@frank said in Crusaders v Highlanders (2 April 2021):

@pakman said in Crusaders v Highlanders (2 April 2021):

Couple of things I’ve not seen mentioned.

1. Highlander runners seemed for at least first 60 to back off/slow a tad/change line at last moment going into contact. Result was a bit like when a scrum fakes at hit. Oppo overbalanced and contact ineffective. Whatever it was it really threw Saders momentum at breakdown.

2. Clan seemed to target running one out and then angling back in behind ruck. Seemed that analysis may have identified space there, and good yards made.

Seemed also to result in Saders not getting the rub of the red and black, as per usual.

If I were Super coaches I’d be pouring over tape!

A bit of actual rugby analysis rather than endless moaning about the refereeing. Awesome stuff!!

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Pakman was at Dublin 1991, Ellis Park 1995, Twickenham 1999, Sydney 2003 and Cardiff 2007. He's watching on Sky.

Irish have no chance.

So Ofa out for Boks tour after 'clean' by Aki, and BBBR out after absorbing tackle by Porter.

It's lucky there was no foul play involved or they might have died.

@Jaguares4real said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):

@Yeetyaah

You misinterpreted my post

Simply put Cane is more versatile as a player than Cane

ala Hooper is with Pocock

You've got me with that one.

@Crucial said in Brexit:

I'm still searching for the cred of this commentary YT channel but an interesting array of 'facts' around where Brexit has lead the UK.

But vast majority don't want to rejoin. Not seeing much of those headlines in MSM!

@pakman said in All Blacks v England:

@Crucial said in All Blacks v England:

@pakman said in All Blacks v England:

Chess puzzle for TWM:

Black 15 binned at 71. Subs left ALB, Sotutu, Havili.

Black to substitute whom and win?

TWM fluffed with ALB for CC, and HS for DP, and game finished a tame draw with white.

What was the winning move(s) to win?

Given that neither wing was a fullback maybe a better option was DH for CC

The winning move for Black was to put someone to full back and take off a forward.

Obvious choices Jordie to 15 and ALB to 12, or just DH to 15.

For me at that stage in order to keep backline defence functioning the less change the better, so I'd have brought on Havili. I don't see there as being much benefit by adding to the chaos by also swapping ALB for Clarke.

Backs sorted, but a forward has to be subbed or removed. So need to play last 9 with two loosies.

But which?

Well RD stays, that's a given.

So need to chose one out of Frizell, Paps and Hoskins.

Don't think the former touched the ball in last 9 minutes. So he's off.

Then choice between Paps and Hos made on whether or not DP had any petrol left in tank.

@Crucial said in All Blacks v England:

@pakman said in All Blacks v England:

Chess puzzle for TWM:

Black 15 binned at 71. Subs left ALB, Sotutu, Havili.

Black to substitute whom and win?

TWM fluffed with ALB for CC, and HS for DP, and game finished a tame draw with white.

What was the winning move(s) to win?

Given that neither wing was a fullback maybe a better option was DH for CC

The winning move for Black was to put someone to full back and take off a forward.

Obvious choices Jordie to 15 and ALB to 12, or just DH to 15.

For me at that stage in order to keep backline defence functioning the less change the better, so I'd have brought on Havili. I don't see there as being much benefit by adding to the chaos by also swapping ALB for Clarke.

Backs sorted, but a forward has to be subbed or removed. So need to play last 9 with two loosies.

But which?

@Daffy-Jaffy said in NH International Rugby:

Eddie used a crazy number of players in his tenure and capped more than any other England coach (47 debutants up to 2021) and also burned through 18 assistant coaches -

The exit of Wisemantel, Borthwick and Mitchell as why performance fell off a cliff.

Chess puzzle for TWM:

Black 15 binned at 71. Subs left ALB, Sotutu, Havili.

Black to substitute whom and win?

TWM fluffed with ALB for CC, and HS for DP, and game finished a tame draw with white.

What was the winning move(s) to win?

Last 10.

71 Smith ghosts into huge gap as BBBR aligns wide off ruck (no one two out). Leads to BB yellow. Big tackle from Nepo grounds Stuart shoulders a foot out. No release and goes again. Clear penalty black but should have gone back for BB penalty. Lots of buggering around.

73 Long kick off and some good tackling, notably by Hoskins. England goes wide left then right. Sublime offload by Ribbans in tackle of BBBR then great work by Steward but bad miss by Rieko. Complete lack of AB defensive alignment on their left. Massive gap between ALB and Rieko on sideline. Almost no one put on deck. That said, England exploit lack of defence very well.

75 Long kick off. Hair trigger penalty against Whitelock for not rolling away. Excellent kick by Slade to touch 30 out. But England offside in our 22. Poor Richie kick to 30 out.

77 Safe to BBBR. Good maul. Raynal almost blows for collapse by England. Couple of reasonable pick n'goes. TJP chip over top.

May runs back but tackled well by Hos. BUT again AB defensive alignment non-existent on their left. Run down touchline making 20m+ but Rieko makes pathetic attempt at tackle on Slade when he ought to have used touchline to force him into touch.
England work it and Mako gets to line where Ardie on him and affects to lift ball -- looked like penalty from distance. Stuart over from five out.

All too easy!

Conclusions

Criticisms of bench too harsh.

Possible Frizell not getting stuck into rucks which Scooter would have.

The issue was backs.

On defence Richie out of picture covering at back. When England ran left Jordie, ALB and Rieko were leaving the largest gap since Moses.

Gave every impression of just having no plan to deal with such situation.

If one was being charitable one could say that losing BB and reshuffling Rieko wasn't expected.

That said, I think they'd have been a lot better leaving Caleb on so less change to deal with.

Exceptional circumstances aside, NZ much the better team, and at least one of last three England tries should never have been given, so draw really a chimera.

Finally getting round to watching recording of second half, having been at game.

ABs definitely had mind off ball when they came out for second, but tackled well under pressure and Ioane try was cruel to end third quarter 8 -3 and in winning possie.

From 60 to 70 Codie, Tyrell and Ethan all off, Nugget off and Frizell on for Scooter. For England front row changed, Youngs and Slade on.

65 - 68 Ribbans, Willis and Nowell on.

BUT from 60 -70 nothing much changed. One bad throw by Sami, strong scrum and maul. But kicking becoming too long: can't chase effectively and England starting to make ground running balls back.

England got into 22 but stopped there, including one strong tackle from Nepo.

Driving play leads to penalty which BB renders unnecessary with droppie to end period 3-0.

So far AB subs haven't made much difference.

Now to watch last ten. Note ALB for Caleb and Hoskins for Paps at 73.

@OomPB