All Blacks 2024
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@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024:
In an ideal world, we'd be able to dial up the attacking pattern in the last 30. The usage of the bench and roles for players just isn't working.
The rugby pod was discussing this the other day and suggesting that they just need to simplify things very much in line with @Duluth 's suggestions above.
Was thinking that as I read Duluth.
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i actually think our attack is really simple. We don't play a heap of shapes that require constant realignment, it's all about speed. Forwards are playing pods or out the back to DMac. Midfield is straight and narrow, again out the back to DMac, and all to try and get our quick guys in to space out wide. And the key is the ball being in the ruck for as short a time as possible.
I never watch a 2nd time so can't back any of this up. I do think this pattern for want of a better term absolutely fatigues us, and the opposition take advantage. South Africa replace half the team at half time. Australia starting competing in rucks (Argentina did too), and our tired guys are starting to miss assignments. I do think our replacement strategy is having a huge effect. Guys who are even playing well (possibly even especially those guys) need to come off regardless, and earlier to give their replacements time to get in to the rhythm of the game. Can we rely on DMac skinning guys for 80 minutes, AND make as many decisions as we are asking? Is replacing a winger actually helping us at all?
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@mariner4life It's a fair point. I do think McKenzie is up to it - but it's a tough ask for 80 minutes though for sure - and there's nobody else currently in NZ who can play that role in my eyes. Which means the only way to fix it is by supporting him better, and I'd argue he's been getting not much of that from the Barrett brothers or TJ, or Ratima (yet).
And our forwards really are going to shit late in the piece. Bringing on a winger instead of another forward in that situation is just dogshit dumb. -
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2024:
i actually think our attack is really simple. We don't play a heap of shapes that require constant realignment, it's all about speed. Forwards are playing pods or out the back to DMac. Midfield is straight and narrow, again out the back to DMac, and all to try and get our quick guys in to space out wide. And the key is the ball being in the ruck for as short a time as possible.
I never watch a 2nd time so can't back any of this up. I do think this pattern for want of a better term absolutely fatigues us, and the opposition take advantage. South Africa replace half the team at half time. Australia starting competing in rucks (Argentina did too), and our tired guys are starting to miss assignments. I do think our replacement strategy is having a huge effect. Guys who are even playing well (possibly even especially those guys) need to come off regardless, and earlier to give their replacements time to get in to the rhythm of the game. Can we rely on DMac skinning guys for 80 minutes, AND make as many decisions as we are asking? Is replacing a winger actually helping us at all?
Pretty good summary.
Why can't the coaches comprehend the fatigue factor from their fast game plan and actually use their bench?
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2024:
i actually think our attack is really simple. We don't play a heap of shapes that require constant realignment, it's all about speed. Forwards are playing pods or out the back to DMac. Midfield is straight and narrow, again out the back to DMac, and all to try and get our quick guys in to space out wide. And the key is the ball being in the ruck for as short a time as possible.
I never watch a 2nd time so can't back any of this up. I do think this pattern for want of a better term absolutely fatigues us, and the opposition take advantage. South Africa replace half the team at half time. Australia starting competing in rucks (Argentina did too), and our tired guys are starting to miss assignments. I do think our replacement strategy is having a huge effect. Guys who are even playing well (possibly even especially those guys) need to come off regardless, and earlier to give their replacements time to get in to the rhythm of the game. Can we rely on DMac skinning guys for 80 minutes, AND make as many decisions as we are asking? Is replacing a winger actually helping us at all?
This was how the Crusaders used to play from memory. They were always the quickest team off set piece, and worked variations from the same shapes. Was effective because of Mo'unga's ability to hit a gap. I think this is probably why they have stuck with McKenzie, and Barrett has been the next option rather than Plummer, as they don't see him as having the running game to execute their gameplan.
I suspect this is just the teething issues of a new coach. Despite all this outcry, we've been the better side in the first 60-65 minutes in each of the last six tests. Obviously an 80 minute game, so that is why we need to look at the bench. Crusaders used to finish teams off by finishing strong because they had better quality on their bench.
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@reprobate said in All Blacks 2024:
@mariner4life It's a fair point. I do think McKenzie is up to it - but it's a tough ask for 80 minutes though for sure - and there's nobody else currently in NZ who can play that role in my eyes. Which means the only way to fix it is by supporting him better, and I'd argue he's been getting not much of that from the Barrett brothers or TJ, or Ratima (yet).
And our forwards really are going to shit late in the piece. Bringing on a winger instead of another forward in that situation is just dogshit dumb.Fucking this!
The way we are playing is getting quite Chiefs like - absolutely dependent on fast ball. We can have tired backs but we cant have forwards not getting to breakdowns. We also don’t have very good back replacements, but we could bring on plenty of forward firepower.
If Aumua comes right / when Sami comes back we have the makings of a proper impactful front row. We can use Tuips to replace Vaii and ask him to empty the tank in 55 minutes and we need to consider whether Barrett should go off and turn things over to Ardie (who will never be replaced and is usually best in minutes 70-80 anyway).
We need a better answer as a replacement at 6, and we should be replacing either two locks or two loosies.
But instead let’s put Sevu fucking Reece on the bench?!?
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If the All Blacks wanted to take a punt on someone to fill the right wing spot, I really think they could do worse than Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens. Time and time again, we have seen that speed is ultimately the most important thing for a test winger - he has it.
Just looking through the SR stats, he was 3rd for most metres carried, 8th for post-contact metres (behind Clarke, Tele'a, and 20m behind ENS, Tavatavanawai in NZ) and 9th for tackles breaks (behind the same players)... but if you adjust it for minutes played, he'd be ahead of ENS, and furthermore, he was playing in a Highlanders backline that had no creativity. Considering he is only 23, I wouldn't mind seeing it.
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2024:
"Send Sam off well" Has Razor just let a massive cat out the bag?
Well the NZ crowd can't send him off from Dublin...
Razor's comments from a few weeks back already seemed to hint that he wasn't travelling north.
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Hats off to Razor for getting Cane through to 100. He’s not playing at his peak, but I don’t believe we lost any of those games due to him. Loyalty and legacy still count for something in this day and age. A good way to end his international career.
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@Jet said in All Blacks 2024:
Patty T, Ofa, Cane, TJP, Beaudy, Havili, Reece and Telea and ALB (although he was good today) can all be upgraded.
Aumua on thin ice too.
Patty T was very strong off the bench today. Ideal impact lock but not a starter.
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@Jet said in All Blacks 2024:
- Williams
- Samisoni
- Tosi
- Fabian Holland
- Vaii
- Sititi
- Lakai
- Sotutu
- Roigard
- DMAC
- Rieko
- Clarke
- Proctor
- Narawa
- Jordan
Lets go mental in 2025.
No idea about Williams but would be intriguing to have the rest of the forward pack be open to claims of poaching.
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I'm still not convinced about Ardie Savea's place in this team looking at the long-term going forward, I think NZ's backrow will continue to get outplayed against the top sides with him at 8, especially as he's only getting older and less effective.
The Hurricanes had their best season in 8 years off the platform of their back row functioning a lot better than last year and appearing much more cohesive without his individualistic headless 'cannonball' style clogging up every play...
He has to transition into a Kwagga Smith-type utility bench option if he's to make it through to the 2027 World Cup.
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@Jet said in All Blacks 2024:
- Williams
- Samisoni
- Tosi
- Fabian Holland
- Vaii
- Sititi
- Lakai
- Sotutu
- Roigard
- DMAC
- Rieko
- Clarke
- Proctor
- Narawa
- Jordan
Lets go mental in 2025.
Where's your bench? You've only picked half a team.
