TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98)
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I thought the “entertainment” angle was pretty much rendered moot every time the selectors picked Grant Fox over Frano Botica — and that was well before professionalism. ABs select for results, not your popcorn habits.
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@Salacious-Crumb said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
You’re an adult, yes?
debatable
And if we aren't going to vent our opinions, what exactly is the point of coming here?
Every single thread and discussion should be 1 - 2 posts long, ending with "these guys are better players than me. these coaches know more than me. these refs know the laws and how to apply them more than me. i will keep my mouth shut"
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@Salacious-Crumb said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
I thought the “entertainment” angle was pretty much rendered moot every time the selectors picked Grant Fox over Frano Botica — and that was well before professionalism. ABs select for results, not your popcorn habits.
The ABs are currently selected for results in October. We are in July. This is my issue.
And if we played dour 10 man rugby to grind out wins i would certainly stop turning in.
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@sparky said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
@Machpants 98th game against the Old Foe.
100th could be a RWC final!
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@mariner4life said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
This team is a fucking gamble, and the brains trust should face backlash if it doesn't work. But they won't, because the World Cup has fucked everything up.
A part-time fullback. Another new midfield, including a dude with serious doubts over current ability. A loose forward trio comprising of a seriously untested (at any level) rookie, and a veteran with form concerns. The bench contains a rookie, and a bloke who hasn't cut it at test level in any position.
I think the backs selection is the most exciting we've picked for ages. I'm not too concerned about SBW being picked because the default "settled midfield" is Crotty-Goodhue. I think Hansen's preferred first choice option is SBW-Goodhue, so we're getting to see that.
Loose forward selections are slightly odd - but, I think Frizell now has the inside running as our starting six and Todd is only a touch behind Ardie and Cane. Really it's the bench selections that are a bit odd.
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@Chris-B said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
@mariner4life said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
This team is a fucking gamble, and the brains trust should face backlash if it doesn't work. But they won't, because the World Cup has fucked everything up.
A part-time fullback. Another new midfield, including a dude with serious doubts over current ability. A loose forward trio comprising of a seriously untested (at any level) rookie, and a veteran with form concerns. The bench contains a rookie, and a bloke who hasn't cut it at test level in any position.
I think the backs selection is the most exciting we've picked for ages. I'm not too concerned about SBW being picked because the default "settled midfield" is Crotty-Goodhue. I think Hansen's preferred first choice option is SBW-Goodhue, so we're getting to see that.
Loose forward selections are slightly odd - but, I think Frizell now has the inside running as our starting six and Todd is only a touch behind Ardie and Cane. Really it's the bench selections that are a bit odd.
i don't actually disagree with any of this. I think the backs could be really good. But it could also be terrible. As i say, it's a risk, in a home game, against South Africa.
Frizzell is probably firming in to the 6 jersey, and the bits i saw of him at Super level started to look pretty pleasing. But again, he's not had a lot of rugby this year. With a 2nd thought, pairing him with Read and Todd as a combination might remove a little pressure from him.
I still find it astounding that we are playing the Boks at home, and our 3 best players from last week, 3 guys who are all basically top 15 players, are not starting, and only one is in the side at all.
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@mariner4life Listen, this is no good. Your brains trust are to be commended on their experimentation.
You're facing opposition that over the last 30 years or more beats you only about 20% of the time. We aren't due another win until after the RWC. The ABs can afford to experiment against us, we haven't got much more than a gnat's ballhair of a chance of winning in NZ anyway. And even if we do win this one, chances are we won't be able to back it up at the RWC when there's a bigger prize on offer.
In short, I can see no reason they shouldn't continue this bold experimental selection strategy until, oh I dunno, September 22, 2019.
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@mariner4life said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
@Salacious-Crumb said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
You’re an adult, yes?
debatable
And if we aren't going to vent our opinions, what exactly is the point of coming here?
Every single thread and discussion should be 1 - 2 posts long, ending with "these guys are better players than me. these coaches know more than me. these refs know the laws and how to apply them more than me. i will keep my mouth shut"
I was begrudgingly with you until you got to the refs.
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@mariner4life said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
@Chris-B said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
@mariner4life said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
This team is a fucking gamble, and the brains trust should face backlash if it doesn't work. But they won't, because the World Cup has fucked everything up.
A part-time fullback. Another new midfield, including a dude with serious doubts over current ability. A loose forward trio comprising of a seriously untested (at any level) rookie, and a veteran with form concerns. The bench contains a rookie, and a bloke who hasn't cut it at test level in any position.
I think the backs selection is the most exciting we've picked for ages. I'm not too concerned about SBW being picked because the default "settled midfield" is Crotty-Goodhue. I think Hansen's preferred first choice option is SBW-Goodhue, so we're getting to see that.
Loose forward selections are slightly odd - but, I think Frizell now has the inside running as our starting six and Todd is only a touch behind Ardie and Cane. Really it's the bench selections that are a bit odd.
i don't actually disagree with any of this. I think the backs could be really good. But it could also be terrible. As i say, it's a risk, in a home game, against South Africa.
Frizzell is probably firming in to the 6 jersey, and the bits i saw of him at Super level started to look pretty pleasing. But again, he's not had a lot of rugby this year. With a 2nd thought, pairing him with Read and Todd as a combination might remove a little pressure from him.
I still find it astounding that we are playing the Boks at home, and our 3 best players from last week, 3 guys who are all basically top 15 players, are not starting, and only one is in the side at all.
What's risky is having Jordie at 15 like last year's test in Wellington. This looks much more stable.
Just saw Shag's press conference and he made an interesting point about familiarity. This week's forward pack is going to have some rust with a lot of them in their first test of the year but having 6 of the starting 8 forwards playing together at the Crusaders should help combat that. Combine that with Ardie's workload has been mammoth this year and I can see why they've done what they've done.
Hansen has made it quite clear the focuses this year are the RWC and the Bledisloe so that leaves the other tests for experimentation.
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@KiwiMurph said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
Hansen has made it quite clear the focuses this year are the RWC and the Bledisloe so that leaves the other tests for experimentation.
The state of modern rugby. Such is the pressure to win a quadrennial knockout celebration of rugby that we're contributing to the status decline of Test rugby. The only difference to other nations is we're not losing as many friendlies as they are.
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@antipodean And long may it remain so as far as AB results go.
I'm not sure that the status of test rugby is declining. I still hear the pain when Aus, SA, Eng, etc, lose to us. Wales and my in laws particularly. I felt it with Ireland.
If some idiot decides to rename them friendlies he hasn't played one (neither have I of course) but they ain't friendly.
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man talkback callers/texters are having a meltdown at this team haha.
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I'm looking forward to seeing how this team goes. Exciting backline and the forward pack is better than last week.
I thought it looked like a season too far for Todd after the semi final where he was well beaten by Savea. But Todd was immense in the final and I don't see an issue with him starting.
Only disappointment is seeing Fifita in there.
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Nice sauce southernman.
I suspect that this test is a shoot out between Frizzel and Fifita. I wouldn't have given him another game, but I guess they want to see if he can provide impact from the bench. If we lose one of our locks, we're toast, but that's probably true at the WC too, so looking for impact from the bench is risky, but understandable. I'll be interested to see who gets the bench against Oz.
Todd starting is strange, but I guess it's because they want a bit more rest in Cane - who almost never needs a warmup - and is a good way to rest Ardie, who's had a massive year. It's a huge test for Paps, who clearly is getting a chance to cover multiple positions, perhaps even 8 (unless it's Frizzel)?
Barrett at FB is something many have wanted to see for a while, so let's see it.
SBW is, well, not getting dropped. That bed is made unless it get's broken.
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@Siam said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
First time beauden has worn number 15?
Yep,and I think it may not be a traditional fb role ,
Think he may still spend a fair bit of time up in the line with he and rm giving 2 options as first receiver
History of rugby union matches between New Zealand and South Africa - Wikipedia
