All Blacks vs Wales Test #2
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tordah" data-cid="589371" data-time="1466242052">
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<p>any news on Cruden?</p>
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<p>According to radio he's been taken to hospital.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="dingo" data-cid="589362" data-time="1466241808">
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<p>I'm not sure Sopanga's (or indeed Cruden's) covering defensive game is as good as BBs now is and that is probably from the time he has spent at fullback.</p>
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<p>Carter's was awesome.</p>
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<p>Yeah was real good on that the welsh try there, Lima's d far superior</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tordah" data-cid="589371" data-time="1466242052">
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<p>any news on Cruden?</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11659106'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11659106</a></p>
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<p>Aaron Cruden was taken from the field in the 32nd minute of the All Blacks second test against Wales with a suspected neck injury.<br><br>
Cruden went in to contact with a couple of Welsh forwards and appeared to go down awkwardly.<br><br>
Referee Jaco Peyper stopped play as Cruden was tended to in the middle of the field.<br><br>
Play did not resume for several minutes while Cruden was taken from the field via medicab.<br><br>
According to Sky TV, <strong>Cruden was taken to Wellington Hospital during the halftime break for precautionary x-rays.</strong></p>
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<p>Better game from both teams this week.</p>
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<p>I hope they keep the back 3 for next week; Crotty-Tamanivalu midfield, A Smith-Barrett with Sopoaga on the bench. I hope to see Codie Taylor and Ardie Savea to get a start next week, and Elliott Dixon instead of Kaino.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Gunner" data-cid="589370" data-time="1466242045"><p>30 minutes of decent rugby was enough to win this one, but god the other 50 minutes were awful.</p></blockquote>
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It's funny I thought the test was fine the whole way through. Lots of physicality from both sides. Great defence by Wales. Equally good defence by the ABs. Once the ABs were able to build momentum the pressure was on Wales to maintain the intensity. <br><br>
It was better than last week and we were forced to play a completely new 10-12-13 for most of the game. -
<p>Not sure Sopoaga will add enough as a player from the bench....certainly no one in world rugby brings anything near what BB does form the bench anyway.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mattasaurus" data-cid="589377" data-time="1466242221"><p>Yeah was real good on that the welsh try there, Lima's d far superior</p></blockquote>
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"Far". I wouldn't go that far -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="589234" data-time="1466239035">
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<p>Crotty has been great on defence thus far. I'd like to see a Crotty - Tamanivalu combo. Might work better than Fekitoa.</p>
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<p>And it did!</p>
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<p>Fekitoa has been borderline rubbish in the 2 tests so far. Apart from suffering a faceplant and kicking the ball away, Tamanivalu looked much better. All of a sudden the backline clicked.</p>
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<p>Mass changes for the 3rd test I hope, get Sopoaga, McKenzie, Taylor, Squire, Dixon etc involved.</p>
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<p>MOTM by a mile: Read. Outstanding.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="589367" data-time="1466241929">
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<p>His covering defence is like Cullys, in that his pace gets him in the right place</p>
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<p>True, but like the kick over the top earlier that he caught in the 22 and claimed a fair catch you have to see what might be on to be close to the right place to then use your pace.</p>
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<p>I remember when BB couldn't hit a tackle bag so anything is a massive improvement.</p>
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<p>That last Welsh try though, I think you're a bit unfair, he made two tackles trying to stop it while playing first five and for most first fives,two tackles a match is written into the job description....</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="589381" data-time="1466242373"><p>
Not sure Sopoaga will add enough as a player from the bench....certainly no one in world rugby brings anything near what BB does form the bench anyway.</p></blockquote>
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Sopoaga will get the start I feel.<br><br>
Hard on Barrett but management have been preparing both him and the public for it by continually talking about what a great super sub he is. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="dingo" data-cid="589387" data-time="1466242548">
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<p>True, but like the kick over the top earlier that he caught in the 22 and claimed a fair catch you have to see what might be on to be close to the right place to then use your pace.</p>
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<p>That last Welsh try though, I think you're a bit unfair, he made two tackles trying to stop it while playing first five and for most first fives,two tackles a match is written into the job description....</p>
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<p>A bit unfair? Not being unfair to anyone</p>
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<p>His pace gets him into places other players cant, cos they arent as quick...he showed great smarts by not driving that tackle and staying on his feet.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="589295" data-time="1466240251">
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<p>Try Barrett! Are you Barrett haters still thinking he's so terrible?</p>
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<p>No-one hates Barrett settle down man!</p>
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<p>He is often a terrible goal-kicker though. I think that is about the only criticism he gets.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="589391" data-time="1466242689"><p>
No-one hates Barrett settle down man!<br><br>
He is often a terrible goal-kicker though. I think that is about the only criticism he gets.</p></blockquote>
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Game management... -
Some good rugby played by both sides but Wales fell apart a little in defence in that 2nd half.<br>
Turning point was around the 50 minute mark when Naholo got away with a blatant yellow, a then that Warburton interception & Faletau dropped pass with the tryline beckoning. NZ then broke down field to score - a real 14 point turnaround.<br>
NZ irresistible at times, BB is a wonderful footballer as is Ben Smith & Dagg - these guys create space out of nothing. Fabulous players. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="589348" data-time="1466241265">
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<p>Excellent second half performance from the All Blacks after a mediocre first half. <strong>I wonder what was said at half time</strong>?</p>
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<p>Sorry Malakai but we're sending out Tamnivalu.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="589376" data-time="1466242186"><p>Great come back from Wales at the end.<br><br>
Nice to win again. But..<br><br>
A mixed bad from the All Blacks tonight. Impressive for 30 minutes, but that that's a long way for the 80 minutes high-quality win we crave.</p></blockquote>
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We held a tier one side to no tries for 38 minutes in the first half. If say that was pretty damn good. <br><br>
Then the 2nd half we built pressure defensively and in attack for a good 25-30 minutes. So that's close to 70 minutes of good quality rugby IMO.
