All Blacks 2024
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@booboo said in All Blacks 2024:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024:
@Frank said in All Blacks 2024:
aaaah for the days of Nonu
he learned distribution too - he was not a natural at all. Started on the wing for the ABs I think -against Ireland in Ireland I think?
Incredible transformation; his monster miss on BOD in Hamilton had folk saying 'never again' for the ABs. Go figure.
Taking a guess I thought it was at 13 v England at the Cake Tin 2003 ... will now go google ...
Correct: http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/profile.asp?ABID=1033
But do think @nzzp is kind of correct as he fell out of favour and made the comeback on the EOYT in 2004 (I think)
huh, I was sure it was Hamilton
Edit: ah you meant debut. For sure. But I remember that perforamnce - he got ripped apart defensively.
All Blacks v Ireland 10.06.06 | Photosport New Zealand
Ireland's captain Brian O'Driscoll runs in a try after gettign past All Black Ma'a Nonu during the international rugby union test match between the All Blacks and Ireland at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand, on Saturday 10 June 2006. Photo: Michael Bradley/PHOTOSPORT 100606
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024:
@booboo thought his proper "comeback" was after 07? Tana was gone, the astonishingly talented Aaron Mauger was gone.
Lucky Luke was gone. If Mauger and Lucky didn't go we might be talking about how Ma'a was an average AB but became a NH club legend.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024:
With Zach Gallagher coming to the Canes next year I wouldn't mind the Canes shifting Caleb Delany back to 6 where he helped the Lions win an NPC. Great carrier of the ball, awesome lineout jumper but probably needs to work on becoming more of a dominant tackler At 115kg and 197m, he could be an option for the ABs going forward after having a superb season at lock before injury struck.
Why not ?
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024:
@booboo thought his proper "comeback" was after 07? Tana was gone, the astonishingly talented Aaron Mauger was gone.
My recollection was around that time he started to come on as a sub and people were pleasantly surprised he didn't fuck things up and noticed he was adding to the game. Really took off in '08 and a year later he was pretty much the best 12 in the world. He really worked on developing his game and was utterly sublime in his last 2-3 years.
I think this year is make or break for Reiko in the sense we'll see if he can really develop as a 13.
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@cgrant said in All Blacks 2024:
Akira Ioane was the obvious choice as he has all the attributes of a world class blindside loose forward. It's a shame Sotutu is an exclusive Nr.8. A trio formed with Sotutu (8) - Savea (7) and Papali'i (6) could be a stop gap.
I’m a fan of each of those players, but there’s no way our issues are resolved with that trio. I don’t think Sotutu and Savea together can be effective in what we are needing.
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@nzzp I remember Nonu in 2007, well.
On the Fern, there was just me and a guy called Mojo who still thought he might be worth a shot in the 2007 RWC squad. And then he came off the bench on the wing against some team - and he was terrible.
Even me and Mojo had to concede he wasn't up to it.
Someone (and I can't recall who - in case they're still here) wrote, "Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out, Nonu"!
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@Chris-B I remember his talent in 05 - he shifted out to the wing (I think) but created an incredible try opportunity with a chip, regather, swerve and then knocked on over the line. But the pace, power and skill were incredible.
Then in 06 he shat the bed against Ireland defensively ... but man he came back strong from that.
What a player
Edit: the 05 reference was Ireland in Dublin
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@nzzp It was a good lesson for me (and others) that people can get better - and sometimes a lot better.
I reckon Finau might be one like this. He's struggling a bit at the start, but he's got all the attributes to be really good in due course. Also looks like they could still add a few kgs to make him bigger and even better.
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024:
@nzzp I remember Nonu in 2007, well.
On the Fern, there was just me and a guy called Mojo who still thought he might be worth a shot in the 2007 RWC squad. And then he came off the bench on the wing against some team - and he was terrible.
Even me and Mojo had to concede he wasn't up to it.
Someone (and I can't recall who - in case they're still here) wrote, "Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out, Nonu"!
I saw us play Wales in Cardiff in '10 when SBW was subbed at half-time after Jamie Roberts had exposed him a little. Up close you noticed how good Nonu was at tying up defenders in just the right position on the field and creating space from that. A real skill.
Something Jordie with his size can work on.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024:
Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out, Nonu
That's bizarrely a really clear memory but yeah no idea who posed it.
So it was probably me.
Lots of people didn't believe in Nonu for some time, his game was just a bit erratic. But with the benefit of time he ironed out all of his weaknesses and became awesome
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024:
@nzzp I remember Nonu in 2007, well.
On the Fern, there was just me and a guy called Mojo who still thought he might be worth a shot in the 2007 RWC squad. And then he came off the bench on the wing against some team - and he was terrible.
Even me and Mojo had to concede he wasn't up to it.
Someone (and I can't recall who - in case they're still here) wrote, "Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out, Nonu"!
I don’t remember that comment but I remember, ‘never want to see him in black again ‘ around those times .
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2024:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024:
Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out, Nonu
That's bizarrely a really clear memory but yeah no idea who posed it.
So it was probably me.
Lots of people didn't believe in Nonu for some time, his game was just a bit erratic. But with the benefit of time he ironed out all of his weaknesses and became awesome
I think moving into 12 really suited him too , in the early years he struggled defensively at 13 and I think it affected his self belief
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2024:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024:
Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out, Nonu
That's bizarrely a really clear memory but yeah no idea who posed it.
So it was probably me.
Lots of people didn't believe in Nonu for some time, his game was just a bit erratic. But with the benefit of time he ironed out all of his weaknesses and became awesome
I couldn't stand how any time he dropped the ball or threw a shit pass he just turned his back and walked off. There was a dramatic attitude change in 07/08 and he was no longer too cool to do the mahi.
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How Maro Itoje terrorised the All Blacks lineout
Scott Robertson has set-piece issues to address before the big beasts of the Rugby Championship loom into view.
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024:
One thing that really annoys me with rugby is the idea that the bench role is 'lesser'.
Beauden's excellent displays off the bench should be seen as vindication for selecting him as a bench option not automatically meaning he has to start.
I think the likes of Ardie and Rieko could be excellent bench options but there's a stigma that they'll be 'dropped' to the bench.
There's younger talent coming through. Why not utilize both via substitutions.
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The dumbest people who post here are back in force. They don't watch Super Rugby but they have very strong opinions about the All Blacks.
A big surprise is that Rieko Ioane is still public enemy number one. The morons who make references to centres from 50 years ago, and have learned nothing since then, still make worthless comments about Conrad Smith and the need for ... something completely unrelated to modern rugby and modern defences. Apparently there is some mystical "distributor" who can compensate for shit ball and no options with throwing miracle passes ... instead of the guy who makes more meters. If you are so stupid that you cannot remember the world cup from NOVEMBER 2023, then please stop posting.
There are still really interesting and insightful people who post here. I love this forum, even Papalii knockers post really good stuff sometimes. Please don't post the dumb shit - it's boring. If you are an old fool who doesn't watch much rugby or have the ability to recall games from the last 12 months, then maybe think about why the centre doesn't have good options against Felix Jones' defence.
The Opta stats might resume when it's worth posting them.
