All Blacks 2023
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"The official excuse for the high ball tactic by the All Blacks apparently was that it would conserve the energy of the players in the torrid heated conditions."
Wow, did they really say that? At this point even the true believers must be a tad concerned.
Something I just thought about was Foster's Chiefs making it to the Super final and getting pumped by a million. I'm thinking it might be better going down fighting in the QF than a record hammering in the final.
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2023:
Mo’unga’s skill is running the game, in the line, with the occasional searing break of his own. All the time. He needs to have his hands on the ball most of the plays calling them from virtually every set piece, ruck and maul.
This is elementary 101 playmaking theory. All Blacks coach Ian Foster, a former No.10 himself, should know this.
This is fine except it ignores the fact that this is not how Mo'unga plays, at any level. One of his biggest strengths is being able to spot mis-matches in the defensive line and exploit them. To utilise this strength he often stations himself a bit wider, which is why you often don't see him at first receiver for periods of the game at both SR and test level, particularly in the 2nd 40.
I think if we want a first five that takes the ball and directs every single play then Mo'unga is not the man for the job. DMac is probably the closest thing we have to a first five like that, but the jury is out on whether he could do it against one of the big teams.
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@His-Bobness said in All Blacks 2023:
Apologies if already posted, but former SMH rugby writer (and former Kiwi) Spiro Zavos, writing for the Roar, has this assessment of the dual playmaker experiment:
All respect for Spiros' history, but this is really phoning it in. ChatGPT could write the same column based on what's in this thread alone. The only new insight was the rationale for the high kick tactic as a response to the hot conditions, but he doesn't give a source for that info, and it doesn't gel with all the other times they've used the same tactic in the cold.
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@Duluth said in All Blacks 2023:
Mo’unga’s skill is running the game, in the line, with the occasional searing break of his own. All the time. He needs to have his hands on the ball most of the plays calling them from virtually every set piece, ruck and maul.
He actually doesn't handle the ball much even at lower levels. Guys like Havili and Jordan come into first receiver a lot at the Crusaders. Mo'unga's strength is picking and choosing his moments. Quite often he sweeps behind the backline looking for a forward to isolate
Against more organised Test match defences the mismatches aren't as common he goes long periods without getting involved.
exactly this. mounga plays more like an alternative first receiver - it almost ends up as if we aren't actually playing 2 x 10s, we are playing no 10s and 2 x 15s.
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Thinking on it a bit more, the reason for the dual play maker is probably BECAUSE it frees Mo'unga up to exploit some fatties out wide if he sees the chance, which is why Beauden plays in the line a fair bit. I can see the merit in it, but getting Beauden and Mo'unga to really gel when they don't play footy together outside of the ABs is challenging. They have definitely improved a lot last season and this though - they've actually had some really good games together recently.
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@Kirwan said in All Blacks 2023:
That was one of the main complaints about Crudan at 10, because when there are no mismatches he barely touched the ball.
his 20 minutes against Ireland in Hamilton after we burgled a victory in CHC the week before was some of the best short passing to players on the burst I have seen. He was simply sensational (and then got injured). Set up the 60 point victory with 3 quick tries.
OK, looked it up. 23 June 2012. Far out that's a lon gtime ago.
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@Kirwan said in All Blacks 2023:
That was one of the main complaints about Crudan at 10, because when there are no mismatches he barely touched the ball.
I'm dumbfounded by this, this is the first time I've seen this complaint, and I don't ever remember him not touching the ball often in games while waiting for mismatches ... he had a better controlling 10 game than either Mo or BB has ever had.
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@nzzp said in All Blacks 2023:
@Kirwan said in All Blacks 2023:
That was one of the main complaints about Crudan at 10, because when there are no mismatches he barely touched the ball.
his 20 minutes against Ireland in Hamilton after we burgled a victory in CHC the week before was some of the best short passing to players on the burst I have seen. He was simply sensational (and then got injured). Set up the 60 point victory with 3 quick tries.
OK, looked it up. 23 June 2012. Far out that's a lon gtime ago.
He was great in the after the hooter victory against Ireland in Dublin.
Threaded a beautiful grubber for Savea's try off his wrong foot.
His flat ball to Coles (and then on to Crotty for the try) was just sublime catch and pass in one motion.
Under rated player. Himself and SBW worked really well together.
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@Tordah said in All Blacks 2023:
@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
I can't believe they actually released an episode on the official channel called Learnings.
As soon as I saw this I knew it'd amuse The Fern
I'm just waiting for the Onion version: Lemmings.
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Interesting to see what they do with Cam, ideally you start him v Uruguay, off the bench v Italy...you just play him, there is no room for compassion and playing Christie from here, bar off the bench v Uruguay or if there is an injury.
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2023:
Interesting to see what they do with Cam, ideally you start him v Uruguay, off the bench v Italy...you just play him, there is no room for compassion and playing Christie from here, bar off the bench v Uruguay or if there is an injury.
My view is Cam's the best HB in the team. Potentially easy the best. But we don't know because of idiot coaches. That didn't start him against a top team in any recent tests
But it's not too late. Start him against Italy and see how he goes. If he continues to perform at his 2-test level then take the risk. I would do it at wing (1 only) and FB too. And maybe at 1st. Shame we don't have more options at 2nd 5 and center.
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@Winger I tend to agree as he will provide a threat for us Smith can't, but no way is Fozzie making such a radical change this late in the peice, I imagine he will already be torn between who to put on bench behind Smith...just hope he sees sense and at least puts him on the bench in big games...
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2023:
@Winger I tend to agree as he will provide a threat for us Smith can't, but no way is Fozzie making such a radical change this late in the peice, I imagine he will already be torn between who to put on bench behind Smith...just hope he sees sense and at least puts him on the bench in big games...
I know. I've already accepted that we have a complete fool as a head coach. But always live in hope that the assistants may be more capable and may get through to him. Even though this is unlikely
