All Blacks vs Wales

Catogrande

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="578829" data-time="1462956295">
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except that when Wales make a linebreak they get sudden onset agrophobia and don't know what to do. They look more comfortable running into people and falling over.
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They seemed pretty OK in the wide open spaces against England in RWC.
 
The bastards.

Provincial Stalwart

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="578766" data-time="1462942382">
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This is becoming a Fern myth, Whitelock is hardly unsung. :)
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="578768" data-time="1462942738">
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Oh he plays for the Crusaders eh? 
He is often immense and doesn't get close to the love Retallick or Kaino get.
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Yeah, people on here simply refused to praise him for that lineout steal against the Boks in the RWC semi.
 
Whitelock is often immense, it just seems that Retallick has that little bit more to his game (or is it because he features more in the loose?). They are far and away the best pairing in the game, and might be #1 and #2 in the world as individual locks.
 
AWJ is really good, but so was Kane Douglas in 2015.

Siam

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="578883" data-time="1463002356">
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Yeah, people on here simply refused to praise him for that lineout steal against the Boks in the RWC semi.
 
 
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I had to pause for a moment and remember the sheer relief and elation that moment gave at the time. Talk about crucial moments
 
Thanks for the reminder PS :)

mariner4life

Billy Tell

The moneyshot of the ABs RWC 2015 campaign right there. It's not hard to imagine SA winning that lineout and forcing a maul penalty...final score RSA 21 NZ 20 :(

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="578842" data-time="1462961875">
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They seemed pretty OK in the wide open spaces against England in RWC.
 
The bastards.
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I don't mean the wide open spaces of penalty kicks from between the 22's.
 
I had to go and watch a highlights package in case I missed something. Wales made one good midfield break and the carrier died with the ball as he had no decent support. A try came from a centring kick from the sideline after getting around the outside.
 
Whenever I have seen Wales manipulate a break it's like everyone freezes for a split second trying to work out what to do next. The instincts just aren't there.

Catogrande

Yeah I know what you mean Crucial but the winning score owed nothing to freezing after a break. Sure it was a centering kick but it showed good awareness, skills and pace.
 
And it won them the bloody game against the odds.
 
Did I say bastards earlier?

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="579081" data-time="1463040026">
The moneyshot of the ABs RWC 2015 campaign right there. It's not hard to imagine SA winning that lineout and forcing a maul penalty...final score RSA 21 NZ 20 :(</blockquote> 
Yeah nah. With 5 or so minutes to play if the Boks had kicked it, NZ would have found a way to win. They just had more in the tank, which they showed in every game they played.

MiketheSnow

Two good articles vindicating Gatland's decision to leave the youngsters at home
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/warren-gatlands-selection-spot-on-11316620'>http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/warren-gatlands-selection-spot-on-11316620</a>
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/you-probably-dont-remember-1988-11320847'>http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/you-probably-dont-remember-1988-11320847</a>

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="579150" data-time="1463058747">
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Yeah nah. With 5 or so minutes to play if the Boks had kicked it, NZ would have found a way to win. They just had more in the tank, which they showed in every game they played.
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Speak for yourself.
 
I really didn't enjoy that game. It had SA sneaking it by penalties written all over it. My only enjoyment really was the final whistle.

nzzp

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="579170" data-time="1463072206">
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Speak for yourself.
 
I really didn't enjoy that game. It had SA sneaking it by penalties written all over it. My only enjoyment really was the final whistle.
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I re-watched it again the other day. We just coughed up possession so often with space in front of us - not sure we froze at times, but certainly played a lot of unforced errors.

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="578829" data-time="1462956295">
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except that when Wales make a linebreak they get sudden onset agrophobia and don't know what to do. They look more comfortable running into people and falling over.
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Come on now, they're not Scotland.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="579081" data-time="1463040026">
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The moneyshot of the ABs RWC 2015 campaign right there. It's not hard to imagine SA winning that lineout and forcing a maul penalty...final score RSA 21 NZ 20 :(
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A minute or so before that Whitelock LO steal, the Boks had a LO closer in on the other side of the field. They took that and started their maul drive. We did an excellent job in splintering it and we eventually go the ball. Aaron Smith cleared the ball and that's what resulted in the above Bok LO.

kiwiinmelb

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="579176" data-time="1463080315">
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I re-watched it again the other day. We just coughed up possession so often with space in front of us - not sure we froze at times, but certainly played a lot of unforced errors.
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The weather was shit , Im sure that played a big part , that was for me the most tense part of the WC , a dour struggle in the rain

Provincial Stalwart

You're right billy. If whitelock failed to get that steal we were in major strife.

Davesofthunder

Yep, I was at the game and that moment was just huge! 
I was way more tense during that Semi than the final (which I was lucky enough to also be at)

TeWaio

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Davesofthunder" data-cid="579694" data-time="1463208654">
Yep, I was at the game and that moment was just huge! 
I was way more tense during that Semi than the final (which I was lucky enough to also be at)</blockquote>
 
Same here. Semi was a harrowing, barely enjoyable experience, whereas the final was just like one big party start to finish. 
I think the weather played a part in the general vibe too; cold and heavy rain versus balmy autumn sunshine a week later.

Provincial Stalwart

So, everyone's confidence levels are pretty high for this Wales series. We've looked so good in super rugby, it's only Wales etc. 
But has anyone seriously run numbers on who's missing since we last played? I count 14 of the 33 guys who won us the RWC are missing. That's more than 40% of the last squad. The big six retired, Vito, Slade and b franks off, SBW and messam playing sevens, then NMS, TKB and pauliasi manu all got injured. Add in several others also not available - laulala, thrush, broadhurst, piutau, plus fringe names like buckman, ranger, tom Taylor. There's probably a strong 23 man team in there. The numbers are quite staggering. We lost a decent chunk of players after 2007, but nowhere near the current losses, and suffered through an average 2008 and a poor 2009 after injuries hit. 
Just sayin'.

Catogrande

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="580801" data-time="1463654967">
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So, everyone's confidence levels are pretty high for this Wales series. We've looked so good in super rugby, it's only Wales etc. And you're at home. And you've never lost to Wales at home. And haven't lost to them at all for over 60 years....Just sayin'.
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Billy Tell

We are not losing to Wales at home.

The Silver Fern

All Blacks vs Wales