All Blacks v France III
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@Landers92 I like the look of that. Ratima will need a much better game than he had last weekend.
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@Landers92 said in All Blacks v France III:
I don’t mind seeing different combinations. In my opinion though, if the backline has that many changes we better not have too many in the forward pack or else it could all be quite clunky.
We moan we don’t rotate and get other players/combinations out there, when that does happen we moan about who gets rotated and we don’t see certain players in certain positions. It’s a pretty hard balancing act.
I’m happy with this backline if all we see is a swap for Vaa’i and maybe a rotation at the prop positions. Bold if Razor is going for heavy rotation in the pack too.
FWIW, I’ll continue to post any AB oil I hear for this match in this match thread. I promise I’m not actually in the AB camp in any capacity
I don’t know. They could have their first choice backline and, for example, swap out one inside and one outside back each week or just swap out the halfback and first five or the two midfielders. Two players not in their favoured starting lineup each week and if someone stands out while amongst the core group, they might stay on for the next week. No need for wholesale changes every third or fourth week.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks v France III:
The AB coaches are obviously adding some extra locks for their training sessions. Laghlan McWhannell and Dylan Eti were shown on TV tonight, and I am sure Hugo Plummer was there in Wellington. There will be other bodies to make up the numbers.
Never heard of Eti. Plummer is vaguely familiar.
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks v France III:
@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:
Never heard of Eti. Plummer is vaguely familiar.
Eti is a Chiefs U20/Chiefs NDC/NZ U20 player. Plummer plays for Wellington.
Plummer also plays for the Canes.
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On the pack I’m thinking Savea, Holland and Taylor will start - captain, only 100% fit lock, need to keep some experience in there.
Tosi could do with more game time. Bower is an option also.
Are there any fit locks around if Patty is ruled out?
If Luke J is fit, I would bring him in. Add in Finau as they obviously see him as the number two #6 for this series.
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@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.
In general, I'd favour as few changes in the forwards and picking as strong a pack as possible given injuries. Beating France (even without the players to choose to keep in Europe) in all three Tests will be a sweet achievement.
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@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.
I thought the first test he wasn’t too bad. Came on and did a number of things that had a positive impact.
Last weekend wasn’t great. He just needs one of those tests where he knuckles down and makes his tackles, create havoc at the tackle by playing quick off set piece and then provides at least 5-7 runs.
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@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
@Landers92 I like the look of that. Ratima will need a much better game than he had last weekend.
Went well Test I
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
Are there any fit locks around if Patty is ruled out?
That's why I was trying to figure out what the issue would be with Ah Kuoi playing.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.
I thought the first test he wasn’t too bad. Came on and did a number of things that had a positive impact.
Last weekend wasn’t great. He just needs one of those tests where he knuckles down and makes his tackles, create havoc at the tackle by playing quick off set piece and then provides at least 5-7 runs.
Well he had to play lock. He was fine. He contributed well to the breakdown, lineout, scrum and was accurate.
Kirifi was more of worry. Came on and gave away 3 penalties and turned the ball over within 20 minutes.
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@Bones said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
Are there any fit locks around if Patty is ruled out?
That's why I was trying to figure out what the issue would be with Ah Kuoi playing.
Haven’t heard anything concrete yet. At the very least we will need one new lock on the bench with Vaa’i out.
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@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.
I thought the first test he wasn’t too bad. Came on and did a number of things that had a positive impact.
Last weekend wasn’t great. He just needs one of those tests where he knuckles down and makes his tackles, create havoc at the tackle by playing quick off set piece and then provides at least 5-7 runs.
Well he had to play lock. He was fine. He contributed well to the breakdown, lineout, scrum and was accurate.
Kirifi was more of worry. Came on and gave away 3 penalties and turned the ball over within 20 minutes.
It wasn’t the position that was the problem as the set piece wasn’t the issue. It was more about what he was and wasn’t doing around the park.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
@Bones said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
Are there any fit locks around if Patty is ruled out?
That's why I was trying to figure out what the issue would be with Ah Kuoi playing.
Haven’t heard anything concrete yet. At the very least we will need one new lock on the bench with Vaa’i out.
Might have been another thread where he was mentioned as an idiotic replacement (or some such) for PT.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.
I thought the first test he wasn’t too bad. Came on and did a number of things that had a positive impact.
Last weekend wasn’t great. He just needs one of those tests where he knuckles down and makes his tackles, create havoc at the tackle by playing quick off set piece and then provides at least 5-7 runs.
Well he had to play lock. He was fine. He contributed well to the breakdown, lineout, scrum and was accurate.
Kirifi was more of worry. Came on and gave away 3 penalties and turned the ball over within 20 minutes.
It wasn’t the position that was the problem as the set piece wasn’t the issue. It was more about what he was and wasn’t doing around the park.
Possibly because he's busy trying to come to terms with being a blindside flanker at this level and then was shoved into playing another.
It's this level of midwittery that has me worried about the coaches.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
@brodean said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v France III:
@sparky said in All Blacks v France III:
@ACT-Crusader Finau's been disappointing in the first two Tests. If they select him, he'll need a good game to be retained in the squad for the RC.
I thought the first test he wasn’t too bad. Came on and did a number of things that had a positive impact.
Last weekend wasn’t great. He just needs one of those tests where he knuckles down and makes his tackles, create havoc at the tackle by playing quick off set piece and then provides at least 5-7 runs.
Well he had to play lock. He was fine. He contributed well to the breakdown, lineout, scrum and was accurate.
Kirifi was more of worry. Came on and gave away 3 penalties and turned the ball over within 20 minutes.
It wasn’t the position that was the problem as the set piece wasn’t the issue. It was more about what he was and wasn’t doing around the park.
Ok so you're saying the set piece wasn't an issue?
If a flanker is called to play lock and then the scrum is strong and stable, and we win all our lineout ball, then that's a win. We defended the maul well when he was on. His cleans were accurate and effective. He performed his core roles well as a lock.
Anything else is a bonus. He made some good tackles and a few carries. We didn't have a lot of possession for him to make 5 or 7 carries and that is not the primary role of a lock that comes on for 20 minutes.
He was involved in two breakdowns that won us penalties. He got his hand under the ball when Taofifenua busted over the line.
Not sure what else were you guys expecting? He makes a run down the side line like Issac Ross?
