All Blacks 2023

[Bones]

@canefan yeah, he was canes mabo eh, he probably woulda gone past Tana as the face of the canes in my head if he'd stayed.

[Winger]

@canefan said in All Blacks 2023:

I'm a big BB fan. But he's never been the same since he moved north just saying....

He was going down hill before he left (since 2017 on. He was brilliant at times in 2015) But never as bad as last WE. Blues (or aging) have been bad for him.

[Kiwiwomble]

@canefan said in All Blacks 2023:

@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2023:

@canefan said in All Blacks 2023:

@Machpants said in All Blacks 2023:

Nick Bishop on the money again, but I think the real question is who should be back up? IN that case DMac at 23 and Beaudy Left Right Out Half

A tale of two 10s: Why Mo'unga is the man to lead the All Blacks

The Crusaders crushed the Blues in Christchurch and in the process underlined the claims of Richie Mo’unga to the NZ No 10 jersey.

You need a free account to read, and watch The Professors excellent video

DMac has shown far better form in SR this year, coupled with a strong showing on tour at the end of last year. BB's play has fallen off a cliff by comparison

dont forget though, he was world player of the year....6 years ago....so there is that

I'm a big BB fan. But he's never been the same since he moved north just saying....

so am i in general....but i do get more judgy when players seem to get treated like they can do no wrong....like we're not watching them and seeing it isn't true, his form has dropped or at least plateaued and yet the AB's still think he's untouchable

[canefan]

@Bones said in All Blacks 2023:

@canefan yeah, he was canes mabo eh, he probably woulda gone past Tana as the face of the canes in my head if he'd stayed.

It's a hard road finding the perfect woman

[Chris B.]

@Machpants said in All Blacks 2023:

Nick Bishop on the money again, but I think the real question is who should be back up? IN that case DMac at 23 and Beaudy Left Right Out Half

A tale of two 10s: Why Mo'unga is the man to lead the All Blacks

The Crusaders crushed the Blues in Christchurch and in the process underlined the claims of Richie Mo’unga to the NZ No 10 jersey.

You need a free account to read, and watch The Professors excellent video

Nice article - because it agrees with me - but, way more analysis on the minutiae of Richie's play.

About the only think Nick Bishop has missed is analysis of the "thumb grip"! (2003 called and wants its joke back!).

[Frank]

The real question at 10 is Mounga or DMac.
BB shouldn't even be in consideration.
He can worry about trying to hold on to the 15 spot vs Jordan.

[Dan54]

@Frank well I always thought that anyway, unless something at training makes them think something different of course.

[Stargazer]

Copied from the "Feed the backs" instagram, because embed doesn't work anymore:

feedthebacks For the stats nerds out there 😏🇳🇿

Stats via @allblacks and @crusadersrugbyteam

For those interested, the lightest ever All Blacks weighed 58.9kg (there were 3 of them: Merv Corner, Harry Nicholls and Alan Reid)

Including these comments:

[Bones]

@Stargazer that's funny after I saw a headline (probably by ruck) talking about how France might select some 140kg player and weirdly mentioned specifically the ABs should watch out.

[Chris B.]

@Machpants I just watched the Smith video - not surprisingly, he's bloody good - knows exactly what he wants and can see instantly what isn't right.

Right at the end, he's talking about letting the ball carrier manipulate the defence and the next receiver holding his line. Which put me in mind of a story Bruce Robertson's brother told at Bruce's funeral where they were playing two-aside rugby with their mates and Bruce's brother cut inside to take a pass. Bruce told him never to do that again because "the space is out there and I will put you in it".

[Chris B.]

@Stargazer Those posts by de Groot and Lomax are classics.

[Bones]

@Chris-B farrrrk I used to hate it when young wingers cut in on me.

[Chris B.]

@Bones Probably a young wing somewhere talking about farking centres who think they can go around one more defender!

I was quite impressed at a school kid already understanding that fundamental.

[KiwiMurph]

@Bones said in All Blacks 2023:

@Chris-B farrrrk I used to hate it when young wingers cut in on me at the school dance.

Fixed.

[Bones]

@KiwiMurph what's a school

[Victor Meldrew]

@Bones said in All Blacks 2023:

And I expect @Victor-Meldrew to goddamn love every second of it if it happens.

1 Reply
Last reply about 8 hours ago

Nah. Different situation - unlike at hooker last year, there's plenty of experienced players at 10 & 15, most in reasonable form. No need for Foster to be conservative, ease a relative newby in and hope form returns.

Give BB a run by all means but if it confirms his SR form (or lack thereof) then for me it's BB on the bench at best.

[Victor Meldrew]

@Frank said in All Blacks 2023:

He can worry about trying to hold on to the 15 spot vs Jordan.

Unless he excels in the one outing he'll inevitably get from Foster, he'll be worrying about his spot in the 23.

[Victor Meldrew]

@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:

Nice article - because it agrees with me - but, way more analysis on the minutiae of Richie's play.

Ritchie's defence is way less revolving door these days too. Clear he's worked hard on that. Now if he could get his kicking up to DMac's standard...

[Victor Meldrew]

@Bones said in All Blacks 2023:

@KiwiMurph what's a school

Collection of fish.

[Bones]

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2023:

Ritchie's defence is way less revolving door these days too

I'm not so convinced, I could be persuaded that he's maybe better at a covering tackle than he used to be, but he's typically 50/50 in the line (just off the eye test)