AB EOYT 2018
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@machpants said in AB EOYT 2018:
You don't need a Japanese passport to play rugby for Japan, passports are irrelevant to World Rugby rules. He was born there he's eligible according to WR. The Japanese RU might have their own rules, like France do now, I dunno.
Didn't know that!
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Yeah passports nothing to do with it, stops countries doing like middle eastern countries do in the Olympics, giving passports to athletes so they can try and get medals.
(a) he was born; or
(b) one parent or grandparent was born; or
(c) he has completed thirty six consecutive months of Residence immediately preceding the time of playing. -
Have a vague feeling that the Olympics require passports. Which is great where ethical countries who follow due process are concerned. Not so much if oil rich states want to buy a Kenyan (as @Machpants alluded to).
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@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:
@kirwan said in AB EOYT 2018:
@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:
Farken hell I wish Ioane was as good as the hype.
He is. Even Graham Henry said he reminds him of Lomu.
Haha well shit he must be then huh. Graham Henry said so!
So did Dominic Feaunati....Koala Tukino.....Roy Kinikinilau.... I'd list more but I'm about to go out on the piss.
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Akira could play sevens for Samoa and use the Olympic loophole. With a stand down period of 3 years, he could play for Samoa at the 2023 RWC (assuming they qualify; that isn't a given obviously).
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@booboo said in AB EOYT 2018:
Have a vague feeling that the Olympics require passports. Which is great where ethical countries who follow due process are concerned. Not so much if oil rich states want to buy a Kenyan (as @Machpants alluded to).
Yes, they do.
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@kirwan said in AB EOYT 2018:
@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:
@kirwan said in AB EOYT 2018:
@bones said in AB EOYT 2018:
Farken hell I wish Ioane was as good as the hype.
He is. Even Graham Henry said he reminds him of Lomu.
Haha well shit he must be then huh. Graham Henry said so!
Well I trust his opinion more than yours. Especially as you keep pumping Whitelock.
You're getting more hilarious by the post. Anything else you care to make up?
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Am very interested to see how we go against England , and Ireland in particular now ,
Aussies almost play a style similar to super rugby , that kind of makes it easy for us planning wise , its more of the same same , they score tries , but we score more because we are better at it ,
The NH sides will attempt to suffocate us ,give us nothing , and we have struggled with that in recent times
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@kiwiinmelb Yeah it is interesting, tho less so with Eng missing a lot of their best pack. I think the ABs will out scrum/lineout/maul the English, and Eng have been shite at the breakdown for the last few years. So even if they try the stiffle/rush, I just don;t see it working for them. I think our midfield, if crappy SBW/Crotty slowmo combo, will get a hard work out against Manu who looks back near his best. They've got fast wings but not great on defence. Not 'worried' about Eng anymore than any game, we could lose if we play crap and Eng play great, Ireland is another kettle of fish. Breakdown and grind and low error rugby is their thing. No Murray is a big bonus of the ABs tho, he turns teams around like no other from ruck kicks.
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@machpants Courtney Lawes now in doubt as well. His back injury flared up at the training camp and he has left for treatment.
I suspect Eddie was going to play Itoje at 6 if he could as well. That plan may now be out. -
Luke Romano has been ruled out of the extended ABs squad for the Japan test due to the injury he sufferend in the Mitre 10 Cup final.
I assume he won't be replaced?
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@stargazer they only have 51 other players, they should call up 2 replacements.
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Tackle more than five times in a hundred minutes.... 🤪
Body Poms trying to jinx us: The Times of London claimed it was "inconceivable New Zealand will not return to Yokohama's Nissan Stadium next November to contest the Rugby World Cup final, and on current evidence equally difficult to see past the defending champions lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy there"
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Guessing there's no replacement for Romano then.
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@tim said in AB EOYT 2018:
Guessing there's no replacement for Romano then.
By the time they get up there probably not a lot of point?
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@tim Wouldn't mind if they blooded someone else but doesn't look like they will. Walker-Leauwere or Strange is someone I'd think of taking.
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@african-monkey said in AB EOYT 2018:
@tim Wouldn't mind if they blooded someone else but doesn't look like they will. Walker-Leauwere or Strange is someone I'd think of taking.
If it was just a fill in to hang around with the squad for a week in Japan I'd assume they'd take Strange rather than grab one of the Maori locks? Isn't Hemopo in Japan? He probably provides enough cover.
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African Monkeyreplied to Nepia on 28 Oct 2018, 23:46 last edited by African Monkey 28 Oct 2018, 23:47
@nepia said in AB EOYT 2018:
@african-monkey said in AB EOYT 2018:
@tim Wouldn't mind if they blooded someone else but doesn't look like they will. Walker-Leauwere or Strange is someone I'd think of taking.
If it was just a fill in to hang around with the squad for a week in Japan I'd assume they'd take Strange rather than grab one of the Maori locks? Isn't Hemopo in Japan? He probably provides enough cover.
Yeah true, forgot about Hemopo. Wouldn't suprise me if this is Hemopo's last test in the black Jersey along with a few others.
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@machpants said in AB EOYT 2018:
Tackle more than five times in a hundred minutes.... 🤪
Body Poms trying to jinx us: The Times of London claimed it was "inconceivable New Zealand will not return to Yokohama's Nissan Stadium next November to contest the Rugby World Cup final, and on current evidence equally difficult to see past the defending champions lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy there"
Pfft. That’s nothing. The Times of Dublin had a story about a government minister inquiring if it was just a waste of money sending the Irish squad to the World Cup for Rugby Football next year after watching the match in Japan where the All Black Team had overwhelmed their opponents. The money would be better directed at developing mini-camps at GAA clubs. Most of Ireland agreed on a radio phone-in show. Fortunately, there’s an upside to this as Mr Smith’s services would not be required after Christmas and it was understood that he was planning to return to Australia anyway to oversee the All Black team personally.
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The rise and rise of Codie Taylor continues. Another strong performance in Yokohama. I expect him to be first-choice All Blacks Holoker through to RWC 2019 and beyond.
Harris, Coles, Aumua and Coltman are in competition to be the bench or backup option.
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TV3 is saying Mo'unga is the player staying in Japan (based on being the only player from the 23 in the gym today), and will start vs Japan.
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@african-monkey said in AB EOYT 2018:
@nepia said in AB EOYT 2018:
@african-monkey said in AB EOYT 2018:
@tim Wouldn't mind if they blooded someone else but doesn't look like they will. Walker-Leauwere or Strange is someone I'd think of taking.
If it was just a fill in to hang around with the squad for a week in Japan I'd assume they'd take Strange rather than grab one of the Maori locks? Isn't Hemopo in Japan? He probably provides enough cover.
Yeah true, forgot about Hemopo. Wouldn't suprise me if this is Hemopo's last test in the black Jersey along with a few others.
It would be pretty surprising to me, and probably to the selectors also I'd say. Is he leaving rugby?
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@tim said in AB EOYT 2018:
@bones Got a part in the next season of Narcos. Pretty good at rolling his r's.
More Maori taking the roles that should go to Hispanics and Arabs.
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Dane Coles pulls out of captaincy race for Japan test
Returning hooker Dane Coles has withdrawn himself from consideration for the All Blacks captaincy against Japan this weekend. Coles' experience among a team that will be composed of promising provincial rookies had him earmarked as a frontrunner for the role in Yokohama. But after a lengthy injury-enforced hiatus from the international fold, Coles said he wasn't interested in the additional pressure and responsibilities that come along with being skipper of the All Blacks. "Just because of the year I've had, I've got to be little bit selfish here and it's probably not the best thing for me to do," Coles said. "Whoever that is, I'll support him. I've still got a lead role, if I play, in this team to help.
That will likely see the captain's armband worn by Highlanders forward, Luke Whitelock.
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@sparky Well you can count Harris and Coltman out. They provide no impact whatsoever.
If Aumua can have a big year the Hookers will be Taylor, Coles & Aumua.
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@canes4life Harris and Coltman are strong scrummagers, not so sure about Aumua.
All three of those hookers have problems with lineout throwing. Kind of important for a hooker.
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@bovidae Yeah but Aumua who is in his development phase of his career is already on par with Coltman and Harris, so can only see him getting better within the next year. He could be a real weapon for the All Blacks off the bench come World Cup if he can get back to peak fitness. However if Taylor & Coles stay fit they are pretty much a lock for our top 23.
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imagine the added bonus Coles will bring to the squad if he can get back to his best ,
He has been out for so long and they have learnt to play without him ,
to come in now will be like the discovery of a new gun player
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Is a big ask tho, to come back after that long out. Doesn't happen often, someone coming back to full prowess after that much injury time. I just can't see it, and imagine Coles not being up there for the rwc squad. Would love to be proven wrong tho
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@kiwiinmelb said in AB EOYT 2018:
imagine the added bonus Coles will bring to the squad if he can get back to his best ,
He has been out for so long and they have learnt to play without him ,
to come in now will be like the discovery of a new gun player
He'd make a damn good super sub
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@canefan said in AB EOYT 2018:
@kiwiinmelb said in AB EOYT 2018:
imagine the added bonus Coles will bring to the squad if he can get back to his best ,
He has been out for so long and they have learnt to play without him ,
to come in now will be like the discovery of a new gun player
He'd make a damn good super sub
Taylor - Coles 1 -2 punch
Would probably be better than Hore - Mealamu , and that was a bloody good one
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@canes4life said in AB EOYT 2018:
@sparky Well you can count Harris and Coltman out. They provide no impact whatsoever.
If Aumua can have a big year the Hookers will be Taylor, Coles & Aumua.
No way (barring a run of injuries) will that happen.
Way too early for Aumua. 2023 will be his aim. -
@crucial So you're saying Harris will be there. What does he actually offer?
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@canes4life said in AB EOYT 2018:
@crucial So you're saying Harris will be there. What does he actually offer?
He's good on the wing.
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Well that was an unfun little jaunt through Europe, for the most part.
Hardly inspiring performances and more questions posed than answered. So I'm not going to bother cluttering up my wee brain with what the hell we're up to and why our rugby was so vanilla this year, and less successful than previous, (worst defence by us for 18 years, let in 19 per game apparently).
It's cricket season, and I'll never know for sure what the ABs have up the sleeve tactically so as I drifted off to sleep, beginning my 6 months All Blacks hibernation, a vision came to me in form of a dream that settled my bothered wee mind.
It was a vivid dream:
The date was November 6 2018, the venue was a suite at a nice hotel in London. In the room were Shag and Fozzie and all the AB backs:
(Shag talks then the backs talk)
G'day lads, last meeting about tactics this tour and a chance for all you fullas to ask questions about our backline strategies so you all understand them. Ok? Fozzie pass me a donut mate
Hey boss what do we do with the first attacking ruck ball we get?
Kick it
What about the next two phases?
Kick it
First possession in second half?
Kick it
I make a break, beat the line, but my winger is still half marked?
Kick it
A quick tap penalty, I make 20 yards but I nearly run out of support?
Kick it
Weve got an overlap through the hands in their 22?
Kick it
A forward, say a hooker, makes a break and has a winger outside?
Kick it
It's raining and the last 3 kicks have slid too far, what do I do next possession?
Kick it
We've been chasing the game all day, what to we do for the first 70 minutes?
Kick it
I got the ball static cos we had no pick and go to suck in defenders, I'm behind the gainline again what do I do?
Kick it
The front left tyre on my rainbow painted Ford Explorer might be a bit flat, how can I tell
Kick it
(whispered by another back - yeah my "All men's behaviour must change, Black Lives Matter, I decide my own gender thank you very much, end toxic masculinity" Ranger has a slightly flat tyre too)
Right. No more questions? Everything very very clear for the next 3 weeks?
Good.
Now let"s finish up with the tour song. Fozzie put on my Devo cassette tape from when I could fit into an airline economy seat and fast forward it to the good bit
Everybody...!
*When a problem comes along
You must Kick it
Before the cream sits out too long
You must Kick it
When something's going wrong
You must Kick itNow Kick it
Into shape
Shape it up
Get straight
Go forward
Move ahead
Try to detect it
It's not too late
To Kick it
Kick it good*I love this song Fozzie
Me too boss....you finished with that donut? -
@siam said in AB EOYT 2018:
Well that was an unfun little jaunt through Europe, for the most part.
Hardly inspiring performances and more questions posed than answered. So I'm not going to bother cluttering up my wee brain with what the hell we're up to and why our rugby was so vanilla this year, and less successful than previous, (worst defence by us for 18 years, let in 19 per game apparently).
It's cricket season, and I'll never know for sure what the ABs have up the sleeve tactically so as I drifted off to sleep, beginning my 6 months All Blacks hibernation, a vision came to me in form of a dream that settled my bothered wee mind.
It was a vivid dream:
The date was November 6 2018, the venue was a suite at a nice hotel in London. In the room were Shag and Fozzie and all the AB backs:
(Shag talks then the backs talk)
G'day lads, last meeting about tactics this tour and a chance for all you fullas to ask questions about our backline strategies so you all understand them. Ok? Fozzie pass me a donut mate
Hey boss what do we do with the first attacking ruck ball we get?
Kick it
What about the next two phases?
Kick it
First possession in second half?
Kick it
I make a break, beat the line, but my winger is still half marked?
Kick it
A quick tap penalty, I make 20 yards but I nearly run out of support?
Kick it
Weve got an overlap through the hands in their 22?
Kick it
A forward, say a hooker, makes a break and has a winger outside?
Kick it
It's raining and the last 3 kicks have slid too far, what do I do next possession?
Kick it
We've been chasing the game all day, what to we do for the first 70 minutes?
Kick it
I got the ball static cos we had no pick and go to suck in defenders, I'm behind the gainline again what do I do?
Kick it
The front left tyre on my rainbow painted Ford Explorer might be a bit flat, how can I tell
Kick it
(whispered by another back - yeah my "All men's behaviour must change, Black Lives Matter, I decide my own gender thank you very much, end toxic masculinity" Ranger has a slightly flat tyre too)
Right. No more questions? Everything very very clear for the next 3 weeks?
Good.
Now let"s finish up with the tour song. Fozzie put on my Devo cassette tape from when I could fit into an airline economy seat and fast forward it to the good bit
Everybody...!
*When a problem comes along
You must Kick it
Before the cream sits out too long
You must Kick it
When something's going wrong
You must Kick itNow Kick it
Into shape
Shape it up
Get straight
Go forward
Move ahead
Try to detect it
It's not too late
To Kick it
Kick it good*I love this song Fozzie
Me too boss....you finished with that donut?Hahaha. #fatcunts
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Positives for the tour? Coles back running, a bit more depth created, players learned what shitfight test feels like, and how to deal with adversity. Our set piece is still good, and we don't give up many points.
The negatives have been done to death
Big winner of the tour i am naming DMac. Reckon he has converted most to his value now, and can go home happy with his personal work.
Heaps of sliders.
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@mariner4life said in AB EOYT 2018:
Positives for the tour? Coles back running, a bit more depth created, players learned what shitfight test feels like, and how to deal with adversity. Our set piece is still good, and we don't give up many points.
The negatives have been done to death
Big winner of the tour i am naming DMac. Reckon he has converted most to his value now, and can go home happy with his personal work.
Heaps of sliders.
Definitely. Hardly any squeaks in the past few weeks about how he is always on the verge of a calamitous error. Upside v downside etc.
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Not many talking about DMac at 15, so he's definitely gone up.
Mo'unga hasn't done his chances any harm, despite not really achieving much.
Goodhue has quietly become first choice 13, and looked well at home against the Irish.
Papali'i has looked OK, from very limited opportunities, as has Ta'avao, while Ofa has seen some tests at LH, which is quite valuable for next year. Nepo has come back and looks good too.
Plus Coles, who looks on a positive course to be useful, if not world class, again.
Apart from that, Read has been up and down, as has Brodie, while SW looks tired. Even Taylor finished untidily, while Karl finally got a taste against the best in the world, and Owen Franks is looking like a role player - for probably the first time I can remember, I'd pick another TH ahead of him, and possibly even another from our squad.
Midfield still a problem, so that's unresolved, and halfback is suddenly a decision, and not because of lifetime form by TJP. And at six, it's Squire, yikes.