Springboks vs All Blacks 2
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@antipodean said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:
@Crazy-Horse said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:
Re Sotutu, do we know why he has been absent from the Auckland team lately?
Because he's playing for Counties?
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@No-Quarter said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:
The focus for change should be on the loose forwards, but the squad selection has left us nowhere to go there.
Ardie's form warrants being benched, but we don't have anyone to replace him as we left Sotutu out despite him being in career best form so we only have complete rookie Sititi to fall back on.
Cane and Paps are as good as we have at 7, so either of them is fine.
Blackadder is really struggling with the physicality needed at 6. He hasn't played badly, and he has a high work rate, but he does not make dominant tackles and has zero impact with ball in hand. The coaches made their bed with rookie Finau but surprise surprise, he's finding the step up to test level a bit tough. Again we've left ourselves nowhere to go as we let Akira in career best form leave NZ rugby altogether.
That's where the ABs biggest weakness by miles is right now, and it was SAs loosies that got them over the line in the end. Our tight 5 and backline are outstanding - Vaa'i and Darry have been revelations in the locking department - but we're being let down big time by our loose forwards.
Voice of fucking reason right here, agree with every word.
I'd also like to see Ratima start,. but that's not really going to shift the dial massively.
And agree with the sentiment on BB, it really looks like time to move on here - amazing career, thanks for everything, but it's time for new blood.
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On the loose forwards, it does concern me that a bunch of people on a forum known for awful analysis, incorrect conclusions and zero insight could see the problems with the squad selections as soon as they were announced, but the coaching group being paid the big bucks couldn't.
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@antipodean said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:
@Crazy-Horse said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:
Re Sotutu, do we know why he has been absent from the Auckland team lately?
Because he's playing for Counties?
Fuck I am getting old!
Edit - just checked and he wasn't in the listed team this week for Counties. He wasn't a couple of weeks ago too when I bothered to take a look. Is he injured?
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@nzzp said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:
@No-Quarter said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:
The focus for change should be on the loose forwards, but the squad selection has left us nowhere to go there.
Who's responsible for loose forward selection again?
only mildly trolling - but the loosies selection got grief at the time for being 'samey' and you can see it play out poorly now. That was a really bad loss for us - where do you go now with the squad you've got?
I have a theory that Robertson may have a blind spot to players that were like him as a player. It would explain the predominance of 6.5 that we selected. Who knows though.
or he could have a preference for the types of players that have have served him well so far, which is at super rugby level ,
workrate grafters over physically dominant types who win collisions
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@kiwiinmelb said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:
workrate grafters over physically dominant types who win collisions
60 letters to type 'Ethan Blackadder'
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@pakman he should be available. 3 matches original. I think it was reduced.
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@kiwiinmelb said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:
@nzzp said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:
@No-Quarter said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:
The focus for change should be on the loose forwards, but the squad selection has left us nowhere to go there.
Who's responsible for loose forward selection again?
only mildly trolling - but the loosies selection got grief at the time for being 'samey' and you can see it play out poorly now. That was a really bad loss for us - where do you go now with the squad you've got?
I have a theory that Robertson may have a blind spot to players that were like him as a player. It would explain the predominance of 6.5 that we selected. Who knows though.
or he could have a preference for the types of players that have have served him well so far, which is at super rugby level ,
workrate grafters over physically dominant types who win collisions
It's the cantablacks all over again. Mitch and Deans always had a horn for a good journeyman
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@No-Quarter said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:
but he does not make dominant tackles and has zero impact with ball in hand
The bit that irks me is watching him try to attend a breakdown and getting spat out the back. And then everyone loving that he's a real pest at the breakdown despite being probably the most manhandled player.
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Howzit gents. I was at the game on Saturday and it was every bit as physical as you can imagine. Heard the collisions - a top notch heavy-weight encounter that did justice to our sport. Anyway that being said I think this week in Cape Town could be very interesting. I suspect (from Rassie comments) that we will see some backline tweaks. I will not be surprised to see Grant Williams start at 9 with Lukhanyo Am coming in at 12. With Arendse out Canan Moodie most likely to fill that spot. Siya is out so will be interesting to see what happens there. And then #10 is going to be quite the debate. Solid money says Sasha continues but some of Rassie's comments makes me think he could do something weird there... I prefer he sticks with Sasha but then I am not the Bok coach
Look forward to another epic clash. -
Here’s a thought
Darry and Vaa’i in the engine room
Scooter, Cane/Paps, SaveaBlackadder and Cane/Paps on the pine
Possibly Finau too -
@MiketheSnow Blackadder isn't getting dropped.
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@Bones said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:
@MiketheSnow Blackadder isn't getting dropped.
He isn’t
He’s there to combat a fresh as a daisy KwaggaStop Kwagga in the last 20 and you have a chance of coming away with a win
Same goes for Marks
Both those players are used to their utmost and invariably change the shape and result of a match
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@voodoo said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:
I'd also like to see Ratima start,. but that's not really going to shift the dial massively.
I think it would. His first instinct is to get the ball to DMac as quickly as possible.
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I'd be saying cut out all dinks and cross field bombs in your own half.
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@BerniesCorner said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:
@voodoo said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:
I'd also like to see Ratima start,. but that's not really going to shift the dial massively.
I think it would. His first instinct is to get the ball to DMac as quickly as possible.
Look, I’m keen to see it as I said - guess I’m just not expecting it to be the panacea. He’ll make mistakes, there will be some trade-offs from TJ (who actually played OK last weekend other than a couple of dithers and the major brain/mouth fart)
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Further to my above post
Make a cup of tea
Most observers believe the ‘Bomb Squad’ is responsible for much of SA’s success
It’s more nuanced than that, and it’s the nuances which make more of a difference I believe
And which makes Rassie one of the all-time best coaches
Every coach endeavours to identify, select and develop at least 2, preferably 3 players in each position who will fit into the coach’s system and philosophy
Whilst there is a pecking order in the ability from 1st choice to 3rd choice the goal is to minimise the fall off of performance as you work through the ranks
In an ideal world the best XV will take the field and remain on the field
But with the nature of the modern game’s substitutions and forced and unenforced stoppages (‘injury’ breaks) it’s a rare match where all 23 players are not involved at some stage of the match
Selection of the 23 and the starting XV is paramount
If you keep too many of your best players on the bench to impact the match later on you may / would normally find that the match has already gone away from you and even these great players can’t affect the outcome
What Rassie does better than anyone else I believe is select a starting XV which will be in contention at the 50-60 minute mark
From the 50th minute he’s looking to introduce individuals or groups of players who are arguably not the best in their position but who are the smartest and most analytical thinkers
Referees are more lenient earlier on in the match with regards to penalising and definitely YC for professionalism, weak scrums and killing the ball
So as the referee warms into the match and begins to see patterns developing he’s more likely to penalise those committing the transgressions more frequently and more severely
This is where players like Marks and Kwagga come in
The drop off in ability from whom they replace is slight
Invariably these are the thinkers
Rassie and they have identified where they can have the most impact on the match with the least amount of censureWhilst both these players get penalised, they’re not penalty magnets
They commit their fouls in the right part of the park at the right time
Unlike other teams where the substitutes are behind the pace of the game and make dumb decisions which result in penalties and/or YCs
If SA are in the lead when players like these come on the referee interprets any 50/50 call in their favour more often than not
In the ref’s mind ‘SA are on top, these players are just reinforcing that. They’re fresh. Must have been the other guy committing the foul’
If SA are losing, they’ll soak up the pressure and seize the moment to turn the ball over when it presents itself. They don’t rush. They don’t let the adrenaline affect their decision making.
They’re fresher and also very skilled at turning the ball over and invariably they win the ball by fair means or get the call if it’s debatable
This then begins to change the narrative in the referee’s mind and if SA start pegging back the score then the referee starts to almost ‘reward’ this new found dominance. If becomes a virtuous cycle.
Conversely, other teams throw in a rookie who isn’t as disciplined and who becomes a penalty magnet
Or throw in a player who plays the game very differently from the player they’ve replaced and then the shape and patterns of play goes to shit
That’s why my suggestion of
Darry, Vaa’i
Scooter, Cane/Paps, ArdieBlackadder, Cane/Paps and possibly Finau
makes more sense than Razor’s selection and substitutions to date
But what do I know, I’m Welsh
