Italy vs All Blacks
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Watching the recording now. Early points:
The TV production is appalling
A ref going off injured is never not funny
The italians stopping the game at every set piece for an injury is a disgrace -
Well that was dessert aye? Little too sweet, not overly satisfying. Good for a few guys to just have a gallop, but as a pointer going forward it was useless. Italy are dogshit hopeless.
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How many chips and grubbers this tour? Jesus!
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@No-Quarter Crotty does have some smarts I'll give you that, but it didn't seem to help us much last week in ireland, where the smarts (and aura) deserted not only him but the entire team
@Rancid-Schnitzel TJ hardly covered himself in glory against Ireland or England where box kicking and poor option-taking got the better of him, and A Smith was slow to rucks and spends too much time flapping his arms appealing to the ref these days. Speed to the breakdown and precise passes fired like bullets are/were great weaponry. I want them back.
All very well for BB to steamroller Italy, but I wanted him to do that over the last two weeks when the heat, the pressure was really on and we were in some tight spots. When the game is evolvng into a misshapen monster in front of you think your way out of that one Beaudy. -
@mariner4life I'm wondering if that wasn't the most kicking I've ever seen from team with so much ball, ever!
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For me the return of Coles is the highlight of this tour. Ardie as well but Ardie has been good all year so his form was expected. Wasn't sure if Coles would be able to regain his explosive speed after the knee injury but he clearly has. Still the best hooker in WR when at his best.
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@machpants said in Italy vs All Blacks:
Body Irish ref slowing the game down with all his injury stoppages, like last week, bloody typical
For 3/4 of the game ref was French... (Monsieur Random himself, Pascal Gauzere).
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@machpants said in Italy vs All Blacks:
I know, that's why I said his injury stoppages
Oh. Sorry. I was getting pissed off the ref allowing the iTies to stop every breakdown.
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@shadowtrooper said in Italy vs All Blacks:
@No-Quarter Crotty does have some smarts I'll give you that, but it didn't seem to help us much last week in ireland, where the smarts (and aura) deserted not only him but the entire team
@Rancid-Schnitzel TJ hardly covered himself in glory against Ireland or England where box kicking and poor option-taking got the better of him, and A Smith was slow to rucks and spends too much time flapping his arms appealing to the ref these days. Speed to the breakdown and precise passes fired like bullets are/were great weaponry. I want them back.
All very well for BB to steamroller Italy, but I wanted him to do that over the last two weeks when the heat, the pressure was really on and we were in some tight spots. When the game is evolvng into a misshapen monster in front of you think your way out of that one Beaudy.You claimed the backline was more balanced with TTT and RM based on them coming on after 50min with the opposition down by 50. That's ridiculous. It's like bringing on a new front row after 50min of dismantling the opposition pack and then claiming they're better when they dominate an already destroyed pack.
But I did think TTT looked excellent when he came on and I hope he continues to progress.
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The good stuff:
- Jordie on the wing, thought he looked good there. Not just because it was Italy too. Showed good pace and aerial skills. Probably doesn't have the same pressure to pull things off on the wing as Fullback. Good to have another option for that tight wing spot.
- Coles looking like he used to was great to see.
The bad stuff:
- the obsession with kicking the ball away continues. Even worse is they scored off it several times so will think it works now. Im starting to think the only powder they had in this tour was the kicking powder. Maybe the rest of it got lost at heathrow.
- Naholo, who was anonymous
The question marks:
- Fifita, looked good. But we already knew he could run rampant against second tier teams. Papalii didn't really get enough time to make any judgements.
- Midfield, borh guys went well. First choice pair in no clearer though.
- Dmac, he scored 3 tries but is still a massive question mark for me. So often his team mates look as confused about what he is doing as the opposition. Still loves to run across field like Lote Tuqiri. Unfortunately they subbed BB so we didn't get a look the Mounga/BB combo.
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@pukunui said in Italy vs All Blacks:
Unfortunately they subbed BB so we didn't get a look the Mounga/BB combo.
We've seen this combo in the last 3 tests so what was to be gained by doing it again? I thought it was great that BB was the player subbed so different combinations could be looked at.
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Sorry @pukunui but that's just bullshit about DMac, in this game and the whole tour. It's preconception not reality
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I've been a champion for mo'unga but i thought in this game he overplayed his hand, tried to make things happen every time he got the ball
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@mariner4life said in Italy vs All Blacks:
Sorry @pukunui but that's just bullshit about DMac, in this game and the whole tour. It's preconception not reality
Meh, just my opinion vs yours. I much prefer the cool, calm and collected style of Ben Smith at fullback. You know, Ben Smith, the best fullback in the world.
For me Dmac is better suited to the super sub role. -
@pukunui said in Italy vs All Blacks:
@mariner4life said in Italy vs All Blacks:
Sorry @pukunui but that's just bullshit about DMac, in this game and the whole tour. It's preconception not reality
Meh, just my opinion vs yours. I much prefer the cool, calm and collected style of Ben Smith at fullback. You know, Ben Smith, the best fullback in the world.
For me Dmac is better suited to the super sub role.That's not what you said though is it?
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@bovidae said in Italy vs All Blacks:
@pukunui said in Italy vs All Blacks:
Unfortunately they subbed BB so we didn't get a look the Mounga/BB combo.
We've seen this combo in the last 3 tests so what was to be gained by doing it again? I thought it was great that BB was the player subbed so different combinations could be looked at.
Building the combination? That combo has had very few minutes together. It could be a very important one next year and time to build it is running out.
