RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia
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@Kiwiwomble said in RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia:
can i also add...how high do you think Jacobson's confidence is now if we had a couple of injuries and we had to play him.....selected for the squad, but they would rather play a lock there first and then brought a loosie in when a winger got injured
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@antipodean said in RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia:
@nostrildamus said in RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia:
@Stargazer Finau trained and played with ABs much more recently as I understand it. But as another pointed out perhaps at 6 they just need to focus on tackles rucks and carries.
Who would you rather for that assignment? Blackadder or Finau? I know which I'd want so I can't understand why the wrong one was brought into camp.
I see you liked my earlier post but I wonder if we are talking at cross purposes
Finau: closest like for like for SF (but latter also an emergency lock back up and possibly 8 backup?), has played with team recently. Raw, powerful, size, energy. Maybe they think he is too raw or penalty-attracting to be trained in time. Me, I would have taken him over SF, who still hasn't recovered.
Blackadder: arguably can play all positions, coming back from injury (seems to have constant knee and shoulder injuries), has not played for ABs for 2 years? I'm guessing apart from his utility fitness and injury, the coaches simply love his character: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/300431574/the-tale-of-ethan-blackadder-how-a-reluctant-rugby-player-became-the-all-blacks-find-of-the-year. Perhaps he is actually competing most against Dalton and Jacobson (who they aren't giving time at 8, I hope they don't burn out Ardie).
So I'm guessing for several risky reasons (injury-prone and injured lately, not played recently with ABs, not clear his best position vs a virtue of being flexible) they prefer Ethan B over LJ and Finau.
Seems to me they have not worked out their best backup 8, and just hoping their first choices don't get injured. But they don't seem to trust their backups and their conservatism (pick Ethan Blackadder) is pretty damn risky, he's just restarting his rugby! I would have taken Akira over LJ, and Finau over SF. Dalton has not been the same, and I'm not convinced he offers great value at 6 (or 8, has he played much at all at 8 since school?).
Finau versus Blackadder? I think the latter would naturally be competing with LJ, but versus Finau, at this stage, I'd prefer Finau, because 6 is a real problem, they have 2 7s, and they haven't used EB much at AB 8 as far as I recall.
Actually, on reflection I don't think it is just the players, I'd change the bench/rotation strategy (calls for a new post).
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Within the current squad I see the following:
- Frizell - ..?
- Cane - Papali'i
- Savea - Jacobson
If the intent is to find a replacement for Frizell, Blackadder IMO isn't a like for like. If they want someone to cover 7 and 8, perhaps you could make a case for him, but there's no recent body of evidence that compels me to agree. And anyone who mentions an effort against Manawatu is taking the piss.
It's clear I don't understand the logic of the selectors, just as I didn't understand the benefit of taking five wingers for a couple of weeks...
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You can all laugh me down but I think a serious issue is the bench and when it is changed. This might be crazy, but I have noticed we are out-thought/worked out in the second half, and our replacements see our teamwork becoming frayed. But I don't think it is just the players.
I'd consider swapping the loosies at halftime. I also think he can be great, but I'd put Ardie on the bench and have hm start second half. Is this crazy? Probably, but we now regularly lose the second half. I think at halftime they have been working us out and our replacements are badly timed and often too late. Maybe you also think this is too reactive, but this isn't my riskiest idea.I think we have a real depth problem at 12. And a lack of weapons at midfield unless Ioane can break free. I'd be tempted to train a clever winger with a boot for 12, and I am leaning towards Narawa. I think with DMac at 10 and a speedy midfield we'd offer a point of difference and be very hard to guard against. I'd also be tempted at halftime to have Leicester move to or from midfield. And yes Aumua offers a great option but it is early days.
I had thought some time ago that Clarke would make a good 13 as he gets older, and physically I still think so but he just doesn't seem to have the vision and handling skills.
I'd have the best 15 in the country play at 15. Revolutionary, I know. Jordan, Stevenson or Z Sullivan (have I missed someone?) I think all now offer more impact than BB. Sorry.
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@george33 said in RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia:
@Machpants Brodie/Sam the locks Yes
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@nostrildamus Israel Dagg moved ahead of the more experienced Muliaina in the 2011 world cup. Only difference is that Dagg had at least been given a chance to play 15 in the warm up tests (think he played when the Boks beat NZ 18-5).
NZ may not have made it past the SFs that year without chancing their arm with Dagg.
BB has to earn his place in the next few games. Aside from the Boks in the Mt Smart game, he's been very conservative. Unless of course he is under instruction to play this way?
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@stodders said in RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia:
@nostrildamus Israel Dagg moved ahead of the more experienced Muliaina in the 2011 world cup. Only difference is that Dagg had at least been given a chance to play 15 in the warm up tests (think he played when the Boks beat NZ 18-5).
NZ may not have made it past the SFs that year without chancing their arm with Dagg.
BB has to earn his place in the next few games. Aside from the Boks in the Mt Smart game, he's been very conservative. Unless of course he is under instruction to play this way?
I think we are in broad agreement.
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@stodders said in RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia:
BB has to earn his place in the next few games. Aside from the Boks in the Mt Smart game, he's been very conservative. Unless of course he is under instruction to play this way?
He's conservative because he's not a ball running threat any more - he doesn't possess the speed he once did and after all the head knocks he seems apprehensive in contact. This is all very understandable - but it doesn't mean he should just get a locked in spot in the AB starting side due to reputation.
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@KiwiMurph he may not have the speed that he once did, but the speed he still has is impressive. Very few people get to that kick against Dupont first, and Dupont had a head start.
I think, as others have mentioned above, BB's main issue is that he seems less sharp mentally. Not all the time, but enough to blunt his edge. Maybe he isn't seeing the pictures on the pitch the way he used to, or his bad concussion has made him more risk averse in nature?
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@Joans-Town-Jones said in RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia:
@DaGrubster said in RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia:
Mix and match, play our best side against Italy and try to get our best 23 on the field for the qtr final.
It’s imperative we get our top side to play in the qtr final.
If we mix an md match, the top side won't have played together for 4 weeks. One of the many issues the ABs have.
Isn't this an issue which every tier one faces to a degree? Either that or A team overworked.
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@sparky Would like to see that front row and second row combo click into gear.
Scrum ascendancy, lineout supremacy and lots of work clearing rucks.
Barrett on the bench along with Vaa'i. Is that to replace Whitelock and Retallick at same time? Or will one of them shift to 6 when Savea is replaced, meaning Jacobson to 8?
ALB to 13? Hmmmm. David Havili outside McKenzie. Hmmmmmmm.
Fainga'anuku and Clarke to run hard and straight and not get isolated or die with the ball.
Doesn't really matter what most of the backs do in this game (unless they are dropping it and missing tackles all over the place). All eyes will be on the forwards, along with McKenzie and Roigard to see how they direct the team about the field.
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Going to be another warm night in Toulouse. Amazing that Super Coach Foster didn’t seem to realise that September is a warm month in the south of France.
