The Blues picked Funaki as their best

@Winger yeah he put on a few big hits but overly fairly quiet. If Shields isn't back next week I would shift Sangster to partner Walker-Leawere and move Delany to blindside.

Sotutu, Telea and Papalii.

Lakai, Kirifi, Aumua.

I see on instagram the Blues gave MOTM to Sotutu

@nostrildamus I'm hopeful JB can given how physically gifted he is. It just feels like a curse they carry around due to being so damn competitive 😁

To me, it's like they feel they HAVE to be the one to make the big play out of nothing (hence BB's "golden balls" moniker courtesy of Shag) but the team would be better served if they let the ball go earlier or played in the moment vs trying to get too many steps ahead.

The movements at 00:55s (JB hesitation) and 01.59s (BB hesitation) of this clip are perfect examples...

https://x.com/SardieqWP/status/1718624828184289663?s=20

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks MOTM v Argentina (SF):

@mariner4life the touchdown he looked undecided on...

Yeah seems a switch was flicked in him and he has become a very good player this year.

Way he is playing has restored a better balance to our loose trio allowing both Cane and Ardie to play thier games as well.

Although he looked spent in the final quarter.

Which is perfect right, given our current bench make-up. He can spend himself for 60mins knowing that Whitelock is chomping at the bit to come off the bench and SB can go 80 (cards aside 😬)

Weird but accurate poll

Everyone was fucking good today but the three standouts really did shine

Beehre & Vikena obvious. Went for Heem in the backs.. a few flawed options for the third pick

Gibson missed a handful (4) but got through a lot of work. 25 tackles

DMac
Jordan
Roigard

@mariner4life said in All Blacks MOTM v Italy:

Perfect game for Ardie to show why the world loves him (also his angle for the breakout try was as good as I've seen an AB forward run in years)

But he doesn’t watch other games…

Mo’unga, Retallick, Savea

HM: Frizell, Taylor

After The Bay - Moulds, Hallam-Eames, Milo-Harris 3 Each
After NH - Moorby 3, Murray & Matich 2 each

Season:
Rob Rush 8
Mau'u 8
Murray 8
Moorby 6
Adams 5
Caird 5
Hallam-Eames 5
Milo-Harris 5
Matich 3
Nock 3
Reihana 3
Moulds 3
Goodhue 2
BKP 2

For all his size, he’s not really using it as far as I can see. Beehre is far busier

Vikina, Behere and Plummer

Moulds, Hallam Eames, Milo Harris. So close yet no cigar.

Thomas then.............?

Moorby, Adams for that chip kick catch, Murray. Matich was good also. Harris was also there apart for that brain explosion at half time.

@ACT-Crusader well they did have a period where they used our 12 as a battering ram, but not using Laumape to do his thing...

Choat, Thomas, RTS