All Blacks vs Pumas I
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@kiwipie either lost some pace or lost his confidence in his pace, just seemed really cautious about actually taking the ball to the line
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@frank said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
The Akira, Papalii, Jacobson loose forward combination is savage as fuck.
If you were simply judging the loose forwards as a unit this one must tick just about all the boxes. And remember they are very inexperienced at the top level and can only get better. I agree that Cane and Ardie are better players but I wonder if the mix isn't as good when we add them. A good problem to have.
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Was awesome to see Beauden have such a good game to give Mo'unga some competition and keep him honest. But please, one starts and one on the bench. Because 1) they both want to control the game so conflict with each other in a "duel playmaker" role, and 2) either one of them will be fucking lethal off the bench against tiring defenses.
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@chris-b 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):
@hooroo Whitelock too, Moody, Taylor to the starting line up, then you add Coles, Clarke and Goodhue into the mix and things start to look even better.
You can make a decent case that this would be first choice starting XV if everyone was fit:
Moody, Taylor, Tuúngafasi, Whitelock, Retallick, Ioane, Cane, Savea, Smith, Mo'unga, Ioane, Lienert-Brown, Goodhue, Jordan, McKenzie.
Not quite what I would pick and probably not quite what Fozzie would pick - tighthead, midfield mix and fullback are question marks. But, only three of last nights starters and Rieko out of position.
I think ALB’s 2nd 5 starting days in black are over, other than in an emergency.
I think if all are fit I’d have
Moody, Taylor, Tuúngafasi, Whitelock, Retallick, Ioane, Cane, Savea, Smith, Mo'unga, Ioane, Havili, Lienert-Brown, Reece, J. Barrett
Coles
Tu'inukuafe
Laulala
S. Barrett
Papali’i / Jacobsen - either or really as both would equally serve what we need in terms of options
Perenara
B. Barrett
Jordan -
ACT Crusaderreplied to KiwiPie on 13 Sept 2021, 01:34 last edited by ACT Crusader 14 Sept 2021, 07:55
@kiwipie said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
The Argentina defence really was excellent. Given how easily the Aussies gave up tries after just one missed tackle, the ABs really had to work hard to get over the line and the Argies really never seemed to be outnumbered even after multiple phases.
It was telling when some of our players went searching for a gap - Havili running across players or Ioane running a drift line - instead of being more direct. More often than not the Argies were right there ready.
Was a good contrast to how the Aussies defended. On the other hand Argies attack didn’t offer our defence anything like what that the Aussies did.
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@act-crusader Be interesting to see what they do when Goodhue becomes available again, because we'll have three centres and one second-five. IMO ALB is a much better option at 2nd five than Goodhue - I've got no idea what Foster was thinking when he switched them in 2020 (from his 2019 pairing).
Reece starting? He's not even the best right wing for his NPC team!
(That's a Waugh brothers joke).
Jordan starting at 14 for me. Probably Sevu on the bench.
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i like goodhue...but not how he was used last year at 12, just running crash ball after crash ball. Sure, sometimes a good move to draw in more defenders and make space, but we just didn;t see him mix it up and distribute much
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Our secret sauce at the moment might be the close competition in the squad for places in the starting 15.
Fullback - Jordie really wanting to outdo Dmac
Wingers - Reiko really wanting a spot because ALB gets center if fit and Jordan and Reece competing for the other spot.
First-five - Beaudy knowing Richie Mounga is coming back.
Halfback - Weber and TJP competing for the starting role
Loose forwards - too much quality, so few places.
Hooker - surplus of riches now with Aumua and Samsoni
Prop - Nepo and Karl T have upped their around the field game with Moody and Ofa coming back.Good times and perhaps a pat on the back to Fozzie for creating squad competition.
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@kiwiwomble Goodhue is a very classy centre, but a pretty ordinary 2nd five.
Crusaders being forced to shift Havili from fullback might be the making of both of their test careers.
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ACT Crusaderreplied to Chris B. on 13 Sept 2021, 02:34 last edited by ACT Crusader 13 Sept 2021, 02:35
@chris-b your obsession with height is showing through with your preference for Jordan over Reece 😉
I think Reece’s work rate and some of the other stuff, pick and go etc is pretty invaluable as a starter. Jordan has that finishers touch which is good as impact
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@act-crusader What's that boxing analogy about a good big man vs a good little man.
Wait and see. I think Jordan is going to end up a very special player.
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@kiwiwomble think they were hoping he'd run like Laumape but have his brain for the rest of his game.
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I'm just happy we have competition in the squad. It's funny how the team just seems better with a rock at 6. I think BBBR coming back and the loose forwards humming has made a big difference. Our big boys up front all seem very fit as well. The forward platform has given the backs much better ball and it's good to see them getting plenty of touches.
I also think BB is better off the bench or starting, he and Mounga just doesn't work, I sense BB has the shits being second fiddle at the back. I also think JB is starting to string together some good performances, the fact he didn't fight with RI over the grounding of the ball shows he might just be maturing into the talent we have all hoped for.
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@machpants said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Yeah Vai’i and DMac really were not much impact off the bench. I’d rate them lowest of all the 23, with Nepo gaining the third ‘bottom 3’ spot due to his FOUR penalties given.
Wasn't it five?
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nostrildamusreplied to Machpants on 13 Sept 2021, 06:30 last edited by nostrildamus 13 Sept 2021, 06:32
@machpants oh crap was it 4? That must be going for some form of recent AB record...edit: 5?!!
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@machpants oh crap was it 4? That must be going for some form of recent AB record...edit: 5?!!
ESPN had 4, could've been more
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@bones said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@NTA @Machpants hopefully with Hansen gone, the powder isn't labelled "drop the best defender for an extra lineout option and then lose lineouts"
Code name ‘cunning plan’.
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@machpants think there were at least 2 scrum pens, an offside or two and something else? With potential for more offsides...
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@nostrildamus said in Wallabies vs Springboks I:
Hope George is ready.
I google George Bridge Highlights. This was the first hit on Google. 15 tries, take a look ... of them, I reckon he had to actually 'do' something in 3-4 or so; the rest were catch and run straight. Someone should do a summary if they're bored... but it supports the narrative of a solid but unspectacular winger
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Finally got a chance to watch the game. Based on this forum, I was expecting Bridge to have had a 'mare. In fact he was fine, one knock on in the 79 minute excepted. Too many people stroking each other off over bridge "say it louder baby, bridge is hopeless, that's right give me that upvote". Will never be an AB great, but he is hardly in the basket case category either.
ABs are waaaay better this season. Starts with selection, which is much better than last year. Forwards more direct. I think the ABs should ditch Coles who is now 34, 36 in 2023. The 2 hookers both had very solid games. I think the best AB loose trio would be Ioane, Cane and Jacobson, with Savea on the bench. Jacobson is a really class player.
BB, RI and BBBR were probably my 3 top players, but no-one disgraced themselves. There is great depth, if we have a weakness I'd say lock: Barrett is already a step down, I really don't rate PT at international level. The sprinbok and NH tests will be a good litmus test - teams that thrive on 10 man rugby and would be more than happy to claim an AB scalp playing that way.
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@billy-tell said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Finally got a chance to watch the game. Based on this forum, I was expecting Bridge to have had a 'mare. In fact he was fine, one knock on in the 79 minute excepted. Too many people stroking each other off over bridge "say it louder baby, bridge is hopeless, that's right give me that upvote". Will never be an AB great, but he is hardly in the basket case category either.
ABs are waaaay better this season. Starts with selection, which is much better than last year. Forwards more direct. I think the ABs should ditch Coles who is now 34, 36 in 2023. The 2 hookers both had very solid games. I think the best AB loose trio would be Ioane, Cane and Jacobson, with Savea on the bench. Jacobson is a really class player.
BB, RI and BBBR were probably my 3 top players, but no-one disgraced themselves. There is great depth, if we have a weakness I'd say lock: Barrett is already a step down, I really don't rate PT at international level. The sprinbok and NH tests will be a good litmus test - teams that thrive on 10 man rugby and would be more than happy to claim an AB scalp playing that way.
Like Mealamu in 2015? Nah, if you’re good enough you’re not too old.
About Bridge, he wasn’t pointed out as crap. Just having been totally nothing as a winger. ABs wingers are X factor awesome, or amazing 2nd fullbacks (more recently) Bridge is meh. He is fine, but there are better options to go for long term. Everything about him says Journeyman, break out in case of emergency
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@machpants said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Journeyman, break out in case of emergency
As I said in my post about his tries for teh Crusaders, solid but unspectacular
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@machpants Bridge made Planet Rugby's team of the week. The other teams left wingers must have been be good this week! -
11 George Bridge (New Zealand): The All Black wing spots are in rude health at the moment but Crusaders finisher Bridge is never too far away from being in pole position for the number 11 shirt. A hard-working, quick, skillful and deceptively powerful player, he was his usual busy self on Sunday as he made his team’s second most metres (114). All he can do when given starts is keep producing performance like this and he rarely dips in form. A quality wing. -
@daffy-jaffy said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@machpants Bridge made Planet Rugby's team of the week. The other teams left wingers must have been be good this week! -
11 George Bridge (New Zealand): The All Black wing spots are in rude health at the moment but Crusaders finisher Bridge is never too far away from being in pole position for the number 11 shirt. A hard-working, quick, skillful and deceptively powerful player, he was his usual busy self on Sunday as he made his team’s second most metres (114). All he can do when given starts is keep producing performance like this and he rarely dips in form. A quality wing.Planet Rugby? Thanks for proving my point
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@daffy-jaffy said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@machpants Bridge made Planet Rugby's team of the week. The other teams left wingers must have been be good this week! -
11 George Bridge (New Zealand): The All Black wing spots are in rude health at the moment but Crusaders finisher Bridge is never too far away from being in pole position for the number 11 shirt. A hard-working, quick, skillful and deceptively powerful player, he was his usual busy self on Sunday as he made his team’s second most metres (114). All he can do when given starts is keep producing performance like this and he rarely dips in form. A quality wing.Someone's discovered sarcasm.
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Crucialreplied to Old Samurai Jack on 14 Sept 2021, 02:30 last edited by Crucial 14 Sept 2021, 02:31
@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Jeez, this anti-Bridge narrative is really out of hand on here. Mere mention of his name and you get:
He's an enigma wrapped in a mystery is George.
Someone who can make the second most running metres yet fail to beat a defender deserves a position created just for them.
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@machpants said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@billy-tell said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Finally got a chance to watch the game. Based on this forum, I was expecting Bridge to have had a 'mare. In fact he was fine, one knock on in the 79 minute excepted. Too many people stroking each other off over bridge "say it louder baby, bridge is hopeless, that's right give me that upvote". Will never be an AB great, but he is hardly in the basket case category either.
ABs are waaaay better this season. Starts with selection, which is much better than last year. Forwards more direct. I think the ABs should ditch Coles who is now 34, 36 in 2023. The 2 hookers both had very solid games. I think the best AB loose trio would be Ioane, Cane and Jacobson, with Savea on the bench. Jacobson is a really class player.
BB, RI and BBBR were probably my 3 top players, but no-one disgraced themselves. There is great depth, if we have a weakness I'd say lock: Barrett is already a step down, I really don't rate PT at international level. The sprinbok and NH tests will be a good litmus test - teams that thrive on 10 man rugby and would be more than happy to claim an AB scalp playing that way.
Like Mealamu in 2015? Nah, if you’re good enough you’re not too old.
About Bridge, he wasn’t pointed out as crap. Just having been totally nothing as a winger. ABs wingers are X factor awesome, or amazing 2nd fullbacks (more recently) Bridge is meh. He is fine, but there are better options to go for long term. Everything about him says Journeyman, break out in case of emergency
I gave you an upvote.
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@old-samurai-jack said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Jeez, this anti-Bridge narrative is really out of hand on here. Mere mention of his name and you get:
Seems to be the other way around. Any criticsm of his fuckups and really subpar performances and Crusaders fans come leaping out of the woodwork to defend him.
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To be honest, I thought his carrying was really impressive on Sunday. Hence why I will be intrigued to see what else he starts to add to that and if it's part of a programme of progression.
He was hitting bodies pretty fucken hard.
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@bones said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
To be honest, I thought his carrying was really impressive on Sunday. Hence why I will be intrigued to see what else he starts to add to that and if it's part of a programme of progression.
He was hitting bodies pretty fucken hard.
This, there are without doubt several better options for the 11 jersey...but by god i get tired of hearing about how shit he is
Why the game plan was for him to hit it up like he was built like lomu i'll never know, he gave it a go though, several times
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@kiwiwomble his option taking was dire, but if a player is doing one thing time and again, in some cases to the detriment of the team and he isn't under instruction to do just that, then I'm sure he'll get dropped pretty swiftly.
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@nzzp said in Wallabies vs Springboks I:
@nostrildamus said in Wallabies vs Springboks I:
Hope George is ready.
I google George Bridge Highlights. This was the first hit on Google. 15 tries, take a look ... of them, I reckon he had to actually 'do' something in 3-4 or so; the rest were catch and run straight. Someone should do a summary if they're bored... but it supports the narrative of a solid but unspectacular winger
Wouldn't Jordan's be pretty similar?
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@bones his hit ups looked like the normal blind side wing short ball hit up, felt like it was the game plan rather than him going rouge
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@bones said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@kiwiwomble his option taking was dire, but if a player is doing one thing time and again, in some cases to the detriment of the team and he isn't under instruction to do just that, then I'm sure he'll get dropped pretty swiftly.
In fairness to him it did seem like there as a general instruction to take the contact when in those situations out wide where the opposition has cover in place. He actually did this well, gaining extra metres and time for his support players on multiple occasions. What was unforgivable was his failure to score or pass to his support when he got held up and bundles out in the corner. That was just awful all round.
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@bones said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
To be honest, I thought his carrying was really impressive on Sunday. Hence why I will be intrigued to see what else he starts to add to that and if it's part of a programme of progression.
He was hitting bodies pretty fucken hard.
He'd make a good league player eh?
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Seems to be the other way around. Any criticsm of his fuckups and really subpar performances and Crusaders fans come leaping out of the woodwork to defend him.
I’ve come up against that. Mentioned one time that I hoped Ethan Blackadder was not a plodder like his dad and it was an irrepressible wave of hate comments. Even tried to badgering me on messenger.
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@bones said in Wallabies vs Springboks I:
@nzzp said in Wallabies vs Springboks I:
@nostrildamus said in Wallabies vs Springboks I:
Hope George is ready.
I google George Bridge Highlights. This was the first hit on Google. 15 tries, take a look ... of them, I reckon he had to actually 'do' something in 3-4 or so; the rest were catch and run straight. Someone should do a summary if they're bored... but it supports the narrative of a solid but unspectacular winger
Wouldn't Jordan's be pretty similar?
Not so much
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