All Blacks vs Wales Test #2

Dice

Kieran Read is looking like the best player in the world again.

Toddy

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="589407" data-time="1466243603">
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Why is that? To me it looked like he was jumping for the ball, and would have taken it clean if the Welsh player wasn't there. Or are you (and others) saying he was making some sort of jumping tackle with the intention of taking the Welsh player out? Or that he should not be contesting the ball because the Welsh player jumped fractionally before him? 
I know this is an area of the game they are trying to clamp down on, but it's starting to get a bit silly IMO.
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I only saw one replay, but it didn't look like a genuine contest to me. Also thought he was lucky later on in the game where he appeared to drop the shoulder after the Welshman chip kicked over him.

hydro11

I'm surprised by some of the criticism of the rugby. I thought it was a lot more entertaining than last week.
 
Barrett was good but didn't really answer the criticisms people had of him. I would like to see him start at fullback next week but Dagg was very good.

Gunner

Anyone saying that Naholo deserved a yellow needs their head read. 
He jumped to contest for the ball. 
Coz the other bloke jumped a split second before him, is he supposed to just stand there and watch? 
Get a grip. 
Besides Wales' 15 (forget his name) didn't even get penalised for a similar, but worse offense.

No Quarter

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Toddy" data-cid="589410" data-time="1466243838">I only saw one replay, but it didn't look like a genuine contest to me. Also though he was lucky later on in the game where he appeared to drop the shoulder after the Welshman chip kicked over him.</blockquote>
Agree on the 2nd one, but the replay made the first one look worse then it was. Naholo had eyes for the ball and went for it. Put it into super slow motion and it looks like the Welsh player jumped 2 seconds before, when live it was a fraction of a second.

dingo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="589408" data-time="1466243625">
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Kieran Read is looking like the best player in the world again.
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Its well known that you can't be the best player in the world until you've played through the SH season and then played in the EOYT to the NH when you're buggered but still kicked the arse of whatever pretender the NH scribes have been jizzing over.

kiwiinmelb

For those living overseas the allblacks facebook page has the media conference live

Tim

Hansen just stated that Cruden is OK, and was taken off as a precaution.

ACT Crusader

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Gunner" data-cid="589412" data-time="1466243932">Anyone saying that Naholo deserved a yellow needs their head read. 
He jumped to contest for the ball. 
Coz the other bloke jumped a split second before him, is he supposed to just stand there and watch? 
Get a grip. 
Besides Wales' 15 (forget his name) didn't even get penalised for a similar, but worse offense.</blockquote>
 
I've seen Sivivatu yellow carded for the exact same thing Naholo did tonight. Not saying I think either deserved it, but it could've gone either way. And the fact they replay it on ginormous screens sometimes doesn't help.

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Toddy" data-cid="589410" data-time="1466243838">I only saw one replay, but it didn't look like a genuine contest to me. Also thought he was lucky later on in the game where he appeared to drop the shoulder after the Welshman chip kicked over him.</blockquote>Naholo's talent is obvious but he makes big errors of judgement. If he's not careful the refs will home in on him and he'll stop getting the benefit of the doubt

canefan

BB did a nice job slotting in for AC, I haven't seen much of Seta but he looked 10x more comfortable in MF than Fekitoa, and Crotty looked better at 13. Happy for Dagg, the Dagg Smith pairing plus one power player looks like a very good back 3. We went up a gear or few after about 10 minutes and blew the game apart

hydro11

Naholo deserved a yellow for the late shoulder charge but the contest was just a penalty.It was still stupid for him to go into that collision the way he did. He has to know how that is being refereed.

tubbyj

Fair play Barret was fantastic in the first 20 minutes of the second half. Best period of play at 10 for the All Blacks so far.
 
If he can reproduce that against some tighter defenses/higher pressure and intensity games in the Rugby championship then he may break out of the super sub role.

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="tubbyj" data-cid="589444" data-time="1466245672">Fair play Barret was fantastic in the first 20 minutes of the second half. Best period of play at 10 for the All Blacks so far. 
 
If he can reproduce that against some tighter defenses/higher pressure and intensity games in the Rugby championship then he may break out of the super sub role.</blockquote>I still like him in the super sub role but it's great to know he's got the goods to play a bigger role. With Sopoaga AC and BB we're looking great

Crucial

BB had to step up in the second half after being so shite in the first. Would prefer Lima to start next week if AC is not playing

pukunui

Overall I think it was a better performance than last week from the ABs.
None of huge defensive lapses we saw last week (well until very late in the game maybe)
 
Barrett was good again. His running and passing top notch as always, goal kicked fine and seemed to 'control' the game fine. Still hate his clearing kicking though. seems to only gain 20m. Hard to watch when you have Dagg pealing off 60m.
 
Read was awesome. Getting back to his best.
 
Naholo didn't have the high moments he had last week but also didn't have the low. IMO if his was a penalty the welsh one was exactly the same not long after. How the fuck he wasn't "in a position to catch the ball" or whatever they said i don't know.
To me neither are even penalties though. Players need to be able to contest high kicks. That law is sure designed to stop players tackling or blatantly taking out other jumpers.
 
Overall ref was fine though as far as i can remember.
 
What I have noticed from both tests is the lack of pressure we seem to be putting on the opposition ball. They just seem to be able to hold onto the ball for ages and slowly work down field. I know we have committed minimum numbers to rucks in the past in order to fan out in defence but we don't seem to pressure their ball at all for the first 50 mins. I guess it is working but better attacks might give us issues with all the ball they get.
 
Tamanivalu was decent, he won't like watching replays of that last try though. he got sat on his arse by that fend. Fekitoa not great again. Don't really see what he offers at the moment.
 
Dagg was strong in his return and good to see him and Smith get tries in their 50th games.
 
Another good game by Ardie off the bench, great step and pace for his try. You don't have to rate him over Cane or want him starting for the ABs but if you can't see that he is a special player you are an idiot.
 
Don't want too many changes for nek week. Sopoanga to start, same back three, maybe Tamanivalu or Moala to start with Fekitoa rested, Maybe Dixon and Squire to get time off the bench or maybe one of Ardie/Dixon to start, resting Kaino or Cane, Taylor on the Bench.

dingo

I hope AC is fit and can start next week.
 
otherwise the howls on the TSF when a 37 test match AB first five starts before a 1 test match AB first five will be deafening.

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="dingo" data-cid="589235" data-time="1466239057">
Somebody is drunk again. 
TBF I've enjoyed Panhead and Garage Project tonight. 
Fekitoa has been hooked at half time!</blockquote>
 
And lost my glasses... remember I'm older than 75% of you fluffybunnies

Rancid Schnitzel

I think they should start with BB. He clearly freaks out this particular team. They'll be stressing so much about him that those outside him should benefit big time. The thing about BB is that he's a big boy and offers that physical presence that the other 2 don't have. 
His clearing kicks do suck though. Shame.

Hooroo

My favourite part of the game was when Ex-hot head Coles got shoved and went to retaliate but had a clear moment and just hit the ball out of the Welshmans hands. 
Years gone by he would have shoved or hit back. Great maturity. 
I think he's my current favourite AB

The Silver Fern

All Blacks vs Wales Test #2