Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18
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Frizell is big enough, fast enough, but does he seize his opportunities or does he wait for the opposition? Over the last few years I've found the ABs to be too reactive and passive, wait, absorb, then run away once their superior fitness (and handling) starts to shine. Only problem is the other teams can now go 80, are just as skilled and drilled, and if they are more aggressive (Wallabies, Poms), they can overrun the ABs who have no plan B (unless you count bring on BB and hope he gets lucky).
To Foster's credit, I don't see him as relying on Plan B because I did not see Plan A on the weekend.
They need to change 6 to a cunning, hardnosed bastard. And it was clear as daylight when Sotuto charged onto the field that they chose the wrong 8. They need midfielders who are good in their position (Reiko could be, Goodhue was slow but good at 13 so they moved him to 12 where he can be slow and not so good).
They need to choose the best 15. DM is a great sub because no one has a clue what he is going to do (but the unpredictability is more of a liability when he starts). And perhaps they could consider wingers as wingers. Sure they got away with 15 at 11 or 14 in the past but those fullbacks were rather special. Jordie might be faster than he looks (long strides, but, frankly, looks like about as speedy and elusive as an overweight goose) but he didn't seem comfy and hungry at wing. Bridge, Bridge was our Jonah Lomu? In times of trouble, when you need someone to get us over troubled water, well he isn't that Bridge. The opposition must like him though because they kept running at him. At least he is popular. Wonder why.
So I'd count 6, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15 as clearly the wrong selections.
6/15. 40%. What team can paper over those cracks? -
@nostrildamus said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
6/15. 40%. What team can paper over those cracks?
We can! managed to draw with Australia despite them playing pretty well...
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@mariner4life said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
I like the thinking behind the Goodhue/Ioane midfield. I love the idea of pace at 13. Goodhue is supposedly the physical foil at 12. Well, that's my read on the thinking anyway
The problems are, both are learning the position at the same time (basically given a SRA season to get themselves sorted). And the i don't think Goodhue is actually as physical as he looks like he should be. He doesn't exactly whack blokes in tackles, and he doesn't exactly smack in to the line.
I am happy to persist if there is an actual plan there, and there is tangible progress being made.
The problem for us great unwashed is, the coaching staff don't tell us shit. And NZ rugby "journalism" doesn't push them on anything, or make any sort of analysis. So we work off guess work and fuck all else.
I like the concept of the midfield as well , even if Ioane fucked up last week , his running game in those wider midfield channels does create problems for the opposition , im hoping( not saying it will ) it works as well rather than having two one paced midfielders
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@nostrildamus said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
Frizell is big enough, fast enough, but does he seize his opportunities or does he wait for the opposition? Over the last few years I've found the ABs to be too reactive and passive, wait, absorb, then run away once their superior fitness (and handling) starts to shine. Only problem is the other teams can now go 80, are just as skilled and drilled, and if they are more aggressive (Wallabies, Poms), they can overrun the ABs who have no plan B (unless you count bring on BB and hope he gets lucky).
To Foster's credit, I don't see him as relying on Plan B because I did not see Plan A on the weekend.
They need to change 6 to a cunning, hardnosed bastard. And it was clear as daylight when Sotuto charged onto the field that they chose the wrong 8. They need midfielders who are good in their position (Reiko could be, Goodhue was slow but good at 13 so they moved him to 12 where he can be slow and not so good).
They need to choose the best 15. DM is a great sub because no one has a clue what he is going to do (but the unpredictability is more of a liability when he starts). And perhaps they could consider wingers as wingers. Sure they got away with 15 at 11 or 14 in the past but those fullbacks were rather special. Jordie might be faster than he looks (long strides, but, frankly, looks like about as speedy and elusive as an overweight goose) but he didn't seem comfy and hungry at wing. Bridge, Bridge was our Jonah Lomu? In times of trouble, when you need someone to get us over troubled water, well he isn't that Bridge. The opposition must like him though because they kept running at him. At least he is popular. Wonder why.
So I'd count 6, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15 as clearly the wrong selections.
6/15. 40%. What team can paper over those cracks?Holy shit, if you're not a Dad with a line like that well you damn well should be. Brilliant !
Apt too, Bridge is as vanilla as a wing can be. .
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A bit of oil in there
“ The Herald understands young utility back Will Jordan was supposed to be released, along with wing Sevu Reece and prop Tyrel Lomax, to join Ta$man for their Mitre 10 Cup match against Auckland at Eden Park on Saturday.”
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@ACT-Crusader said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
A bit of oil in there
“ The Herald understands young utility back Will Jordan was supposed to be released, along with wing Sevu Reece and prop Tyrel Lomax, to join Ta$man for their Mitre 10 Cup match against Auckland at Eden Park on Saturday.”
Also
"Otago playmaker Josh Ioane was called into camp earlier this week as injury cover but he has since been released, indicating Mo'unga and Barrett have done enough to prove their fitness." -
@ACT-Crusader said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
All Blacks coach Ian Foster may start with Beauden Barrett at fullback, brother Jordie on the right wing and Clarke on the left unless
I thought Beaudy was already out?
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@antipodean said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
@ACT-Crusader said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
All Blacks coach Ian Foster may start with Beauden Barrett at fullback, brother Jordie on the right wing and Clarke on the left unless
I thought Beaudy was already out?
Not at all. He trained by himself instead of with the team one day and then the media ran with it.
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@ACT-Crusader said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
A bit of oil in there
“ The Herald understands young utility back Will Jordan was supposed to be released, along with wing Sevu Reece and prop Tyrel Lomax, to join Ta$man for their Mitre 10 Cup match against Auckland at Eden Park on Saturday.”
So, neither Sevu nor Will is playing on the right wing - which, pretty much ensures Jordie is?
Beauden at fullback (since Josh Ioane is released).
I'd guess George was going to play wing again, with Caleb on the bench - though vice versa also possible. I wonder if Fozzie will tell us?
Leaving the three midfielders to shuffled according to the whims of Fozzie?
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@ACT-Crusader said in Bledisloe Two: Auckland, October 18:
Bad news for Hori, but good news for players who want to see others on the wing.
My ideal backline if all available:
Smith, BB, Clarke, ALB, Boris, Ioane, DMac (or JB to avoid a Canes fans/DMac haters meltdown, the other on the bench, either way there's going to be errors).Rieko has played left and centre so right wing should be doable.
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ouch , usually happens on the negative movement with poor technique or fatigue and the bar drops to one side and you try and correct .
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@KiwiMurph Have to be one of those two, if Sevu is still going to be released to Ta$man.
I reckon we'll now see:
Smith, Mo'unga, Clarke, ALB, Goodhue, Barrett, Barrett
Perenara, Ioane, Jordan - picking another "wing" makes more sense than picking another "fullback".
Bledisloe blow: All Black star's season over after training injury
