RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy
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O'Gara thinks the ABs can "surprise people and go all the way" if they are "more aggressive with their 'D'". So he obviously thinks the standard of cattle is good enough
Given he has experienced NZ rugby, he knows the quality NZ possess. The quip about the 'D' is a dig towards the coaches. I remember he had similar conversations with Robertson and the Crusaders players in his time there about moving them away from man-watching to ball-watching."the opposition’s going to have too much possession and be able to fire too many shots. They probably have to defend a lot of players with X-factor". O'Gara
Pretty much what we've seen in the last 7-10 years or so. Other countries have better players than before and much better player development plans. Just look at France U20 development and the changes made to Irish rugby.
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O'Gara has more defensive insight than the ABs? Yikes. Could be true but oh so ironic.
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Nice article on Whitelock.
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As an off topic statement as long as we hold our discipline and play with passion we can compete with any of the sides. The one area I am not so sure about is the SA bomb squad scrum. That is some serious sh*t to deal with.
@BerniesCorner said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
As an off topic statement as long as we hold our discipline and play with passion we can compete with any of the sides. The one area I am not so sure about is the SA bomb squad scrum. That is some serious sh*t to deal with.
Reasonably comforatble that Ofa/Coles/Nepo with BBBR and Big Sam/Scooter behind them will hold their own.
Not many RWC sides have two good scrummaging THs. -
We're not alone in this though, there wouldn't be a team in the world with a like-for-like replacement in every spot. Every team is a couple of key injuries or form drops from falling down.
I guess though for us we don't look like a high performing outfit, so there is desire for change, but, at least externally, either nowhere to turn, or no willingness to turn
I’ve said for some time that NZR is not a high performance organisation and we are seeing that manifest itself in all parts of the organisation - The All blacks being the most obvious.
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Ardie just said that the Ireland V SA game was one of the first non ABs games he has watched.
What a professional outfit we have here, one of our most senior players and stand in captain is not even bothered to see where the opposition is at. Sigh.
@akan004 said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
Ardie just said that the Ireland V SA game was one of the first non ABs games he has watched.
What a professional outfit we have here, one of our most senior players and stand in captain is not even bothered to see where the opposition is at. Sigh.
Not this again…
Someone dig up the old thread/s on rugby players that don’t sit around and watch rugby games from start to finish.
They watch snippets, packaged up footage. Who cares if they don’t sit and watch full games.
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@Dan54 said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@Canes4life said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@KiwiMurph solid 23, I’d prefer Blackadder over Papali’i’ though.
Papali’i must be counting his lucky stars. He completely lacks any impact at this level.
Good to see Christie has been given the boot, and good to see McKenzie on the bench.
@george33 you were way off the money once again.
I am like you Canes, and think Papali'i is a bit fortunate, I understand bringing Cane off bench with only partial training load, but I also would pick Blackadder ahead of him!
I would add I not even sure I would have him at 7 for Blues if I was naming their team.Has anyone checked on @Tim ?
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@dogmeat I've checked out on this team, I really don't care anymore. They can't even develop their best tight forward (Taukei'aho).
@Tim I reckon Sami starts the final pool game and is then on the bench for the QF.
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@dogmeat I've checked out on this team, I really don't care anymore. They can't even develop their best tight forward (Taukei'aho).
@Tim said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
They can't even develop their best tight forward (Taukei'aho).
It's truly weird.
Can understand him coming off the bench if Ryan, Foster & co think that's his best place in the game plan (and he was bloody good in that role), but his impact seems to have dropped off the cliff. Used to be immaculate with his lineout throwing but that has deteriorated too.
Second season yips?
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@Tim said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
They can't even develop their best tight forward (Taukei'aho).
It's truly weird.
Can understand him coming off the bench if Ryan, Foster & co think that's his best place in the game plan (and he was bloody good in that role), but his impact seems to have dropped off the cliff. Used to be immaculate with his lineout throwing but that has deteriorated too.
Second season yips?
@Victor-Meldrew This is his third season as a test player. He was very good in Super Rugby this year, and then they have barely played him. Poor coaching, as is the standard.
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@Victor-Meldrew This is his third season as a test player. He was very good in Super Rugby this year, and then they have barely played him. Poor coaching, as is the standard.
I despair how they have mismanaged him this year.
He is made for test rugby and always gets over the advantage line and his set piece was very good.
What do they do? Give him a lack of minutes, play Coles in front of him to dent his confidence and we now have a hooker who could have been one of the shining lights in this pack, now reduced to sitting in the stands.
Same with Aumua, while he hasn’t helped himself with fitness earlier. I can’t believe that he is still languishing outside of this AB squad seemingly in the wilderness.
We know we have a real lack of quality forwards coming through and we seem to not know how to nurture promising young players into becoming starters and test players.
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Don't like being negative but have felt frustration for taking so long to get Jordie, Samisoni and Roigard in their rightful positions.
WJ should have had a decent go at 15 too. If this had happened in good time we would all be the wiser. It's too late now for this year.
The standout first five of SR hasn't had a decent run either -
@Victor-Meldrew This is his third season as a test player. He was very good in Super Rugby this year, and then they have barely played him. Poor coaching, as is the standard.
@Tim said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
Poor coaching, as is the standard.
Same coaching set-up when he was getting game-time and being so bloody effective coming off the bench. Weird.
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Don't like being negative but have felt frustration for taking so long to get Jordie, Samisoni and Roigard in their rightful positions.
WJ should have had a decent go at 15 too. If this had happened in good time we would all be the wiser. It's too late now for this year.
The standout first five of SR hasn't had a decent run either@BerniesCorner said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
Don't like being negative but have felt frustration for taking so long to get Jordie, Samisoni and Roigard in their rightful positions.
WJ should have had a decent go at 15 too. If this had happened in good time we would all be the wiser. It's too late now for this year.
The standout first five of SR hasn't had a decent run eitherTBF, with Jordie it kinda made sense as he was easily the outstanding FB in '21 and had played little 12 at SR.
Samisoni I just don't get. Is there something in training that Ryan is seeing and we aren't?
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Ardie just said that the Ireland V SA game was one of the first non ABs games he has watched.
What a professional outfit we have here, one of our most senior players and stand in captain is not even bothered to see where the opposition is at. Sigh.
@akan004 said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
Ardie just said that the Ireland V SA game was one of the first non ABs games he has watched.
What a professional outfit we have here, one of our most senior players and stand in captain is not even bothered to see where the opposition is at. Sigh.
I think he meant for this world Cup FFS
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@Machpants said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
Mo'unga out means DMac to ten, and havili to the bench, I reckon
Why would we have Havili and ALB on the bench?
@voodoo said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@Machpants said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
Mo'unga out means DMac to ten, and havili to the bench, I reckon
Why would we have Havili and ALB on the bench?
I'd go for Leicester, but I think that's what foster will do, if it happens. Or Clarke 🤮
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@Dan54 guess the difference is CT got numerous chances to play back into form after an average super season, ST doesn't seem to have been afforded the same opportunity
@taniwharugby said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@Dan54 guess the difference is CT got numerous chances to play back into form after an average super season, ST doesn't seem to have been afforded the same opportunity
Could be mate, but I didn't actually think ST went really well in super, he was good but CT looked better all season. I still think ST doesn't really scare the big boys, like Boks etc. Don't get me wrong I am a fan of his, but just think at moment CT/DC maybe seen as a better option at scrum and lineout time.
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@taniwharugby said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@Dan54 guess the difference is CT got numerous chances to play back into form after an average super season, ST doesn't seem to have been afforded the same opportunity
Could be mate, but I didn't actually think ST went really well in super, he was good but CT looked better all season. I still think ST doesn't really scare the big boys, like Boks etc. Don't get me wrong I am a fan of his, but just think at moment CT/DC maybe seen as a better option at scrum and lineout time.
ST had a pretty good super rugby season.
I’m sure the big boys are far less scared of Codie Taylor mate!
Although he had a pretty good RC but we need him to really step up now. He has been an AB for 10 years now so if he starts he really needs to prove he is worthy of the starter jersey.
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@taniwharugby said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@Dan54 guess the difference is CT got numerous chances to play back into form after an average super season, ST doesn't seem to have been afforded the same opportunity
Could be mate, but I didn't actually think ST went really well in super, he was good but CT looked better all season. I still think ST doesn't really scare the big boys, like Boks etc. Don't get me wrong I am a fan of his, but just think at moment CT/DC maybe seen as a better option at scrum and lineout time.
@Dan54 I'm talking previous years when CT was poor, but kept getting chances.
I don't think any players are scared of anyone, but I wager ST is a.sight tougher to bring down.
Anywhoo, it's done now, time to deal to some Italians.
