Bledisloe #1
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@kiwiinmelb said in Bledisloe #1:
@Kirwan said in Bledisloe #1:
Worst loss I can remember against Oz.
The one in 2011 felt similar , but we lost players through injury , this one was worse because we looked clueless
Just clicked now but 2008 Sydney beats 2011 Brisbane for me and I was at both. It was the first Deans vs Henry test, so high stakes and without McCaw they were woeful, ill disciplined and looked impotent on attack.
2011 Brisbane had early injuries + RWC naming that week + Crusaders players gassed. Despite that they came out at half time and showed the ability to "flick the switch" and Nonu/Smith especially carved them up. In the end they lost to a pretty flukey try (Wayne Barnes special from memory) so it was a similar script to Hong Kong where they dug themselves a hole in the first 20 minutes, showed enough mettle to get out of it before bottling it in the end. The only concern coming out of that game going into the RWC was the Read injury.
Anyway the long and the short of it was in 2008 they were able to get things back on track fairly quickly - but a lot of that was McCaw coming back. Brodie could have a similar effect but he won't be there.
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@sparky said in Bledisloe #1:
@KiwiMurph said in Bledisloe #1:
Ben Smith looking shit on the wing...again....
Sad to see such a great old war horse play so poorly, but he was utter shite this evening. Time to put in the younger guys who are faster and hungry for success.
Would like his experience on the bench though, covering 15-13
So I'd expect Hansen to pick him at 13 for the injured Goodhue then....
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@Chris-B Thought Mo'unga wasn't that bad either but like you said, can we afford to have three smallish and relatively weak defenders in Smith, Barrett and Mo'unga. I don't think we can, especially when the pack is showing fuck all physical presence.
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@Mokey said in Bledisloe #1:
It is actually alarming that we are playing so badly. No gameplan, poor discipline, terrible handling...Aussies are outplaying us everywhere.
Less time on the PR trail and more back to basics, me thinks.
Absolutely nails it. Key thing is to remember how much this shameful, disgusting performance hurt and lear from it.
The ABs have spent too much much time believing their own legend and being piston wristed gibbons in public about it. Time to work very, very hard indeed on the basics of catch, pass, defend, push, kick and run.
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@sparky said in Bledisloe #1:
Sad to see such a great old war horse play so poorly, but he was utter shite this evening. Time to put in the younger guys who are faster and hungry for success.
He wasn't good
Q: When was the last time he played well?
2 Test matches ago against ArgentinaQ: What was different?
He was at fullback -
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@sparky said in Bledisloe #1:
@Duluth If he goes to the RWC it is as a fullback who can play midfield in an emergency. Doesn't have the gas now to play Wing at International level.
Don't think he should be anywhere near the midfield except in dire emergency.
I'm pretty sure he started 7 games on the right wing for the ABs last year and only 5 at fullback, so he might not be a completely spent force on the wing.
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If this same team turns up next week and beats the piss out of the Wallabies I will be even more fucked off.
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@akan004 said in Bledisloe #1:
@hydro11 said in Bledisloe #1:
@Mokey said in Bledisloe #1:
@Kirwan That is seriously scary. It's hard to remember when they last played such a terrible all round game to the point of screwing up the basics like ball retention and not kicking it away all the time. Add in shite discipline...and yeah.
We have played much worse games than this IMO. The win against Argentina was a worse performance for sure.
Don't think the defence was as poor in that game.
The ARG game has been ABs best performance this year to date
Their defence was exceptional 90% tackles made and saved 2-3 certain tries for PumasDespite all the back slaps Boks got for their game vs ABs
They were clueless in attack & never looked liked scoring for 79 minsBit of magic from Kolbe & A Smith clocking off in defence led to their only try
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@Stargazer said in Bledisloe #1:
Ah, another TSF meltdown. Everyone completely overreacting as usual.
I would argue that we have been under-reacting for the past year as the coaches have served up dross in game after game. The side really hasn't been the same since Wayne Smith left.
Today's performance was worse than dross. It's where arrogance leads you. Mickey Mouse Hansen should be ashamed.
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@mariner4life #powderdry #except4EP
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@akan004 said in Bledisloe #1:
can we afford to have three smallish and relatively weak defenders in Smith, Barrett and Mo'unga?
I wouldn't put BB down as a relatively weak defender. He's actually pretty solid and exceptional at cover defence.
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@Jaguares4real Defence was good in that game. I think the 2nd half performance in Wellington was the best performance this year, but they were up against a much more one dimensional team last weekend than they faced tonight.
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@Victor-Meldrew Fair point.
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@Chris-B said in Bledisloe #1:
@sparky said in Bledisloe #1:
@Duluth If he goes to the RWC it is as a fullback who can play midfield in an emergency. Doesn't have the gas now to play Wing at International level.
Don't think he should be anywhere near the midfield except in dire emergency.
I'm pretty sure he started 7 games on the right wing for the ABs last year and only 5 at fullback, so he might not be a completely spent force on the wing.
Didn’t DMac start a few games at fullback last year?
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@sparky said in Bledisloe #1:
@Stargazer said in Bledisloe #1:
Ah, another TSF meltdown. Everyone completely overreacting as usual.
I would argue that we have been under-reacting for the past year as the coaches have served up dross in game after game. The side really hasn't been the same since Wayne Smith left.
Today's performance was worse than dross. It's where arrogance leads you. Mickey Mouse Hansen should be ashamed.
There has been more than a whiff of complacency from AB supporters/media
Signs have been there Last 6-8 serious Test matches
I'll also add: Boy do ABs miss Damien McKenzieEven more recently you have NZ Super Rugby sides look distinctly average Saders & Canes were on a different level to their local SR rivals
The bad news is the ABs weaknesses will be exacerbated in 2020 when there's no BBBR Whitelock Read Crotty Franks Bender
2019 RWC is a open Comp It won't be a cakewalk for ABs as it was in 2011 + 2015 Tournaments
