansen for sticking with Nonu at 12 despite being crap in SR.
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@Victor-Meldrew Nonu was a beast for the Canes in 2015 though. If Carter hadn't pulled out his magic when he did to win World Player of the year, Nonu probably would have won that accolade.
And plus, a underperforming Nonu at Super level was still quality, especially when you compare him to the 12s running around atm. A really good Christie is still average.
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@akan004 said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
The Roigard non selection is silly but it also shows how inflexible Foster is. I really don't know why we even bothered having the ABs in SR when clearly form doesn't matter to the guy, he had already picked this AB team at the start of the year.
Not sure this is entirely true. Despite what we may think, I think the evidence would suggest that at the end of last year, the pecking order of halfbacks was probably:
- Smith
- Perenara
- Christie
- Weber
- Fakatava
- Ratima
- Roigard
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@Canes4life said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@Victor-Meldrew Nonu was a beast for the Canes in 2015 though. If Carter hadn't pulled out his magic when he did to win World Player of the year, Nonu probably would have won that accolade.
And plus, a underperforming Nonu at Super level was still quality, especially when you compare him to the 12s running around atm. A really good Christie is still average.
Yep. A shit Nonu is still 2x better than TJ Faiane playing at his best.
