All Blacks vs Pumas I
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Quoting Planetrugby here:
"One small statistic from the match is quite remarkable – in 80 minutes New Zealand made more passes in centres (63) than either the Lions or South Africa managed in three Tests earlier this year."
That Lions series was serious shithouse watching
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Try highlights with the Oz commentary -
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I just rewatched the game ... brief thoughts ... not commenting on everyone! But -
The AB backrow were again very very good as a unit - they play very zonal on attack, were tighter on defense. Analysing them as traditional 6/7/8 roles is to miss why it's starting to click imo.
Papilli is being asked to play VERY centrally both on attack and defense. Think 6/7 and he's strong on defense ... not quite as strong as Kaino as a traditional 6 or quite as strong as Cane on "cut-you-in-half" tackles. Less tackling in this game as the AB's were dominant but very all rounded.
Jacobson and Akira obviously wider in attack. Tonnes to like but for me Akira plus Jacobson means four genuine lineout options. Jacobson was excellent and grew into the game, tries aside I think he can add more than Ardie but needs a run of games.
Akira was strong on the carry but (very!) well marked by Argentina as a threat.
I want to see the backrow tested defensively (workrate + accuracy) in a serious dog-fight though especially Akira, they are relative novices internationally.
BBBR is ridiculous, period. Like a combo world-level lock, plus the athleticsm and engine of a loosie plus the hands of a back, goes 80 minutes. You stop watching him because you take it for granted but he's crazy good.
Havillii adds so much at 12. He has that knack of breaking the first tackle like Ben Smith plus a kicking game that means when the 10 is pressured, he seems to consistently makes a good playmaking call as second five-eighth i.e. not "simply" an inside centre.
McKenzie isn't close to RM or BB at 10 but was paired with an inexperienced 12 in QT ... needs to be more direct. Apart from BB's brilliant moments he was VERY direct to take the line on today. More of that from all the AB's 10s please.
Jordie Barrett looked a really good traditional full-back on both attack (hits the line hard, runs straight, threat on the cross-kick) and can hit hard on defense. I wonder if his boot can be used more tactically aka I miss Israel Dagg's ability to kick anything back with +10 metres which was under appreciated at the time.
To the AB coaches: persist with this structure and core roles and f*ck off with too clever second-playmaker options from 15. With Aaron Smith back you have playmakers from 9, 10 and 12 ... how many do you need??
Lots to like today, almost everyone was "industrious" as a minimum.
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@broughie said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@bones In all fairness he has played pretty well in past games so I’d give him a pass. Who would you want instead? He’s still young and I don’t think he is a liability and I would not say he is anymore inconsistent that PT.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think he's out of his league by any stretch and is of course still only young. He's just a bit "meh" at the moment. Seriously, what are his strengths? Anyone?
Parkinson has huge potential, but concrete feet. Dickson more dynamic, but smallish. Scranton? He's just Barrett lite. Selby-Rickett has baggage and had dropped in form over the season.
Tuipulotu is pretty disappointing - but I'd prefer him off the bench than Va'ai. He's always good for a lineout steal or two, as well as a few bruises for the opposition. Not great when he starts though.
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@bones I think because the game was so defensive it was more of an exercise in tackling for the forwards and we didn’t see Akira with any space like the week before with the Ozzie‘s. So I don’t think he stood out just as Dalton P and others didn’t stand out either. Not that they were not playing well but they were just stuck in the mud so to speak. PT has the potential to offer more off the bench but gosh I wish he took his angry pills more often. Someone needs to fire him up. Maybe threaten his wife and children. Agree about the rest. I’ll have to rewatch is lineout contributions but our hookers couldn’t throw past 2 with success yesterday. They ran well though.
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@tordah said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Quoting Planetrugby here:
"One small statistic from the match is quite remarkable – in 80 minutes New Zealand made more passes in centres (63) than either the Lions or South Africa managed in three Tests earlier this year."
That Lions series was serious shithouse watching
That is an amazing stat
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@tordah said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Quoting Planetrugby here:
"One small statistic from the match is quite remarkable – in 80 minutes New Zealand made more passes in centres (63) than either the Lions or South Africa managed in three Tests earlier this year."
That Lions series was serious shithouse watching
Is that together?
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@bones said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@bones said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Bridge has got to be under clear instruction - apart from the grubber ahead, was there a carry where he didn't just tuck and go for the nearest tackler?
He obviously offers something that Foster & co see and we don't, but I'm buggered if I can spot it
Like kev said, I guess the team at least know what's going to happen when he gets the ball and can set accordingly? He typically doesn't turn it over either.
I dunno. I sense he's a better player than what we have seen from him in Black so far. It's almost as though he's been told to do as little as possible once he's got the ball.
It gets fucking frustrating to see so many opportunities scorned though.
He's probably frustrated as well.
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@victor-meldrew yeah, thought that was kinda the point I was making. Maybe similar to what I thought of Jordan until last week - the frustrating moments just seem so derived that it can't be the player's "instincts".
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@bones said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@victor-meldrew yeah, thought that was kinda the point I was making. Maybe similar to what I thought of Jordan until last week - the frustrating moments just seem so derived that it can't be the player's "instincts".
Never thought I'd say this, but perhaps Foster is a bit cuter than we think and has confidence Bridge will grow into the role Foster obviously sees for him.
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@kirwan said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@machpants I think Havili is def struggling with rhier defence running around like Dmac and limiting options
Yeah, just needs to run straight. Doesn’t help anyone running backwards behind his own players
He did this a lot for the Crusaders too a while back. I remember saying on here I was not convinced about him as a 12 because of his sideways running. Didn't do it as much this year when he played at 12 regularly, so hopefully it's a temporary thing while he gets used to the next step up. .
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@kirwan said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@african-monkey said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@chimoaus Ennor but he's always injured anyway.
Just play him at wing so we can fuck off bridge.
He will bring his own set of frustrations, especially given he has not played much lately.
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@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Got away with it, but that hit was inches away from a card.
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@crazy-horse said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Got away with it, but that hit was inches away from a card.
Jeez dude, best hit of the weekend, perfectly executed, and ‘got away with it’? Glass half empty much?
The other 4 penailties he gave away he didn’t get away with, mind you
