RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks
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Spiro Zavos on the roar is right on the money about the abs
The media has pointed out that this is the first time the All Blacks have lost a match in the pool stages of the tournament. As the Springboks proved in winning the RWC 2019 tournament, teams or one team at least since the tournament started in 1987 can win after losing in the pool round.
But what has not really been acknowledged is that 27-13 scoreline was the worst ever inflicted on the All Blacks in the history of the RWC tournament.
It is obvious now, or should be, that the All Blacks’ selector coaches have made a massive mistake in not entrusting the team four years ago to the playmaking leadership of Richie Mo’unga, the way previous RWC-winning All Black sides were entrusted to one playmaker, mainly Grant Fox in 1987 and Dan Carter in 2011 and 2015.
In the match against France, Barrett seemed to play in the line more than Mo’unga who was camped at fullback for long periods of play. The effect of this meant that there was no consistent method in the way the All Blacks tried to counter the France’s arrow-like rush defence.
Mo’unga’s skill is running the game, in the line, with the occasional searing break of his own. All the time. He needs to have his hands on the ball most of the plays calling them from virtually every set piece, ruck and maul.
This is elementary 101 playmaking theory. All Blacks coach Ian Foster, a former No.10 himself, should know this.
He should also know that Beauden Barrett, one of the great players of his era, is a shadow of his former self as a player. In my opinion, the terrible concussion he suffered in the 2022 Test against Ireland at Aviva Stadium has had a dulling effect on his former brilliant running game.
This infatuation with the two playmakers’ game and poor selection has also impacted on the positions key players have been placed.
Barrett at this time in his career could be used as a reserve who could play cameos at fullback or No.10.
Will Jordan should be the starting fullback for the All Blacks.Jordan as a fullback, as he does for the Crusaders, would be mainly running where he is a match-winner and occasionally putting in kicks. He would not be subjected to the ordeal as he was against France of having to chase Barrett’s high kicks, most of them too long and not high enough, with the risk of getting his timing wrong.
As it was he failed to snatch any of the high balls the French backs were challenged with. But he was yellow-carded once and could easily have been charged again which would have been red card territory and dangerous ground for him as far as staying in the tournament.
The official excuse for the high ball tactic by the All Blacks apparently was that it would conserve the energy of the players in the torrid heated conditions.
But chasing 30m or so time and again in the heat cannot be described as a conservation policy. It was madness. It failed to achieve anything other than tiring a brilliant runner and exposing him to injury or a card or two.
When I watched Jordan, a natural and gifted try-scorer, being required to chase high ball I thought that it was a disgrace rather like requiring Phar Lap to compete in a steeplechase race.
The original sin, though, with this All Black side was the selection of Sam Cane as captain before 2020 season had actually started.
In the past, All Black captains were selected from certain starters in the run-on side. This is the way the Australian cricket captain, a similar sort of position, is chosen. History shows that for both teams selecting someone assured of his position in the side as captain works well.
The problem that Foster created for himself and any team he selected with this first decision as the All Black new coach was that there was a much better player available for the number 7 jersey, Ardie Savea.
His solution of playing Savea at number 8 merely enhances the coach-created problem. Savea at 103 kg – 190 cm is big for a number 7 but far too small for a number 8.
Savea is the best loose forward in the All Blacks’ pack. But he is not the best number 8 available. Even though he invariably plays well, as he did against France, the loose forward trio is unbalanced with him at number 8.
This is a position where size is important. Kieran Read, on the small side as number 8, was 111 kg – 193 cm. The current Springbok number 8 Duane Vermeullen plays at 120 kg – 193 cm.There is a rugby adage that goes to the crux of the problem that All Blacks could not solve against France: The team that controls the advantage line wins the game.
The All Blacks could not control the advantage line against France because they lacked the power and muscle to dominate the French pack.
The All Blacks pack, unlike the Wallabies, say, in their match against Georgia, played small, not big.
They were pressurised by a big French pack playing big into conceding 13 penalties to the five penalties conceded by France.Six of the All Blacks penalties were conceded on attack and seven were conceded on defence. This suggests that the All Blacks were under pressure when they had the ball and when France had the ball.
The French also were able to off-load 15 times to the seven times achieved by the All Blacks.
The all-important battle of the collisions as these statistics and the scoreline indicate was won around the field by France.Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese philosopher on war, postulated that ‘the battle is won before it is fought.’
Rugby is not warfare. But it is a war game, If the All Blacks keep the same tactics, the same backline and forward strategies and selections they played against France I fear that their battle to win the 2023 RWC tournament has already been lost.
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@MiketheSnow said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@stodders said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@Joans-Town-Jones I think NZ coaches overplay the R&R element sometimes. Foster isn't alone here. It used to work when the depth was there and the drop off in quality was limited, but that isn't the case now.
A 90% fit JB is better than a 100% fit ALB for instance.
No point managing players for a QF/SF/Final if you get booted out at the pool stage.
The only way NZ lose to Italy is if they have 3 players sent off
jesus...talk about jinxing us
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@Joans-Town-Jones said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@stodders said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@Joans-Town-Jones In fairness, he's had 3 full years. 2020 was a washout.
Again, in fairness, he's been lucky to have had 3 years given what happened in 2021/2022.
only 3 years? Sorry but I think that's a cop out. Why didn't AI and PGS work out?
Because they weren't good enough?
Hell, PGS played one test?
Shouldn't have had one.
Fozzie hasn't allowed the team to play out. Case in point. 2022. Finally may have found a decent 12 in JB. Then chopped and changed the team. They've only played 6 tests this year and the last 3 have been over 7 weeks. If Fozzie's time was so limited, why didn't he settle on a team earlier?
What's the point in settling on a team if constituent parts aren't working to the standard necessary?
What are odds he will field 3 completely different sides over the next 4 weeks...
Fairly high I should imagine given injuries within the squad and making sure all of the squad get some game time.
I find it odd that people complain that a coach doesn't develop depth, or persists with players they think aren't up to scratch, and also complain that the team isn't constantly selected.
At a higher level we just need to be cognisant that we've come off the best All Black team ever. Forget the Invincibles, we've had our expectations set by a team that had centurions, GOAT, DC, Nonu, Kaino, etc.
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@Machpants said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
Spiro Zavos on the roar is right on the money about the abs
Hilarious nonsense. He's calling for Ardie to play openside for the All Blacks, despite the fact he doesn't even play that position in SR and hasn't for years. Quoting Spiro makes any argument ridiculous.
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@MiketheSnow said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
the only way is if the All Blacks get 3 players sent off
That could only happen if you got a repeat of the Matt Carley performance in Fiji v Wales.
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@antipodean Ardie had a game at 7 for the Canes this year didn't he?
There's a number of things wrong in that article, but Ardie not being a great 8 and unbalancing the loose trio is not one of them. -
Yeah Italy did beat Australia and pushed England hard last time out as well.
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@antipodean said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@canefan said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@antipodean said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@Kiwiwomble said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@antipodean you're right but they are responsible for coming up with a gameplan to suit the players we have rather than just selecting people...telling them to be Kaino and then just wondering if they cant
@Joans-Town-Jones said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
Explain the game plan? Gary Owens from your own 22? Hope is not a game plan.
of course it is....very much in the playbook as a viable option if we dont break out within a couple of phases
I remain astonished people don't grasp we aren't the only nation that does contestable kicks when we aren't moving forward. There's plenty of commentary around the internet why teams do it too.
We just don't seem to do it very well most of the time. Surely we can sort out a decent kick chase? Where is the communication?
When we do communicate it, Jordan just runs into people until he's yellow carded...
Ah come on. He had a bad day at the office, but he has 23 tries in 26 games. He is only 12 tries behind Rieko Ioane who has had 64 tests.
He is on 0.88 tries per game which is more than Howlett, Cullen , Lomu, Julian Savea, Rokocoko etc finished their careers with.
This isn't some "no mark" who doesn't deserve his place in the team. The 15 shirt should be rightfully his instead of having to spend the evening chasing Beauden Barrett up and unders.
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@stodders said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@nostrildamus Who are the glue-like players in NZ rugby right now, who provide continuity and allow their colleagues to raise their game?
Harmon, Goodhue (but he simply isn't fast enough in his position now, sadly), ALB when in form, DMac (when not doing stupid stuff), but maybe there are 2 types of glue players, the stock continuity ones, and the leader-like ones. I'd guess Harmon is the latter, the others not so much.
Edit: I am guessing you mean in regards to just loosies, umm, not many. MMT could have /could be, perhaps. -
@Steve said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@antipodean said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@canefan said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@antipodean said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@Kiwiwomble said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@antipodean you're right but they are responsible for coming up with a gameplan to suit the players we have rather than just selecting people...telling them to be Kaino and then just wondering if they cant
@Joans-Town-Jones said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
Explain the game plan? Gary Owens from your own 22? Hope is not a game plan.
of course it is....very much in the playbook as a viable option if we dont break out within a couple of phases
I remain astonished people don't grasp we aren't the only nation that does contestable kicks when we aren't moving forward. There's plenty of commentary around the internet why teams do it too.
We just don't seem to do it very well most of the time. Surely we can sort out a decent kick chase? Where is the communication?
When we do communicate it, Jordan just runs into people until he's yellow carded...
Ah come on. He had a bad day at the office, but he has 23 tries in 26 games. He is only 12 tries behind Rieko Ioane who has had 64 tests.
How many tests has Rieko been in the midfield for, saddled with playing partners like Havili?
He is on 0.88 tries per game which is more than Howlett, Cullen , Lomu, Julian Savea, Rokocoko etc finished their careers with.
Operative words being 'finished their careers'. How many of these tries did he score at fullback?
This isn't some "no mark" who doesn't deserve his place in the team. The 15 shirt should be rightfully his instead of having to spend the evening chasing Beauden Barrett up and unders.
Sure, but to be pushing the case for a player after that dreadful performance demonstrates a distinct lack of timing. Perhaps wait for a performance where he carves up to argue he's ready for greater responsibility.
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@antipodean said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@Steve said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@antipodean said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@canefan said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@antipodean said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@Kiwiwomble said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@antipodean you're right but they are responsible for coming up with a gameplan to suit the players we have rather than just selecting people...telling them to be Kaino and then just wondering if they cant
@Joans-Town-Jones said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
Explain the game plan? Gary Owens from your own 22? Hope is not a game plan.
of course it is....very much in the playbook as a viable option if we dont break out within a couple of phases
I remain astonished people don't grasp we aren't the only nation that does contestable kicks when we aren't moving forward. There's plenty of commentary around the internet why teams do it too.
We just don't seem to do it very well most of the time. Surely we can sort out a decent kick chase? Where is the communication?
When we do communicate it, Jordan just runs into people until he's yellow carded...
Ah come on. He had a bad day at the office, but he has 23 tries in 26 games. He is only 12 tries behind Rieko Ioane who has had 64 tests.
How many tests has Rieko been in the midfield for, saddled with playing partners like Havili?
He is on 0.88 tries per game which is more than Howlett, Cullen , Lomu, Julian Savea, Rokocoko etc finished their careers with.
Operative words being 'finished their careers'. How many of these tries did he score at fullback?
This isn't some "no mark" who doesn't deserve his place in the team. The 15 shirt should be rightfully his instead of having to spend the evening chasing Beauden Barrett up and unders.
Sure, but to be pushing the case for a player after that dreadful performance demonstrates a distinct lack of timing. Perhaps wait for a performance where he carves up to argue he's ready for greater responsibility.
Wait for a performance where he carves up? Ive seen 15 odd tests already where he was unplayable. His 26 test highlight reel is better than most players careers.
He needs to be given time at 15 to show the jersey is his. Unfortunately the shirt is occupied by a bloke giving the worlds worst encore.
He was the starting 15 in the team that won Super Rugby. It's all we have to go on until he gets a gig.
My main memory of Beaudy at 15 in Super Rugby last year was him butchering a certain try while acting the maggot in the in goal area.
How has Barrett got so much credit in the bank? His last good test was during Donald Trumps second year in office.
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@antipodean said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@Steve said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@antipodean said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@canefan said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@antipodean said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@Kiwiwomble said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@antipodean you're right but they are responsible for coming up with a gameplan to suit the players we have rather than just selecting people...telling them to be Kaino and then just wondering if they cant
@Joans-Town-Jones said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
Explain the game plan? Gary Owens from your own 22? Hope is not a game plan.
of course it is....very much in the playbook as a viable option if we dont break out within a couple of phases
I remain astonished people don't grasp we aren't the only nation that does contestable kicks when we aren't moving forward. There's plenty of commentary around the internet why teams do it too.
We just don't seem to do it very well most of the time. Surely we can sort out a decent kick chase? Where is the communication?
When we do communicate it, Jordan just runs into people until he's yellow carded...
Ah come on. He had a bad day at the office, but he has 23 tries in 26 games. He is only 12 tries behind Rieko Ioane who has had 64 tests.
How many tests has Rieko been in the midfield for, saddled with playing partners like Havili?
He is on 0.88 tries per game which is more than Howlett, Cullen , Lomu, Julian Savea, Rokocoko etc finished their careers with.
Operative words being 'finished their careers'. How many of these tries did he score at fullback?
This isn't some "no mark" who doesn't deserve his place in the team. The 15 shirt should be rightfully his instead of having to spend the evening chasing Beauden Barrett up and unders.
Sure, but to be pushing the case for a player after that dreadful performance demonstrates a distinct lack of timing. Perhaps wait for a performance where he carves up to argue he's ready for greater responsibility.
Has 15 on his back for much of this video including in black at under 20 level.
Its not like im touting for Fred West to get the gig.
And we all know the jersey will be his from next year.....the question is whether the incumbent deserves to keep it in the interim. I say no.
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@canefan said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
Foster has hitched his wagon to BB and it is too late for changes barring injury. Jordan has been given no chance to try to give 15 a decent go, he will have to wait for Razor in 2024 like the rest of us
I just want us to select a team that makes the other team afraid of us.
Currently we are selecting teams on the basis that we are afraid of them.
DMAC, Roigard, Samisoni, Jordan at 15 are points of difference. Puzzles to be solved by the other team.
But we aren't using our bullets.
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@Steve ive always thought Jordans timing is one of his strongest assets, i dont think it was timing that was off on the weekend, it was the decision not to jump and try and take it on the run. a lot of that highlight reel is him timing a run to take a pass already going flat tack therefore taking the defence off guard, that take some vision, its a different skill set to someone who can take the ball on the back foot and shrug off a tackle or two to make a break
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@Steve
It baffles me why people argue about Jordan playing FB,why to we have an out of date broken down mo ped at FB instead of putting a Ferrari back there.Some one who will attack the line he can pick his moments to hit the line from FB perfect for a player with pace, timing and an eye for the gap,instead of a FB who is no threat at all anymore.
Kick to Barrett and you end pinning the ABs inside their own 40 most of the time.
Must be Fozzie brainwashed syndrome. -
@Chris said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@Steve
It baffles me why people argue about Jordan playing FB,why to we have an out of date broken down mo ped at FB instead of putting a Ferrari back there.Some one who will attack the line he can pick his moments to hit the line from FB perfect for a player with pace, timing and an eye for the gap,instead of a FB who is no threat at all anymore.
Kick to Barrett and you end pinning the ABs inside their own 40 most of the time.
Must be Fozzie brainwashed syndrome.Exactly, if we are going to die , lets not die wondering.
Why people want to persist with the status quo I'll never know.
As I have said at least 20 times on this forum before.....
The crest on the front is bigger than any name on the back.
The jersey owes none of them anything.
We have a couple of centurions in the team who are racking up a load of soft caps....like civil servants phoning it in.
I just want this team to get me out of my seat. I want them to win. That's what it's about right?
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@antipodean said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@Joans-Town-Jones said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@stodders said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@Joans-Town-Jones In fairness, he's had 3 full years. 2020 was a washout.
Again, in fairness, he's been lucky to have had 3 years given what happened in 2021/2022.
only 3 years? Sorry but I think that's a cop out. Why didn't AI and PGS work out?
Because they weren't good enough?
Hell, PGS played one test?
Shouldn't have had one.
Fozzie hasn't allowed the team to play out. Case in point. 2022. Finally may have found a decent 12 in JB. Then chopped and changed the team. They've only played 6 tests this year and the last 3 have been over 7 weeks. If Fozzie's time was so limited, why didn't he settle on a team earlier?
What's the point in settling on a team if constituent parts aren't working to the standard necessary?
What are odds he will field 3 completely different sides over the next 4 weeks...
Fairly high I should imagine given injuries within the squad and making sure all of the squad get some game time.
I find it odd that people complain that a coach doesn't develop depth, or persists with players they think aren't up to scratch, and also complain that the team isn't constantly selected.
At a higher level we just need to be cognisant that we've come off the best All Black team ever. Forget the Invincibles, we've had our expectations set by a team that had centurions, GOAT, DC, Nonu, Kaino, etc.
Phucking hell. There's no point arguing with any of that horseshit.
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@Kiwiwomble said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@Steve ive always thought Jordans timing is one of his strongest assets, i dont think it was timing that was off on the weekend, it was the decision not to jump and try and take it on the run. a lot of that highlight reel is him timing a run to take a pass already going flat tack therefore taking the defence off guard, that take some vision, its a different skill set to someone who can take the ball on the back foot and shrug off a tackle or two to make a break
It's fucking bonkers. It's like we are arguing over a reserve lock or something.
He is probably the only player in our 15 who fans of any other nation would take in a heartbeat.
Its not even an argument.
Some people in here went off the deep end over the last year. There was talk he would be lucky to make the squad
He is putting up Christian Cullen (my GOAT) numbers in the modern game where there is no fucking space.
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@Joans-Town-Jones said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@antipodean said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@Joans-Town-Jones said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@stodders said in RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks:
@Joans-Town-Jones In fairness, he's had 3 full years. 2020 was a washout.
Again, in fairness, he's been lucky to have had 3 years given what happened in 2021/2022.
only 3 years? Sorry but I think that's a cop out. Why didn't AI and PGS work out?
Because they weren't good enough?
Hell, PGS played one test?
Shouldn't have had one.
Fozzie hasn't allowed the team to play out. Case in point. 2022. Finally may have found a decent 12 in JB. Then chopped and changed the team. They've only played 6 tests this year and the last 3 have been over 7 weeks. If Fozzie's time was so limited, why didn't he settle on a team earlier?
What's the point in settling on a team if constituent parts aren't working to the standard necessary?
What are odds he will field 3 completely different sides over the next 4 weeks...
Fairly high I should imagine given injuries within the squad and making sure all of the squad get some game time.
I find it odd that people complain that a coach doesn't develop depth, or persists with players they think aren't up to scratch, and also complain that the team isn't constantly selected.
At a higher level we just need to be cognisant that we've come off the best All Black team ever. Forget the Invincibles, we've had our expectations set by a team that had centurions, GOAT, DC, Nonu, Kaino, etc.
Phucking hell. There's no point arguing with any of that horseshit.
Batshit Mental.
