Springboks v All Blacks I
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Tough on Reece who was one of the few who didn't let themselves down in the Ireland series and I don't get Frizzell on the bench ahead of Sotutu but, apart from that, seems a pretty standard 23. Amazing that Bower seems an automatic choice after so few Tests
Hope Akira continues his progress (don't think he's anywhere near his potential yet) and Havili gets over the yips and has a good game. Oh, and BB not to kick like shit.
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@Bovidae said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
@ACT-Crusader So Havili is only a 12? I still question if he is good enough there at test level against anyone not named Australia.
If you have Reece on the bench you cover wing without having to move Ioane, and can use JB as the backup midfielder if one of them has to go off. QT hasn't played centre much recently.
I would’ve preferred Fainga’anuku on the bench.
Yeah Havili has only been used at 2nd 5 for the ABs. For me he starts or not in the 23. A number of players in this AB squad still proving themselves at this leve and Havili is one of them.
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I've seen a couple of mentions that the AB pack is lightweight in comparison to the Bok pack.
Where is the best place to get official player weights for comparison?
How much taller are the Bok lineout options and lifters in comparison with the AB ones is probably a more important point of difference. I expect SA to put a lot of heat on AB throws. They have 4 very good lineout operators in Etzebeth, de Jager, Kolisi and PSDT.
Will we see the return of the quick throw tactic to keep the Bok heavies moving around?
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@stodders said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
Where is the best place to get official player weights for comparison?
Do you want the one that has Ardie at 6’2 or Ardie at 6’6…
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Scrums are a concern IMO. It should be OK during the first half but I fear for the last 30 minutes. There are generally more scrums in the second half as the play becomes more loose (or scrappier if you prefer). Lomax will have a big challenge against Kitshoff who is one of the best scrummagers in the world, while De Groot is very inexperienced.
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@Mattasaurus said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
@Bones said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
@Mattasaurus said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
Akira and frizzel both bloody frustrating at test level so far..
This is intriguing, so many posters pointing to Ioane not being up to scratch, but I really can't see why. From my hazy recollection, he's had some great tests (which I can't recall many other 6's doing in recent memory) and a small set of average ones (i.e. Frizzell level). He's definitely top of the tree and has shown an ability to perform to a high standard against good opposition, so I'm not sure what people are judging him on here (or expecting).
Which tests was he great in..maybe one. I don't recall the rest..
He's had great moments for sure, but I haven't seen him dominate opposition like I believe he can....particularly in defence.Sincerely hope he has a blinder on Sunday morning.
I recall the last test he played.
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@ACT-Crusader said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
@stodders said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
Where is the best place to get official player weights for comparison?
Do you want the one that has Ardie at 6’2 or Ardie at 6’6…
I'd prefer fact over fiction please ACT
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@stodders said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
@ACT-Crusader said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
@stodders said in Springboks v All Blacks I:
Where is the best place to get official player weights for comparison?
Do you want the one that has Ardie at 6’2 or Ardie at 6’6…
I'd prefer fact over fiction please ACT
Wiki heights and weights aren't bad honestly.
PSDT is really the only big difference at lineout time. He's 2m with long levers up against Ioane at 194cm.
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Foster doesn't give away too much of his cunning plan, does he?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/300654568/all-blacks-coach-ian-foster-well-always-man-up--its-about-playing-smarter -
@TheMojoman I disagree about Akira. I don’t think he’s best off the bench just because we like the idea of him coming out against tired opposition. I think when he starts he gets into the rhythm of the game and seems to look more connected.
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Ball protection needs to be better by the ABs. This is something that I would like to see improve since the Irish series. They've had plenty of time to understand their roles in the attacking patterns.
Cleaners need to be close to the ball carrier to stop the Boks from contesting and generating quick ball. The Boks will look to contest the breakdown to stop ABs from playing their tempo game. ABs showed last year, as did Oz and England , that you can break the Bok defence down with 2-3 quick phases. But you need to be super accurate to do so.
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@Nepia need to mix it up, we are far too predictable.
Too often he stands on the wing redundant when he'd be more useful in closer either carrying or cleaning.
Need to vary our play from that wide pass from Smith, bring some in close, keep the same way for more than 2, but more importantly, hit the ball at fucking pace for fuck sake!
Run some angles, use deception, this is where Sotutu would be great.
Too often we are getting the ball 1 step from static or static and therefore so easy to pick off with a half decent d, and the Irish rush d is probably the best.
Keep it simple, run hard and fast.
