RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks
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I don't get all that negativity.
In the first half, the kicking out of hand was some of the best I've seen from not only the ABs in the last few years. Beaudy was punting them so far, I wondered why he doesn't do that more often. There was some nice attacking plays with only some of the last passes not sticking, ABs should really have led by a few points. After the first half I was quietly confident.
Of course, the second half wasn't great, France got a lot better and ABs a lot worse, thought France got the rub of the ref with some breakdown turnovers, and that 2nd Jordan penalty was bullshit - either it's a clear card for taking the man out or the Frenchies get pinged for impeding Jordan. Anyways, those didn't decide the game. As soon as Aaron Smith was subbed off, I knew the game was gone, not that Smith had a fantastic game or anything, but when I saw Christie being subbed on I just thought there's no way they're mounting a comeback.
I don't think France looked hugely impressive, it was a bit similar to the game vs Australia, where I also thought Australia was better in the first half but then there was the second half turnaround. They deserved the win, though.
If Italy somehow beat France, not getting a losing bonus point could mean ABs don't qualify for the quarters.
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@Tordah The negativity is because after some sensible long kicking in the first half, they actually decided to revert to the same horrible shit that is the Foster master plan.
And let's face it, with our bench we need a decent lead if we're going to roll all the subs on. -
@Steve said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@BerniesCorner said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
The thing is we have some pretty good players
Disagree.
We lack depth in a whole raft of areas - midfield, halfback, lock to name a few. The only area where we seem to have an abundance of talent is 11, 14 & 15 - and after BB & Jordan's performance tonight even that looks pretty thin.
Look Jordan had a stinker, but he has loads of credit in the bank.
As I said in a previous thread Beauden Barrett has 113 caps now. HIs first 70 were fairy tale stuff.
The last 40 or so. Absolute trash.
He is one of my favourite Allblacks of all time (I've backed him at 100/1 for top try scorer), but he is a massive problem. Not only because he is playing crap, but because accommodating him omits other players we could do with and he gets in Mo'ungas way.
Get Jordan to fullback and have a power winger in 11 or 14 with Telea on the opposite side.
Imagine calling for Jordan to take on further responsibility after that abject performance.
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@canefan said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@Machpants said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@canefan said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@Machpants said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
My wife was asking why we were playing the entire second half in our half.
Did she ask why we are doing these little kicks
Yes
You don't have to be an expert to see we shat the bed
But anyone with rugby nous can see we were coming second at the ruck so trying to carry down the field was an act of madness. Kicking in behind an offside defensive line can create a contest at worst and time and space at best.
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@Tim said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
This game really underlined how bad Ryan is. He keeps selecting awful players like Cody Taylor at the expense of genuinely good forwards. Vaa'i would make no other squad.
NZ rugby is rotten.
Sounds like time to change allegiances, do you have an Irish grandmother or something
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@canefan said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@Machpants said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
My wife was asking why we were playing the entire second half in our half.
Did she ask why we are doing these little kicks to the opposition players
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@antipodean was the French defence offside by much? Was it visible at the ground (always difficult to judge on TV)?
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@antipodean did you see much live that was a positive for the ABs? Or was the score difference a fair reflection of the game?
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Took ~4 years to get JB to 2nd five
Took ~4 years to get Razor on the job
Took ~4 years to work out kicking long in your own half is the best option
Roigard will be starting by 2027 -
@BerniesCorner said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Roigard will be starting by 2027
Fozzie isn't staying until 2027.
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Poetic licence
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@Stargazer said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@BerniesCorner said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Roigard will be starting by 2027
Fozzie isn't staying until 2027.
Roigard could be starting by 2024
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Why was A Smith subbed
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@BerniesCorner the TV producers needed him to take Dupont out of his pocket 😬. Dupont is a fantastic player, but he wasn’t the best 9 on the pitch last night (until Christie came on).
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@Stargazer said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@Frank Yes, a copy of the previous one.
@Frank is in denial.
Give him some comfort and don’t ruin it.
He’ll move through the stages on his own time.
