The Silver Fern

Great to get a win over Ireland at their ground!!
First 50 mins they had us, we were bad, with gaps of good.
Then the last 30 Ireland feel apart, we just pushed back into their half, they just didn't threaten with there bench.

After not playing for 6 weeks we get one we shouldn't have, the guys will take that, put it through the system.
Sititi doesn't miss a step after not playing!! thought BB kept us in it with a couple of touches, but also put us under pressure.
Better final 20!! 10-3 to ABs!!

@Bones who knows, I thought we would revert to specialists in positions, not 3 fullbacks, 3 wingers, 3 opensides in a starting xv lol

@Machpants from what I hear we are sticking to the fast game plan, Razor reckons he can execute it by the 27 RWC.
The players from Fosters team are getting the first shot and then others will be brought in when they don't cut it.

@Bones yep and that was a better game from Jordan, BB let him have the back spot, not that the Wallabies kicked much, but he joined the line well.

Questions:
Did BB play well??? he had a large influence on the game and seemed in the pocket more with Jordan at FB, we didn't start as well but finished better with Dmac coming on. Could we develop that on the tour?

With Cane leaving, whose our dominant tackler in the loose?? Sititi, Finau or Blackadder.

I think that's the most BB has been in the pocket at 10 in the last 12 years! ( not saying it was his best game, but he stayed there)

Jordan, ALB, Sititi!!

Tupou trying everything to get off the field but coach won't allow it!

The tight 5 are pretty much humming, cant do much more but go up against the northerners.
Concerns around the loosies and backs, whether Razor continues with playing the fast game for 80mins in the north.
Does Savea need to come off the bench with a Taukei’aho??
BB to start and DMac to finish. More or less the same player.
Ratima and Roigard will take care of the
halves.
Or could be a complete game change!!

@Landers92 TJP starting, this has NZR Plus documentary written all over it, Cane will be there for 100th in the last match possible too I would say.

@Nepia haha nah nah, I was just using them as examples, I guess Ruben Love would be another as he could have gone 10 instead of 15 in another team. But had Godfrey had playing time in a B team his only game in the top level may not have been bad.
We just need them as a pocket 10 not Fullback 10.

@frugby there's seems to be too many road blocks to players playing. If Super Rugby doesn't expand with top teir teams to give more game time then I would like to see a development grade, just to keep these guys playing, ready for a step up to too SR or Tests.
Too me guys like Sullivan, Burke, Godfrey, have been delayed to develop first five ability with limited Game time.
Also reduce the ABs squad and put those in the ABXV, really get that level going against other countries.

So we're going for a fast game, there's room in the win/loss ratio to go for it/develop it etc and eventually it's going to stick as combos develop and fitness improves.
Not committing too many players to rucks, keeping as many players alive as possible, but against the north, we won't protect the ruck enough for this too work.
I'm wondering if MacDonald left as he wanted the backs/gameplay tighter?

Sititi, Ratima, Vaai the last couple games have been great.

@Dan54 yea its fast from the get go, instead of the last 20 mins, but the 7-8 guys left on the field don't have fitness to sustain 80mins.
It kinda explains the smaller loosies and 6 outside backs starting though lol.

I would be keen for Plummer or Proctor to have a run, but if JB is out, I can't see it happening.

@booboo Love is out for a few weeks I think.

Something is out of whack, we are almost getting to the Irish series level on the field, players look stressed and quiet out there.

You can see there trying play this fast game from the get go, but I'd like them flip it, play more traditional test rugby and then bring that fast game in the last 20-30 mins, use positional players first 50 then bring on all the outside backs and hybrid loosies.