RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks

@nzzp said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Duluth you're middle aged aren't you

He's a middle aged professional nerd. That's why it has been presented as something sensible and not a tiktok

Also not in portrait

Rancid Schnitzel

It's a funny world. It's only a few weeks ago that there was genuine concern we'd lose to Italy. Now we're in the final.

voodoo

@Rancid-Schnitzel said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

It's a funny world. It's only a few weeks ago that there was genuine concern we'd lose to Italy. Now we're in the final.

Genuine concern? Maybe from a very small group of doom merchants

KiwiMurph

Stuff

“I'll tell you a quick story,” began Papalii with an ever-so mischievous grin. “I've got a little group happening in the team room at our hotel and we're watching Band of Brothers, [the TV series about] the 101st Airborne and their Easy Company. So, I made a little joke saying, 'you know they've got the Bomb Squad, so we could have the Easy Company. We want to go and finish the job and be in the trenches'.

“Talking about the Bomb Squad, man they've proven themselves. They can come on and change a game like that. So, we need to identify whoever is on the bench, and be really screwed on up top and give it hell.”

Papalii revealed the All Blacks had not looked to shy away from what was at stake this week.

“There were some saying this is probably one of the most important games in All Blacks history,” he said. “[We] went through a hard path to get here – media, friends, family even criticising us, and we stuck together. We weren't even said to be in the final and now look at us.

“Different players take it differently and some of the older guys probably were hit a little bit harder, and it was good to see a bit of emotion and the want from them. Seeing that gives us all an extra 2-3 percent to think, ‘OK, we are going to the well’.

canefan

@KiwiMurph said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

Stuff

“I'll tell you a quick story,” began Papalii with an ever-so mischievous grin. “I've got a little group happening in the team room at our hotel and we're watching Band of Brothers, [the TV series about] the 101st Airborne and their Easy Company. So, I made a little joke saying, 'you know they've got the Bomb Squad, so we could have the Easy Company. We want to go and finish the job and be in the trenches'.

“Talking about the Bomb Squad, man they've proven themselves. They can come on and change a game like that. So, we need to identify whoever is on the bench, and be really screwed on up top and give it hell.”

Papalii revealed the All Blacks had not looked to shy away from what was at stake this week.

“There were some saying this is probably one of the most important games in All Blacks history,” he said. “[We] went through a hard path to get here – media, friends, family even criticising us, and we stuck together. We weren't even said to be in the final and now look at us.

“Different players take it differently and some of the older guys probably were hit a little bit harder, and it was good to see a bit of emotion and the want from them. Seeing that gives us all an extra 2-3 percent to think, ‘OK, we are going to the well’.

I like hearing them embracing the challenge. They said similar things before the Ireland game. Present, in the moment, face the task head on. Great stuff

Rancid Schnitzel

@voodoo said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Rancid-Schnitzel said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

It's a funny world. It's only a few weeks ago that there was genuine concern we'd lose to Italy. Now we're in the final.

Genuine concern? Maybe from a very small group of doom merchants

The kernel of doubt was there, which was absolutely unthinkable before.

pakman

Caging BBBR to bench and letting him loose when Eeriea Snyman appears seems quite smart to me.

voodoo

@pakman said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

Caging BBBR to bench and letting him loose when Eeriea Snyman appears seems quite smart to me.

I genuinely couldn’t care less which of BBBR or Whitelock comes off the bench. The margins are so slim, they’re both so good in the line out, both great in defense, and neither stands out massively over the other with ball in hand.

I’d almost be inclined to let them decide themselves . Maybe the props have a slight preference?

Nice problem to have

ACT Crusader

@voodoo I prefer Whitelock off the bench these days. With tiring players in the final 25 minutes his work over the ball create opportunities for him to steal ball or win penalties. He’s been doing that for years but he seems to thrive off the bench as the elder statesman.

pakman

There is a view ABs ought to let Big Sam have a go at Boks lineout early doors.

Pretty comfortable whichever way they choose to go.

The Silver Fern

RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks