All Blacks 2024
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@African-Monkey thanks
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2024:
@kpkanz said in All Blacks 2024:
@Bones Even more ironic that Narawa has been playing center the entirety of the NPC since being out of All Blacks camp (I'd say EXTREMELY likely at the request of Razor).
Would be hilarious if he usurps Rieko as starting center.
I think Narawa can be a future great All Black, reminds me a lot of Sivivatu, very high spatial awareness and game IQ. Game looks slow motion for him.
I’d say it’s more to do with the fact that two of the better regular Steamer players play on the wing and having a player like Narawa that could be called up for the ABs at the drop of a hat means don’t disrupt that back 3. He has looked okay at centre though.
I guess I just find it hard to believe that when an All Black is released to NPC to get some game time, that the NPC coach can override the wishes of the national coach and play them out of position, making the entire exercise pointless and potentially hindering the national team. (devils advocate, you can argue here that actually Narawa is so out of the ABs picture that Robertson let the Steamer coach know he can play him wherever he chooses, although I highly doubt that is the situation).
We've seen this before, Jordie was suddenly being played at 12 for the hurricanes well before he actually started at 12 for the ABs.
Rieko played at center for the Blues before doing so for the ABs etc.
Unless I'm mistaken, I believe both these times it had been confirmed the AB coaches had made these requests to the super coaches. So it seems quite convenient that where Narawa had primarily played wing/fullback for the last 2 years for the steamers, he is now suddenly playing center right after leaving ABs camp and at a time that we don't have much depth at center currently.
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2024:
@kpkanz said in All Blacks 2024:
@Bones Even more ironic that Narawa has been playing center the entirety of the NPC since being out of All Blacks camp (I'd say EXTREMELY likely at the request of Razor).
Would be hilarious if he usurps Rieko as starting center.
I think Narawa can be a future great All Black, reminds me a lot of Sivivatu, very high spatial awareness and game IQ. Game looks slow motion for him.
You're the only one.
I'll bookmark this for when Narawa becomes our starting center by this time next year.
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A couple of points which seems to be an overall trend of the AB's rather than game specific comments.
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Our attack is ok, we're scoring more than enough points to win games, I'm getting increasingly annoyed at the commentary that "We had chances to put away the game (i.e. score more points), but didn't take them". We shipped 38 against the Argies, and 31 against SA. If the thought is that if we just simply score 50 points a game and we will win, well goodness me - that's not smart or realistic thinking in the slightest. Which leads us into...
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Our defence and disclipline has cost us badly, our poor disclipline has lead to us playing a lot of the game in the crunch moments in our own half. Our goal-line defence off the pick and go close to the line in particular has been awful, what makes this worse is that bashing the ball in close to the line is a low risk attacking method. We aren't asking teams to take chances or use high-risk plays to score points because they can bash through us playing low risk rugby This has to be fixed immediately or we will continue to lose games.
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Our bench as a whole, quite simply has been dreadful. The quibble isn't even the fact that they're coming on and having no impact but the fact that they're making things CONSIDERABLY WORSE when they get onto the field. It's very odd because if you look at the players they are all "impact" players.
Whether it's because they can't fit into the systems (player issue), or know the systems so they can fit in (coaching issue) or simpy dion't have the skills or temprement to fit into the game plan and execute (player and coaching issue) I really don't know. What I do know however is that when it comes to the use of the bench we are being outsmarted tatcially and executionally and ultimately that falls on the coachs.
So it's defence and the last 20 minutes of the game that are costing us dearly and we won't start a winning trend until we fix these.
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@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2024:
A couple of points which seems to be an overall trend of the AB's rather than game specific comments.
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Our attack is ok, we're scoring more than enough points to win games, I'm getting increasingly annoyed at the commentary that "We had chances to put away the game (i.e. score more points), but didn't take them". We shipped 38 against the Argies, and 31 against SA. If the thought is that if we just simply score 50 points a game and we will win, well goodness me - that's not smart or realistic thinking in the slightest. Which leads us into...
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Our defence and disclipline has cost us badly, our poor disclipline has lead to us playing a lot of the game in the crunch moments in our own half. Our goal-line defence off the pick and go close to the line in particular has been awful, what makes this worse is that bashing the ball in close to the line is a low risk attacking method. We aren't asking teams to take chances or use high-risk plays to score points because they can bash through us playing low risk rugby This has to be fixed immediately or we will continue to lose games.
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Our bench as a whole, quite simply has been dreadful. The quibble isn't even the fact that they're coming on and having no impact but the fact that they're making things CONSIDERABLY WORSE when they get onto the field. It's very odd because if you look at the players they are all "impact" players.
Whether it's because they can't fit into the systems (player issue), or know the systems so they can fit in (coaching issue) or simpy dion't have the skills or temprement to fit into the game plan and execute (player and coaching issue) I really don't know. What I do know however is that when it comes to the use of the bench we are being outsmarted tatcially and executionally and ultimately that falls on the coachs.
So it's defence and the last 20 minutes of the game that are costing us dearly and we won't start a winning trend until we fix these.
Sounds like Wales
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Razor forged a reputation at the Crusaders as a ruthless selector but currently his decisions around subs and selections are as bad as Foster pre-Schmidt. If we don't win this Rugby Championship (which is looking highly likely) he should introduce an independent selector like Hansen/Foster had with Grant Fox.
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The ABs atm and their selections are doing my head in. It's a large case of try the same shit with the same players and expect different results. I agree with @darylmitchell, we need to stop giving players that have had plenty of chances to prove themselves time in the Black jersey. ALB and Ioane aren't cutting it for me in the centres, we need to give Proctor a run there. Bring Numia in for Ofa, he dismantled Canterbury's scrum yesterday and once again showed why he should be an AB after being the form prop in Super. Guys like Sititi, Lakai etc aswell are players that will propel the ABs and allow us to play the expansive game that many of us desire.
A big issue atm is when we've got Blackadder on the park with Cane/Papali'i we have F all go forward on attack and this is severely inhibiting our ability to get to the edges and release our attacking weapons.
I'd love to see the below 23 get a run on the end of year tour. I'm done with the 'hard hitting 7', we need someone that has the ability to be effective on both sides of the ball. Oh the irony.
- Wiliams
- Taylor
- Lomax
- S Barrett
- Darry
- Blackadder
- Lakai
- Savea
- Roigard
- McKenzie
- Clarke
- J Barrett
- Proctor
- Jordan
- Love
- Aumua
- Numia
- Newell
- Va'ai
- Sititi
- Ratima
- B Barrett
- Ioane
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This post is deleted!
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@Canes4life I like that 23, although I think Vai'i is probably a starter over Darry for me. He's been one of our best all year.
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Sick of Razor's needlessly disruptive use of the subs, and his selection of bench players who don't make a positive impact.
We are losing our structure in the last 20 minutes of every test, stop rearranging the f---ing backline around to shoehorn the sideways running backline shape destroying Telea & ALB into 13.
If you have to just take off one of the wingers and the halfback to minimize the disruption to our attack, it's ruining our cohesion and momentum.
Having said that, how can you not score a single try in the last 20 minutes of 7 tests after bringing a complete bench of fresh players onto the field? It's unforgivable.
Ofa, ALB, Finau, Telea, etc. would rather have guys like Tosi/Numia, Tupaea/Proctor, Lakai, AJ Lam, etc. coming on than overrated duds like ALB, Telea who stink up the backline shape by crabbing sideways and killing our momentum on attack.
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@kpkanz said in All Blacks 2024:
I guess I just find it hard to believe that when an All Black is released to NPC to get some game time, that the NPC coach can override the wishes of the national coach and play them out of position, making the entire exercise pointless and potentially hindering the national team. (devils advocate, you can argue here that actually Narawa is so out of the ABs picture that Robertson let the Steamer coach know he can play him wherever he chooses, although I highly doubt that is the situation).
I don't think NPC coaches give a flying fuck what the All Blacks coach wants - they're too busy trying to make their own squad win.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024:
The ABs atm and their selections are doing my head in. It's a large case of try the same shit with the same players and expect different results. I agree with @darylmitchell, we need to stop giving players that have had plenty of chances to prove themselves time in the Black jersey. ALB and Ioane aren't cutting it for me in the centres, we need to give Proctor a run there.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks 2024:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024:
The ABs atm and their selections are doing my head in. It's a large case of try the same shit with the same players and expect different results. I agree with @darylmitchell, we need to stop giving players that have had plenty of chances to prove themselves time in the Black jersey. ALB and Ioane aren't cutting it for me in the centres, we need to give Proctor a run there.
I suppose you enjoy the ABs losing then?
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One thing that annoyed me was the Sky post match. Not exactly surprising, but way too much focus / phrase for the Boks rather than looking critically at our weaknesses. The Boks are great yes, but make no mistake, we fucked up.
Not a word about Beauden kicking the ball away twice at the death.
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@foobaNZ said in All Blacks 2024:
One thing that annoyed me was the Sky post match. Not exactly surprising, but way too much focus / phrase for the Boks rather than looking critically at our weaknesses. The Boks are great yes, but make no mistake, we fucked up.
Not a word about Beauden kicking the ball away twice at the death.
Dagg got 66 caps.
Cullen got 60
Rokocoko got 68
Julian Savea got 54
Ben Smith got 84 and was eased aside unceremoniously in 2019 RWC.Beauden Barrett has 128 caps.......44 more caps than Ben from accounts.
NZ was always historically ruthless with their outside backs. When the legs go, its off to the knackers yard.
For some reason our selectors are as gun shy with dropping people as Beauden is on the field.
His last 40 or so caps have been unremarkable to distinctly average.
One of my favourite ever players just shiting all over his own legacy.
In the squad as a 10 and has monopolised the 15 shirt.
Bonkers carry on.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2024:
@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024:
The ABs atm and their selections are doing my head in. It's a large case of try the same shit with the same players and expect different results. I agree with @darylmitchell, we need to stop giving players that have had plenty of chances to prove themselves time in the Black jersey. ALB and Ioane aren't cutting it for me in the centres, we need to give Proctor a run there.
I suppose you enjoy the ABs losing then?
Yeah, in my deluded state I keep thinking the reason we're not winning is some unproven bloke called Proctor who can unlock every defence, win every lineout, scrum, ruck and maul.
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@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2024:
The ABs atm and their selections are doing my head in. It's a large case of try the same shit with the same players and expect different results. I agree with @darylmitchell, we need to stop giving players that have had plenty of chances to prove themselves time in the Black jersey. ALB and Ioane aren't cutting it for me in the centres, we need to give Proctor a run there. Bring Numia in for Ofa, he dismantled Canterbury's scrum yesterday and once again showed why he should be an AB after being the form prop in Super. Guys like Sititi, Lakai etc aswell are players that will propel the ABs and allow us to play the expansive game that many of us desire.
A big issue atm is when we've got Blackadder on the park with Cane/Papali'i we have F all go forward on attack and this is severely inhibiting our ability to get to the edges and release our attacking weapons.
I'd love to see the below 23 get a run on the end of year tour. I'm done with the 'hard hitting 7', we need someone that has the ability to be effective on both sides of the ball. Oh the irony.
- Wiliams
- Taylor
- Lomax
- S Barrett
- Darry
- Blackadder
- Lakai
- Savea
- Roigard
- McKenzie
- Clarke
- J Barrett
- Proctor
- Jordan
- Love
- Aumua
- Numia
- Newell
- Va'ai
- Sititi
- Ratima
- B Barrett
- Ioane
I agree with the premise. We have gone fairly stale.
We got an instant uptick when EDG and Lomax were thrown in, along with Fletch and Tamaiti when Fosters back was to the wall.
We similarly need to inject some effervescence into the backs now too. Some youthful enthusiasm.
Be it Ratima, Proctor, Love or otherwise.
Rassie is throwing Sasha and Fassi in at the deep end among others.
So not only are we losing in the here and now, we are also behind in the development stakes.
We have become shrinking violets at the selection table.
And now Razor is in the same pickle that Foster was in. He has lost a couple of games early doors and it ups the ante in every subsequent test. It becomes self preservation instead of innovation.
