All Blacks 2023
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2023:
https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/samisoni-taukeiaho-inks-2027-contract-extension
With De Groot and Lomax signing on, that essentially locks down the All Blacks starting front row for the next wee while.
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“I just think he's earned that. I think he's the form first-five at the moment and has been all year, for me. Okay, Damian has been pretty good as well but I think we have to go for an outright first-five with the World Cup. “But in saying that I would also like to also have D-Mac there, on the pitch as well, as my second No 10 but playing at fullback. We can set up a double-sided attack with those two either side.” “He's (Mo'unga) more of a threat,” Spencer added. “Beauden to me at the moment looks hesitant. He is lacking a little bit of confidence. “It looks like to me he doesn't want to take contact, so he is not taking the ball to the line. I can't remember one instance last night (when the Blues played the Rebels) where he actually took the ball to the line and got tackled or made contact with a defender -
yeah no shit Carlos, it's pretty clear he's the best 10 option
the problem we have is, it's pretty clear he's the best 10 option
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@mariner4life to me DMac is the best 10 option. At least Carlos has some interesting takes instead of the usual rubbish on the Breakdown.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life to me DMac is the best 10 option. At least Carlos has some interesting takes instead of the usual rubbish on the Breakdown.
IMO DMac brings the same set of problems to test match rugby that Mo'unga does. That's the fucking problem. DMac maybe a better field kicker (certainly was last time they played each other) but there's fuck all in it. The main difference i see is that DMac isn't afraid to run in the tight channels.
I wouldn't start him at 15 either.
I wouldn't pick BB at all.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2023:
Carlos also wants Barrett and DMac in the 23, the latter starting at fullback.
fucking yuck.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life to me DMac is the best 10 option. At least Carlos has some interesting takes instead of the usual rubbish on the Breakdown.
IMO DMac brings the same set of problems to test match rugby that Mo'unga does. That's the fucking problem. DMac maybe a better field kicker (certainly was last time they played each other) but there's fuck all in it. The main difference i see is that DMac isn't afraid to run in the tight channels.
I wouldn't start him at 15 either.
I wouldn't pick BB at all.
Agreed on BB, his form over the last couple years doesn't warrant selection in that 23.
If I was the coach right now and the WC was tomorrow, I would be picking Stevenson at fullback (with Jordan absent) and DMac at 10. They've clearly been the best in those positions this year. I also feel like McKenzie's stint away from NZ has made him far less erratic in his decision making.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life to me DMac is the best 10 option. At least Carlos has some interesting takes instead of the usual rubbish on the Breakdown.
IMO DMac brings the same set of problems to test match rugby that Mo'unga does. That's the fucking problem. DMac maybe a better field kicker (certainly was last time they played each other) but there's fuck all in it. The main difference i see is that DMac isn't afraid to run in the tight channels.
I wouldn't start him at 15 either.
I wouldn't pick BB at all.
I agree.
I rate Dmac but I’d like him to be introduced to the starting role next year, and fight Barrett for the reserve spot this year (this shouldn’t be a competition, Barrett would be lucky to make the squad right now).
My issue with putting Dmac there now is he will make some horrible fuckups. It’s a different level and he will make errors. That will start the same debate with different actors. If the selectors won’t commit to him, they should wait.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2023:
Carlos also wants Barrett and DMac in the 23, the latter starting at fullback.
And there every chance they will be, as Carlos says they will need some experience when things get tight. See I'm one that doesn't see Jordan as an option at 15, mainly because the last test I saw him play, (on wing I know) he had no interest in taking high balls, and that worries the f*** out of me at test level. But almost guarantee that RMo, DMac and BB will go to WC, in whatever position or whatever I not sure though at this satge of season I think RMo is starting 10, and I say that thinking that from what I have seen we will not be running a 10 who will be in top 2-3 in world.
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2023:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2023:
Carlos also wants Barrett and DMac in the 23, the latter starting at fullback.
And there every chance they will be, as Carlos says they will need some experience when things get tight. See I'm one that doesn't see Jordan as an option at 15, mainly because the last test I saw him play, (on wing I know) he had no interest in taking high balls, and that worries the f* out of me at test level**. But almost guarantee that RMo, DMac and BB will go to WC, in whatever position or whatever I not sure though at this satge of season I think RMo is starting 10, and I say that thinking that from what I have seen we will not be running a 10 who will be in top 2-3 in world.
What are you talking about? Avoiding high balls? BS! He could have been more accurate in some instances for sure but avoiding high balls? Nope.
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@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks 2023:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2023:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2023:
Carlos also wants Barrett and DMac in the 23, the latter starting at fullback.
And there every chance they will be, as Carlos says they will need some experience when things get tight. See I'm one that doesn't see Jordan as an option at 15, mainly because the last test I saw him play, (on wing I know) he had no interest in taking high balls, and that worries the f* out of me at test level**. But almost guarantee that RMo, DMac and BB will go to WC, in whatever position or whatever I not sure though at this satge of season I think RMo is starting 10, and I say that thinking that from what I have seen we will not be running a 10 who will be in top 2-3 in world.
What are you talking about? Avoiding high balls? BS! He could have been more accurate in some instances for sure but avoiding high balls? Nope.
Mate I only saying the last time I saw him in a test match, was at Wellington against Ireland, and he looked to have no interest at all, he scored one great try, but almost seemed not interested for the other 79.5 minutes of game. I actually wondered if he was injured,, I a Jordan fan, but had to agree with fella behind me who noticed it too. I must admit I haven't rewatched game on tv to see if anything stood out there, but at game I was buggered if I know what seemed to be wrong. As I said I like the bugger as a player, but think he more suited to wing. I also think we forget how highly all the coaches and players seem to regard players in 15 who can call the shots and let 10 know whats they see in gaps etc.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life to me DMac is the best 10 option. At least Carlos has some interesting takes instead of the usual rubbish on the Breakdown.
IMO DMac brings the same set of problems to test match rugby that Mo'unga does. That's the fucking problem. DMac maybe a better field kicker (certainly was last time they played each other) but there's fuck all in it. The main difference i see is that DMac isn't afraid to run in the tight channels.
I wouldn't start him at 15 either.
I wouldn't pick BB at all.
Agreed on BB, his form over the last couple years doesn't warrant selection in that 23.
If I was the coach right now and the WC was tomorrow, I would be picking Stevenson at fullback (with Jordan absent) and DMac at 10. They've clearly been the best in those positions this year. I also feel like McKenzie's stint away from NZ has made him far less erratic in his decision making.
I was a tad concerned the way Stevenson didn't involve himself much in the game against the Blues. Maybe play just didn't go his way and it wasn't his fault, but it's hard to shake a reputation. I don't think he can afford too many more big games like that.
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@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2023:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life to me DMac is the best 10 option. At least Carlos has some interesting takes instead of the usual rubbish on the Breakdown.
IMO DMac brings the same set of problems to test match rugby that Mo'unga does. That's the fucking problem. DMac maybe a better field kicker (certainly was last time they played each other) but there's fuck all in it. The main difference i see is that DMac isn't afraid to run in the tight channels.
I wouldn't start him at 15 either.
I wouldn't pick BB at all.
Agreed on BB, his form over the last couple years doesn't warrant selection in that 23.
If I was the coach right now and the WC was tomorrow, I would be picking Stevenson at fullback (with Jordan absent) and DMac at 10. They've clearly been the best in those positions this year. I also feel like McKenzie's stint away from NZ has made him far less erratic in his decision making.
I was a tad concerned the way Stevenson didn't involve himself much in the game against the Blues. Maybe play just didn't go his way and it wasn't his fault, but it's hard to shake a reputation. I don't think he can afford too many more big games like that.
which would be an absolutely valid comment if he was trying to force his way past a star who was owning the spot
but to rule a guy out on a quiet game means you are happy to go back to the guy playing ordinary football just because you know him. And unfortunately for NZ rugby, i have a sneaky suspicion that this is actually how our selectors think.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2023:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life to me DMac is the best 10 option. At least Carlos has some interesting takes instead of the usual rubbish on the Breakdown.
IMO DMac brings the same set of problems to test match rugby that Mo'unga does. That's the fucking problem. DMac maybe a better field kicker (certainly was last time they played each other) but there's fuck all in it. The main difference i see is that DMac isn't afraid to run in the tight channels.
I wouldn't start him at 15 either.
I wouldn't pick BB at all.
Agreed on BB, his form over the last couple years doesn't warrant selection in that 23.
If I was the coach right now and the WC was tomorrow, I would be picking Stevenson at fullback (with Jordan absent) and DMac at 10. They've clearly been the best in those positions this year. I also feel like McKenzie's stint away from NZ has made him far less erratic in his decision making.
I was a tad concerned the way Stevenson didn't involve himself much in the game against the Blues. Maybe play just didn't go his way and it wasn't his fault, but it's hard to shake a reputation. I don't think he can afford too many more big games like that.
which would be an absolutely valid comment if he was trying to force his way past a star who was owning the spot
but to rule a guy out on a quiet game means you are happy to go back to the guy playing ordinary football just because you know him. And unfortunately for NZ rugby, i have a sneaky suspicion that this is actually how our selectors think.
I don't think that game would have ruled him out by any stretch. But I don't think it would have gone unnoticed.
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@Crazy-Horse It was a strange game in that the Blues dominated possession and territory, particularly in the 2nd half (75%), so Stevenson spent that 40 mins mostly defending. He did make the last pass for Narawa's second try in the 1st half, and was involved in denying Papalii a try in the 2nd half.
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@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2023:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life to me DMac is the best 10 option. At least Carlos has some interesting takes instead of the usual rubbish on the Breakdown.
IMO DMac brings the same set of problems to test match rugby that Mo'unga does. That's the fucking problem. DMac maybe a better field kicker (certainly was last time they played each other) but there's fuck all in it. The main difference i see is that DMac isn't afraid to run in the tight channels.
I wouldn't start him at 15 either.
I wouldn't pick BB at all.
Agreed on BB, his form over the last couple years doesn't warrant selection in that 23.
If I was the coach right now and the WC was tomorrow, I would be picking Stevenson at fullback (with Jordan absent) and DMac at 10. They've clearly been the best in those positions this year. I also feel like McKenzie's stint away from NZ has made him far less erratic in his decision making.
I was a tad concerned the way Stevenson didn't involve himself much in the game against the Blues. Maybe play just didn't go his way and it wasn't his fault, but it's hard to shake a reputation. I don't think he can afford too many more big games like that.
which would be an absolutely valid comment if he was trying to force his way past a star who was owning the spot
but to rule a guy out on a quiet game means you are happy to go back to the guy playing ordinary football just because you know him. And unfortunately for NZ rugby, i have a sneaky suspicion that this is actually how our selectors think.
I don't think that game would have ruled him out by any stretch. But I don't think it would have gone unnoticed.
I do tink with Stevenson also will be how word comes back to selectors on his communication skills, which as I said ealier is held in pretty high regard by selectors etc.
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I hope they go with Stevenson, but it would be considered a massive call if history is to go by anything to select a brand new fullback for a RWC campaign. This isn’t the wing (or centre), it’s one of our most critical positions in the way the ABs play.
Do they go back to Mo’unga and DMac starting? They’ve started 7 tests together (3x Oz, Italy USA, Fiji, Tonga) and haven’t lost but the opposition suggests it hasn’t been their thinking in the ‘big’ tests.
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2023:
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks 2023:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2023:
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2023:
Carlos also wants Barrett and DMac in the 23, the latter starting at fullback.
And there every chance they will be, as Carlos says they will need some experience when things get tight. See I'm one that doesn't see Jordan as an option at 15, mainly because the last test I saw him play, (on wing I know) he had no interest in taking high balls, and that worries the f* out of me at test level**. But almost guarantee that RMo, DMac and BB will go to WC, in whatever position or whatever I not sure though at this satge of season I think RMo is starting 10, and I say that thinking that from what I have seen we will not be running a 10 who will be in top 2-3 in world.
What are you talking about? Avoiding high balls? BS! He could have been more accurate in some instances for sure but avoiding high balls? Nope.
Mate I only saying the last time I saw him in a test match, was at Wellington against Ireland, and he looked to have no interest at all, he scored one great try, but almost seemed not interested for the other 79.5 minutes of game. I actually wondered if he was injured,, I a Jordan fan, but had to agree with fella behind me who noticed it too. I must admit I haven't rewatched game on tv to see if anything stood out there, but at game I was buggered if I know what seemed to be wrong. As I said I like the bugger as a player, but think he more suited to wing. I also think we forget how highly all the coaches and players seem to regard players in 15 who can call the shots and let 10 know whats they see in gaps etc.
Do you remember when we played South Africa in 2022 and we dropped a whole heap of defensive high balls?
I told y'all I didn't think Jordan dropped any - except very early he caught one, took two steps and lost the ball in contact. You told me I hadn't watched the game closely enough.
I went back and re-watched - and got interrupted so missed 10minutes or so, but what was evident was Jordie was catching (or dropping) almost everything on the right hand side.
Will was leaving them to Jordie.
Since I haven't noticed Will struggling under the high ball for the Crusaders, I'm inclined to think this is tactical - to have probably our best broken field runner available to receive the pass infield rather than making the pass infield.
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