RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks
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Shock horror…Jones is almost pining for the ABs of old to return.
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For those with access behind the paywall…
Dishevelled, scrambling side unworthy of All Blacks name
So who were that lot, on that steamy Friday evening? The real New Zealand with the silver fern, or just a group of imposters, men in black? No one wearing blue
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@Joans-Town-Jones you have a short memory. Even with some of the greats of the game (Cullen, Lomu, Umaga, Wilson etc), you weren’t exactly brilliant from 1998 through to around 2004.
You lost some all time greats up front in that time and the players up front who replaced them struggled to dominate opposing packs consistently.
Henry had to jettison players in 2004 who were failing the ABs and bring through some others who happened to turn into true greats (Carter). He built a pack based on work ethic and hard nosed pragmatism (Keith Robinson who was later superseded by Brad Thorn), best personified by the underrated So’oialo and hard hitting Jerry Collins. It helped that there also happened to be an AB legend playing at 7, but there were several capable 7s knocking around at the time.
ABs are going through another lull. The hard nosed, physical players capable of playing low risk finals footie need to come to the fore.
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@stodders said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@Joans-Town-Jones you have a short memory. Even with some of the greats of the game (Cullen, Lomu, Umaga, Wilson etc), you weren’t exactly brilliant from 1998 through to around 2004.
You lost some all time greats up front in that time and the players up front who replaced them struggled to dominate opposing packs consistently.
Henry had to jettison players in 2004 who were failing the ABs and bring through some others who happened to turn into true greats (Carter). He built a pack based on work ethic and hard nosed pragmatism (Keith Robinson who was later superseded by Brad Thorn), best personified by the underrated So’oialo and hard hitting Jerry Collins. It helped that there also happened to be an AB legend playing at 7, but there were several capable 7s knocking around at the time.
ABs are going through another lull. The hard nosed, physical players capable of playing low risk finals footie need to come to the fore.
Actually, bro no I don't have a short term memory. The difference back then was Harto had no plan B and C but even then, we were still beating teams save for 1998. He knew the likes of Fitzy, Zinny, Bunce wouldn't make 1999. Then Wayne Smith came in like a pansy and didn't know himself whether he was good enough. Mitchell, whilst a douche, had the guts to jettison blokes. He was the one who had the balls to drop legends and pick the likes of McCaw, DC, Mils, Jerry, Ma'a and won back the Bledisloe and 2 RC. He also made the semis and two beltings of the Wallabies and the Springboks. Henry didn't even pick DC at 10 until Carlos had burnt out his talent which was Mitchell's plan. Also, Mitchell picked Keith Robinson. All that is to say, Foster had had since 2017 to plan for this and it's been a total disaster since.
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@stodders said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Shock horror…Jones is almost pining for the ABs of old to return.
That’s actually not a bad article for him.
Although some sensitive readers will lose their shit at his views on the Haka……
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@MN5 said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@stodders said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Shock horror…Jones is almost pining for the ABs of old to return.
That’s actually not a bad article for him.
Although some sensitive readers will lose their shit at his views on the Haka……
Funny to read about arrogance and oppression from him about an ex-colony's indigenous culture (yup even if Winston and others say it is not indigenous because they know better than the UN).
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The All Blacks won't win if they're not playing on their own terms
Literally and figuratively, the All Blacks played France on Les Bleus' battleground of choice.
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What's most frustrating is that it's the same, old tired blueprint that's been used to beat this team for years has yet again worked.
Muscle up at the breakdown and set piece, kick long and wait for the AB's to make mistakes in their own half that you capitalize on.
It's worked against us for years and we haven't figured out a way to beat it.
Fair play to France, the AB's go out of the gate quick and had them under pressure but they kept their composure. When the pressure was on us we lost it.
Our kicking game, in short is dreadful, our long kicking game isn't effective enough so we can play territory. Our short kicking game lacks the precision and planning so we can effectively contest the ball.
If the stats are to be believed...
Kicks in play France 44 - AB's 39.
Meters gained France 1747 - AB's 1312.
Kicks regathered France 24 - AB's 17.So France kicked longer, enabling them to play in our half of the field and when they kicked short it was more accurate as they regathered the ball.
It's our cracking Achilles heel.
Stats here for reference - https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/match/pool-a-france-new-zealand/?utm_source=googleoneboxen&utm_medium=story&utm_campaign=pool-a-france-new-zealand&utm_language=en#stats
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@booboo said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@Machpants said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@booboo said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Le petit déjeuner chez moi ...
Coles Croissant and choc au pan?
Nothing open fresh here 5am ...
next time get the frozen ones, bake in 10 mins and perfect
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@stodders said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
The All Blacks won't win if they're not playing on their own terms
Literally and figuratively, the All Blacks played France on Les Bleus' battleground of choice.
hard to disagree with much of that, but not sure if commentators know any more than us on the influence (or otherwise) of the assistant AB coaches.
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but it seems the 'let them play to their strengths and we will play to ours" is a catchphrase from not only the Foster but also Hansen era. And I hate it.
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This is such an uplifting thread.
Poster A: The current ABs are crap.
Poster B: You forget, they have been crap before. -
@booboo said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@booboo said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
20 nil in 2nd
Actually looks like it was 18 nil ... which makes it so much better.
TV credited Fra that last conversion that the touchie didn't.
Final 27-13
have i missed something? didn't Telea score in the second half?
@NTA said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@stodders said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@NTA the dual pívot is Foster’s baby. He’ll go down with the ship before he abandons that idea I think.
The idea isn't necessarily bad. I think Barrett's time as a miracle worker has run out at the very top end, because the forwards aren't as dominant
I would say we also forget how many of his highlight reel he has a 22 on his back, running holes through blokes thats have already played 60min, i think his list of 80min performances would be a lot shorter than we might like
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@nostrildamus said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
This is such an uplifting thread.
Poster A: The current ABs are crap.
Poster B: You forget, they have been crap before.Well the positives are...
- The game-plan worked for 40 minutes
- We have a lot of injured players to come back into the team - who will make a difference.
- We beat a lot a defenders and created opportunities (didn't capitalize on them unfortunately).
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@Windows97 we chose to change the game plan after 40 minutes. it would be interesting to see the respective kick stats for the first half.
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@Kiwiwomble said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
have i missed something? didn't Telea score in the second half?
My bad. I just focussed on the ineffective period and kinda blanked out that bit. Still 18-nil to finish.
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@Windows97 said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@nostrildamus said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
This is such an uplifting thread.
Poster A: The current ABs are crap.
Poster B: You forget, they have been crap before.Well the positives are...
- The game-plan worked for 40 minutes
- We have a lot of injured players to come back into the team - who will make a difference.
- We beat a lot a defenders and created opportunities (didn't capitalize on them unfortunately).
There are positives we can work on but man, two games in a row where our forward pack sort of disappeared. I am certain we can recover and beat Boks/Ireland in the qtrs but I'm not so confident we can win 3 big games in a row.
