AB Test Team v France.
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fun 40 minutes. then a rubbish 40 minutes. If the game is too easy at the start, these blokes just clock off, and i can sort of understand that, given we've basically been pissing our way through test rugby for about 8 years. Do they really, deep down, respect anyone now? Probably England (because of the unknown), and maybe Ireland? Otherwise it just looks like we go through the motions for huge portions of games, knowing if we get that 10-15 minute window we'll blow the game out.
My point would be, there are more than a few guys running around at the moment who don't really deserve to have that attitude.
Some of our play is just shambolic at times, and helter skelter at others. Fun to watch when it works, infuriating when it doesn't, which is a lot now.
Our pack is going well considering we are down some top players, and are carrying a couple who just aren't good enough. Coles has been well off when he has played. Fifita is a complete non-entity as a test player. S Barrett isn't good enough either. Why the fuck is Crockett, one of the most experienced players, giving away so many penalties around the ground these days?
In the backs Barrett is playing pretty ordinary, none of our midfielders are exactly screaming "first on the team sheet!" Crotty gets pulled off on here something fierce, but i think he has been just adequate this season. Our wingers are superb, Ioane is just a revelation. Naholo seems to be getting better. The quicker we get rid of DMac the better.
We're hit and miss off the bench.
On the positives, Whitelock was the guy who got shit done when the game turned to custard, his last half hour was enormous. Cane is the physical presence in the loosies, but because we have played ordinary players at 6 all year, is sort of having to ignore being a menace at the breakdown. Smith is running the show well, but falls into that "erratic" shit far too easy. The wingers are fucking great. Todd was streets ahead of anything Savea has put out.
And i want to single our Kane Hames, who seems like a really smart prop. He seems to lose a scrum or two early in the game, works out his opposite number, and then fucks him after that. He really sorted that French scum out yesterday, and i loved him letting his opposite know all about it. Those two props have had huge years, and considering who we have to come back, the depth there is ridiculous.
That French team was a bit shit, so i am not overly stoked with the result. It was just a continuation of a year where we haven't actually played all that great. It's not fun to watch.
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@marty said in AB Test Team v France.:
@crash Thought that defence was actually one of the bright points of the AB performance
They only breached our try line once and a half, the half being the winger who slid into touch. SBW' penalty try doesn't count. Solid D really.
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Sam is 29 (3 years younger than Kieran Read). He could be the first to 200 test caps if he plays as long as Matfield...
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@mariner4life Good to see you back buddy.
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Watching a replay now and Gardner is a shit ref.
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@mariner4life where you been bro?
Or as Ms.boo jr would say "brah?"
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@westcoastie said in AB Test Team v France.:
Sam is 29 (3 years younger than Kieran Read). He could be the first to 200 test caps if he plays as long as Matfield...
Think Hooper will be the first player to 200 comfortably. 76 caps and just turned 26 last month.
Sam Whitelock for us potentially? 93 caps at age 29.
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@rocky-rockbottom said in AB Test Team v France.:
@kruse said in AB Test Team v France.:
@bones said in AB Test Team v France.:
That English fluffybunny commentator.
Adding in some pedantic complaints:my favourite one was "...one for the puritans..."
"Look, I don't know how we got roped into the rugby football thing but let's just get on the fucken boat over there and go and preach to the pricks..."Ah yes - I'd forgotten that one. They really did make Justin Marshall look good in comparison.
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'That one was clearly backwards... Gardner calls for the knock on.'.
Took my mind off the rugby!
BTW excellent first half has to be balanced against French paying us way too much respect.
Once they got physical, and we replaced Read (and Hames) we were outmuscled for the next 15, which really encouraged them.
And their 9 exploited hesitancy around the fringes. Just floor the guy, s'il vous plait!!
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@tewaio said in AB Test Team v France.:
@westcoastie said in AB Test Team v France.:
Sam is 29 (3 years younger than Kieran Read). He could be the first to 200 test caps if he plays as long as Matfield...
Think Hooper will be the first player to 200 comfortably. 76 caps and just turned 26 last month.
Sam Whitelock for us potentially? 93 caps at age 29.
Assuming someone better don’t come along to replace hooper in aus team.
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Watching a replay of the game now - first time I've seen it.
Not sure what all the bitching about the commentators is ... they got the SBW thing wrong which was poor, and they don't sound the most professional (you are knee ....) but they are into it and haven't said too much wrong or full of shit so far ...
Take them anyday over Marshall.
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@tewaio said in AB Test Team v France.:
@westcoastie said in AB Test Team v France.:
Sam is 29 (3 years younger than Kieran Read). He could be the first to 200 test caps if he plays as long as Matfield...
Think Hooper will be the first player to 200 comfortably. 76 caps and just turned 26 last month.
Sam Whitelock for us potentially? 93 caps at age 29.
200 is a massive amount and there aren't significantly more internationals being played. Hooper would still have to play until he's 36/37, not get injured and given his speed is an important part of his game - he could struggle in his 30s.
Whitelock is a long way from 200 as well. 150 is within his sights if he carries on past 2019.
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On paper, that French XV is pretty decent. I was expecting a heap of no-names, but this game will test the ABs 2nd XV, (cliche101) provided France turn up (/cliche101)
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@kiwipie said in AB Test Team v France.:
@tewaio said in AB Test Team v France.:
@westcoastie said in AB Test Team v France.:
Sam is 29 (3 years younger than Kieran Read). He could be the first to 200 test caps if he plays as long as Matfield...
Think Hooper will be the first player to 200 comfortably. 76 caps and just turned 26 last month.
Sam Whitelock for us potentially? 93 caps at age 29.
200 is a massive amount and there aren't significantly more internationals being played. Hooper would still have to play until he's 36/37, not get injured and given his speed is an important part of his game - he could struggle in his 30s.
Whitelock is a long way from 200 as well. 150 is within his sights if he carries on past 2019.
I did say if Whitelock played as long as Matfield - 200 is a massive mountain for both to climb...
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@higgins said in AB Test Team v France.:
Jon Preston from a way back was about the last who doubled as a first five and halfback at the highest level that I can recall.
After not being able to sleep it has hit me that I had forgotten about Ian Stevens as another that was a halfback/first five of no mean repute. Pretty sure he went on the 72 tour as a halfback.
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@higgins He went on tour as a first 5 even though he had only played 10 that year because John Dougan the regular Wtn first 5 was out injured. when the touring side was made he was named as Bob Burgess' back-up. Ahead of Dougan who had recovered from injury.
Then Burgess was injured before the test against Scotland? and Stephens filled in. He was retained for the next game as well England? but don't think he ever had a game at 1st5 again.
He was nuggetty little halfback but there were so many good/great competitors for the spot. Laidlaw, Going, Davies, Colling. He did get a couple of tours away with the AB's later on as a reserve half back and may have even got a test. I'm pretty sure he was the starting hb against Argentina for Mouries team - but they weren't official tests.
All I really remember of him was the hair and tache. I never really rated him as a hb and he lucked into the first 5 role I wouldn't say he had the versatility of Preston. I'm almost certain he didn't kick. That was usually the fullbacks responsibility.
Still he's an AB so big ups to the little man
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A bit off topic the trip down memory lane here.
Ian "Nectar" Stevens was a pretty handy halfback from memory, a stalwart for Petone and the Wellington rep teams. And an AB. Principally a halfback for Wellington at least from memory.
Was in some good Wellington teams early 70s, Andy Leslie, Mark Sayers, Robbie Gray from MSP.
A couple of good articles here.
Wellington against international teams: versus Wales 1969
Match Details Result: Wales 14 – Wellington 6When: 7 June 1969Weather: Fine, with a fresh northerlyCrowd: 46,000 The Tour NASA were circling the moon and preparing to put a man on its surface, back on earth Wales were touring New Zealand for the first time as a standalone country. The British Isles...
Halfback Ian Stevens (Petone) made his Wellington Lions debut straight out of School in 1967 and went on to play 112 games and remains Wellington’s second most capped back after Bernie Fraser.
Taking over from Brian Coulter who helped Wellington beat the Springboks and British Lions in 1965 and 1966, Stevens played in Wellington’s famous drawn 12-12 Ranfurly Shield challenge against Hawke’s Bay in 1967, received an All Black trial that same year and made the New Zealand U23 side in 1968. Stevens also played a lot at first five-eighth, initially moved there as injury cover for John Dougan and then played so well there he made the 1972 All Blacks at pivot, eventually playing 13 of his 30 All Blacks games at first five-eighth, and also one game as captain (at halfback).
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/5471781/Savage-clashes-marked-1970-Springboks-series
In a photo here but not sure which team this is. Good yarn with Fergie.
