RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia
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The big decision is around more game time for the A Team or giving the second stringers a run.
Happy doing that with the backs to some extent (DMac, Roigard, Caleb C etc) but think the A Team forwards need another run as much as possible so Ryan can sort out their shit after the performances in the last 2 games.
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@Victor-Meldrew Agree with you. Barrett was picked to attack England's lineout, as NZ had done in in Nov 2018 when they dismantled it in a come from behind win.
Eddie had tricks up his sleeve though and out coached Hansen.
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@stodders said in RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia:
Eddie had tricks up his sleeve though and out coached Hansen.
Hansen: "Just to let you all know, we're coming for England's lineout"
Jones: "Hold my beer"
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@Victor-Meldrew A team will play against Italy. So the question is, how much do they need to play against Namibia and Uruguay.
All Blacks play this Saturday, then have 2 full weeks off before Italy. 2 weeks is a long time! Enough time to get rusty.
Personally, i'd let them loose against Namibia for 50 mins under strict instructions to follow the plan and not to go all Harlem Globetrotters. They then have 14 days to recover before Italy.
Italy have 9 days between playing Uruguay and NZ. If they choose to rest players against Uruguay, it will be 3 weeks between games for their main players. That's a long time.
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I worry about 6/7/8 when there's injury. As long as we have 3 of Cane, Paps, Ardie & Frizzell in action we seem to do OK-ish. Vaa'i at 6 didn't work so poss. throw Blackadder in the mix for game time with 2 of the above named 4. Know bugger all about front row stuff but I'd stick with the same 3 as France in case Lomax doesn't get fit to iron out any kinks They'll probably have Vaa'i in the 15 at lock.
The breaks are long, but it gives time for Ryan and the players to sort out what's gone wrong in the last 2 games and for everyone else to understand the basics of chip kicks. Oh, and time for everyone to watch the England/Argie game at least 3 times...
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@ACT-Crusader said in RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia:
I’d play everyone who didn’t play against France. I don’t think the “best” XV should be starting this one either.
and then leave the A team to plan on the back of two games a few weeks apart when they're not playing well?
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@stodders said in RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia:
@Victor-Meldrew A team will play against Italy. So the question is, how much do they need to play against Namibia and Uruguay.
All Blacks play this Saturday, then have 2 full weeks off before Italy. 2 weeks is a long time! Enough time to get rusty.
Personally, i'd let them loose against Namibia for 50 mins under strict instructions to follow the plan and not to go all Harlem Globetrotters. They then have 14 days to recover before Italy.
Italy have 9 days between playing Uruguay and NZ. If they choose to rest players against Uruguay, it will be 3 weeks between games for their main players. That's a long time.
Agree. Foster stuffed the opportunity to rest and rotate when he lost a shit load of games. Best available must start with a specific game plan and then maybe bring in the subs a little later but the team just had to play together.
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@DaGrubster said in RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia:
Mix and match, play our best side against Italy and try to get our best 23 on the field for the qtr final.
It’s imperative we get our top side to play in the qtr final.
If we mix an md match, the top side won't have played together for 4 weeks. One of the many issues the ABs have.
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@nostrildamus said in RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia:
@Stargazer Finau trained and played with ABs much more recently as I understand it. But as another pointed out perhaps at 6 they just need to focus on tackles rucks and carries.
Who would you rather for that assignment? Blackadder or Finau? I know which I'd want so I can't understand why the wrong one was brought into camp.
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can i also add...how high do you think Jacobson's confidence is now if we had a couple of injuries and we had to play him.....selected for the squad, but they would rather play a lock there first and then brought a loosie in when a winger got injured
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@Kiwiwomble said in RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia:
can i also add...how high do you think Jacobson's confidence is now if we had a couple of injuries and we had to play him.....selected for the squad, but they would rather play a lock there first and then brought a loosie in when a winger got injured
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@antipodean said in RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia:
@nostrildamus said in RWC Week 2: All Blacks v Namibia:
@Stargazer Finau trained and played with ABs much more recently as I understand it. But as another pointed out perhaps at 6 they just need to focus on tackles rucks and carries.
Who would you rather for that assignment? Blackadder or Finau? I know which I'd want so I can't understand why the wrong one was brought into camp.
I see you liked my earlier post but I wonder if we are talking at cross purposes
Finau: closest like for like for SF (but latter also an emergency lock back up and possibly 8 backup?), has played with team recently. Raw, powerful, size, energy. Maybe they think he is too raw or penalty-attracting to be trained in time. Me, I would have taken him over SF, who still hasn't recovered.
Blackadder: arguably can play all positions, coming back from injury (seems to have constant knee and shoulder injuries), has not played for ABs for 2 years? I'm guessing apart from his utility fitness and injury, the coaches simply love his character: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/300431574/the-tale-of-ethan-blackadder-how-a-reluctant-rugby-player-became-the-all-blacks-find-of-the-year. Perhaps he is actually competing most against Dalton and Jacobson (who they aren't giving time at 8, I hope they don't burn out Ardie).
So I'm guessing for several risky reasons (injury-prone and injured lately, not played recently with ABs, not clear his best position vs a virtue of being flexible) they prefer Ethan B over LJ and Finau.
Seems to me they have not worked out their best backup 8, and just hoping their first choices don't get injured. But they don't seem to trust their backups and their conservatism (pick Ethan Blackadder) is pretty damn risky, he's just restarting his rugby! I would have taken Akira over LJ, and Finau over SF. Dalton has not been the same, and I'm not convinced he offers great value at 6 (or 8, has he played much at all at 8 since school?).
Finau versus Blackadder? I think the latter would naturally be competing with LJ, but versus Finau, at this stage, I'd prefer Finau, because 6 is a real problem, they have 2 7s, and they haven't used EB much at AB 8 as far as I recall.
Actually, on reflection I don't think it is just the players, I'd change the bench/rotation strategy (calls for a new post).
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Within the current squad I see the following:
- Frizell - ..?
- Cane - Papali'i
- Savea - Jacobson
If the intent is to find a replacement for Frizell, Blackadder IMO isn't a like for like. If they want someone to cover 7 and 8, perhaps you could make a case for him, but there's no recent body of evidence that compels me to agree. And anyone who mentions an effort against Manawatu is taking the piss.
It's clear I don't understand the logic of the selectors, just as I didn't understand the benefit of taking five wingers for a couple of weeks...
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You can all laugh me down but I think a serious issue is the bench and when it is changed. This might be crazy, but I have noticed we are out-thought/worked out in the second half, and our replacements see our teamwork becoming frayed. But I don't think it is just the players.
I'd consider swapping the loosies at halftime. I also think he can be great, but I'd put Ardie on the bench and have hm start second half. Is this crazy? Probably, but we now regularly lose the second half. I think at halftime they have been working us out and our replacements are badly timed and often too late. Maybe you also think this is too reactive, but this isn't my riskiest idea.I think we have a real depth problem at 12. And a lack of weapons at midfield unless Ioane can break free. I'd be tempted to train a clever winger with a boot for 12, and I am leaning towards Narawa. I think with DMac at 10 and a speedy midfield we'd offer a point of difference and be very hard to guard against. I'd also be tempted at halftime to have Leicester move to or from midfield. And yes Aumua offers a great option but it is early days.
I had thought some time ago that Clarke would make a good 13 as he gets older, and physically I still think so but he just doesn't seem to have the vision and handling skills.
I'd have the best 15 in the country play at 15. Revolutionary, I know. Jordan, Stevenson or Z Sullivan (have I missed someone?) I think all now offer more impact than BB. Sorry.
