@sparky said in All Blacks v France II:
@reprobate Beauden Barrett must have got a YC for that, across his career for the Hurricanes, the Blues and the All Blacks, at least half a dozen times. I really wish he'd stop doing it.
Has he? I honestly can't remember any. Not saying he hasn't, but I certainly remember him getting 1, but not getting 6!
Mind you I will add I getting older.
@antipodean said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Mr-Fish said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
@Catogrande said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:
Yeah back row and centres too close to call. With the former I think (hope) that balance is the deciding factor. Happy with Conan at 7 but the not quite the same need for a big munter at 6. So I’d Conan is at 8 I’d be tempted to go with Curry at 6 and Morgan at 7. If he goes with Earl at 8 then Chessum at 6. Bierne has shown he’s a lock, not a 6. Either way Pollock on the bench.
Midfield could be any combination of the Irish and Scottish guys. Two Scots probably in better form and have the combo with Russell but Farrell might favour his players. Also somehow a Prendergast, Aki, Ringrose combo just sounds better than a Russell, Tuipulotu, Jones combo, and we know that Russell is better than Prendergast so not sure how the maths works...
On displayed form I can't see how Aki is in contention.
Because Farrell
@booboo said in All Blacks v France II:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France II:
@booboo said in All Blacks v France II:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France II:
@booboo said in All Blacks v France II:
@sparky said in All Blacks v France II:
@reprobate Beauden Barrett must have got a YC for that, across his career for the Hurricanes, the Blues and the All Blacks, at least half a dozen times. I really wish he'd stop doing it.
Saved a try. Worth the yellow.
Is having your 10 in the bin worth saving 5 to 7 points given the 14 man team is more likely to concede points and far less likely to gain any? And is more tired than before (although perhaps this is minor if a back is carded?)
Little damage done: didn't we come out of that period on top?
Yes we played better when he left the field but my question is more regards general strategy than BB per se.
Sometimes it's worth it to concede a YC.
Never
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
Agree with all of this except Finau. Finau should be persevered with. He's been no where near as bad as you make out, he's still young, and he's the best loose forward athlete in NZ under 30.
He is too passive for me unless he is hitting First fives,I think he has been given enough chances.
He's played 10 tests (5 starts) ...
Yeah that’s enough
Like we should have dropped Vaa'i in 2022...
I'll put my hand up on that! To be fair, at least Vaai was a busy idiot. His accuracy has gone through the roof in the last year and a half. Finau just seems to float about.
It takes time finding a first five in the right position to smash
Reports emerging that AOB is out at the end of the year. Des is a certainty to be gone. That's two. Cowboys better pull the trigger or there won't be anyone decent to hire.
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2025:
I'm more confident now with the ABs than anytime in the last 5 years
Anyone else agree.
Hard to say until we've played a top-tier A team like the Boks, but liking much of what I've seen this year
Pros: The tight 5 look good, Trying things at 6/7/8. 9, Jordie looks solid. Giving players plenty of game time to develop. Willingness to experiment. Discipline better. Exits better. Less panic when under pressure.
Cons: Kicking still shite. Unsettled/uninspiring midfield. 10 a big issue. Team still goes to sleep too often. Unconvinced about captaincy. A lack of ruthlessness at times.
@booboo said in All Blacks MOTM v France II:
@Windows97 said in All Blacks MOTM v France II:
Patty T, Vaa'i and Holland. Patty for an outstanding game filling in for injury, Vaa'i for stepping up at 6 and Holland who so far seems to be stepping into test match rugby seamlessly.
Astute selections
Given that you chose 3 locks (sort of), and are commending the selection of 3 locks by others, I’m going to hazard a guess that you were a lock at some point?
Our draw is sublime compared to others, even with some big outs as long as we dont drop further key players, we still have a good shot at top four
@brodean said in All Blacks v France II:
For the movement in question where Beauden hits a ruck Tosi, Taukei'aho, Finau, and Kirifi all hit rucks in that movement. Savea and Norris do not.
All of the forwards apart from Vaa'i are lined up on one side of the ruck when Beauden switches play away from the forwards so the main reason why Beauden needs to attend that ruck is he switches play to a side of the field which has no forward support once Vaa'i is the carrier.
At some point of the game all 10's will need to hit a ruck - especially if its due to a play of their own making. This particular incident isn't evidence that Tosi and Norris don't hit enough rucks.
You’re right in that the Barrett and Jordan clean isn’t evidence, it’s more meant as an example. The evidence is that Newell and de Groot cleaned the attacking ruck at rates of 40 cleans/80min and 29 cleans/80min, while their replacements did so at a rate of 14.5 and 17 cleans per 80min respectively.
The example I just found interesting, because of how Norris had become removed so far from the play all of a sudden. I think if you compare the build-up between the Jordan-try in Dunedin and the Ioane-try in Wellington, and only focus on the positioning and actions of the props, I think the different patterns are quite noticeable.
I like our run home and it was a solid win yesterday. I’m not too concerned about those losses we had. We were on such a high and given how long the season is, I don’t mind a reality check or two, but we have bounced back and now focus in on the next 2 games.
