RWC: All Blacks v Canada (Pool B)
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Back on topic - back in Toronto after my jaunt to Japan and the boys here are desperate for the Maple Leafs to put up a good showing.
But even with Sir Ted’s help most of the former Canadian test players are not confident. The days of Canada competing by fielding a vicious pack of lumberjacks, rigpigs and autoworkers with some flash if slightly raw backs are over.
Fact is that Canada has adapted to professionalism slower and worse than any other T2 nation. Some of that is structural but mostly it is that the game here has always been shockingly poorly governed with no vision and bags of provincialism.
A story I have never been able to confirm but which is perfectly believable (and illustrative) was that in the 90s when the 5 nations looked to expand they tested the waters with Canada before approaching Italy. And Rugby Canada rejected the approach out of hand because they believed it would be too expensive for Canada to participate!
This whinge of a post is really just to set up what my wish is for this squad: that the Rumballs, Hearns and Sears-Durus and others pick up contracts in top competitions. Unless and until that happens Canada will continue to underperform.
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@Smuts said in RWC: All Blacks v Canada (Pool
:@rotated it is. But counterintuitively, if you are younger and smaller v your peer group (like many kids born late in the year) but manage to stay in the top grade, when you finally hit your growth spurt, you’re more likely to succeed at the top level.
My mate has a theory (in classic Fern style) that a lot of great basketballers grow late. As you say, they need mental toughness and grit and skills to survive, and then get the physical attributes. If you're massive early, unless you're Yao Ming or Shaq, you get lazy and just dominate physically.
We see this all the time in Rugby; schoolboy superstars used to running around slower and weaker opponents, suddenly finding that doesn't work against good D. Takes time to up--skill, and some never do
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Been thinking quite a bit about this game and strategy for the AB's from here.
11 days between the Boks and Canada means lots of time for rest and recuperation but then only a 4 day turn around for Namibia. And then 6 days for Italy.
IMHO, they need to go with the bulk of the first choice squad for this next game and Italy and the support squad against Namibia.
So by employing such a strategy, the top AB team gets a rest of 11 days for Canada and then another 10 days before Italy. That my friends is plenty of rest before the knock out stages.
Clearly Canada from their first showing aren't going to be much of an opposition (sadly) but we need to make sure the combinations get more time together. Much like how the warm-up game against Tonga turned out, this will be a contested training run. So why not give the top team another run together to keep working on the combinations especially in the key areas:
The dual pivot
Centre combinationWith that said, I think Ardie needs a rest, he's been a 1 man army throughout the Super Season and for the AB's. Swap in either Frizzel or Todd and things shouldn't be upset too much. But Ardie starts against Italy and then on wards into the knock out rounds.
The Mo'unga and Barrett dual pivot role, I can only see it getting more effective the longer they play and with this strategy as I've suggested, this gives them two more matches allowing them time to read and work off each other, build the understanding and teamwork.
After the last few games and especially the Bok's game, the biggest question that remains has to be, what does our centre pairing look like going into the knock out round.
IMHO, based on form over the whole year, ALB is now our premier 12/13 depending on partner. As far as I am concerned, ALB has to be in the starting line up. So who to partner him?
As much as it seems almost alien to me, not a huge SBW fan to be honest, I think it has to be either SBW starts, especially against North Hemisphere teams, with Crotty on the bench, or Crotty starts and SBW is on the bench.
Obviously this leaves Goodhue on the outer and in my honest opinion, whilst he was awesome in his breakout year, the past 12 months he's been rather quiet, solid but not spectacular. I know this opinion won't be well accepted by the cantabrians but oh well.
As for the back 3, I'm not sold on Reece at all, I think his positional play and habit of rushing in or worse, going for the million 2 one intercept gives me major doubts. I do think that Bridge looks really comfortable, a natural at this level and should be retained. I then think it's a choice of Rieko or Ben from Accounts in place of Reece.
That said, it's gotta be Rieko right, with Ben on the bench? Or the other way around? Oh, that's right, Ben gives a lot more options on the bench and therefore, Rieko starts and Ben is on the bench. That way we are covered across the board.
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It was said on the TV news last night that 2 separate AB teams are training as preparation for the Canada and Namibia games. Hansen and co will have mapped out which players are involved in each game. I agree about resting Ardie, Whitelock is another who should be on limited minutes.
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@Bovidae said in RWC: All Blacks v Canada (Pool
:It was said on the TV news last night that 2 separate AB teams are training as preparation for the Canada and Namibia games. Hansen and co will have mapped out which players are involved in each game. I agree about resting Ardie, Whitelock is another who should be on limited minutes.
Good point @Bovidae Whitelock is another who has had a huge number of minutes this year and needs a break.
When we have three players who can easily take some minutes at lock - Tuipulotu, Barrett and Frizell.
And if BBBR can get onto the park for a pool game, all the better!!!
Fuck yes, I'm getting excited. I honestly think compared to other RWC's, we have a pretty clear way forward baring major injuries. But then our depth, well that's what separates us from the pack right!
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@taniwharugby That makes sense, and the rugby journos all think most of the top XV won't play against Canada. There will have to be some players involved in both of the next 2 games, whether starting or on the bench.
Looking at the intervals between games:
SA to Canada -> 11 days
Canada to Namibia -> 4 days
Namibia to Italy -> 6 days
Italy to QF -> 7 daysEven for the team that played SA there will be 2-week gap between games. I reckon some inter-squad games might be happening again.
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After the towelling Canada got at the hands of Italy, this is going to be complete demolition. They dropped a lot of ball against the Azzuri, but they could not deal with the linespeed of Italy, so they're no hope against the midweek ABs who want a crack at the big games.
Fucking tough pool for the beaver retrievers.
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@Bovidae said in RWC: All Blacks v Canada (Pool
:@taniwharugby That makes sense, and the rugby journos all think most of the top XV won't play against Canada. There will have to be some players involved in both of the next 2 games, whether starting or on the bench.
Looking at the intervals between games:
SA to Canada -> 11 days
Canada to Namibia -> 4 days
Namibia to Italy -> 6 days
Italy to QF -> 7 daysEven for the team that played SA there will be 2-week gap between games. I reckon some inter-squad games might be happening again.
With all due respect, I think it is the other way around, play the first team against Canada and then Italy, giving plenty of rest balanced with game time.
The 2nd string team plays against Namibia which has a much shorter turnaround.
That way the top combinations have more time for work ons.
In this scenario, Namibia unfortunately ends up being the placeholders but based on the draw and the win against the Boks, there isn't any other way IMHO
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@RoninWC said in RWC: All Blacks v Canada (Pool
:With all due respect, I think it is the other way around, play the first team against Canada and then Italy, giving plenty of rest balanced with game time.
The 2nd string team plays against Namibia which has a much shorter turnaround.
That way the top combinations have more time for work ons.
In this scenario, Namibia unfortunately ends up being the placeholders but based on the draw and the win against the Boks, there isn't any other way IMHO
There will be pros and cons for each option. Excluding BBBR, the likes of Ioane and Goodhue will need to play sooner rather than later. They last played in Perth on Aug 10, 7 weeks and counting.
Edit: Rieko might have played for Auckland after that - not 100% sure.
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Minutes played...
Moody 50/ Tu'ungafasi 30
Coles 40/ Taylor 40
Laulala 50/ Ta'avao 30
Whitelock 80
Barrett 75
Tuipulotu 40
Savea 80
Cane 40
Read 80
Frizell 5
Smith 61 / Perenara 19
Mo'unga 66
G. C. Bridge 80
R. S. Crotty 50 / SBW 30
A. R. Lienert-Brown 80
S. L. Reece 80
B. J. Barrett 80
B Smith 14Jordie Barrett 0
Ioane 0
Goodhue 0
Weber 0
Todd 0
Retallick 0
Coltman 0
Moli 0Can make up the team from that if everyone gets a run in the first 2 games
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@RoninWC said in RWC: All Blacks v Canada (Pool
:@Bones IMHO, I think they do. Much like what happened in '15, keep the top team together and get them minutes without tiring them out too much.
Isn't that optimal? Surely, combinations just aren't across positions but the whole team?
I think there'll be periods where we see a large number of the "top team" together, as well as periods of "number 1" plays. But I can't see them wanting to show their hand too much before the quarters.
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I fall in the camp of the bestish team against Canada and Italy. Dirttrackers against Namibia on the short turnaround. You has a long break after Bok game a long break prior to that , so from here in its pretty much a game a week for the frontline. That said you may see Moli, Goodhue and Fritzelll, starting or in 23 against Canada,
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@Crucial said in RWC: All Blacks v Canada (Pool
:@Bones said in RWC: All Blacks v Canada (Pool
:@Crucial why not JB?
Because I think Ben Smith will start at 15. He is more important to have time under the belt and confidence. JB will come on from the bench.
I can see Barrett starting right wing against Namibia. There is no compelling reason to play Reece or Bridge on short rest.
Whoever is the 3rd 10 will likely get at least a 20 minute stint there at some point - could be Jordie too.
Centre combo is the interesting one. They want to give everyone a run, but they've been doing that for four years, its about time the chosen two settled down and developed a combo for at least 2 of the next 3 games.
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