Blues v Highlanders
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@Kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:
Very direct, very simple, very hard to defend against.
Spot on. Great to watch for a fan - the clarity for the team is there; they know their jobs and execute. The difference with previously coached teams is chalk and cheese (pre-Macdonald era)
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@Kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:
Worth pointing out that the Blues are a second half team this year. They take the sting out of a team in the first half, and just grind teams into the ground. Very direct, very simple, very hard to defend against.
Defensively, this is the best I can remember the Blues being too.
And it's a style of game that can be played when the players are under pressure. Simple and brutal. I really hope the ABs play a version of this.
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@Crazy-Horse said in Blues v Highlanders:
@Kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:
Worth pointing out that the Blues are a second half team this year. They take the sting out of a team in the first half, and just grind teams into the ground. Very direct, very simple, very hard to defend against.
Defensively, this is the best I can remember the Blues being too.
And it's a style of game that can be played when the players are under pressure. Simple and brutal. I really hope the ABs play a version of this.
Yep, and a style that encourages/requires players to hit rucks. Something that has driven me crazy watching the ABs for a few years now. All the opposition has had to do to beat us is flood the ruck, at worst slows down our ball at beast they steal.
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@Landers92 re. the forwards looking out on their feet, I think that was reflective of the fact they spent the whole first half tackling and hitting rucks against players that on average are 4-5 years older and quite a bit bigger and stronger. It just illustrated the gap in fitness and strength between developing young men and men who have in a lot of cases, years in the all blacks environment. That will improve with time
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@KiwiInLondon said in Blues v Highlanders:
@Landers92 re. the forwards looking out on their feet, I think that was reflective of the fact they spent the whole first half tackling and hitting rucks against players that on average are 4-5 years older and quite a bit bigger and stronger. It just illustrated the gap in fitness and strength between developing young men and men who have in a lot of cases, years in the all blacks environment. That will improve with time
Absolutely, hence why I acknowledged we are young and slowly improving and also pointed out to showed how big the gap really is so we have the same thoughts there.
As I said it will get better with time and 2025/2026 was always the target for the franchise. Just these types of games are a tough watch and test patience, that’s why I said at the end of my message we need to focus on the bigger picture
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@Landers92 completely agree. Only frustration for me is why they didnt get these young players involved in earlier seasons and begin the inevitable learning curve earlier
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@KiwiInLondon said in Blues v Highlanders:
@Landers92 completely agree. Only frustration for me is why they didnt get these young players involved in earlier seasons and begin the inevitable learning curve earlier
I think you may have touched on the reason in your earlier post. It's all very well blooding young players but they physically need to be up to the challenge. Maybe some of the youngsters needed more time training?
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One of the best moments of the game for me (as an Akira fan) was watching him smash a Clan forward backwards, get up and drive through the ruck and then steal the ball. His work clearing bodies at the ruck this year has been top drawer.
Huge workrate, as normal.
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@Kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:
One of the best moments of the game for me (as an Akira fan) was watching him smash a Clan forward backwards, get up and drive through the ruck and then steal the ball. His work clearing bodies at the ruck this year has been top drawer.
Huge workrate, as normal.
What do you think Foster and (possibly Razor) see as his drawbacks?
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@Frank said in Blues v Highlanders:
@Kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:
One of the best moments of the game for me (as an Akira fan) was watching him smash a Clan forward backwards, get up and drive through the ruck and then steal the ball. His work clearing bodies at the ruck this year has been top drawer.
Huge workrate, as normal.
What do you think Foster and (possibly Razor) see as his drawbacks?
I’m willing to bet it’s what he just praised above… his work rate. It’s been known that’s why he hasn’t been selected in AB’s squads previously. This year is as good as any for him to get back in the AB’s environment, especially with the question marks around 6.
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@Frank said in Blues v Highlanders:
@Kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:
One of the best moments of the game for me (as an Akira fan) was watching him smash a Clan forward backwards, get up and drive through the ruck and then steal the ball. His work clearing bodies at the ruck this year has been top drawer.
Huge workrate, as normal.
What do you think Foster and (possibly Razor) see as his drawbacks?
It's hard to answer, as was said above his workrate has consistently been above a player like Frizzell who the coaches seemed to love. At the height of "he's lazy" he was often playing 80mins, and the last defender on the line on breaks, our main maul defender, etc. Never agreed with the laziness call.
The head patting, giving lip, probably doesn't help how he's perceived, but it's extremely rare for him to be penalised for that. And one of my favourite players was Sean Fitzpatrick, and AI isn't in the same league at being annoying as he was. At least I've missing him having his ear bitten in complete frustration.
He's not been helped with coaches putting him wide to make use of his handling and running skills against the backs. With Cotter keeping him tight he's been shining. Big defender, good in the lineout, covers two positions and has great link play.
Could be his year.
