Bledisloe I (All Blacks team room bugged)
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<p>Nepia, I sent you a PM about this. I will try and help.</p>
<p>Crucial, I couldn't PM you. Send me a message.</p>
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<p>About the game-Great first 60, enjoyable to watch when they steadily accumulate points. I wasn't very impressed with the last 20 minutes or so, the reserves didn't have the same edge for us to finish well, and Australia did well - and I hope Hansen will reinforce to the team that if they play like that, they might lose the next game. Not that they will, but they need to keep a better focus. </p> -
<p>Interesting some of the daft headlines about the bugging thing...</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/83415486/are-the-all-blacks-just-being-paranoid-about-sydney-bugging'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/83415486/are-the-all-blacks-just-being-paranoid-about-sydney-bugging</a></p>
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<p>Surely they are only being paranoid if they think they are being bugged, and either aren't or have no proof, whereas they have found a bug, meaning it isnt paranoia, just fact?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="607988" data-time="1471831500"><p>
Interesting some of the daft headlines about the bugging thing...<br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/83415486/are-the-all-blacks-just-being-paranoid-about-sydney-bugging">http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/83415486/are-the-all-blacks-just-being-paranoid-about-sydney-bugging</a><br><br>
Surely they are only being paranoid if they think they are being bugged, and either aren't or have no proof, whereas they have found a bug, meaning it isnt paranoia, just fact?</p></blockquote>
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Ha! Hardly paranoia when they found one! -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="607886" data-time="1471819140">
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<p>Is Michael Hoopah actually a good test match player? He's quick, but he's not very effective, and he fucks their lineout. Pocock is good for a couple of defending turnovers a game to save points, but what does he create? And he fucks their lineout. Fardy gives away too many penalties, and is an ordinary carrier, but at least he can win a lineout. McCalman was very disappointing. </p>
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<p>Simmons can run a lineout, can apparently push in a scrum, but is effective as wet tissue around the track. Douglas is well under done.</p>
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<p>The biggest problem for Aus is, even if they make the same observations as me, what do they do about it? They've got nothing to come in. </p>
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<p>I've watched that WC final from last year a few times and I thought in the first half Hooper was superb. Far more prominent at the breakdown than Pocock and IMO caused the ABs more problems when he was in there.</p>
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<p>Agree the biggest issue is replacing whoever the masses want to drop. OZ have historically had a superb starting lineup plus 3-4 others. However once there are injuries and a coupled of out of form players, there is a lot of head scratching about who's next in line.</p>
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<p>Development of skills to move with the times has also been an issue. Our tight forwards across Super and test rugby have ball playing skills without it being a detriment to their core duties.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="607930" data-time="1471825780">
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<p> You put some big munters at 6 & 8 and you've got far more balance.</p>
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<p>Agree but I think the problem also comes from further into the pack than that. </p>
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<p>Because the Wallaby locks have no impact going forward with the ball and aren't knocking people over behind the advantage line on defence, the momentum and space isn't there for those smaller loosies to play havoc. Thinking Nathan Sharpe, Dan Vickerman types. </p>
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<p>So, yeah, perhaps Will Skelton is part of the solution but past form suggests he's only really good for 20 minutes, if that.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tordah" data-cid="608052" data-time="1471843949"><p>
Never seen an All Blacks match thread on here where more than half the posts are about the makeup and the problems of the opposition team. It's a great time to be an ABs supporter</p></blockquote>
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Ha yeah noticed that too, quite a few posters getting stuck in with ideas to make the aussies more competitive too. Surely thats never happened before! Take note Cheika, NZ fans are feeling sorry for your guys and want to help -
<p>also it isnt good for us, Super rugby and TRC to have a shitty Aussie team</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/08/22/giteaus-law-must-go-destroys-wallabies-culture/'>http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/08/22/giteaus-law-must-go-destroys-wallabies-culture/</a></p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pakman" data-cid="608081" data-time="1471853078">
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/08/22/giteaus-law-must-go-destroys-wallabies-culture/'>http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/08/22/giteaus-law-must-go-destroys-wallabies-culture/</a></p>
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<p>That's a serious smack-down by Spiro.</p>
<p>I agree with his basic sentiment.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="608085" data-time="1471854351">
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<p>Oh yeah. <strong>Kiwi Spiro having a go at Aussie rugby?</strong> That's a shock.<br><br>
Not saying he's wrong, but I'm not sure how The Giteau Rule affects Rory Arnold or Sam Carter.</p>
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<p>GFY, you have a Giteau rule, we have a Crowe rule. Spurious Salvoes is all yours mate.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="reprobate" data-cid="607965" data-time="1471829423">
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<p>i've been thinking a bit more about what i would do if i were cheika.</p>
<p>aussie depth right now isn't great. Hoopah and pocock, while obviously limited in some ways, are both much better players than the other options - and when your depth is shit, i think you've got to get the best guys on the field and find a way to make it work. all this 'get a proper 8 who can run with the ball' - well, there just isn't one.</p>
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<p>there is no australian lineout forward that is going to consistently steal our ball, so i would give up on that as a realistic tactic - sure throw someone up, niggle and disrupt, but if you select height to try and do that then i think you lose more than you gain, and you're trying to fight a battle you're not going to win.</p>
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<p>there is absolutely no reason that you can't win your own lineout ball with a small lineout and with limited options, you just need to be clever about it and execute well - do that, and you can keep the midgets.</p>
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<p>They could give Borthwick a ring.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pakman" data-cid="608088" data-time="1471854824">
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<p>One thing I will say. Ponies did scrum/<strong>lineout</strong>/maul exceptionally well in Supers (but little else).</p>
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<p>Except when it really mattered in the playoff game vs the Highlanders.</p> -
<p>The Aussie lineout issue is similar really to the shitshow we had a few years back when we picked a hugely mobile, but not jumpy back 3, if you only have 2 big jumpers you can get picked off unless you are utterly perfect.</p>
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<p>I was listening to the Aussie comentary (actually pretty happy with that, I couldn't have faced Justin losing his shit at the All Black performance) & Rod Kafer was making the point they should just try throwing the long ball over the top to Hooper (despite it failing early) as that was for once a safer ball than going to 2 or 4. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="607911" data-time="1471823680">
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<p>Tim, NTA - cheers, but I want to watch the replay in HD on a big screen.</p>
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<p>What is weird is that I can watch full replays of all the NPC matches this weekend.</p>
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<p>If you still havnt seen it , there is a replay tomorrow morning at 11.30 am </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="607943" data-time="1471827573">
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<p>As I understand it, Pocock can't be captain because of his conviction for hugging mining equipment. Just on him, his ability to pilfer the pill is second to none. But he does sweet FA else. He obviously can't be used in the lineout and offers zero with the ball in hand. Our props are probably more dangerous with the ball that he is. Even Franks.</p>
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<p>I think the most positive thing is that <strong>they can only get better</strong>. That was the shittiest Aus display since the dark days of Greg Smith. Foley can be world class on his day, but can also have some horrible Barry Crockers.</p>
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<p>Ultimately <strong>if they actually select a proper 8</strong> who can also be used in the lineout and <strong>Foley and the backs get their shit together</strong> then they could still be an outside chance next week. I can't see the ABs backing that up. That first half was arguably the best half of rugby from an AB team. In terms of tactics and execution it was absolutely farking sublime. Reckon they would have cracked 60 if Crotty had stayed on and Barrett stayed at 10.</p>
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<p>I cannot see improvement sufficient to repel an All Blacks team which is just as likely to come out of the blocks just as quickly as they did last Saturday, or even 20% less quickly; which has developed handling skills and a determination to back up continuously to a level where it is now instinctive; with a mindset of "we are very good at what we do" and with a composure in the run on 15 which facilitates that. They too have something important to achieve, an improvement on the small errors they will have identified by now; and a bonus point and no bonus point to the other mob.</p>
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<p>We do not have "a proper 8". We have a handful of mediocre performers who shuffle from 4 to 5 to 6 to 7 to 8 to 20 from week to week, from season to season, all of them under-sized, limited in their range of abilities; used and discarded many times then brought back in.</p>
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<p>Foley and the backs can only hope to better anticipate where Beauden Barrett might sight the tiniest gap, which is near impossible edging backwards all the while, and to make their tackles. On Page 24 of this thread there is a photo of New Boy's tackling technique on Crotty which suggests that is not going to be easy to correct in a week. Include Cooper? They will have to improve their defensive effort another notch again.</p>
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<p>I wonder who Steve Hansen might suggest to Ardie as a profitable target for him to run at flat out from the moment he comes on?</p>
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<p>No, I cannot see anything much different to last week other than home ground, baying mob offering the li'l fella a special welcome (and falling about laughing); Savea wanting to prove his worth; Fekitoa putting on a more precise showing; one or more of newcomers<span style="font-size:14px;"> </span><span style="font-family:verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-size:14px;">Ioane, Tamanivalu, McKenzie, Parsons and Coltman </span></span></span>determined to make their mark; Dagg hell bent on keeping McKenzie at arms length - that sort of thing.</p>
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<p>I think there is another 35 points and more margin coming up!</p>