All Blacks vs Wales Test #2
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<p>Overall I think it was a better performance than last week from the ABs.</p>
<p>None of huge defensive lapses we saw last week (well until very late in the game maybe)</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>Read was awesome. Getting back to his best.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
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<p>Overall ref was fine though as far as i can remember.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>Dagg was strong in his return and good to see him and Smith get tries in their 50th games.</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="dingo" data-cid="589235" data-time="1466239057"><p>
Somebody is drunk again.<br><br>
TBF I've enjoyed Panhead and Garage Project tonight.<br><br>
Fekitoa has been hooked at half time!</p></blockquote>
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And lost my glasses... remember I'm older than 75% of you fluffybunnies -
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.<br><br>
His clearing kicks do suck though. Shame. -
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.<br><br>
Years gone by he would have shoved or hit back. Great maturity.<br><br>
I think he's my current favourite AB -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="589448" data-time="1466246018"><p>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</p></blockquote>
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Cruden was pretty average as well before going off. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="589474" data-time="1466248524">
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<p>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.<br><br>
Years gone by he would have shoved or hit back. Great maturity.<br><br>
I think he's my current favourite AB</p>
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<p>I noticed that too. You could see him thinking to himself "I would normally shove the shit out of you" but controlled himself.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="589474" data-time="1466248524">
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<p>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.<br><br>
Years gone by he would have shoved or hit back. Great maturity.<br><br>
I think he's my current favourite AB</p>
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<p>I think the good Whitelock is mine. Will soon be the most capped AB lock ever but unlike Jones his form hasn't (yet) fallen off a cliff. He just keeps catching (and stealing) lineout balls, pushing in scrums, hitting rucks, tackling like a maniac and playing 80 minutes....and like today on a breakout gets himself upfeild after 70 minutes to be one of the guys holding a guy up for a "turnover from maul". What an engine.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="589452" data-time="1466246425">
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>Well I dont think he is a special 7, he just seems to lack the strength at the break down and seems to hang off alot. Looks like a back playing as loose forward at test level so far. I want him to get some more mongrel and help his tight forwards a bit more.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Baron Silas Greenback" data-cid="589491" data-time="1466249403">
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<p>Well I dont think he is a special 7, he just seems to lack the strength at the break down and seems to hang off alot. Looks like a back playing as loose forward at test level so far. I want him to get some more mongrel and help his tight forwards a bit more.</p>
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<p>Well we've been watching different players. The test match sample size is too small but at other levels he shows as much strength at the breakdown as any other loose forwards in NZ and more strength with ball in hand than any.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Baron Silas Greenback" data-cid="589491" data-time="1466249403">
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<p>Well I dont think he is a special 7, he just seems to lack the strength at the break down and seems to hang off alot. Looks like a back playing as loose forward at test level so far. I want him to get some more mongrel and help his tight forwards a bit more.</p>
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<p>Yeah, nah.</p>
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<p>Yeah, if he was a starter then yes, helping his tight forwards out more like Sam Cane can/does is important. As a specialist bench sitter, then nah, simply being the athlete he is naturally is perhaps is more important - having the pace to support the ball carrier and score that try.</p>
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<p>Todays match demonstrated why he isn't a starter though.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="589096" data-time="1466206662">
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<p>I grew up in Wellington y'all.</p>
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<p>Now I know you are lying. Nobody grows up in Wellington, they only grow sideways.</p>
<p>That is why all the Hurricane locks have to be imported from Auckland Christchurch and Taranaki..</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="589399" data-time="1466242923"><p>so the Welshman was lucky to stay on later on when he did the exact same thing with not even a penalty?<br><br>
Those mid-air collisions are such a lottery these days!</p></blockquote>
Possibly yes, anything in the air is a big no no these days.<br>
The Naholo one was worse as he ran into and tackled someone in mid air while Patchell was pretty stationary.<br>
Just think Naholo needs to be reigned in somewhat as I'm sure Hanson won't be too pleased if he does something similar in the rugby championship in a tight match and does end up taking 10minutes out.<br>
He also had the no arms shoulder on Liam Williams (who milked it), but again some refs will give yellow for that. It's unnecessary & will impact on the team at some point. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Baron Silas Greenback" data-cid="589491" data-time="1466249403">
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<p>Well I dont think he is a special 7, he just seems to lack the strength at the break down and seems to hang off alot. Looks like a back playing as loose forward at test level so far. I want him to get some more mongrel and help his tight forwards a bit more.</p>
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<p>ha ha - the BOP Cane boy.</p>
<p>At least <u><em>try </em></u>to be objective. Baron</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="589408" data-time="1466243625">
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<p>Kieran Read is looking like the best player in the world again.</p>
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<p>I do believe that would disturb the known fact that the Wallaby No 8 is the best ever in that position.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mick Gold Coast QLD" data-cid="589530" data-time="1466254266">
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<p>I do believe that would disturb the known fact that the Wallaby No 8 is the best ever in that position.</p>
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<p>Who?</p> -
Good game. Welsh gave it a massive nudge, but we lifted when the opportunity arose. <br><br>
Missed the last 5 minutes as the recording cut out but assume we won easy. <br><br>
Huge games from Read and A Smith. Tamanivalu better than I thought he could be. Naholo much better. <br><br>
Far from perfect but a good win. <br><br>
One thing I noted: Owen Franks lives offside when defending in midfield -
<p>After reading the comments on this thread I'm going to re-watch the match in the morning before posting any of mine because on first viewing I didn't rate the ABs (and certain players) as high as most posters seemed to have. As an example, I'm over Naholo as a player, I don't think his attack makes up for his shortcomings and feel he had a worse match this week than last (non of the awesome attack to balance out the dumb stuff) yet many posters seemed to think he went ok. So yep, definitely needs the re-watch.</p>
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<p>I agree with you on Naholo Nepia. Didn't do much for me.</p>
