2025 All Blacks v France series
-
@Kirwan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@Kirwan said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Well that was a methodic dismantling of the Blackadder myth. Confirmed beyond all doubt the "busy but ineffective" label.
As a ball carrier, sure. He's almost McCaw-like in his lack of metres and evasiveness.
Is a ball carrier what we need to accompany and balance Sititi and Savea?I don't care if he's a ball carrier, I want his ruck clear outs and tackles to be effective.
Who cares if he makes 15 tackles if he's escorting guys over the try line? Espcially at six, you need stoppers there. Obviously Kaino and Collins used to cut people in half, but I could mention another six that tackled harder than Ethan.
Reminds me when I started work on a helpdesk, I had awesome call stats because I took all the easy items off the queue. Not actually that useful but looks great on paper.
You want his ruck work and tackling to be effective, and don't care if he's a ball carrier. That's fine, but what you said was this: "Well that was a methodic dismantling of the Blackadder myth. Confirmed beyond all doubt the "busy but ineffective" label.", in response to stats about and only about ball carrying.
If ball carrying doesn't matter to you, how do stats about only ball carrying allow you to reach your conclusion?Attacking Ruck Effectiveness %
90.3 Samipeni Finau
89.3 Cam Christie
85.9 Anton Segner
85.2 Brayden Iose
85.0 TK Howden
84.5 Oliver Haig
83.7 Simon Parker
82.7 Ethan Blackadder
81.8 Cullen GraceDefensive Ruck Effectiveness %
25.0 Simon Parker
17.8 Cullen Grace
15.9 Samipeni Finau
14.8 Ethan Blackadder
12.8 TK Howden
12.1 Anton Segner
9.1 Brayden Iose
0.0 Cam Christie
0.0 Oliver HaigDominant Tackle %
14.6 Simon Parker
11.8 Samipeni Finau
10.8 TK Howden
8.5 Cam Christie
7.1 Brayden Iose
5.4 Ethan Blackadder
3.2 Cullen Grace
2.0 Oliver Haig
1.7 Anton Segner -
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
I recall Tamaiti Williams making two breaks up the middle in last years French test and there was no one in support. The tight forwards were to slow too react and the loose forwards were out on the edges.
It happened too often in 2024 that the ABs would construct a clean break through a well-constructed attack move, only for the attack to be beaten to the space by the scramble defence and subsequently turned over. Both 10s – McKenzie and Barrett – often stretched the attacking line beyond its means and support in order to create these breaks, meaning that they consistently had insufficient numbers to effectively keep the attack alive after the break and finish the score.
It points to two areas where, I think, visible improvement is a must in the 2025 Test season: (1) the offloading game and (2) support play. There needs to be, first of all, an increased focus on when and where to offload, an ideal offload being both (a) after contact, and (b) behind the defensive line. Too often, players would throw an offload before rather than behind the defensive line, as a way of creating the break, which doesn't have the desired effect and often leads to turnovers or an attack on the backfoot.
And secondly, the 9 and 10 need to keep in mind that the attacking line doesn't become stretched too thin in their desire to break the line, making sure that there is enough support on its feet and in the vicinity of the ball to make sure that an eventual break is actually finished. That means not using the entire width of the field at all times in attack, but rather to occassionally concentrate the attack as well, either between the 15s or one side of the pitch.
Throughout the SR season, I did get the feeling at times that there was a collective effort across the Kiwi SR teams to implement these principles of the ideal offload and support play. Watching the Highlanders in Canberra, for example, I thought that core aspects of the AB offloading game plan were being put into practice:
https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExc3NuNXY0bWp0MHl5M29iZXJ3ZGY5cm91eWNjMzNyNHAyOGgwZ3JvbSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/mPNCxas25ne4efhLTL/giphy.gif
https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExMzJsYmdvMHcxbzdtZzBxbDUxMmpwcG41bG44aG5ic2Y4dmQyZzlpdSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/ZpIlnW68KSZZhzbxj8/giphy.gifYou have players (1) targeting the defensive shooter out of the line and/or (2) attacking the space close to the ruck, with the support flooding the channel in behind them. Furthermore, the players are offloading (a) after contact, with (b) both their hands free, and (c) with their support unmarked and clearly sighted. These aren’t blind, wild offloads but low-risk, high-reward ways of keeping the ball alive, with predictable results to follow. It requires the support to work hard and beat the defenders to that space on the carrier's shoulder.
Hopefully we’ll see some similar principles and results during the Test season as well, with more of those breaks actually being finished this season.
-
Well you can only offload if the support play is there and it simply wasn't last year. I felt like we were trying to run them into the ground but only ran ourselves into the ground and then failed to use the bench properly.
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
I felt like we were trying to run them into the ground but only ran ourselves into the ground and then failed to use the bench properly.
Yeah Exactly the way it seemed to me.
Selections look like a change in directions hopefully. -
Attacking Ruck Effectiveness %
90.3 Samipeni Finau
89.3 Cam Christie
85.9 Anton Segner
85.2 Brayden Iose
85.0 TK Howden
84.5 Oliver Haig
83.7 Simon Parker
82.7 Ethan Blackadder
81.8 Cullen GraceDefensive Ruck Effectiveness %
25.0 Simon Parker
17.8 Cullen Grace
15.9 Samipeni Finau
14.8 Ethan Blackadder
12.8 TK Howden
12.1 Anton Segner
9.1 Brayden Iose
0.0 Cam Christie
0.0 Oliver HaigDominant Tackle %
14.6 Simon Parker
11.8 Samipeni Finau
10.8 TK Howden
8.5 Cam Christie
7.1 Brayden Iose
5.4 Ethan Blackadder
3.2 Cullen Grace
2.0 Oliver Haig
1.7 Anton Segner@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Attacking Ruck Effectiveness %
90.3 Samipeni Finau
89.3 Cam Christie
85.9 Anton Segner
85.2 Brayden Iose
85.0 TK Howden
84.5 Oliver Haig
83.7 Simon Parker
82.7 Ethan Blackadder
81.8 Cullen GraceDefensive Ruck Effectiveness %
25.0 Simon Parker
17.8 Cullen Grace
15.9 Samipeni Finau
14.8 Ethan Blackadder
12.8 TK Howden
12.1 Anton Segner
9.1 Brayden Iose
0.0 Cam Christie
0.0 Oliver HaigDominant Tackle %
14.6 Simon Parker
11.8 Samipeni Finau
10.8 TK Howden
8.5 Cam Christie
7.1 Brayden Iose
5.4 Ethan Blackadder
3.2 Cullen Grace
2.0 Oliver Haig
1.7 Anton SegnerSo you're missing all the players he has missed out to at 6/utility except Finau i.e. Jacobson and apparently Barrett and Vaai, CLW, Sititi, DP.
And missing the quantities per minute? If you're going to leave stuff out because it doesn't suit your dislike of a certain player then it just seems like more of the circle jerk mate.
Edit to add: he's by no means a perfect player, but the ability of people on here to ignore everything good he does, and his play in the last few weeks is mental. -
Razor on Newstalk ZB
Blackadder medically unavailable.
Beauden/Damien can both play First Five/Fullback interesting and Bench option.
Du Plessis conceded the fewest penalties.
Simon Parker definitely on the Radar.
Reuben Love, 10/15 interesting.
Jordie Barrett he said is like a player, coach.highly rated obviously.
ALB, unavailable first 2 tests.Narewa
covering.Reiko Ioane sounds like 13,Sounds like he won't be starting wing, but can end the game there.Incredibly professional.
Proctor will get an opportunity?
Reiko experienced and started every game for Blues, Razor sounds like a big
fan.
Few takeaways probably nothing that wasn't known. -
Razor on Newstalk ZB
Blackadder medically unavailable.
Beauden/Damien can both play First Five/Fullback interesting and Bench option.
Du Plessis conceded the fewest penalties.
Simon Parker definitely on the Radar.
Reuben Love, 10/15 interesting.
Jordie Barrett he said is like a player, coach.highly rated obviously.
ALB, unavailable first 2 tests.Narewa
covering.Reiko Ioane sounds like 13,Sounds like he won't be starting wing, but can end the game there.Incredibly professional.
Proctor will get an opportunity?
Reiko experienced and started every game for Blues, Razor sounds like a big
fan.
Few takeaways probably nothing that wasn't known. -
-
-
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Attacking Ruck Effectiveness %
90.3 Samipeni Finau
89.3 Cam Christie
85.9 Anton Segner
85.2 Brayden Iose
85.0 TK Howden
84.5 Oliver Haig
83.7 Simon Parker
82.7 Ethan Blackadder
81.8 Cullen GraceDefensive Ruck Effectiveness %
25.0 Simon Parker
17.8 Cullen Grace
15.9 Samipeni Finau
14.8 Ethan Blackadder
12.8 TK Howden
12.1 Anton Segner
9.1 Brayden Iose
0.0 Cam Christie
0.0 Oliver HaigDominant Tackle %
14.6 Simon Parker
11.8 Samipeni Finau
10.8 TK Howden
8.5 Cam Christie
7.1 Brayden Iose
5.4 Ethan Blackadder
3.2 Cullen Grace
2.0 Oliver Haig
1.7 Anton SegnerSo you're missing all the players he has missed out to at 6/utility except Finau i.e. Jacobson and apparently Barrett and Vaai, CLW, Sititi, DP.
And missing the quantities per minute? If you're going to leave stuff out because it doesn't suit your dislike of a certain player then it just seems like more of the circle jerk mate.
Edit to add: he's by no means a perfect player, but the ability of people on here to ignore everything good he does, and his play in the last few weeks is mental.@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Attacking Ruck Effectiveness %
90.3 Samipeni Finau
89.3 Cam Christie
85.9 Anton Segner
85.2 Brayden Iose
85.0 TK Howden
84.5 Oliver Haig
83.7 Simon Parker
82.7 Ethan Blackadder
81.8 Cullen GraceDefensive Ruck Effectiveness %
25.0 Simon Parker
17.8 Cullen Grace
15.9 Samipeni Finau
14.8 Ethan Blackadder
12.8 TK Howden
12.1 Anton Segner
9.1 Brayden Iose
0.0 Cam Christie
0.0 Oliver HaigDominant Tackle %
14.6 Simon Parker
11.8 Samipeni Finau
10.8 TK Howden
8.5 Cam Christie
7.1 Brayden Iose
5.4 Ethan Blackadder
3.2 Cullen Grace
2.0 Oliver Haig
1.7 Anton SegnerSo you're missing all the players he has missed out to at 6/utility except Finau i.e. Jacobson and apparently Barrett and Vaai, CLW, Sititi, DP.
And missing the quantities per minute? If you're going to leave stuff out because it doesn't suit your dislike of a certain player then it just seems like more of the circle jerk mate.
Edit to add: he's by no means a perfect player, but the ability of people on here to ignore everything good he does, and his play in the last few weeks is mental.I've included him with the sixes because that is where he has been playing. I included the 7 details with Blackadder earlier which included a comparison with Jacobson, and Papali'i.
Blackadder is not competing for a space in the squad with Barrett, Vaa'i who are first choice locks - and CLW, Sititi who are 8's.
No ones disputing Blackadders workrate.
Effectiveness is the issue.
-
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Attacking Ruck Effectiveness %
90.3 Samipeni Finau
89.3 Cam Christie
85.9 Anton Segner
85.2 Brayden Iose
85.0 TK Howden
84.5 Oliver Haig
83.7 Simon Parker
82.7 Ethan Blackadder
81.8 Cullen GraceDefensive Ruck Effectiveness %
25.0 Simon Parker
17.8 Cullen Grace
15.9 Samipeni Finau
14.8 Ethan Blackadder
12.8 TK Howden
12.1 Anton Segner
9.1 Brayden Iose
0.0 Cam Christie
0.0 Oliver HaigDominant Tackle %
14.6 Simon Parker
11.8 Samipeni Finau
10.8 TK Howden
8.5 Cam Christie
7.1 Brayden Iose
5.4 Ethan Blackadder
3.2 Cullen Grace
2.0 Oliver Haig
1.7 Anton SegnerSo you're missing all the players he has missed out to at 6/utility except Finau i.e. Jacobson and apparently Barrett and Vaai, CLW, Sititi, DP.
And missing the quantities per minute? If you're going to leave stuff out because it doesn't suit your dislike of a certain player then it just seems like more of the circle jerk mate.
Edit to add: he's by no means a perfect player, but the ability of people on here to ignore everything good he does, and his play in the last few weeks is mental.@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Edit to add: he's by no means a perfect player, but the ability of people on here to ignore everything good he does
we talking about Akira now?
-
@reprobate regardless, he's still behind players that are not even AB material in the aspects of the game he's meant to excel at. When you add that to the fact he has all of the impact of a wet blanket ball in hand, "busy but ineffective" definitely fits. When you also add how injury plagued he is, meaning he was being selected with no form at the level down, and it actually does beggar belief that he was selected at all for test footy. That's why he's been the focus of so many discussions, no other player stands out as not deserving a spot like he does, well apart from Fihaki and Bell which were also extremely biased selections.
But anyway, thankfully Razor reads the Fern and realised some of his Crusaders stars may not actually cut it at test level.
-
@reprobate regardless, he's still behind players that are not even AB material in the aspects of the game he's meant to excel at. When you add that to the fact he has all of the impact of a wet blanket ball in hand, "busy but ineffective" definitely fits. When you also add how injury plagued he is, meaning he was being selected with no form at the level down, and it actually does beggar belief that he was selected at all for test footy. That's why he's been the focus of so many discussions, no other player stands out as not deserving a spot like he does, well apart from Fihaki and Bell which were also extremely biased selections.
But anyway, thankfully Razor reads the Fern and realised some of his Crusaders stars may not actually cut it at test level.
@No-Quarter said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
But anyway, thankfully Razor reads the Fern and realised some of his Crusaders stars may not actually cut it at test level.
That is what I thought but now I wonder if it was because or also due to this apparent injury?
Regardless of what one thinks of how suitable EB is at AB level, I hope a coach or physio can help him to avoid whatever habits he may have that seem to lead to all these injuries. He has a difficult physical role but it really is beginning to sound to me that there is something about his playing style which is really hard on his body, hopefully it can be finetuned.
-
I'm really trying hard to move on from thinking about Akira but it seems pretty clear to me now that boy did the Blues miss him. And when people go oh we need a 6 with impact, physical presence, height in the lineout, it is very tempting to scream aarrghh!
-
@reprobate regardless, he's still behind players that are not even AB material in the aspects of the game he's meant to excel at. When you add that to the fact he has all of the impact of a wet blanket ball in hand, "busy but ineffective" definitely fits. When you also add how injury plagued he is, meaning he was being selected with no form at the level down, and it actually does beggar belief that he was selected at all for test footy. That's why he's been the focus of so many discussions, no other player stands out as not deserving a spot like he does, well apart from Fihaki and Bell which were also extremely biased selections.
But anyway, thankfully Razor reads the Fern and realised some of his Crusaders stars may not actually cut it at test level.
@No-Quarter said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@reprobate regardless, he's still behind players that are not even AB material in the aspects of the game he's meant to excel at. When you add that to the fact he has all of the impact of a wet blanket ball in hand, "busy but ineffective" definitely fits. When you also add how injury plagued he is, meaning he was being selected with no form at the level down, and it actually does beggar belief that he was selected at all for test footy. That's why he's been the focus of so many discussions, no other player stands out as not deserving a spot like he does, well apart from Fihaki and Bell which were also extremely biased selections.
But anyway, thankfully Razor reads the Fern and realised some of his Crusaders stars may not actually cut it at test level.
Or perhaps he doesn’t given he rates Ioane as a centre…..
-
@No-Quarter said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@reprobate regardless, he's still behind players that are not even AB material in the aspects of the game he's meant to excel at. When you add that to the fact he has all of the impact of a wet blanket ball in hand, "busy but ineffective" definitely fits. When you also add how injury plagued he is, meaning he was being selected with no form at the level down, and it actually does beggar belief that he was selected at all for test footy. That's why he's been the focus of so many discussions, no other player stands out as not deserving a spot like he does, well apart from Fihaki and Bell which were also extremely biased selections.
But anyway, thankfully Razor reads the Fern and realised some of his Crusaders stars may not actually cut it at test level.
Or perhaps he doesn’t given he rates Ioane as a centre…..
@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Or perhaps he doesn’t given he rates Ioane as a centre…..
He's just toying with the affections of Blues fans.
I doubt he reads the fern as he hasn't taken onboard the hairdressing tips from some of the posters on here...
-
@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Attacking Ruck Effectiveness %
90.3 Samipeni Finau
89.3 Cam Christie
85.9 Anton Segner
85.2 Brayden Iose
85.0 TK Howden
84.5 Oliver Haig
83.7 Simon Parker
82.7 Ethan Blackadder
81.8 Cullen GraceDefensive Ruck Effectiveness %
25.0 Simon Parker
17.8 Cullen Grace
15.9 Samipeni Finau
14.8 Ethan Blackadder
12.8 TK Howden
12.1 Anton Segner
9.1 Brayden Iose
0.0 Cam Christie
0.0 Oliver HaigDominant Tackle %
14.6 Simon Parker
11.8 Samipeni Finau
10.8 TK Howden
8.5 Cam Christie
7.1 Brayden Iose
5.4 Ethan Blackadder
3.2 Cullen Grace
2.0 Oliver Haig
1.7 Anton SegnerSo you're missing all the players he has missed out to at 6/utility except Finau i.e. Jacobson and apparently Barrett and Vaai, CLW, Sititi, DP.
And missing the quantities per minute? If you're going to leave stuff out because it doesn't suit your dislike of a certain player then it just seems like more of the circle jerk mate.
Edit to add: he's by no means a perfect player, but the ability of people on here to ignore everything good he does, and his play in the last few weeks is mental.I've included him with the sixes because that is where he has been playing. I included the 7 details with Blackadder earlier which included a comparison with Jacobson, and Papali'i.
Blackadder is not competing for a space in the squad with Barrett, Vaa'i who are first choice locks - and CLW, Sititi who are 8's.
No ones disputing Blackadders workrate.
Effectiveness is the issue.
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@reprobate said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
Attacking Ruck Effectiveness %
90.3 Samipeni Finau
89.3 Cam Christie
85.9 Anton Segner
85.2 Brayden Iose
85.0 TK Howden
84.5 Oliver Haig
83.7 Simon Parker
82.7 Ethan Blackadder
81.8 Cullen GraceDefensive Ruck Effectiveness %
25.0 Simon Parker
17.8 Cullen Grace
15.9 Samipeni Finau
14.8 Ethan Blackadder
12.8 TK Howden
12.1 Anton Segner
9.1 Brayden Iose
0.0 Cam Christie
0.0 Oliver HaigDominant Tackle %
14.6 Simon Parker
11.8 Samipeni Finau
10.8 TK Howden
8.5 Cam Christie
7.1 Brayden Iose
5.4 Ethan Blackadder
3.2 Cullen Grace
2.0 Oliver Haig
1.7 Anton SegnerSo you're missing all the players he has missed out to at 6/utility except Finau i.e. Jacobson and apparently Barrett and Vaai, CLW, Sititi, DP.
And missing the quantities per minute? If you're going to leave stuff out because it doesn't suit your dislike of a certain player then it just seems like more of the circle jerk mate.
Edit to add: he's by no means a perfect player, but the ability of people on here to ignore everything good he does, and his play in the last few weeks is mental.I've included him with the sixes because that is where he has been playing. I included the 7 details with Blackadder earlier which included a comparison with Jacobson, and Papali'i.
Blackadder is not competing for a space in the squad with Barrett, Vaa'i who are first choice locks - and CLW, Sititi who are 8's.
No ones disputing Blackadders workrate.
Effectiveness is the issue.
Nah you didn't, did you? Might be wrong of course, but I thought that was just the ball carrying stats - which is apparently enough to rule him out.
Sititi is our incumbent 6 as far as we currently know. CLW was injury cover for Jacobson - who clearly covers 6 - then he became a squad replacement for Sititi - who covers 6 - with Papalii becoming injury cover for Jacobson... They're all relevant.
And if you don't include the quantity, the percentage is kind of meaningless. Someone could be making more dominant tackles per game than another player despite a lower percentage - the two things are inextricable.I just don't get the negativity. I don't see him as an AB certainty or anything, but surely anyone who has played a bit of footy knows the value of a big engine worker - they allow others to do the high impact stuff, because they aren't knackered from having made an extra 10 tackles and hit an extra 10 rucks. An example for me would be that I don't think Read and Kaino would necessarily be regarded as greats, were it not for the fact that McCaw did a massive amount of work allowing e.g. the smaller engined Read to have fewer, but higher impact, contributions.
And as for the Cantab bias bullshit. Fuck me, there's an argument for that with Fihaki and Bell last year, but Blackadder and Havili were ABs under Foster. There's a comment about Blackadder shepherding people to the tryline FFS. Yeah that piss-weak Crusaders defence was walked all over by our Blues and Chiefs guys in the playoffs eh?It's like some people would like us to be able to pick 8 x Sione Lauakis and think that would mean we'd win everything. Even when none of our current high impact players are a fucking patch on Sione...
-
@No-Quarter said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@reprobate regardless, he's still behind players that are not even AB material in the aspects of the game he's meant to excel at. When you add that to the fact he has all of the impact of a wet blanket ball in hand, "busy but ineffective" definitely fits. When you also add how injury plagued he is, meaning he was being selected with no form at the level down, and it actually does beggar belief that he was selected at all for test footy. That's why he's been the focus of so many discussions, no other player stands out as not deserving a spot like he does, well apart from Fihaki and Bell which were also extremely biased selections.
But anyway, thankfully Razor reads the Fern and realised some of his Crusaders stars may not actually cut it at test level.
Or perhaps he doesn’t given he rates Ioane as a centre…..
@ACT-Crusader said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@No-Quarter said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@reprobate regardless, he's still behind players that are not even AB material in the aspects of the game he's meant to excel at. When you add that to the fact he has all of the impact of a wet blanket ball in hand, "busy but ineffective" definitely fits. When you also add how injury plagued he is, meaning he was being selected with no form at the level down, and it actually does beggar belief that he was selected at all for test footy. That's why he's been the focus of so many discussions, no other player stands out as not deserving a spot like he does, well apart from Fihaki and Bell which were also extremely biased selections.
But anyway, thankfully Razor reads the Fern and realised some of his Crusaders stars may not actually cut it at test level.
Or perhaps he doesn’t given he rates Ioane as a centre…..
No they named him as a centre/wing so he's taken that in board as well.
Actually this is a bit concerning given our strong reputation for awful analysis and incorrect conclusions
-
@No-Quarter said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
But anyway, thankfully Razor reads the Fern and realised some of his Crusaders stars may not actually cut it at test level.
That is what I thought but now I wonder if it was because or also due to this apparent injury?
Regardless of what one thinks of how suitable EB is at AB level, I hope a coach or physio can help him to avoid whatever habits he may have that seem to lead to all these injuries. He has a difficult physical role but it really is beginning to sound to me that there is something about his playing style which is really hard on his body, hopefully it can be finetuned.
@nostrildamus said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
@No-Quarter said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:
But anyway, thankfully Razor reads the Fern and realised some of his Crusaders stars may not actually cut it at test level.
That is what I thought but now I wonder if it was because or also due to this apparent injury?
Regardless of what one thinks of how suitable EB is at AB level, I hope a coach or physio can help him to avoid whatever habits he may have that seem to lead to all these injuries. He has a difficult physical role but it really is beginning to sound to me that there is something about his playing style which is really hard on his body, hopefully it can be finetuned.
This I agree with, and someone also made a comment recently about him being a bit unco - I think they're related. He is pretty much flat out all the time - at times too much so - always trying to get up quick on defence, always quick off the ground and trying to make the next play - and it does lead to him getting his body in weak positions. That's why he can make 31 tackles and have a huge impact on the result of a game, and someone will write him off because he gets bumped off by Caleb Clarke. Which is an absurd overall conclusion, but those occasions do happen and it would be better if they didn't. I'd wager it's a significant factor in the continuous injuries too.
The converse of this is a big part of what I think made McCaw an all time great. He was everywhere with a huge motor, but despite that he almost never got his body into a weak position. If someone can get Blackadder to settle down just a little and choose a few moments to slow down and firm up his positioning, he'd be a better player for it and probably more robust too.
