The Silver Fern

@taniwharugby we have always had that lack of progression from development to our NPC side. It’s something they really need to work on. If there is a gap in fitness or skills how is it closed.

@canefan said in All Blacks vs Springboks II:

@Jet said in All Blacks vs Springboks II:

Springboks looked fitter than us too.

After all their early injuries, I expected their bench to be gassed late in the game, but they finished far stronger than us

Easier when yo-yo,ay with the ball.

We all saw this performance coming. We don’t play enough rugby, our backs kick poorly and are constantly handing the ball back needlessly. Strategy, players (decision making) or both. That’s the thing that Razor needs to fix. When we got behind that weakness in our game came to the fore and we saw it for what a steaming pile of shit it is.

Tonight the forwards also had an off night - while the scrum struggled in a phase where Boks dominate world rugby, the bigger issue was the lineout where we didn’t execute - leaking points and missing scoring opportunities. The gap from Codie Taylor to the others is large.

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks vs Springboks II:

@Kirwan said in All Blacks vs Springboks II:

Good game for Reiko and Clarke to miss! I dunno, picking a wing that can take high balls might have been useful, and a good indicator of how much defence Reiko gets through.

We need better loose forwards. Scrum and lineout is shit, so what is Ryan doing?

Surely Proctor is done for now?

Yep, the anti Auckland bias is going to cost these idiots their jobs

Auckland and the Blues have been poor. The worst player in the team is the Blues first five

So in the 2nd half our lineouts collapsed, and we won nothing in the air. Scrums were better with Williams. But once we got behind we chased the game and our stupid chip kick game gave away possession and they ran at us.

We need a first five that runs at the line, and tougher mindset. Plus players that can compete and win the ball in the air. Codie Taylor was missed tonight.

Our kicking game has been poor for some time yet we celebrate the 1 out of 10 kicks that work and the players that give the ball back and don’t run into contact. Until we change that the we will keep playing rugby without the ball. It’s a losing strategy.

Winning nothing in the air now

Our kicking game is still crap. DM appalling decision. When we keep it in the hands we look good as well.

@taniwharugby yeah, how many years have we not kicked on after winning a few games. What we are seeing is so much more grit - starts with defence.

@taniwharugby I like the way Evans took it on himself to win the advantage line, which he did. On a wet night it was smart.

Northland always looked the better side. But kept letting Wellington back in.

Forwards dominated. Good kicks and chase (Brady Rush was great). Heenan was classy.

Like the way we are winning the physical battle - scrums, tackle, ruck.

@taniwharugby you and me both. We seemed to have picked up the smallest / slowest Fijian winger available while not playing our best young player. Salmon has been awesome and I thought he would be pushing for a S15 contract this year. Can’t do that if he is not playing.

Jonah just looks fat.

Apart for the first 20 minutes, our kicking game was average. To me we took the foot off the throat with the Boks gradually working their way back into the game.

Justin Marshall ( don’t usually quote him ) said we lacked variation i.e. we could have kicked from 1st and 2nd as well.

I like the way Ireland do it - moving the point of attack around first and then from center field they kick long into corners. That’s how I remember.

Hate the box kick but recognise the issue with static ball and players getting smashed in the carry. Has to be something better?

@canefan 2nd half was just awful.

@pakman said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@chimoaus said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

The obvious issue to me is we could not exit our 22 with Christie or BB, we have had this issue for years. Late in the game SA in their 22 and their 9 box kicks it past half way. We have to be able to exit, its fundamental yet we still can't do it.

In fact we did exit well initially, largely via Jordie's big boot. But regressed badly in last 15 or so.

Yeah that regression in the 2nd half led to their field position and points. If it’s fresh legs that are needed at halfback, a first five that can kick long, or just better heads up plays on turnovers the ABs need to get it sorted.

@His-Bobness 100% - Rugby is a lot like league now with lines of defence. A first five has to be prepared to run into the line and get smashed to create space for others i.e. run off me and i will take the gap. Watching the Boks fly off the line targeting 2nd and centre, you know it’s because nothing is happening around 1st five.

@chimoaus I like the way the Aussies dealt with rush D to clear their line. Bridge pass, give the winger the option to kick long. Our bridge pssses didn’t go to hand and our wingers didn’t kick. I liked Narawa as an option because he had those Corey Jane type skills.

@Frank Narawa should have started the season in the test team. Hope he is okay - great 4 mins or so.

@Canes4life yeah I would be sticking with him. The thing about that option was we had spent the whole 2nd half defending because our kicking and option taking was terrible. BB and Christie the main offenders.

@sparky Billy Proctor hasn’t found his feet. Still looking to play super rugby at test level. Doesn’t drop the ball as much as Reiko which is a plus but needs to improve his decisions.