RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks
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The issue is genuine lineout options, you really want one of your back 3 to be just as good as your locks. I suspect that is something Frizell does well, Akira does it well also. Our lineout was absolute dross for SA so I hope Paps has been doing lots of lineout work.
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@taniwharugby said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Isnt DP a 6 that was pushed to 7? I think he has the size for it, but he hasnt played there enough in recent times.
He made the ABs as a 6 initially
Has played very little at blindside since that season and struggled in the last Test he played there.
Jacobson has been poor though. If it is Papali'i I presume he stood out at training
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A couple of people recalling the French comment from 2011 that they thought they could beat the ABs once in NZ, but not twice - and we might heed that a bit.
With an understrength forward pack, I suspect we might lose that "never lost a pool match" tag. Given that Fozzie has given up quite a few of those "nevers" during his tenure, I don't think the French will be feeling the hex.
I don't think it matters too much in the greater scheme of things, unless it turns out that Ireland thump the Jaapies - or vice-versa (or Scotland...) - and we suddenly see one QH opponent looking significantly easier than the other.
We looked significantly undercooked vs the Jaapies, so I'd like to think we'll build through the pool and be peaking for the QF (and maybe be back to full strength).
My wishful thinking has us scraping through the QF, winning a semi and having some dry powder if we meet the French again.
After watching the shit-show vs SA, I'll predict at least one team (probably more) will have their campaign de-railed by an early red card - hopefully we'd be good enough to still beat Italy if it happened to us vs them.
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@Chris-B said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
A couple of people recalling the French comment from 2011 that they thought they could beat the ABs once in NZ, but not twice - and we might heed that a bit.
They couldn't, so we shouldn't follow that thinking in any way shape or form. They couldn't even beat Tonga once.
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@Kirwan said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Enjoying the Blackadder fan club on here ignoring his completely ineffectual Tests. The less he plays the better he gets.
After the Boks game, I think we're all just hoping for some miracle rabbit out of the hat...
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@chimoaus said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
So, its starting to look like
De Groot, Taylor, Laulala
Barrett, Whitelock
Paps, Ardie, Cane
Smith, Mounga
ALB, Ioane
Telea, BB, JordanThen
16. Samisoni
17. Tamaiti
18. Newell
19. Tupou Vaa’i
20. Jacobson
21. Ginger
22. Havili
23. ClarkeNot saying it is what I would pick, but I think that is what we will see
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@Kirwan said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
The less he plays the better he gets.
True of many players though TBF...I mean Frizells one excellent game this year and his absence has grown his stature as a player.
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@taniwharugby said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@Kirwan said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
The less he plays the better he gets.
True of many players though TBF...I mean Frizells one excellent game this year and his absence has grown his stature as a player.
He'll be back to usual shit self soon enough.
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@taniwharugby said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@Kirwan said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
The less he plays the better he gets.
True of many players though TBF...I mean Frizells one excellent game this year and his absence has grown his stature as a player.
Tongan Jesus.
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@Kirwan said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Enjoying the Blackadder fan club on here ignoring his completely ineffectual Tests. The less he plays the better he gets.
Ineffectual tests according to a few Blues fans on the Fern championing other players. Having said that, the last part of your comment seems true.
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can we please stop comparing this team to the 2015 vintage? There are a handful of tema in history that can favourably compare to this team, and certainly no team at this Cup.
Ben Smith is as good as any AB fullback ever
Our best ever midfield that includes one of the best 12s ever
The best 10 to play the game
The best AB halfback ever
One of the top #8s in AB history
The greatest rugby player of all time
The best AB 6 i've ever seen
Our best locking compo at the peak of their powersPrime BB coming off the bench.
It's a ridiculous comparison that doesn't really say anything about this team.
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If that's our loose forward trio our lineout is in trouble.
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@mariner4life said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
If that's our loose forward trio our lineout is in trouble.
Don't worry we only do short kicks so it will never go out
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If i am France i am kicking it out all day.
Not only are we short one genuine target, our lifters aren't tall enough either.
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@mariner4life said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
If that's our loose forward trio our lineout is in trouble.
Given how many of them there are in a game, I find it incredible that they didn't think to add one more lock or loosie so that we could have Scooter at 6 (or preferably Finau) when needed.
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@mariner4life said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Not only are we short one genuine target, our lifters aren't tall enough either.
I'm less worried about the jumpers as Savea and Jacobson/Papalii are fine as third options but agree about the lifters. Lomax's extra height is a huge advantage compared to Laulala. Whitelock needs to be used more than he was against SA.
