Bledisloe I (All Blacks team room bugged)
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The coaching team appear to be avoiding selecting guys based on only one season. It's a tough policy but considering the amount of talent available, it makes sense.<br><br>
Dixon is a good example, he was probably the NZ Super rugby forward of the year in 2015. That wasn't enough though. They asked him to perform again the next year, he did that and they selected him.<br><br>
It's not like guys haven't been rewarded though. Barrett and Perenara have both jumped in the pecking order. I bet Fifita and Fatialofa weren't even on the pecking order previously, they will be now. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="606898" data-time="1471636116">
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<p>Really?</p>
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<p>you mean the highlanders part ?</p>
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<p>yeah , not here I dont think , but in media etc, they won super rugby , forward pack went really well , no ABs selected </p> -
Watched an old Bledisloe test the other night and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw on the park: <br><br>
Woodcock, Mealamu, Ali Williams, McAlister, Toeava, Howlett, Rokocoko, Muliaina <br><br>
I thought surely not 8 players from the Blues playing under Henry in a 2006 Bledisloe. How the hell did he sneak that many in when the Crusaders won the title. Criminal that such biased selection could infiltrate the national side. <br><br>
Perhaps a human night for the Knighted one. <br><br>
By the way, we won. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="606907" data-time="1471638646">
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<p>The coaching team appear to be avoiding selecting guys based on only one season. It's a tough policy but considering the amount of talent available, it makes sense.<br><br>
Dixon is a good example, he was probably the NZ Super rugby forward of the year in 2015. That wasn't enough though. They asked him to perform again the next year, he did that and they selected him.<br><br>
It's not like guys haven't been rewarded though. Barrett and Perenara have both jumped in the pecking order. I bet Fifita and Fatialofa weren't even on the pecking order previously, they will be now.</p>
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<p>This. Agree absolutely.</p>
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<p>A few young 'canes have put their names on the list to be watched next year, and if they don't suffer from second year blues and perform, then they could be selection choices.</p>
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<p>Given J Savea's form, the 'canes are lucky to have the number of players they do in the AB23.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="606902" data-time="1471637185">
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<p>IF Reg Goodes had been healthy, I'd have picked him over Kane Hames.</p>
<p>IF Broadhurst was healthy and had had a good season for the Canes, he might have been considered.</p>
<p>IF they weren't already on a plane to their overseas clubs, they could have considered Vito and Jane over Squire and J. Savea.</p>
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<p>The Canes' locks are good, but definitely not better than Whitelock & Retallick. Not even remotely.</p>
<p>Shields was only good in the last few rounds & finals this year, very inconsistent (doing good stuff and absolutely shit stuff in one game) & a penalty magnet. Not even remotely remotely a possible replacement for Kaino.</p>
<p>Woodward? Don't make me laugh ...</p>
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<p>If people are worried about our current AB midfield, they'd even have more reason to worry with Laumape/Aso/Proctor. Talented, but not Riccitelli talented, if you get what I mean.</p>
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<p><span style="color:#ff0000;">So, no, I don't see any Canes player that I would consider for AB duties over any current ABs. But that's stating the obvious.</span></p>
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<p>But these very players bettered the Crusaders who I assume you think deserve their place in the squad. Some of the Crusaders ABs are fairly ordinary (Dagg is only up to much except in a winning team). Ill be keen to see how Taylor goes tomorrow because last year he was ordinary when he got game time (granted not much and thank god for that).</p>
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<p>But its interesting players like both Canes locks were not considered even for the full squad. Shield was excellent at the end but this suddenly doesn't count. And I would like to see Proctor get a run at the next level. Shag is not selecting fairly. And I would be annoyed if a ex Canes coach / supporter did the same thing benefiting the Canes. Its not good. Boyd needs to have a fairly forceful discussion with Shag. Basically to cut the crap and give all players a fair go</p> -
<p>Did Mark Ella take a few heads knocks when he was playing?</p>
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<p>Apparently he thinks Hanson is jealous of Cheika because Cheika won 2015 Coach of the Year. </p>
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<p>Does he thinks Hanson kicks his cat called Cheika every morning while wearing his 2015 RWC branded onesie, and looking for his weetbix in the All Blacks Bledisloe Cup Champions 2015 branded Tin which is hidden behind the stack of winners medals for the Rugby Championship? Hanson then finds the milk beside the massive list of NZ players who are playing good enough super rugby footy to be at least considered for the ABs. Jealous? Yeah, nah.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11697727'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11697727</a></p> -
The banter in the press this week has been pathetic. Is this what they have to resort to in order to get column inches in an Olympic week?<br><br>
I know Hanson doesn't give a fuck, but does he have to answer every question, no matter how angled? -
Hansen is also under a bit of pressure because critics have questioned just how good a coach he is. Without attempting to be condescending Mickey Mouse could probably coach the All Blacks to victory, such is the discipline and strength of the current New Zealand squad."<br><br>
That articlae from Ella is thè sort of trashyou'd expect from an attentionseeking opinion columnist who'd never played. <br><br>
Just absolute rubbish. I thought higher of him than that<br><br>
Those figures Mick from GC gave about the wallabies cavalry and their recent playing appearances is quite startling. No rugby for 3 months and you're relying on them to have the gas in the tank to beat the world champs?<br><br>
As mentioned what's the message to younger players coming through with ARU contracts? Sit tight while we once more pick aging heroes of yesteryear who haven't played since May? Perhaps they'll all put in best of career performances and we can forget about being whitewashed by the poms for a week. Then we'll begin rebuilding again?<br><br>
But apparently Australian rugby is in great shape... -
<img src="http://ukuleleclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/dadsarmy.jpg" alt="dadsarmy.jpg"><br><br>
"Who do you think you are kidding Michael Checker - if you think you're going to win" -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Winger" data-cid="606914" data-time="1471640796">
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<p>But its interesting players like both Canes locks were not considered even for the full squad. Shield was excellent at the end but this suddenly doesn't count. And I would like to see Proctor get a run at the next level. Shag is not selecting fairly. And I would be annoyed if a ex Canes coach / supporter did the same thing benefiting the Canes. Its not good. Boyd needs to have a fairly forceful discussion with Shag. Basically to cut the crap and give all players a fair go</p>
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<p>I think you have to go even further than that. You have a guy like Read as captain who is pretty much there because he is a Crusader (as was Richie who was pretty much a Crusader puppet too - notice a pattern?). Should have stripped Read of the captaincy and given it to Coles.</p>
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<p>Read did deserve it though for the Wales series as the Crusaders were leading the table going into the June tests, but a month is a long time in rugby.</p>
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<p>That's if Hansen should be coach at all. A Boyd/Umaga ticket (yes the Blues were average this year and he is a younger coach but Umaga has a special pedigree from his playing days that I just can't quite put my finger on) would probably give us a better shot tonight. Tew has a bit of thinking to do around that.</p>
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<p>That's if Tew should be CEO. Avan Lee just won the SR title in his 2nd year, while Tew is definitely yesterday's man.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="606918" data-time="1471641722">
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<p>I know Hanson doesn't give a fuck, but does he have to answer every question, no matter how angled?</p>
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I am very one eyed but Cheika really does give off the vibe that the comments get to him - especially the one about Eddie getting one over on him where Cheika said that he was being kicked while he was down etc, etc - he genuinely looked sad. Shag seems to enjoy it the banter, but if we start losing that will quickly change.</p> -
I like Cheika. He's undoubtedly a good coach and I like the cut of his jib.<br><br>
He gets asked a lot of asinine shit at press conferences too<br><br>
I guess he's got a further 3 years to build a team but even next year surely the likes of Genia, Giteau, AAC can't be the spine of it. <br><br>
It looks a little like the ARU striving for some quick wins in the publicity and profile of the game but I can sympathise with their plight. Players chasing career options off shore is now a fait accompli and that's a difficult thing to address.<br><br>
To lose someone like Liam Gill or even Mowen before they've fired many shots seems a shame. But I can see the reasons. <br><br>
Its easy to put the boot in to Aus rugby but there is a defo change in mood from the days of Aus rugby playing their expansive, we'll do it our way that characterised their success previously. I'm talking about their teams admittedly a long time ago with Herbert, Larkham, Roff, George. Back then Aus only really had a team of 15 genuines but their tackling and attacking mindset, clarity of tactics, awareness of weaknesses and fuck you, we'll do it our way attitude really stood out.<br><br>
Quite a contrast to the latest lineout drive or long kick that seems to characterise the rugby here now.<br><br>
And the fucking whining....joking<br><br>
Anyway as always the scoreboard in 9 or so hours will be the determinant of both countries fortunes<br><br>
Abs to score 3 tries in the last 15 mins -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="606929" data-time="1471644052">
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<p>I am very one eyed but Cheika really does give off the vibe that the comments get to him - especially the one about Eddie getting one over on him where Cheika said that he was being kicked while he was down etc, etc - he genuinely looked sad. Shag seems to enjoy it the banter, but if we start losing that will quickly change.</p>
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<p>Yeah - it's easy to dish it out when you're on top. </p>
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<p>I'd rather we didn't much engage in these pre-game verbal spats - especially ones that we're provoking.</p> -
Spying?<br><br>
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11697828'>http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11697828</a> -
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"The All Blacks suspected some of their team rooms may have been bugged during last year's World Cup in England but they didn't have the sort of sophisticated equipment they needed to detect any listening devices"<br><br>
Its not paranoia when they really are out to get you! -
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11697828&ref=NZH_Tw'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11697828&ref=NZH_Tw</a></p>
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<p>A sophisticated listening device was discovered in the All Blacks' team room in their hotel ahead of tonight's test against the Wallabies.</p>
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<p>The device - the sort used by law enforcement and spying agencies - had been planted in a chair in the Sydney hotel where the team have been staying since Sunday, the <i>Herald</i> has learned.</p>
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<p>It is unclear whether police will be called in but the hotel has launched its own investigation.</p>
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<p>Would be huge if the ARU had anything to do with it.</p>
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<p>Not sure what to think really. If our coaching team can't even set up a decent lineout I'm not sure how they pull off a sophisticated surveillance regime.</p>
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<p>But still... very strange.</p>
