AB RWC squad
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@Steven-Harris said in AB RWC squad:
@Bones it was good to get them thoughts of a guy who laced his boots on 42 occasions in the front row for the all blacks not to mention 242 first class games..
Did you ask him why the others aren't up to it and what it is about Franks scrumming that is so special?
I find it a bit of an absurd idea to have someone coming on for "scrum impact" in the last 10-15 minutes for about 2-3 scrums. Especially when he's not exactly renowned for being damaging, just for holding up his side well.
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@Bones said in AB RWC squad:
@Steven-Harris said in AB RWC squad:
@Bones it was good to get them thoughts of a guy who laced his boots on 42 occasions in the front row for the all blacks not to mention 242 first class games..
Did you ask him why the others aren't up to it and what it is about Franks scrumming that is so special?
I find it a bit of an absurd idea to have someone coming on for "scrum impact" in the last 10-15 minutes for about 2-3 scrums. Especially when he's not exactly renowned for being damaging, just for holding up his side well.
Usually it's the strong scrummager that starts the match only to make way for the rangy hard fast runner late in the game. It all sounds a little odd to me
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@canefan said in AB RWC squad:
@Bones said in AB RWC squad:
@Steven-Harris said in AB RWC squad:
@Bones it was good to get them thoughts of a guy who laced his boots on 42 occasions in the front row for the all blacks not to mention 242 first class games..
Did you ask him why the others aren't up to it and what it is about Franks scrumming that is so special?
I find it a bit of an absurd idea to have someone coming on for "scrum impact" in the last 10-15 minutes for about 2-3 scrums. Especially when he's not exactly renowned for being damaging, just for holding up his side well.
Usually it's the strong scrummager that starts the match only to make way for the rangy hard fast runner late in the game. It all sounds a little odd to me
Would be good to find a really scrum solid but immobile hooker and lock to bring on at the same time. Imagine being able to win our own scrum in the final quarter instead of what we usually do.
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@Bones said in AB RWC squad:
I find it a bit of an absurd idea to have someone coming on for "scrum impact" in the last 10-15 minutes for about 2-3 scrums.
That's what I was getting at in an earlier post.
The last comment is interesting as I was going to put "2-3 scrums" in mine - googled for "how many scrums in an international test?" Didn't find a lot except six nations stuff (which may have more scrums due to wet weather) but indicative data nonetheless, and tests usually have approx 15-18 a match - so every 5 mins or so (whether there are more later in the match I don't know). Even that seemed a lot to me...
My conclusion was that, no, it wouldn't be worth having for someone on for 20 minutes to hold up a few scrums if they were doing little else in the way of carrying, dominant tackles, turnovers.
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@Snowy said in AB RWC squad:
The last comment is interesting as I was going to put "2-3 scrums" in mine - googled for "how many scrums in an international test?" Didn't find a lot except six nations stuff (which may have more scrums due to wet weather) but indicative data nonetheless, and tests usually have approx 15-18 a match - so every 5 mins or so (whether there are more later in the match I don't know). Even that seemed a lot to me...
Some AB Tests this year:
12 scrums vs SA
9 scrums vs Aus I
14 scrums vs Aus II -
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@Higgins said in AB RWC squad:
@Snowy The phsyological advantange of destroying your opponents scrum cannot be underestimated.
When was the last time Franks did that? And how useful is that in the last 2 minutes of the match when you're in your own half?
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@Higgins said in AB RWC squad:
@Snowy The phsyological advantange of destroying your opponents scrum cannot be underestimated.
That is true, but are we really more likely to do that with Owen? A few times in the last 20 really going to mentally break the opposition compared to mobility, physicality?
We don't often destroy anyone's scrum really, but we do outpace them. If it was a regular occurrence and part of our game plan, fine, but it doesn't look like it given the selections.
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I’d be happy to win our own put ins and not get pushed around on theirs ,
Reckon dominating the break down is more important in the modern game
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you need parity in the scrum, then there's bugger all advantage until you get to total dominance - if it's a penalty every time, then a team can just repeat until yellow card / penalty try, as well as gain easy exits and retaining possession from under pressure defensive positions.
the selectors should have been running ofa etc as starters occasionally to test them against opposition top scrummagers (with franks on the bench) for the past season or two. then we'd have confidence that they're not going to have a mare in a big game. now it's a risk - one i'd still take, but it could have been managed better. -
Franks has won us a hell of a lot of penalties at scrum time over his career. But I think the mobility of the others and the importance of being an option with ball in hand/support play is far more beneficial with the way we want to play.
Thanks for the memories Owen. Now go and help save Canterbury’s season 😎
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@Steven-Harris said in AB RWC squad:
@Chris-B, I have doubts myself over both Tuangafasi and Taavao as top class scrummagers ..
Ofa fine as TH replacement, OK as LH but not starter, and OK TH starter against weaker teams.
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@Bones said in AB RWC squad:
@Steven-Harris said in AB RWC squad:
@Bones it was good to get them thoughts of a guy who laced his boots on 42 occasions in the front row for the all blacks not to mention 242 first class games..
Did you ask him why the others aren't up to it and what it is about Franks scrumming that is so special?
I find it a bit of an absurd idea to have someone coming on for "scrum impact" in the last 10-15 minutes for about 2-3 scrums. Especially when he's not exactly renowned for being damaging, just for holding up his side well.
In TRC there seem to be only sixish scrums in the 50 minutes starting props on. Sure TWM know how Owen's technique is against others. It stood up well against Lions.
On speed, I don't think he ever had a third gear and is probably no slower than before. The real issue is that props are tending now to be more mobile and he suffers by comparison.
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@pakman said in AB RWC squad:
@Bones said in AB RWC squad:
@Steven-Harris said in AB RWC squad:
@Bones it was good to get them thoughts of a guy who laced his boots on 42 occasions in the front row for the all blacks not to mention 242 first class games..
Did you ask him why the others aren't up to it and what it is about Franks scrumming that is so special?
I find it a bit of an absurd idea to have someone coming on for "scrum impact" in the last 10-15 minutes for about 2-3 scrums. Especially when he's not exactly renowned for being damaging, just for holding up his side well.
In TRC there seem to be only sixish scrums in the 50 minutes starting props on. Sure TWM know how Owen's technique is against others. It stood up well against Lions.
On sped, I don't think he ever had a third gear and is probably no slower than before. The real issue is that props are tending now to be more mobile and he suffers comparison.
I think he used to be more mobile and would fly (well as much a thug brother can fly) around the field looking for rucks to hit and I never had worries about him making his tackles in close. Recently, he's looked way less mobile to me, I assumed it was injury related and that he'd overcome it.
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Why it doesn't really matter if Beauden Barrett wears the 10 or 15 jersey for the All Blacks
Since all-time legend Dan Carter vacated the 10 jersey for the All Blacks following the 2015 Rugby World Cup, basically one man has followed in his footsteps.
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An interesting thing on media articles, pretty much every team had articles about how hard they are training, how tough their world cup build up programs are. How they'll be the fittest team from XYZ country, or at the cup itself. But not the ABs. Weird.
