All Blacks v France Test #1
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@chris-b I don't think he intentionally hit him in the head
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The un-deserved yellow card in this match was so annoying as I think the ABs were working their way on top anyway, yet the detractors will claim it was the yellow card that broke France.
Sloppy first half but the ABs grew into the game.
I thought two out of three Barretts were really good, Beaudan was great in general play (enough said about his kicking) and Scott Barrett had a great performance even overshadowing his captain - that is the one we've been waiting for and it will be interesting to see if he'll hold that level now. Must admit I still don't see the brilliance from Jordie that others on here see. Had a competent match when he was on, but I'd much prefer BFA there.
Taylor was great again, the work the selectors have done with him and Coles to turn them into class hookers to complement their natural rugby ability has been outstanding. Hope Coles comes back so we have the two of them to roll out in a matchday 22.
Ioane great when he got ball. DMac had a good cameo, showing why they like him on the bench against tired legs, should have passed it to BFA though. Laumape really likes being an AB.
Are French wingers not contractually obliged to defend? They were so pathetic aside from Thomas' chase - and in that one Ioane actually helped close the gap by swerving out instead of carrying on with his line.
Luke Whitelock had an impressive match, showing that players can play a different style when they're tasked with playing a different style. Although he did look a wee bit confused when he was in space after that run from the back of the scrum.
Crotty was alright, not the bad game some implied and not the superstar performance that @Stargazer always awards him
.Great to see big Karl T James come on - the stupid Australian feed cut out just when that winning AB scrum happened, but at least it switched back on in time for the replay.
Can't believe Cane and Ofa weren't taken off the field for HIA's immediately, even if they were cleared on the field the AB doctors should have pulled them for in the sheds ones straight away even if just for 'image' reasons. I assume, one or both of them will get a rest for that tackle. Although I wonder if the full speed shows a different image than the gif floating around, because I'm sure they looked at the footage at the time. The bleating from some about AB favouritism is so pathetic though, some people have completely lost the plot.
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@taniwharugby You mean Cane? Probably not, but if you intentionally go high and connect with the head, I'd say that has a degree of recklessness.
His contact wasn't severe enough to warrant anything more than a yellow at most. A bit similar to the French guy's one, but marginally worse because he actually makes some contact.
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@nepia said in All Blacks v France Test #1:
Great to see big Karl T James come on - the stupid Australian feed cut out just when that winning AB scrum happened, but at least it switched back on in time for the replay.
The only guy who probably enjoyed that scrum less than the French tighthead is probably Tim Perry!
Agree with almost all of that
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@wreck-diver said in All Blacks v France Test #1:
@bovidae Im sorry but that is just fence sitting. I'm glad you are a fan of hindsight. I back the ref in all those decisions he made them from what he saw end of story F the TV. The TMO has added nothing to rugby but long winded reviews of nothing and FFS George Ayoub is the shitist ref ever why do you think he's a TMO they don't trust him on field.
How's life living under the rock?
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@rapido said in All Blacks v France Test #1:
TMOs out. Let refs make mistakes. It's not that big a deal.
Until NZ lose, then the sky falls in
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@mikethesnow that happens regardless of how
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@mikethesnow sky falling when we lose...whether on a shitty TMO call, poor ref decision or just ran out of time...
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v France Test #1:
@mikethesnow sky falling when we lose...whether on a shitty TMO call, poor ref decision or just ran out of time...
This is true, but it falls quicker when you just haven't played badly
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All this moaning about the yellow card. Remember when we played England and we got two yellows and were down to 13?
We still won.
All the French can control is how they react when a call goes against them. Not our fault their heads dropped. They should have fired up.
We were starting to build just before that incident anyway. All that changed was the margin.
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@Nepia can't say I agree with you re: Jordie. Thought he was all class, particularly under the high ball and also injecting himself into the line. BFA had an error riddled game and IMO it looks like his age is finally starting to catch up with him. He does still offer a lot, but I am starting to wonder if the next WC may be a bridge too far.
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Looking at the stats was impressed with Squires efforts, did lots of dirty
work re lineouts, carries. same with Luke W, is defensively strong and thats all he needs to do in this team. we did look very rusty though which you could put down to individuals lack of game-time, especially in the forwards.
I think we missed SBWs go forward and ability to open gaps out wide but can't complained. I think everyone one who got on the park did their job and can be happy. more interested to see what they do in the next cple tests. I think next week team will be same and if they win changes for test 3. Maybe Naholo in but that is it. My backline I would like to see for interest sake is A smith, Mounga, ABL, Goodhue, Reiko, Smith and B Barrett at the back. -
Which stats are you looking at @98blueandgold?
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BFA needs to be playing at fullback so I wasn't surprised he looked a little rusty on the right wing.
I'm with @Nepia about Jordie. He played well enough but his big brothers both played better.
