All Blacks vs Fiji
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It’s pretty much all been said. That was a pretty shit effort by the ABs. Getting outmuscled by the fiji forwards is an embarrassment.
Frizz and Pat T aren’t up to it and never will be. They have had so many chances.
Sotutu hasn’t done anything this year to suggest he should be there either. Poor mans Ardie.
Blackadder was up and down but was at least giving it everything. Not sure starting him at 7 is the best idea though. Really just covers 7.
Backs were fairly quiet. Though Havili did some good things despite a couple of mistakes. His involvement in Bridge’s try was quality. Really hope they try him and ALB together when ALB is back.
Ioane needs to be our 11. He still has the gas and can roam into midfield when required. Such a waste.Good little cameo from Coles. Is that the most tries by an AB substitute ever?
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@gt12 said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@act-crusader said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@steven-harris said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Really enjoyed this contest ,seeing another repeat of last week would have done nothing for anyone..
Fiji really bought it physically showing the benefits of many of their forwards especially playing in France and Europe in general but I suspect being stuck in isolation and lack preparation finally told especially in and around breakdown accuracy and discipline..All Blacks looked better when both Whitelock and Coles were on the field ..but in terms of consistency I thought Ethan Blackadder playing in the unfamiliar jersey was very solid ..biggest disappointments to me where Sotutu,Tuipulotu and Frizzell..Agree on those three. Also thought Taylor lacked accuracy and the starting two props looked lost out there too.
This! Absolutely this. We have to start developing props that can be successful at set piece and contribute around the field.
It was concerning that Laulala found himself out of position in the line on a few occasions. Not sure how many rucks he hit but he didn’t seem to be prominent on that front. An off night for sure.
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@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Lots of Frizzel comments and I agree but Pat T as well. Too many chances, been part of some poor AB losses. The guy has serious mana but we need to move on and get Vaai (sp?) or even Robinson in there. Someone who is all elbows and shoulders.
I'm a big Pat T fan and he deserves huge credit for his leadership at the Blues, but it really hasn't translated at Test level. He's had a couple of great games in Black where he's stepped up the plate, but he's too inconsistent and makes too many errors.
Doesn't need to be flash, just solid and he seems to lack a bit of the latter
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@number9
Hopefully Tamaiti Williams could develop quickly. He is huge and very mobile for a man of his size.
Tu'ungafasi, in spite of his discipline problems, is head and shoulders above the other contenders on the tighthead side of the scrum. -
@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Lots of Frizzel comments and I agree but Pat T as well. Too many chances, been part of some poor AB losses. The guy has serious mana but we need to move on and get Vaai (sp?) or even Robinson in there. Someone who is all elbows and shoulders.
I have doubts about Vaa'i. He was physically dominated by the Blues locks during the SRTT final. He is still very young, though.
Could PPP step up ? He is the only young lock with a frame required at the highest level.
MSR looks to have the necessary mongrel but he is quite lean. -
@chris-b said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
We don't know who our wings are,
That guy who's scored 8 tries in 115 minutes might be worth another go?
Well I know who I like on the wing...
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@kev said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@stargazer said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@kev Last camera angle shows direct contact with the head. Dmac lowering body position is mitigation. I think it should have been a yellow.
My main thing was initial contact was body to body and he didn’t aim high.
Yes there's an argument for Botia's chest contacting McKenzie's shoulder first, and the blond hair suggestions around makes it look worse than it is.
Need the reverse angle.
If it was head on head, at least one player's reaction would have been different. If it was shoulder to head, I don't think McKenzie's getting up that quickly.
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@cgrant said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
MSR looks to have the necessary mongrel but he is quite lean.
Hasn't done shit at Super Rugby level, and is down the order at the Highlanders. Very overrated player in NZ, and is a scumbag criminal. Will never get near the All Blacks.
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@nevorian said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Glad Coles is on. Seems craftier than Taylor.
I reckon he will create a try scoring record
Ha!
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@act-crusader said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@gt12 said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@act-crusader said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@steven-harris said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Really enjoyed this contest ,seeing another repeat of last week would have done nothing for anyone..
Fiji really bought it physically showing the benefits of many of their forwards especially playing in France and Europe in general but I suspect being stuck in isolation and lack preparation finally told especially in and around breakdown accuracy and discipline..All Blacks looked better when both Whitelock and Coles were on the field ..but in terms of consistency I thought Ethan Blackadder playing in the unfamiliar jersey was very solid ..biggest disappointments to me where Sotutu,Tuipulotu and Frizzell..Agree on those three. Also thought Taylor lacked accuracy and the starting two props looked lost out there too.
This! Absolutely this. We have to start developing props that can be successful at set piece and contribute around the field.
It was concerning that Laulala found himself out of position in the line on a few occasions. Not sure how many rucks he hit but he didn’t seem to be prominent on that front. An off night for sure.
Laulala has never been that mobile.
A broken-down tractor at a nightclub has more moves. -
@nta said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@kev said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@stargazer said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@kev Last camera angle shows direct contact with the head. Dmac lowering body position is mitigation. I think it should have been a yellow.
My main thing was initial contact was body to body and he didn’t aim high.
Yes there's an argument for Botia's chest contacting McKenzie's shoulder first, and the blond hair suggestions around makes it look worse than it is.
Need the reverse angle.
If it was head on head, at least one player's reaction would have been different. If it was shoulder to head, I don't think McKenzie's getting up that quickly.
I'd have to see it again but it looked to me that Botia had his arms up as if he was going to tackle but never even tried to actually wrap-the arms were just there for show.
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@cgrant said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Lots of Frizzel comments and I agree but Pat T as well. Too many chances, been part of some poor AB losses. The guy has serious mana but we need to move on and get Vaai (sp?) or even Robinson in there. Someone who is all elbows and shoulders.
I have doubts about Vaa'i. He was physically dominated by the Blues locks during the SRTT final. He is still very young, though.
Could PPP step up ? He is the only young lock with a frame required at the highest level.
MSR looks to have the necessary mongrel but he is quite lean.PPP is a project I reckon.
Vaa'i-well, one of those SRTT final Blues locks doesn't seem that physical at test level. Perhaps it was partly down to GCT? -
@Rancid-Schnitzel James Ryan
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Will give my tuppence before reading the thread.
Firstly, I expect an incredible amount of anti Foster rhetoric. We didn't completely annihilate them equals Foster is useless. Appoint Joseph/Rennie/Robertson/anyone because FDS.
From my point of view:
How good were Fiji?
Big, physical, athletic, fully professional players.
Not a mug amongst them.
Their work at the breakdown in particular was excellent. Something the ABs will need to sort . Can't allow that looseness going forward..
We did enough and stayed ahead.
Difficult to pick POTM contenders out of that.
Thought Fiji 12 (Botia)lucky to escape review for the hit on DMac
More as I think of it
Quite enjoyed
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@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Lots of Frizzel comments and I agree but Pat T as well. Too many chances, been part of some poor AB losses. The guy has serious mana but we need to move on and get Vaai (sp?) or even Robinson in there. Someone who is all elbows and shoulders.
I'm a big Pat T fan and he deserves huge credit for his leadership at the Blues, but it really hasn't translated at Test level. He's had a couple of great games in Black where he's stepped up the plate, but he's too inconsistent and makes too many errors.
Doesn't need to be flash, just solid and he seems to lack a bit of the latter
His best moments in black have always been off the bench and no that role he’s played some important roles in late victories and really asserted himself physically including against big Bok and English packs. That may still be the best use of him at this level
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@tim said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@cgrant said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
MSR looks to have the necessary mongrel but he is quite lean.
Hasn't done shit at Super Rugby level, and is down the order at the Highlanders. Very overrated player in NZ, and is a scumbag criminal. Will never get near the All Blacks.
Sevu Reece has entered the chat
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@tim said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@cgrant said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
MSR looks to have the necessary mongrel but he is quite lean.
Hasn't done shit at Super Rugby level, and is down the order at the Highlanders. Very overrated player in NZ, and is a scumbag criminal. Will never get near the All Blacks.
Just so we're clear I'm not Highlanders biased before I get cute about MSR - I think he should be nowhere near the ABs because of his behaviour off the field.
But, as others point out, All Blacks coaches play fast and loose with the "no dickheads" policy as they please.
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@smudge said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@tim said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@cgrant said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
MSR looks to have the necessary mongrel but he is quite lean.
Hasn't done shit at Super Rugby level, and is down the order at the Highlanders. Very overrated player in NZ, and is a scumbag criminal. Will never get near the All Blacks.
Just so we're clear I'm not Highlanders biased before I get cute about MSR - I think he should be nowhere near the ABs because of his behaviour off the field.
But, as others point out, All Blacks coaches play fast and loose with the "no dickheads" policy as they please.
Yes, that policy only applies when they don't like someone.
