Auckland v Waikato
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@pakman said in Auckland v Waikato:
Are the ABs/Super teams too ‘refined’ to employ such blunt instruments?
They’d be silly to think like that which, to be clear, I don’t think they do. I’m pretty sure that Robertson and Ryan would love nothing more than a player like Valetini at 6. For me, it’s more a question of when and where is a player like Saifoloi supposed to actually develop into the kind of ‘blunt instrument’ which could be effective in Test rugby, if not in the NPC?
Right now, playing for Waikato, it’s generic one-size-fits-all rugby, especially in terms of forwards’ structures. Filipo would most likely claim they don’t really have the squad together for long enough to experiment with game plans, which is fair enough. But when Saifoloi then goes to the Crusaders, he’ll still most likely be considered too raw to get much game time. Plus the Crusaders don’t really play a lot of one-off rugby off 9 in multi-phase, so he won’t really learn there either.
So the main issue for me is more that players like Saifoloi don’t really have a clear pathway up the NZ Rugby pyramid through which they can develop the kind of physical dominance-game that’s so valuable in Test rugby. Most teams simply play in too similar a fashion for different styles of players to effectively come through. There’s been some nice variation in attack shapes in the NPC in recent years, like with Taranaki, but that variation hasn’t really taken place in terms of forward play, as far as I can tell.
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@pakman said in Auckland v Waikato:
Nick Gill is very big on the bronco test. But maybe 6’ 5” loosies ought to cut some slack, and accept that they’re gassed after 55 - 60, at which point you can potentially bring another on?
Maybe it's time to bin the bronco tests and realise that Rugby is a game of RAW POWER rather aerobic fitness these days?
How many Rugby Championships and Rugby World Cups are we going to sacrifice on the bronco test altar?
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Geez I enjoyed the game. I really was completely neutral, so just sat here and enjoyed the rugby. I thought usual for early game in NPC , there seemed to be a bit of disconnect on defense at times, but that's not unusual. Was a real case of experience against young up and comers in backlines.
It's so good having NPC back. -
Fantastic entertainment. What a game!
Gee, Oli Mathis looks a talent.
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@Bovidae Waikato proving preseason camps and games are overrated ..Staggering they have only been together for a week probably explains their poor start
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Some staggering young talent on both sides for Irish recruitment scouts to get excited by.
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@Steven-Harris said in Auckland v Waikato:
@Bovidae Waikato proving preseason camps and games are overrated ..Staggering they have only been together for a week probably explains their poor start
The late completion of club rugby doesn't help with NPC preparation. Apart from Taranaki, with two RS defences and a pre-season game, most other PUs have had either one or two games before Rd 1.
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@Bovidae said in Auckland v Waikato:
Four wins in a row over Auckland as well, which looks to be Waikato's best winning streak.
Equals.
Waikato won 4 in a row over Auckland 1954-55
1954 won 23-9 (Ham); won 14-13 (Auck)
1955 won 24-13 (Ham); won 17-14 (Auck).
