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  • mariner4lifeM Offline
    mariner4lifeM Offline
    mariner4life
    wrote on last edited by
    #2884

    I know super rugby form doesn't mean much

    But if I was in charge of picking the loose forwards
    I'm picking Harmon at 7, the only guy in NZ rugby still hard at the ball
    I've got Akira Ioane at 8 because I know he will get me through a defensive line
    And I have Finau at 6 for very fucking hard shoulders.

    On the bench is either Ardie Savea or Sotutu to offer something different late in a game

    I have height. I have balance. I have heat on the ground. I gave guys who are hard to tackle. I have guys who you don't want to he hit by

    S 1 Reply Last reply
    6
  • P Offline
    P Offline
    PecoTrain
    replied to nostrildamus on last edited by
    #2885

    @nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2023:

    @PecoTrain said in All Blacks 2023:

    @Jimmy-Jimmy said in All Blacks 2023:

    Cannot listen to Hansen anymore.
    He should have gone in 2017 as he said he would and his strenuous efforts to have Foster installed as his successor enraged me at the time and still do.

    Was it Hansen?

    The impression that I have is that NZ Rugby had decided on on Foster and the rest was a formality. Maybe Hansen gave his blessing to Foster, but I don't recall Hansen commenting on Fosters performance over the last 4 years or defending him beyond the bland non-answers Hansen has fed the media for years.

    Hansen has attacked NZ Rugby saying "they had undermined players, bungled leadership transitions, and neglected under-age rugby."

    Nov 2, 2019

    Hansen endorses Foster as All Blacks coach

    Hansen endorses Foster as All Blacks coach

    Ian Foster has been given the tick of approval from outgoing All Blacks coach Steve Hansen to be his successor.

    "Steve Hansen has endorsed Ian Foster to replace him as head coach of the All Blacks."

    And yes he definitely defended him over the years.
    Doesn't mean Hansen was wrong about NZR..

    It's an endorsement, but not exactly what you would want if you were hoping for a glowing reference from your old boss:
    "I guess with hindsight, because (Foster) has been there for the last eight years and done a fantastic job and understands what happens, he's got a good head-start over everybody else on what's needed," Hansen told a news conference Saturday.

    "He's known for a long time that I'll be leaving and he's put together a very strong team. And if that team comes together they'll have a lot of ingredients that are needed."

    All it's missing is "I suppose we could do worse" and "hopefully the team is good enough to carry him"

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • nostrildamusN Offline
    nostrildamusN Offline
    nostrildamus
    wrote on last edited by
    #2886

    I've been wondering why they never really looked at Harmon. What isn't test quality about him? All over the park, great leader, never gives up, great rugby sense as far as I can tell. That 6 7 8 combo Mariner outlined definitely has some positives-I just feel they (maybe Ryan) refuses to look at Akira.

    mariner4lifeM M 2 Replies Last reply
    3
  • mariner4lifeM Offline
    mariner4lifeM Offline
    mariner4life
    replied to nostrildamus on last edited by
    #2887

    @nostrildamus we're locked in to Cane and Savea which really limits who you can play at 6.

    It's that simple really.

    nostrildamusN 1 Reply Last reply
    3
  • nostrildamusN Offline
    nostrildamusN Offline
    nostrildamus
    replied to mariner4life on last edited by
    #2888

    @mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:

    @nostrildamus we're locked in to Cane and Savea which really limits who you can play at 6.

    It's that simple really.

    but not that imaginative.

    S 1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • S Offline
    S Offline
    stodders
    replied to nostrildamus on last edited by stodders
    #2889

    @nostrildamus Ardie with the well executed chip kick for Jordan was more imaginative than the majority of the supposed creators in the NZ backline on Friday night.

    IMO, the balance was wrong on Friday in terms of piano shifters vs piano players in the pack.

    Codie Taylor is one of more skilled forwards, but he was quiet. EDG was involved in a big contest at scrum time which impacted on his overall game (which was strong in the RC). Laulala was, well, Laulala. He did pretty well compared to his previous outings, but he poses no threat outside of the set piece.

    Lomax is a big loss, both in the scrum and in the lineout with his height. He is also a decent ball handler. Taukei'aho needs to be given a run of games to get him back firing. He is the best NZ hooker in terms of power and running ability against bigger packs.

    So when the big games roll round, the NZ front row needs to be EDG/ST/TL (assuming TL is fit).

    Whitelock got through a ton of work as normal, but age catches up with us all. If he was there to unlock the French lineout, it didn't work. A second row of Retallick and Barrett offers the power and aerial ability needed as well as plenty of piano lifting and nuisances at the breakdown with a sprinkle of creativity (Barrett was good on Friday at troubling the French inside shoulder). Whitelock to come on late in the game to run himself ragged for 25/30 mins and guide the pack home.

    The backrow - sigh - ABs have painted themselves into a corner with Cane as captain and Savea having played solely at no 8. With Shannon Frizell returning, the 6/7/8 of SF/SC/AS offer a hard running, defensively strong combination. This is no bad thing in the knockout stages of the world cup where NZ will need a harder edge.

    So a starting pack of:

    EDG/ST/TL

    BR/SB
    

    SF/SC/AS

    Bench forwards 5/3 split:

    No idea on the reserve props as the step down feels most glaring in this area.

    Codie Taylor as the reserve hooker.

    Sam Whitelock as the reserve lock

    Ethan Blackadder to cover 6/7/8

    Are they the best pack in the competition. No. Are they capable of giving the backs enough of a platform. Yes. Their role is to tie in the opposing packs and provide decent ball for a backline that still has enough skill in them to open up defences.

    NZ have scored 4 tries against the world-leading Bok defence this year in NZ and 2 tries against a much vaunted French defence on Friday night. NZ can still score tries. The big work ons from the last 2 games are:

    • Applying pressure on the ruck to disrupt opposition ball. Counter rucking in twos and threes. French and Boks are very good at this.
    • Not giving away stupid penalties (accuracy in clean outs was missing on Friday - wouldn't surprise me if the fear of a bad cleanout is preying on minds) and playing with less than 15 players for any period of time.
    • Kick chasing - NZ don't have to win the aerial battle in the air. Let the man come down and be ready to smash him into next week Richard Kahui style. McCaw's AB team used to drive teams backwards in defence until they kicked or made mistakes. This AB team have enough good tacklers to force teams back with the sheer ferocity of their tackling.
    TimT S 2 Replies Last reply
    1
  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    replied to stodders on last edited by Tim
    #2890

    @stodders said in All Blacks 2023:

    Taukei'aho needs to be given a run of games to get him back firing. He is the best NZ hooker in terms of power and running ability against bigger packs.

    Have been so frustrated by his exclusion from the starting XV. Our most physical and best tight forward. You have to start him as often as possible.

    1 Reply Last reply
    6
  • S Offline
    S Offline
    Steve
    replied to mariner4life on last edited by
    #2891

    @mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:

    I know super rugby form doesn't mean much

    But if I was in charge of picking the loose forwards
    I'm picking Harmon at 7, the only guy in NZ rugby still hard at the ball
    I've got Akira Ioane at 8 because I know he will get me through a defensive line
    And I have Finau at 6 for very fucking hard shoulders.

    On the bench is either Ardie Savea or Sotutu to offer something different late in a game

    I have height. I have balance. I have heat on the ground. I gave guys who are hard to tackle. I have guys who you don't want to he hit by

    1. FINAU
    2. BLACKADDER
    3. SAVEA
    S nostrildamusN 2 Replies Last reply
    2
  • S Offline
    S Offline
    Steve
    replied to stodders on last edited by
    #2892

    @stodders said in All Blacks 2023:

    @nostrildamus Ardie with the well executed chip kick for Jordan was more imaginative than the majority of the supposed creators in the NZ backline on Friday night.

    IMO, the balance was wrong on Friday in terms of piano shifters vs piano players in the pack.

    Corey Flynn is one of more skilled forwards, but he was quiet. EDG was involved in a big contest at scrum time which impacted on his overall game (which was strong in the RC). Laulala was, well, Laulala. He did pretty well compared to his previous outings, but he poses no threat outside of the set piece.

    Lomax is a big loss, both in the scrum and in the lineout with his height. He is also a decent ball handler. Taukei'aho needs to be given a run of games to get him back firing. He is the best NZ hooker in terms of power and running ability against bigger packs.

    So when the big games roll round, the NZ front row needs to be EDG/ST/TL (assuming TL is fit).

    Whitelock got through a ton of work as normal, but age catches up with us all. If he was there to unlock the French lineout, it didn't work. A second row of Retallick and Barrett offers the power and aerial ability needed as well as plenty of piano lifting and nuisances at the breakdown with a sprinkle of creativity (Barrett was good on Friday at troubling the French inside shoulder). Whitelock to come on late in the game to run himself ragged for 25/30 mins and guide the pack home.

    The backrow - sigh - ABs have painted themselves into a corner with Cane as captain and Savea having played solely at no 8. With Shannon Frizell returning, the 6/7/8 of SF/SC/AS offer a hard running, defensively strong combination. This is no bad thing in the knockout stages of the world cup where NZ will need a harder edge.

    So a starting pack of:

    EDG/ST/TL

    BR/SB
    

    SF/SC/AS

    Bench forwards 5/3 split:

    No idea on the reserve props as the step down feels most glaring in this area.

    Corey Flynn as the reserve hooker.

    Sam Whitelock as the reserve lock

    Ethan Blackadder to cover 6/7/8

    Are they the best pack in the competition. No. Are they capable of giving the backs enough of a platform. Yes. Their role is to tie in the opposing packs and provide decent ball for a backline that still has enough skill in them to open up defences.

    NZ have scored 4 tries against the world-leading Bok defence this year in NZ and 2 tries against a much vaunted French defence on Friday night. NZ can still score tries. The big work ons from the last 2 games are:

    • Applying pressure on the ruck to disrupt opposition ball. Counter rucking in twos and threes. French and Boks are very good at this.
    • Not giving away stupid penalties (accuracy in clean outs was missing on Friday - wouldn't surprise me if the fear of a bad cleanout is preying on minds) and playing with less than 15 players for any period of time.
    • Kick chasing - NZ don't have to win the aerial battle in the air. Let the man come down and be ready to smash him into next week Richard Kahui style. McCaw's AB team used to drive teams backwards in defence until they kicked or made mistakes. This AB team have enough good tacklers to force teams back with the sheer ferocity of their tackling.

    Corey Flynn?

    S 1 Reply Last reply
    3
  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    wrote on last edited by
    #2893

    Our lack of depth really prevents us from making early forward substitutions. Our whole frontrow will need to play deep into the second half. We also don't have an impact loose forward. Having Whitelock replace Retallick early is probably our best option.

    A 1 Reply Last reply
    1
  • S Offline
    S Offline
    stodders
    replied to Steve on last edited by
    #2894

    @Steve oops. Always get confused with Taylor and Flynn for some reason 🙈. I’ll just refer to Taylor as the Crusaders hooker to be safe in future 😂

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • S Offline
    S Offline
    stodders
    replied to Steve on last edited by
    #2895

    @Steve you can’t select Finau if he isn’t in the squad. If Cane relapses, maybe the selectors will bring him in.

    S 1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • S Offline
    S Offline
    Steve
    replied to stodders on last edited by
    #2896

    @stodders said in All Blacks 2023:

    @Steve you can’t select Finau if he isn’t in the squad. If Cane relapses, maybe the selectors will bring him in.

    I was replying to mariner4life with his hypothetical backrow.

    S 1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • S Offline
    S Offline
    stodders
    replied to Steve on last edited by
    #2897

    @Steve fair play then.

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • Billy TellB Offline
    Billy TellB Offline
    Billy Tell
    replied to Jimmy Jimmy on last edited by
    #2898

    @Jimmy-Jimmy said in All Blacks 2023:

    Cannot listen to Hansen anymore.
    He should have gone in 2017 as he said he would and his strenuous efforts to have Foster installed as his successor enraged me at the time and still do.

    Couldn’t agree more. Not to mention his condescending support of foster.

    1 Reply Last reply
    2
  • BerniesCornerB Offline
    BerniesCornerB Offline
    BerniesCorner
    wrote on last edited by
    #2899

    The SA props and locks subs are a major problem. Awesome power

    MN5M 1 Reply Last reply
    3
  • BerniesCornerB Offline
    BerniesCornerB Offline
    BerniesCorner
    wrote on last edited by BerniesCorner
    #2900

    Is there any science behind the A Smith subbing.

    TimT 1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • P Offline
    P Offline
    pakman
    wrote on last edited by
    #2901
    This post is deleted!
    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    replied to BerniesCorner on last edited by
    #2902

    @BerniesCorner He was obviously tired and slow when he was subbed. His box kicks were poor. He was great in the first half. He missed two important tackles, but the forwards should have been there for those.

    1 Reply Last reply
    1
  • M Offline
    M Offline
    Machpants
    replied to BerniesCorner on last edited by
    #2903

    @BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2023:

    Has rugby changed so much in the last decade that a skilled first five can't apply territorial pressure with his long boot?

    No, cf. George Ford

    1 Reply Last reply
    2

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