Japan v All Blacks

[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.

[KiwiMurph]

@Tim said in Japan v All Blacks:

We are not challenging at the ruck.

Might be wary of this ref