@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.

@tewaio Yes. A bit concerned that Owen Franks will have lost his pace when he returns.

@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.

Last 20 rewatch. Was our worst period:

• Big gaps close to rucks, esp. for Koroibete try, after Tupou twice made good ground.

• ABs passing to no one -- Patty T after SW takes kick off at 33-19, Taylor after great Savea break from 22 -- and Patty T drop in contact.

• Poor kicks gifting possession -- Laumape grubber, RM kick which Beale ran from goal line and could have led to end to end try but for Read covering.

• More easy metres from pick n go, leading to Hodge's second.

• Moli poor defensive alignment attacked, second time big hole when Beale scored.

• At 40-26 Read taps penalty rather than kicking into Oz 22?

• Moli under pressure at scrum.

• Last try from good scrum on our 10 metre -- Oz momentum wasn't checked (our forwards on wrong side field), leading quickly to final try.

Takeaways:

1. Gave away possession by forcing things rather than being patient (5 times!). Treasure the farking pill!

2. Defence round ruck abysmal.

3. Fast Oz ball meant they several times made 40 metres in a blink, and once five out were clinical.

@gt12 said in Coronavirus - Overall:

@mikethesnow said in Coronavirus - Overall:

@gt12 said in Coronavirus - Overall:

@taniwharugby said in Coronavirus - Overall:

@gt12 said in Coronavirus - Overall:

On the streets, life is essentially back to normal

small sacrifices really...?

Sorry, by entry/exit I meant international travel (the '3 day' thing turns out to be a bust, as even business travelers can hardly use it).

Daily stuff is second nature now.

I’m on the 5.30 am bus to the Japanese Embassy in London to put my visa application in

Just heard they might close the borders again

We’ll see

If I can get the visa I’ll be heading over ASAP

If not, it’ll be the deep powder of Wales

Fucking politicians losing their shit

No new entries was the info I heard released today, but I hope you might make it in mate!

If you do, I'll ask the wife if I can go up to Hokkaido for a lesson.

I just got this today for my 3 year old, so he'll be having his first snowboard fun this year.

Learning to Snowboard with The Handlebar from Burton

The Handlebar from Burton is an educational tool that helps kids learn balance and gain confidence on a snowboard.

Do you drive an Audi:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:

@machpants said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:

Squidge " Ian Foster's ABs attack is bad...No is worse than that...it's average, it is the attack of an unambitious mid table club side being executed by players so individually talented, some times they score despite the system, rather than because of it"

So true. We see, he sees it, media are even beginning to. NZR? Nah he rocks!

actually that video also reminds me how shit Barnes is. Shocking.

Missed clear obstruction in first try and accidential offside in lead up to another score. Without looking closely.

What was wrong with Richie? For example, when Ntarmack behind his line, he goes for strip instead of putting shoulder into him. Even if he wriggles away Jordie finishes him off. Missed the chance for knock out punch! FFS.

Have only just come across this thread, but noticed a number of instances in last two AB games. Based on the way Ronan O'Gara was commenting, I strongly suspect the NH refs call it differently to SH. Hence comment that ABs were still manwatching, as if NH stopped doing that some time ago.

Ronan O'Gara on Irish podcast suggested that AB's defence was outdated -- prime example of why 'manwatching' is no longer used in North is the extraordinary number of times ABs were sucked in by the decoy runners.

@nzzp said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:

@chimoaus said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:

This one is fucken terrible, this is the leadup play to the French try. The two lazy runners have no intention of catching the ball, they continue moving forward and the lock actually moves forward into the defending player (he actually moves to his left on purpose into the defender). the French then target the channel he is blocking which leads to the break.

are we ... GAGR?

Is running into your own player no longer accidental offside?

In those three losses we had 20 minutes against Boks, 20 minutes against Oirish and 30 minutes against Frogs where we were second rate.
That inconsistency is what is killing us.

@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:

it may surprise all on here but I am not a fan of our coaching tactics. But I don't think we should get personally nasty.
I still think our players are better than the way they played this season or the results, but we don't have the players of yore and the competition has got better. We just have to live with it and probably another poor 2 years.

The really frustrating thing is that in parts tonite - 40-60 mins - they were great. But once things started to go wrong, so many players seemed to fall apart and they weren't the newer players either.

Discipline when they have momentum with them is really fragile which makes me wonder if there's a team mentality issue.

My sense is that the players are mentally stale. Quite a few games. Being in bubble. Vibe of the set up. Players coming and going.

Trying to rouse themselves (which they did) when running on fumes.

Contrast the Boks who seem pretty focussed and hungry, still.

Difficult season with Covid restrictions but not a good reflection on management.

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:

@nta said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:

@nta said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:

I'm conscious that France played a few games in the last few years where they've looked ace for the first half and imploded in the second

Well... Yeah..

Sublime from the French. Ntamack made RM look like a nobody.

They did go off the boil. But then so did we.
Edit: bringing DH on to pass to the French when we had momentum was a masterstroke from the coaches, for example.

Words fail me.