Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18
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@Crucial said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
I will give RM a tiny bit of slack as he got smashed late at least twice and was heavily targeted with hits to stop him being on his feet for second phase attacks
Ref let a lot go - but fair play to Aus, that's a classic Rennie tactic. He loved unsettling the Cantabs when the Chiefs played them - just knocks people off their game with niggle. Will be interesting to see how Gardner handles that
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@KiwiMurph said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
There's no settled combinations other than the tight five for the ABs anywhere.
On the other hand the Wallabies can pick and stick and build on game 1.
Always the danger if you 'lose' first up. Changes look like panic or that you are admitting that you got it wrong.
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@Crucial said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
Good to see that Quinny has the internet at his resthome.
Wonder what he thought of the pink boots.
Seriously, though, is that a droppable offence? So many players put the ball down one handed - if you're going to be strict, have consequences for the process not the outcome.
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@Crucial said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
@sparky said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
Don't agree that Reiko should be dropped, he is a classy player and should have learned his lesson.
Good to see that Quinny has the internet at his resthome.
.....and we know his family won’t have to worry about any funeral costs either
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@nzzp said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
Question for the thread in general: is the decline in AB quality linked to Wayne Smith stepping down at the end of 2017? 2018 onwards hasn't been great... seems to have been a steady decline in quality.
I think you can put it down to six legends retiring in 2015, one great taking a sabbatical, another great hanging on too long and being captain.
These things are all massive factors that are tough to overcome.
Oh and Reiko dropping the ball, fuck you Reiko
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@nzzp said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
@Crucial said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
Good to see that Quinny has the internet at his resthome.
Wonder what he thought of the pink boots.
Seriously, though, is that a droppable offence ? So many players put the ball down one handed - if you're going to be strict, have consequences for the process not the outcome.
Who knows these days. Old timers who remember that XV really only played unless you broke your leg and had to be carried off, like to think that it’s still like that and therefore if you weren’t selected it meant punishment and demotion.
Now squads and teams are rotated so much that it’s all a bit “we really wanted to see player X” or “player Y has trained the house down this week” or better yet they make up some injury...
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@ACT-Crusader fewer tests, though, and midweek games to blood new players. Hansen and Henry both talked about it - basically you have to win, and develop talent.
WE seem quite short on world class players right now. Two of our best weren't even in the 23 (Beaudie and Brodie)
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@nzzp said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
@Crucial said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
Good to see that Quinny has the internet at his resthome.
Wonder what he thought of the pink boots.
Seriously, though, is that a droppable offence? So many players put the ball down one handed - if you're going to be strict, have consequences for the process not the outcome.
the more think about its not really for one hand for me, as you say lots one hand it....its how he does it, others palm it...so actually kept hold of it...he wraps his hand around the front so he can slam it down as he dives...or in this case loose control
i get the idea of diving even when not being tackled if the ball is tucked under the arm...its the safe play if you think you might drop it just dotting it down...the dot down and dive is pure showing off..and it cost us
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@nzzp said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
Question for the thread in general: is the decline in AB quality linked to Wayne Smith stepping down at the end of 2017? 2018 onwards hasn't been great... seems to have been a steady decline in quality.
no. we just don't have the players any more. Our talent levels have dropped well away.
We were stupidly blessed for a long time, the quality of player we had, all at the same time, across the park, was quite fucking ridiculous.
What you see now are a group of players who are no better talent-wise than their opposition, so the margins become much much finer.
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@mariner4life said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
no. we just don't have the players any more. Our talent levels have dropped well away.
dunno if I agree with that.
Talent is there, but I am not sure the elite level coaching is upto it, and agree with @nzzp which you can probably tie some of the drop off with the lack of involvement of Smith, who was very technical.
I think the last 18-24 months, we just dont look as well coached.
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@taniwharugby said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
@mariner4life said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
no. we just don't have the players any more. Our talent levels have dropped well away.
dunno if I agree with that.
Talent is there, but I am not sure the elite level coaching is upto it, and agree with @nzzp which you can probably tie some of the drop off with the lack of involvement of Smith, who was very technical.
I think the last 18-24 months, we just dont look as well coached.
of course the talent is there, but there isn't a margin to the other side, i think it's pretty even. Which means coaching comes in to it. And that has been stale for ages.
But think back to the golden days, how often would a tight game change on the back of something outrageous from one of our champs? A big piece of play by Retallic etc. A Kaino hit. A Read carry and offload, Dan's drop goal. Ma'a beating 3 guys and chucking a 20m pass? Ben From Accounts suddenly beating 4 guys down the short side? Coaching is way easier when you just have to wait for the extraordinary talent to do something
Yesterday's game plan looked exactly like that, but who exactly was the guy that was going to pull it off? I don't see too many.
And that's fine, that is what test rugby is. But the coaching is now way more important than it was up until 2017.
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