2019 Rugby World Cup
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Much more interesting episode of The Breakdown tonight. Especially because they had Sir Ted on. A few things he said:
They need to take three 9s and three 10s.
Josh Ioane looks the best of the young 10s, but he also liked the look of Fletcher Smith in the NPC. We need to remember 2011, when Aaron Cruden started the final as a 21 year old - still in nappies. Beauden and Richie are both superb first fives.
He thought Wales were superb in the 6N - thinks this is the best Welsh team in 50 years.
Ireland will be very tough, defend well and very well coached.
England tough as well - should be the best in the world (subtle dig at Eddie?).
South Africa has got better - great for rugby.
Along with the ABs, the winner should come from those five teams.
Had a few general comments about how the NH teams will play differently to us. Won't put it through the hands as much. Strong at set piece. Kick more and kick very well.
Thinks Shag will have around 21 players already inked in and they'll have been watching the others and for bolters. Thinks they'll probably pick a squad of 40 for the Championship and play-off say 20 contenders against one another - choose the best 10.
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@Chris-B Great to hear what Ted had say.......
He is wrong on a couple of details.
- The great Wales team of 1971 were the best in the world and better than the current lot.
2 Ted 's 2011 RWC squad only had two first-fives initially. Cruden and then Donald came in after injuries:
All Blacks squad named for 2011 Rugby World Cup
Hookers Corey Flynn Canterbury (14) Andrew Hore Taranaki (54) Keven Mealamu Auckland (85) Props John Afoa Auckland (33) Ben Franks Tasman (11) Owen Franks Canterbury (23) Tony Woodcock North Harbour (75)
- The great Wales team of 1971 were the best in the world and better than the current lot.
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Maybe it’s just me...but what ted says seems pretty obvious, no?
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For those of you who might want to watch this episode of The Breakdown it looks like it's been posted in full on the ABs facebook page
The Breakdown: Round 12 | Join the SKY Sport NZ Breakdown team as...
Join the SKY Sport NZ Breakdown team as they wrap up Round 12 of #SuperRugby, and Sir Graham Henry joins the panel to go through the latest movers and...
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@sparky said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
2 Ted 's 2011 RWC squad only had two first-fives initially. Cruden and then Donald came in after injuries:
All Blacks squad named for 2011 Rugby World Cup
Hookers Corey Flynn Canterbury (14) Andrew Hore Taranaki (54) Keven Mealamu Auckland (85) Props John Afoa Auckland (33) Ben Franks Tasman (11) Owen Franks Canterbury (23) Tony Woodcock North Harbour (75)
Which is probably why Ted knows that they do actually need three 10s. When in the same situation 8 years ago (the third choice 10 not worthy of selection compared to the e.g. 7th best loose forward etc) that this was a actually hopeless cop-out strategy as they immediately needed to replace the injured 10 from out of the squad, ASAP. Donald would have been in on the Monday after the quarter-final etc, if they knew where he actually was.
Donald was an un-used sub (the only un-used sub) in the 2011 semi. Was that because Ted co thought he was a bit meh? Or because he was so far behind in the homework as he was from outside the squad? And Cruden was needing all the prep-time coaching attention in the leadup to the semi as he was also catching up having been brought in from outside the squad ....
Even though they actually had Weepu as a 3rd choice back in 2011 , People on this thread have been suggesting Crotty for 3rd choice in 2019 ..... imagine that ...
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One of the greatest mistakes the military makes is training to win the previous war. That's what Ted looks like he's doing: "I needed four five-eighths, so you should definitely take three"
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@antipodean said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
One of the greatest mistakes the military makes is training to win the previous war. That's what Ted looks like he's doing: "I needed four five-eighths, so you should definitely take three"
Ironically if the ABs survived Cardiff in 2007 they would have needed to replace Carter and Evans who were done for the tournament. So learning from 2007 would have been useful.
Given the tournament was in NZ and the wealth of talent in the midfield and outside backs was so strong taking two first-fives was the appropriate gamble in 2011. Jimmy Cowan completely going off the boil complicated matters as they couldn't even think of moving Weepu to 10.
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@Rocky-Rockbottom Saying goodbye to England early again would almost be as satisfying as winning the WC.
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@Canes4life No not really Stephen Jones may top himself then we would lose that great journalism then I would have to find some other fluffybunny to hate
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@Canes4life said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Rocky-Rockbottom Saying goodbye to England early again would almost be as satisfying as winning the WC.
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@Chris said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Canes4life No not really Stephen Jones may top himself then we would lose that great journalism then I would have to find some other fluffybunny to hate
You'll be disappointed to hear SJ was a staunch critic of the appointment of Lancaster but not Lancaster the man. So he had a bob each way there. Whereas this time, I think he's the opposite, so once again a bob each way and the ability to grandstand regardless.
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@Canes4life said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Bones you alright pal?
@Bones has been turned
It is a cruel desire but at least those memes of someone struggling to get out of a pool would go around again. If only the CWC would oblige again as well.
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@Crucial said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Canes4life said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Bones you alright pal?
@Bones has been turned
It is a cruel desire but at least those memes of someone struggling to get out of a pool would go around again. If only the CWC would oblige again as well.
Riiiight. You guys are satisfied by England losing in the pools almost as much as if NZ wins the world cup... And I'm the one with the issue? That's just weird.
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@sparky said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
@Chris-B Great to hear what Ted had say.......
He is wrong on a couple of details.
- The great Wales team of 1971 were the best in the world and better than the current lot.
2 Ted 's 2011 RWC squad only had two first-fives initially. Cruden and then Donald came in after injuries:
All Blacks squad named for 2011 Rugby World Cup
Hookers Corey Flynn Canterbury (14) Andrew Hore Taranaki (54) Keven Mealamu Auckland (85) Props John Afoa Auckland (33) Ben Franks Tasman (11) Owen Franks Canterbury (23) Tony Woodcock North Harbour (75)
Wasnt Slade the surprise pick initially , then Cruden on the skateboard , then donald on the whitebait ?
- The great Wales team of 1971 were the best in the world and better than the current lot.
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@antipodean said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
One of the greatest mistakes the military makes is training to win the previous war. That's what Ted looks like he's doing: "I needed four five-eighths, so you should definitely take three"
I remember when the 2015 squad was picked , ted commented he would have picked Jane and dagg ahead of NMS and Naholo , ( just my opinion he said )
As great as he was ,and i do enjoy listening to him, i think he does get a bit stuck in the past now , and shag is a bit more visionary for the future
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@Bones to wipe that smug look off Eddie Jones's face would be priceless. Of course I'd rather see the All Blacks win the World Cup but the Poms getting knocked out is nearly as satisfying because of their arrogance and media thinking they are the best in the World.
Maybe @Bones has a secret admiration for the blokes from the North.
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@kiwiinmelb said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
As great as he was ,and i do enjoy listening to him, i think he does get a bit stuck in the past now , and shag is a bit more visionary for the future
I love Ted (as the avatar suggests) but unless he has skin in the game I find he talks in platitudes. When he is engaged though he usually has drops good nuggets.
Hansen is the reverse.
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I think this is shaping up as the most (broadly) open world cup since 1995, with I think 5 contenders for the winner: NZ, England, Ireland, Wales, South Africa
In 1995; the 5 contenders were the more traditional post 1990 big 5: NZ, England, Australia, France, South Africa.
I think 1995 was more open.
This time Ireland and Wales don't have the going deep pedigree earned from previous runs, although Wales did go deep in 2011 and the coaching group have that knowledge even if the players have mostly moved on. It may take going deep previously to gain the experience to win it next time. in 1995 the RWC was still so new to bother about pedigree in previous tournaments.
Ireland also have a terrible draw this time to complicate things.
Amazing really that my big 5 doesn't include Australia and France. These 2 plus Argentina and Scotland have the ability to knock most of the above mentioned 5 teams out of the tournament but IMO probably don't have enough in them to go all the way themselves.
9 strong teams. Is a good place for rugby to be. I'll try to remember this silver lining if we have a horror tournament .....
