Japan v All Blacks

Bovidae

@Billy-Tell said in Japan v All Blacks:

@Stargazer said in Japan v All Blacks:

Not sure whether this has already been posted:

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistant Referee 1: Jordan Way (RA)
Assistant Referee 2: Graham Cooper (RA)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

This is the same Georgian referee who officiated the ABs first test v Argentina.

Nika? I’m sniffing a Georgian with Japanese heritage there. Very suss.

WR seems determined to turn this guy into a ref. A pet project.

Is he Irish or South African next week?

Joans Town Jones

@Victor-Meldrew said in Japan v All Blacks:

@Joans-Town-Jones said in Japan v All Blacks:

@sparky said in Japan v All Blacks:

@MN5 said in Japan v All Blacks:

@antipodean said in Japan v All Blacks:

@taniwharugby said in Japan v All Blacks:

30 mins after an AB team naming and only 5 posts about it...

Better side than I thought they'd name, the mid-field has potential, both ways!

We're going to leave a lot of points out there with Ennor as centre. I don't know why they persist with him there - he isn't a centre.

For someone who’s not a centre he’s started there a lot at test level. 100% of the time if I’m not mistaken.

Ennor was dreadful at Centre against Italy last year.

And 1-12, 14-15 were any better? It wasn't until DC came on we actually played some footy.

Edit: DC started I see but the team was complete shit not helped by a ref who turned his arse cheeks to the ABs.

The first 30 minutes or so were scrappy as you would expect with so many new players. But we won 47-9 - which is about the average points spread against Italy since we started playing them. So hardly a "compete shit" performance, esp. since Foster was giving plenty of rookies like Lord, Vaa'i, QT, De Groot & Lomax starts. It was Christie who really excelled in that match.

I wouldn't be surprised to see something similar against Japan. I'm happy with that if it gives the new guys experience and an opportunity for the likes of Sotutu to build combinations.

PS: Did you know that Foster's AB's broke the world record for the most Test tries and points scored in a calendar year in that match?

It was nothing less than rancid.

Damo

We should be fine but I have had a nagging feeling in the back of my mind all day that we are walking into an ambush with a makeshift team.

Old Samurai Jack

@Damo And 65,000 fans in a big stadium. If it is a headless chook, classic Foster performance by the Blacks, it could be a long night.

Damo

Japan just off a 3 match series against Australia A. I get that not all of them were playing but I can't help but feel this could be a cock up from us.

I just hope we are on our game.

canefan

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Japan v All Blacks:

@Damo And 65,000 fans in a big stadium. If it is a headless chook, classic Foster performance by the Blacks, it could be a long night.

A couple of cards by the crazy Georgian would make things more interesting

Damo

Samisoni in for Dane Coles. That makes me feel a bit better TBH.

Machpants

Dalton must've lost a bet

Stargazer

For who didn't hear the commentary:

Coles out (injured his calf again during warm-up), Taukei’aho starting, Taylor on the bench.

Stargazer

@Machpants During NPC he had coloured his hair pink for that pink sock game. So I assume this was an attempt to get his normal hair colour back.

Damo

Japan not really challenging at the breakdown.

Machpants

God our kicking is shit

kiwiinmelb

@Machpants said in Japan v All Blacks:

Good our kicking is shit

Aimless

kiwiinmelb

Great tackle by Richie

Tim

Where the hell was our kick chase? Great tackle Mo'unga.

KiwiMurph

Two hands at the lineout Tupou

SouthernMann

Loving this from Japan. Hope they give this a real shake.

Tim

We are not challenging at the ruck.

KiwiMurph

Good kick Ennor

Machpants

Very much a foster game plan so far. No depth, shit short kicks everywhere.

The Silver Fern

Japan v All Blacks