All Blacks XV vs Ireland A
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@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks XV vs Ireland A:
@Chris said in All Blacks XV vs Ireland A:
I did not say a word when Gardner's selection was questioned,But I hoped he would put a performance out there to show he has a massive ticker and is a tough young bugger.
He fell off a bit in the NPC playoffs maybe due to a big work load but he was Canterburys outstanding forward during the RR in the NPC.Maybe he suffered a bit at lock? Played the last couple of games there didn't he?
Yeah You probably are spot on there,he played a bit there due to Darry getting injured.
6 is his spot IMO he also had the most line out steals during the NPC. -
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@Crazy-Horse Me neither! Link Much appreciated.
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@Crazy-Horse Yep, and that YouTube video can be more easily re-watched (and paused) than a stream on Sky Go and similar platforms.
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@Jailbreak7 said in All Blacks XV vs Ireland A:
@chimoaus Yes please. My chips are only with fish.
are you typing this on a halibut?
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I'm way behind you all (thanks for link) near end of first half only but what a great game!
-Ireland A look nowhere near defensive quality of Ireland (but interestingly a lot of this team played against the Māori All Blacks https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ireland-a-braced-for-unofficial-series-decider-against-the-all-black-xv-42117829.html)
-DMac looks better than RM and BB so far (I surprise myself)
-Patrick having a v. good game but I haven't seen much of Dickson?
-MMT looks a good 6/8
-Jacobson doesn't look AB level (too many stupid decisions)
-also Ennor: still has a concentration problem and still stinks up the midfield (from what I could see RTS was good so far in first half?)
-Love looked too small to me at FB, looks more like a 10, but I read here he really comes into the game
-the wingers esp Stevenson are awesomeBut DMac really impresses me, he turned TJP's sloppy passes into magic (TJP's passes do have a plus side: gives me time to put the kettle on) and yeah if TJP can move like a bullet early out of the line in the Irish why can't his passes?
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Shaun Stephenson and Ruben Love showed their class tonight. AJ Lam was very good too but had less opportunities. This back three is really impressive. Stephenson + Lam is superior to Reece + Clarke IMO : better in defense, better under the high ball, great work-rate, deadly finishers.
The loose forwards were outstanding. Jacobson was not brillant but his tackles were aggressive. Gardiner is my man of the match. He was into everything. Reminds me of A. Whetton with his lanky frame. McAllister very good too : pin point LO throws (Codie, take a look !), consistently making the hard yards. Tuipolutu was physical. The Oirish could not compete. TJ was a fourth loose forward and his rush defense fooled the green attack. DMac blew hot and cold with a few odd kicks in play. But his distribution was first class and he kept his head cool even under pressure. Is he better than RM ?
Coaching : superb job done by McDonald and McMillan. With just one week behind them, they made this bunch of players look like a seasoned team. -
@cgrant said in All Blacks XV vs Ireland A:
Shaun Stephenson and Ruben Love showed their class tonight. AJ Lam was very good too but had less opportunities. This back three is really impressive. Stephenson + Lam is superior to Reece + Clarke IMO : better in defense, better under the high ball, great work-rate, deadly finishers.
The loose forwards were outstanding. Jacobson was not brillant but his tackles were aggressive. Gardiner is my man of the match. He was into everything. Reminds me of A. Whetton with his lanky frame. McAllister very good too : pin point LO throws (Codie, take a look !), consistently making the hard yards. Tuipolutu was physical. The Oirish could not compete. TJ was a fourth loose forward and his rush defense fooled the green attack. DMac blew hot and cold with a few odd kicks in play. But his distribution was first class and he kept his head cool even under pressure. Is he better than RM ?
Coaching : superb job done by McDonald and McMillan. With just one week behind them, they made this bunch of players look like a seasoned team.Dmac played behind a good functioning pack that protected him. Despite TJP's slow passing, he had way more time than he'd have in an All Blacks match. RM, BB and Perofeta would all have done great against this pretty weak Irish team.
Dmac definitely had a good game, but the comparison is off. -
@Stargazer TJP's passes weren't just slow, they were terribly inaccurate!
I thought DMac did very very well to keep them in play.On another note could Gardiner be a future 8? He has a nice turn of speed.
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@nostrildamus I don't quite understand why you'd want to move a player who plays well at 6 to no. 8? Just keep him where he's playing well.
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@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV vs Ireland A:
@nostrildamus I don't quite understand why you'd want to move a player who plays well at 6 to no. 8? Just keep him where he's playing well.
I'm always on the lookout for future 8 AB stars. It is a bad habit I have. I blame Zinzan.
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AB XV looked like a well-coached team, forwards playing as a unit, and the defense in-your-face was solid. Sorry, I had to start with that dig at the ABs.
That No. 6 was truely outstanding tonight. What a ticker!
This game highlights for me what teams are up against in the NH. Every tackle analyzed, the ref being swayed by the crowd (that TJP turnover he got pinged for was coaching-video picture perfect), the touch judges giving the home team meters and questionable decisions. I did like how TJP got clarity for players playing his arm then proceeded to do it to the Irish fella all match (the ref couldn't back down from his initial decision). Having said that NZ players do exhibit a stupidity that is beyond explainable at times.
Watch out ABs tonight because the whole environment will be against them. They are going to play very smart! -
@Old-Samurai-Jack sorry do you mean ABs or Wales will play smart? As I haven't noticed that (consistently) from the ABs this year..
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@nostrildamus The ABs are going to have to play smart rugby. The TV coverage team and crowd are going to give Wales the advantage big time.
I thought TJP, DM, and Pat .T showed their experience and coped with the atmosphere well for the AB XV. -
Good to see a team coming out of NPC rugby playing so well. Can’t talk to quality of opposition.
Our NPC is still superb at developing players. No amount of school rugby and super academy squads make up for the broad rugby base it caters for, and the training ground it provides. Various commentators have had a crack at it but the NZRFU Board have kept it going - though I have to wonder if those that work for the Union care that much with the lack of marketing love it gets.
