All Blacks 2023
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@Machpants said in All Blacks 2023:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2023:
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2023:
Nice to see it confirmed, still stuck in a defensive time warp
That aged well!
The All Blacks will operate their Venus flytrap, dragging the opposition attack wide with the honey of easy pickings, then the jaws will clap shut at the least sign of weakness at the ruck, and the counter-attack begins. It is a formula devised by ‘The Professor’, Wayne Smith, and it has proved its value and stood the test of time.
Why All Blacks' near-century won't have Ireland or South Africa sweating
The All Blacks' 79-point win over Italy confirmed what New Zealand's main rivals already know.
But the times have moved on, and the ghosts of the three wise men, Sir Graham Henry, Sir Steve Hansen and ‘Smithy’, stand in the dim distance. The spectres of a decade of Kiwi dominance may just be ripe for exorcism.
Yes sure what has Sir Wayne Smith won recently?!!
Aged fine, the ABs themselves said they changed their defence to play Ireland. Exactly as suggested in the article - McLeod basically agreed with Nick Bishop
But the writer said "will operate" and that the times had moved on from Smithy. Not so sure.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
the ex-player and coach in me really wants to know what "defending the ball" is and how it works. Ball watching is a cardinal sin, so what exactly is the focus?
You and me both. I consistently drill into players that if you're watching the ball you're unaware of the man running an angle into space or a soft shoulder you can't see.
One phrase I remember from reading Carwyn James book on coaching (arguably the most influential coach of all time) was: "It's not where the ball is, it's were the ball will or could be"
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2023:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2023:
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
the ex-player and coach in me really wants to know what "defending the ball" is and how it works. Ball watching is a cardinal sin, so what exactly is the focus?
You and me both. I consistently drill into players that if you're watching the ball you're unaware of the man running an angle into space or a soft shoulder you can't see.
One phrase I remember from reading Carwyn James book on coaching (arguably the most influential coach of all time) was: "It's not where the ball is, it's were the ball will or could be"
And then Ardie walked in for a try as Carwyn was still looking in the stands for where the ball's going to land after the dummy.
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@frugby said in All Blacks 2023:
Random Friday afternoon thought, and no idea where to put this.
I think Richie Mo'unga will be the All Blacks first five at the 2027 World Cup.
A real possibility his contract in Japan finishes in 2026 he would be 33 by the time the 2027 WC comes around, not old for a test First Five.
Ritchie has also hinted he would like to come back to the Crusaders for a couple of seasons and Razor rates him of course.
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i really hope he doesnt just walk back into the crusaders/AB's, Id hope over 4 years we have the next our guys coming through, come back and earn it...great? come back and handed it because no one else has stepped up? worrying
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@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2023:
i really hope he doesnt just walk back into the crusaders/AB's, Id hope over 4 years we have the next our guys coming through, come back and earn it...great? come back and handed it because no one else has stepped up? worrying
I don't necessarily think it is as simple as that, but if you look at the current 10s, who will be the ones we are looking at over the next four years, I don't have any great conviction in any of them.
Blues:
Perofeta - Is he a 10? Is he good enough anyway?
Sullivan - Quality potential, but again, is he a 10?
Cashmore - Not seen enough, but unlikely to be that goodChiefs:
McKenzie - Will get first crack, and will in theory be the man in the interim, but how will he go when he loses a yard of pace... massively reliant on it
Ioane - No
Trask - Don't think soHurricanes:
Morgan - No
Cameron - Maybe? Hasn't really done it yet, perhaps next year is his year, but hardly strikes confidence, and isn't actually that youngCrusaders:
Burke - Potential, needs a big Super season, then we will see. Could be a squad option, but doesn't give me the vibe of a top All Black 10
Kemara - The fact the Chiefs didn't really want him might well speak volumes
Reihana - NoHighlanders:
Millar - Similar to Burke, but obviously less proven, and can't stay fit
Faleafaga - Reads the game exceptionally well, and is probably the best running 10 of any of the real up and comers, but his kicking game is massively lackingObviously there are Jacombs and others, but we are talking about a guy to be the All Black first five. Look at the recent All Black 10s, then look at those ones. Think it is entirely possible nobody fills the void, Mo'unga comes back, and has a good Super season, and fairly waltzs back in.
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@frugby ...you might be giving my 2 line post too much credit....i dont know...i would just HOPE that over 3 years we'll develop an international standard 10...because if we done...and he's in japan...then we could be in for a rough few years
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@george33 said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris move on he be finished by then, new guys will come thru as they always do
I don’t see see any now and the u/20 first fives from 2023 are shit.
They better come along soon you don’t want a first or 2nd year rookie leading your WC campaign at first five, it takes experience,as proven in other world cups.
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2023:
the u/20 first fives from 2023 are shit
I assume you see Harry Godfrey only as a fullback then, because he was class when he took over from Kemara at 10. Did Faleagaga even get a shot at 10? All I remember is Kemara disappointing.
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He certainly has a challenge ahead for next year. How well does a super coach go with a less than super bunch of players in some positions - hooker OK, props good, locks porr, loosies always good, nines looking hopeful, tens looking bare, midfield OK, wings and outside backs fine IMO
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If he doesn't fancy DMac then he is going to have to build one from scratch, just like the Three Wise Men did with Dane Coles. Somehow they took a guy in a problem position, and he went from barely Super standard to arguably our greatest hooker.
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@george33 said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris move on he be finished by then, new guys will come thru as they always do
That's my whole point, I don't think any of the current crops look the goods. There has always been an obviously good ABs 10, and generally several of them at that.
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@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2023:
@Chris said in All Blacks 2023:
the u/20 first fives from 2023 are shit
I assume you see Harry Godfrey only as a fullback then, because he was class when he took over from Kemara at 10. Did Faleagaga even get a shot at 10? All I remember is Kemara disappointing.
This is the whole kind of point though, are these guys world class in the making? And even then, they are probably still too young for consideration for the All Blacks.
What it will likely end up coming down to is opportunities, which is what gives Millar and Faleafaga the biggest advantage of the young, young guys, as the Highlanders 10 jersey is open - whether they are top level, I am unsure, but both have some qualities that are likeable, and can be worked in.
Kemara has a massive chance to stake a claim, but if he doesn't get a chance at the start of next season, I think you can safely say, he is years away from being ready, if ever.
As for Godfrey, the big issue for him, is the existence of Love and Moorby. Both locked in at 15, so chances will be limited. He is basically the DMac regen, and look how long it has taken him to get to the level he is.
To conclude, if you were asking me the three 10s for the ABs in Razor's first squad, I would guess McKenzie, Cameron and Burke. I think Perofeta will end up playing 15, which will count against him, and I don't think Sullivan is a 10. Millar is the wildcard in this equation, because as I say, it is conceivable he stays fit, guides around an improving Highlanders squad, and they decide to carry him as the third 10 as a bit of a project player.
Burke I think looks tidy, but he is no Mo'unga, Barrett, or even a Cruden.
