All Blacks 2024
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I’m sure the intention is there but it may be a case of no-one returning their calls or emails!
I sell tech solutions to large enterprises in the UK. I intend to sell our software to new customers but just because I state that intention, doesn’t mean they will welcome me with open arms! 😡
This interview/sound bites in the media may be part of the initial plan to make noise and flatter Mounga to appease his ego.
Honestly, if I was in charge of contracts at Toshiba and NZR approached me. I would ignore them.
NZR can’t afford to buy out his contract so they need richie to want to move and then try to force it.
It’s a long shot for NZR 6 months into a 3 yr deal. Unless he is allergic to raw fish.
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That is my preference to start with!
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@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
I sell tech solutions to large enterprises in the UK. I intend to sell our software to new customers
That's exactly my point. The intent is there and is more than media hype.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Savea to 7. It makes sense.
No it doesn't. He's a stand-out at 8 and hasn't played there at SR for about 3 seasons. Makes as much sense as Robertson looking to put Havili at 10.
Oh, hang on.
He's played all season in Japan at 7, has played in 7 in SR every year since 2019
He didn't play at 8 for the Canes from 2019?
Yes usually, but still started at 7 every year a few times, as well as moving to it
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@Yeetyaah said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Frank said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Squad named by Robertson on June 24th.
Not even a Thursday, disgusting.
Brave new world
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@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Savea to 7. It makes sense.
No it doesn't. He's a stand-out at 8 and hasn't played there at SR for about 3 seasons. Makes as much sense as Robertson looking to put Havili at 10.
Oh, hang on.
He's played all season in Japan at 7, has played in 7 in SR every year since 2019
He didn't play at 8 for the Canes from 2019?
Yes usually, but still started at 7 every year a few times, as well as moving to it
I've edited my post above.
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@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Yeetyaah said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Frank said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Squad named by Robertson on June 24th.
Not even a Thursday, disgusting.
Brave new world
He'll be announcing it live on TV in the sheds after a Possibles-Probables game next..
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@DaGrubster I wouldn't mind seeing a 6. Finau 7. Savea and 8. Sotutu loose trio go to work.
Not sure on that balance. I’m not convinced Sotutu and Savea can be in the same starting trio as their roles are so similar. Maybe late in a game.
Savea has gone well with Cane next to him. There is a similar balance at the Blues with Papalii at 7 and Sotutu at 8
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@Duluth said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Savea has gone well with Cane next to him.
Ehhhh mostly. Our lineout got weakened by it, and Cane was a largely one dimensional tackling machine. Superb human being, and a warrior, but we discussed it ad nauseam that picking both of them meant you needed Thor or Jesus at 6.
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Savea is a world class 7 or 8.
It's definitely worth giving Sotutu and Iose a run. -
We have been saddled by stuck in the mud selections and misplaced loyalty for far too long. Last 4 years has been painful
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@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
We have been saddled by stuck in the mud selections and misplaced loyalty for far too long. Last 4 years has been painful
Yep, and by quoting percentage wins (Ritchie's win record) or 2020~ form in black (Akira, Sotutu), I am not sure it is so relevant moving forward. Having said that, I don't think selections were the previous coaching group's biggest problem. They always seemed to reward Super rugby form (Lack of "deep analysis"?)
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@Duluth Exactly right, hence why Cane and Frizzell were constantly picked, so they could tackle and clean whilst Savea was used to carry from the base of the ruck and be used as the jackler on D, and it worked pretty well I thought.
I can't say I'm overly sold on Savea and Sotutu in the same loose trio either, but worth a look I guess.
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Duluth Exactly right, hence why Cane and Frizzell were constantly picked, so they could tackle and clean whilst Savea was used to carry from the base of the ruck and be used as the jackler on D, and it worked pretty well I thought.
I can't say I'm overly sold on Savea and Sotutu in the same loose trio either, but worth a look I guess.
LOL
S Frizell 1 1
S Cane 8 1
A Savea 9 0But looking at the semi and the quarters
S FrizellFL 17 3
S CaneFL 14 0
A SaveaN8 19 0S FrizellFL 9 2
S CaneFL 22 2
A SaveaN8 15 2I don't think that Savea is lacking in the tackle stakes, the other up there or thereabouts was Scott Barrett in all three games
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@Machpants I never said I was a huge fan of Frizzell, I just pointed out that he suited the way they wanted to play ahead of other options. It also didn't make Savea exclusive to not tackling at all, his job was more to hunt for the ball on defence, and carry as much as possible, be that from the base of the ruck or as first receiver.
I don't know how they want to set up this season, but going by these guys sides in the past, I'd be surprised if Sotutu and Savea started together. Not saying it's right or wrong, just trying to see how they fit them both in if they play in a similar manner this year.
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@pakman said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
It was his first game in 2 months and people expected him to be playing the house down after watching Savea play for 2 months straight
and this is where our current season structure just sucks. Once super rugby finishes, these guys don't get to play high level rugby unless they are in the test team.
There could be an interesting idea there to build an NZ specific model to allow that focused on what NZR really cares about - the AB brand.
It would require cooperation from Oz and SA though, so I don't like the chances, however, if SANZAAR allowed two teams from the Pacific Nations Cup to come up to the Rugby Championship (likely Fiji and Japan who could play off with the other nations to allow movement between the competitions), we could add the ABXV or Maori AB team to that competition (likely alongside Australia A). If OZ didn't or couldn't participate, we could have two teams in the competition.
We could then have at least one of our second teams competing against Samoa, Tonga, USA, and Canada. Whether the level of that competition is stronger or weaker than NPC is a separate question, but it would allow for collaboration across the two squads and have guys in the next tier playing if and when injuries strike.
Feel free to bag this, I'm not wedded to it, just putting it up for discussion.
Or a second tier championship with islands, AB XV and Oz XV, and maybe Japan?
Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Japan, USA, Canada make up the Pacific Nations Cup, hence move two of those to Rugby Championship to add our two teams (or perhaps one from Oz).
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
I can't say I'm overly sold on Savea and Sotutu in the same loose trio either, but worth a look I guess.
We did see that at the end of that draw against England where Sotutu replaced Papalii so we had a loose forward trio of Savea, Frizell and Sotutu for the last 7 or so mins. While only for a short time, I remember Sotutu looking a little lost as Ardie never changed his role.
