All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I
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The fact we are still tossing Rieko's name around "cos of his defense" .. sums up the issues we have in midfield for me.
Ikitau and Suaalii are far better and more complete midfielders and create so many opportunities for the outsides... we simply have no center's standing up and demanding to be picked at least not any with a complete game on both defense and offense.
The only caveat to this is -- I don't recall any midfielders looking good outside BB or Dmac in recent years.
@Mattasaurus said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
The fact we are still tossing Rieko's name around "cos of his defense" .. sums up the issues we have in midfield for me.
Ikitau and Suaalii are far better and more complete midfielders and create so many opportunities for the outsides... we simply have no center's standing up and demanding to be picked at least not any with a complete game on both defense and offense.
They are.... because they've been training under Schmidt for 18 months - those guys were not exactly setting the world alight in Super Rugby - B.Sullivan, Q.Tupaea, ALB, Tawawanavai, Umaga-Jenson, Proctor, were statistically the best performers in Super Rugby this year.
We just have poor technical coaches like our 'midfield specialist' Holland who has overseen the midfield functionality going from world-class under Schmidt in 2023 to steadily going backwards in 2024 and 2025 under Holland.
Not a single midfielder has improved under Holland's watch, they have regressed in every aspect - defense, offense, positional play - Ioane, Barrett, ALB, all performed significantly better under Schmidt.
Stop blaming the players and wake up.
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@Mattasaurus said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
The fact we are still tossing Rieko's name around "cos of his defense" .. sums up the issues we have in midfield for me.
Ikitau and Suaalii are far better and more complete midfielders and create so many opportunities for the outsides... we simply have no center's standing up and demanding to be picked at least not any with a complete game on both defense and offense.
They are.... because they've been training under Schmidt for 18 months - those guys were not exactly setting the world alight in Super Rugby - B.Sullivan, Q.Tupaea, ALB, Tawawanavai, Umaga-Jenson, Proctor, were statistically the best performers in Super Rugby this year.
We just have poor technical coaches like our 'midfield specialist' Holland who has overseen the midfield functionality going from world-class under Schmidt in 2023 to steadily going backwards in 2024 and 2025 under Holland.
Not a single midfielder has improved under Holland's watch, they have regressed in every aspect - defense, offense, positional play - Ioane, Barrett, ALB, all performed significantly better under Schmidt.
Stop blaming the players and wake up.
@restofit said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
B.Sullivan, Q.Tupaea, ALB, Tawawanavai, Umaga-Jenson, Proctor, were statistically the best
And who did none of them play outside at super rugby?
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Changes I would make for the Wallabies test:
- Name the team on Wednesday. Controversial, I know, but scrap the Thursday palaver. Give the media and fans more time to review, critique and talk about the game.
- Start the Crusader front row - Williams, Taylor, Newell. Shocking aye.
- Get Holland in to start at lock. If you are intent on starting Scooter and Vaa’i, move Vaa’i to 6 and Parker to 8 or the bench.
- Bring in Luke Jacobson. Whether for Sititi or Kirifi, we need more size.
- Give Love a start at 10. The time is now, it’s a big game and time for him to feel the blowtorch as a starter in the 10 jersey. And if you don’t genuinely see him as a 10 then bring in Reihana. No more DMac or Beauden at 10. Zero, zilch, nada more opportunities at 10. It’s killing us. And only select one of them in the 23.
- Go back to Jordan at fullback and bring Clarke into the starting XV. Put Ioane on the other wing.
- Give the Jordie/Quinn combo a start. There’s a skill set between the two of them that we need. Proctor can be on the bench or watching from the stands.
- Pick whatever halfbacks are fit….
- Use the midfield pod more, it actually created space in the Welly test, but select the 1st 5 that will use it.
- No box kicks in our own 22.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
Changes I would make for the Wallabies test:
- Name the team on Wednesday. Controversial, I know, but scrap the Thursday palaver. Give the media and fans more time to review, critique and talk about the game.
What difference does it make how long we or media have got to critique the team? I mean it won't change anything. The coaches shouldn't have any care what anyone else thinks, they name team and last thing they need is extra time for people to try and convince the players they shouldn't be there.
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
over my disappointment of what happened in Wellington, and so now looking forward to this one.
Over it? Hell naw.
I'm still bitter about the Cornelsen game in 1978., and every loss thereafter. (Earliest loss I can recall watching ... probably earlier ones I watched - 1976 in SA for eg). So will never be "over" Saturday.
But definitely looking forward to the next one.
@booboo said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
over my disappointment of what happened in Wellington, and so now looking forward to this one.
Over it? Hell naw.
I'm still bitter about the Cornelsen game in 1978., and every loss thereafter. (Earliest loss I can recall watching ... probably earlier ones I watched - 1976 in SA for eg). So will never be "over" Saturday.
But definitely looking forward to the next one.
QF 2007 Barnes.
Lions Test 2 Garces and Lions Test 3 Poite 2017.
RWC 2023 Barnes
Still seething.
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I think it's time to be brave. We aren't far off.
For me it's:
SB not captain.
Holland to start
Roigard pray for fitness.
BB historically a great, but now at 10 , no.
Love to start.
10 is Love or DMac (Dont knock DMac. He hasn't had a fair run at 10)
Jordan best on the wing.
Captain , has to be a certainty. I'd seriously look at Sititi or Roigard. Currently it's not working. Obvious. -
Also ban box kicks, more pick n goes, half back running. Energy sapping but that's our strength at the moment.
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@booboo said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
over my disappointment of what happened in Wellington, and so now looking forward to this one.
Over it? Hell naw.
I'm still bitter about the Cornelsen game in 1978., and every loss thereafter. (Earliest loss I can recall watching ... probably earlier ones I watched - 1976 in SA for eg). So will never be "over" Saturday.
But definitely looking forward to the next one.
QF 2007 Barnes.
Lions Test 2 Garces and Lions Test 3 Poite 2017.
RWC 2023 Barnes
Still seething.
@Jet said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
@booboo said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
over my disappointment of what happened in Wellington, and so now looking forward to this one.
Over it? Hell naw.
I'm still bitter about the Cornelsen game in 1978., and every loss thereafter. (Earliest loss I can recall watching ... probably earlier ones I watched - 1976 in SA for eg). So will never be "over" Saturday.
But definitely looking forward to the next one.
QF 2007 Barnes.
Lions Test 2 Garces and Lions Test 3 Poite 2017.
RWC 2023 Barnes
Still seething.
1976 Gert Bezuidenhout.
You'll enjoy Batty at around 4.30 running in from his wing to throw a punch!
Bruce Robertson gypped a couple of times. And then Uncle Gert finds a penalty at the last lineout!
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The fact we are still tossing Rieko's name around "cos of his defense" .. sums up the issues we have in midfield for me.
Ikitau and Suaalii are far better and more complete midfielders and create so many opportunities for the outsides... we simply have no center's standing up and demanding to be picked at least not any with a complete game on both defense and offense.
The only caveat to this is -- I don't recall any midfielders looking good outside BB or Dmac in recent years.
@Mattasaurus said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
The fact we are still tossing Rieko's name around "cos of his defense" .. sums up the issues we have in midfield for me.
Ikitau and Suaalii are far better and more complete midfielders and create so many opportunities for the outsides... we simply have no center's standing up and demanding to be picked at least not any with a complete game on both defense and offense.
The only caveat to this is -- I don't recall any midfielders looking good outside BB or Dmac in recent years.
Sua'ali'i isn't a test standard defender at 13 but his attack makes up for it.
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I think it's time to be brave. We aren't far off.
For me it's:
SB not captain.
Holland to start
Roigard pray for fitness.
BB historically a great, but now at 10 , no.
Love to start.
10 is Love or DMac (Dont knock DMac. He hasn't had a fair run at 10)
Jordan best on the wing.
Captain , has to be a certainty. I'd seriously look at Sititi or Roigard. Currently it's not working. Obvious.@BerniesCorner I'd look at Patrick Tuipolutu for captain.
Holland doesn't do it for me and hopefully Sam Darry gets the call.
Wallace Sittiti definitely not captain would be lucky to hold his spot under different coaching set up.
There's trouble in camp. -
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
Changes I would make for the Wallabies test:
- Name the team on Wednesday. Controversial, I know, but scrap the Thursday palaver. Give the media and fans more time to review, critique and talk about the game.
What difference does it make how long we or media have got to critique the team? I mean it won't change anything. The coaches shouldn't have any care what anyone else thinks, they name team and last thing they need is extra time for people to try and convince the players they shouldn't be there.
@Dan54 said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
Changes I would make for the Wallabies test:
- Name the team on Wednesday. Controversial, I know, but scrap the Thursday palaver. Give the media and fans more time to review, critique and talk about the game.
What difference does it make how long we or media have got to critique the team? I mean it won't change anything. The coaches shouldn't have any care what anyone else thinks, they name team and last thing they need is extra time for people to try and convince the players they shouldn't be there.
So when is the team named? Asking for a friend.
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@BerniesCorner I'd look at Patrick Tuipolutu for captain.
Holland doesn't do it for me and hopefully Sam Darry gets the call.
Wallace Sittiti definitely not captain would be lucky to hold his spot under different coaching set up.
There's trouble in camp.@george33 said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
Holland doesn't do it for me and hopefully Sam Darry gets the call.
The guy has been brilliant at providing good ball. Starter in my book.
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@BerniesCorner I'd look at Patrick Tuipolutu for captain.
Holland doesn't do it for me and hopefully Sam Darry gets the call.
Wallace Sittiti definitely not captain would be lucky to hold his spot under different coaching set up.
There's trouble in camp.@george33 said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
@BerniesCorner I'd look at Patrick Tuipolutu for captain.
Holland doesn't do it for me and hopefully Sam Darry gets the call.
Wallace Sittiti definitely not captain would be lucky to hold his spot under different coaching set up.
There's trouble in camp.Care to elaborate? I really hate the whispered half rumours that get floated.
If you're going to post it, lay it out.
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I think it's time to be brave. We aren't far off.
For me it's:
SB not captain.
Holland to start
Roigard pray for fitness.
BB historically a great, but now at 10 , no.
Love to start.
10 is Love or DMac (Dont knock DMac. He hasn't had a fair run at 10)
Jordan best on the wing.
Captain , has to be a certainty. I'd seriously look at Sititi or Roigard. Currently it's not working. Obvious.@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
I think it's time to be brave. We aren't far off.
For me it's:
SB not captain.
Holland to start
Roigard pray for fitness.
BB historically a great, but now at 10 , no.
Love to start.
10 is Love or DMac (Dont knock DMac. He hasn't had a fair run at 10)
Jordan best on the wing.
Captain , has to be a certainty. I'd seriously look at Sititi or Roigard. Currently it's not working. Obvious.Coming back from injury, still young and under extreme weight of expectation to provide magic.
Let’s not burden him with captaincy as well thank you very much.
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I think it's time to be brave. We aren't far off.
For me it's:
SB not captain.
Holland to start
Roigard pray for fitness.
BB historically a great, but now at 10 , no.
Love to start.
10 is Love or DMac (Dont knock DMac. He hasn't had a fair run at 10)
Jordan best on the wing.
Captain , has to be a certainty. I'd seriously look at Sititi or Roigard. Currently it's not working. Obvious. -
@BerniesCorner I'd look at Patrick Tuipolutu for captain.
Holland doesn't do it for me and hopefully Sam Darry gets the call.
Wallace Sittiti definitely not captain would be lucky to hold his spot under different coaching set up.
There's trouble in camp.@george33 said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
@BerniesCorner I'd look at Patrick Tuipolutu for captain.
Holland doesn't do it for me and hopefully Sam Darry gets the call.
Wallace Sittiti definitely not captain would be lucky to hold his spot under different coaching set up.
There's trouble in camp.Trouble in camp?
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
Changes I would make for the Wallabies test:
- Name the team on Wednesday. Controversial, I know, but scrap the Thursday palaver. Give the media and fans more time to review, critique and talk about the game.
What difference does it make how long we or media have got to critique the team? I mean it won't change anything. The coaches shouldn't have any care what anyone else thinks, they name team and last thing they need is extra time for people to try and convince the players they shouldn't be there.
So when is the team named? Asking for a friend.
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
Changes I would make for the Wallabies test:
- Name the team on Wednesday. Controversial, I know, but scrap the Thursday palaver. Give the media and fans more time to review, critique and talk about the game.
What difference does it make how long we or media have got to critique the team? I mean it won't change anything. The coaches shouldn't have any care what anyone else thinks, they name team and last thing they need is extra time for people to try and convince the players they shouldn't be there.
So when is the team named? Asking for a friend.
Thusday lunchtime.
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@BerniesCorner I'd look at Patrick Tuipolutu for captain.
Holland doesn't do it for me and hopefully Sam Darry gets the call.
Wallace Sittiti definitely not captain would be lucky to hold his spot under different coaching set up.
There's trouble in camp.@george33 said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
There's trouble in camp.
Jeez, I hope not, but that would align with what @tim wrote a couple of days ago.
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I think it's time to be brave. We aren't far off.
For me it's:
SB not captain.
Holland to start
Roigard pray for fitness.
BB historically a great, but now at 10 , no.
Love to start.
10 is Love or DMac (Dont knock DMac. He hasn't had a fair run at 10)
Jordan best on the wing.
Captain , has to be a certainty. I'd seriously look at Sititi or Roigard. Currently it's not working. Obvious.@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe I:
I think it's time to be brave. We aren't far off.
For me it's:
SB not captain.
Holland to start
Roigard pray for fitness.
BB historically a great, but now at 10 , no.
Love to start.
10 is Love or DMac (Dont knock DMac. He hasn't had a fair run at 10)
Jordan best on the wing.
Captain , has to be a certainty. I'd seriously look at Sititi or Roigard. Currently it's not working. Obvious.You're right but none of that will happen.
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@BerniesCorner I'd look at Patrick Tuipolutu for captain.
Holland doesn't do it for me and hopefully Sam Darry gets the call.
Wallace Sittiti definitely not captain would be lucky to hold his spot under different coaching set up.
There's trouble in camp.
