AB's v Wales
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Sam Cane. Jesus.
Rieko Ioane. Wow.
Huge efforts all around, but the tactic of constantly returning possession must have been a strategy, which is fine it the kicks are contestable, but it was poorly executed and Wales did well by not really kicking to us at all. When they did, I though Dmac had his best game running back through traffic to link with our forwards, where there were also opportunities (none came off) for breaks as well. Much better and finally some positive signs.
I really like that new Wales 7, he looks the goods. Biggar also went really well I think, and they did well running men through the midfield then taking advantage of our men - although I think they also had about three examples of shepherding/our defenders being taken out, where the attacking player then ran exactly through that space. Fair enough to keep doing it though, because it wasn't being picked up on by the officials. Great try at the end of the first half too - looked a smidge forward, but probably flat enough to not be called back (I wouldn't want that called back for us). Bad read by Barrett I think helped them, but it was a beauty.
Of course, not as good as the 7 man scrum to Ioane move. That was really pretty.
Most of it has been said, but every time I think Patty T will have the game to show he has it in him, he doesn't show up. Made about three great tackles in the first 3 minutes then spent the rest of his time trying to keep up. He's really only a final 20 minutes player, where he can be used well.
(L) Whitelock played relatively well, but he doesn't have Read's speed to cover his game as well. He did OK with his time, but doesn't look like the answer to me. And, I think I'm starting to agree that Squire isn't the answer at 6. He makes tackles, but his lack of defensive impact is highlighted by every tackle made by Cane, who doesn't just make them, but makes them count. To be fair to him, much of his game is based around us having the ball, but I didn't see him putting his hand up to make those runs, and what carries he didi have were pretty ineffective. SBW did a better job coming in from 2nd 5 in taking on that role.
Overall, glad to have that game over, but we are very focused on looking for magic from Ioane. Without him today, how many of those tries would have been created or finished? That's my key problem - even ALB's try was only due to Ioane - because Barrett sure as fuck wasn't help, taking the ball literally flat footed with a straight up pass. He was as non-influential as I can remember today, so little contribution from 10, except for a few cracking cover tackles which only reinforce the view that he is a better international 15 than 10, right now. A number of work ons for him.
Aaron Smith had one of his poorer games and I think needs a break, and a fucking haircut.
@gt12 said in AB's v Wales:
... they also had about three examples of shepherding/our defenders being taken out, where the attacking player then ran exactly through that space. ...
I mentioned that at half time. They were constantly running shields into the defence
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Fuck it, lets do a XXIII.
Not a bad second half considering the unavailable/injured players:
- Moody
- Coles
- Franks
- Romano
- Retallick
- Kaino
- Gibson
- Read
- TKB
- Mo’unga
- B. Smith/NMS
- Crotty/J. Barrett
- Proctor/Crotty
- Dagg
- J. Barrett/B. Smith
- Coltman
- Daniel Lienert-Brown
- Faumuina
- Scrafton
- Luatua
- Hall
- Black
- Lowe/NMS
EDIT: Daniel Lienert-Brown is injured.
EDIT-2: Forgot Cruden -
Fuck it, lets do a XXIII.
Not a bad second half considering the unavailable/injured players:
- Moody
- Coles
- Franks
- Romano
- Retallick
- Kaino
- Gibson
- Read
- TKB
- Mo’unga
- B. Smith/NMS
- Crotty/J. Barrett
- Proctor/Crotty
- Dagg
- J. Barrett/B. Smith
- Coltman
- Daniel Lienert-Brown
- Faumuina
- Scrafton
- Luatua
- Hall
- Black
- Lowe/NMS
EDIT: Daniel Lienert-Brown is injured.
EDIT-2: Forgot Cruden@tim said in AB's v Wales:
Fuck it, lets do a XXIII.
Not a bad second half considering the unavailable/injured players:
- Moody
- Coles
- Franks
- Romano
- Retallick
- Kaino
- Gibson
- Read
- TKB
- Mo’unga
- B. Smith
- Crotty
- Proctor
- Dagg
- J. Barrett
- Coltman
- Faumuina
- Scrafton
- Luatua
- Hall
- Black
- Lowe
Didn’t one of the decent props from Canterbury or Ta$man declare for Tonga or Samoa this year?
NMS
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Fuck it, lets do a XXIII.
Not a bad second half considering the unavailable/injured players:
- Moody
- Coles
- Franks
- Romano
- Retallick
- Kaino
- Gibson
- Read
- TKB
- Mo’unga
- B. Smith/NMS
- Crotty/J. Barrett
- Proctor/Crotty
- Dagg
- J. Barrett/B. Smith
- Coltman
- Daniel Lienert-Brown
- Faumuina
- Scrafton
- Luatua
- Hall
- Black
- Lowe/NMS
EDIT: Daniel Lienert-Brown is injured.
EDIT-2: Forgot Cruden -
@tim some of them were available werent they, just not selected?
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@taniwharugby I don’t think so. Who are you suggesting?
@tim Mounga and TKB?
Question is...assuming Reiko cant win Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, does he get the 'bigger' prize of player of the Year?
edit scratch Mounga, he broke something...
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I enjoyed watching us more in this game than most others this year. I think mainly because we had so little ball their wasn't time for multiple stupid errors.
Good win considering our 9, 10 and 12 were rubbish. Our kicking game was shit, so Wales found it easy to pin us back.
Awesome defense though (TJP aside) our forwards fucked theirs up. Then Ioane did something awesome and we scored. That was pretty much the key, defense, discipline and Ioane.
Loved seeing our 7 man scrum easily handle them.
Decent end to an ordinary year.
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@tim Mounga and TKB?
Question is...assuming Reiko cant win Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, does he get the 'bigger' prize of player of the Year?
edit scratch Mounga, he broke something...
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@taniwharugby Mo'unga broke his hand in the first minute of the game v France XV.
@stargazer yep I edited my post above 5 mins ago...
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@stargazer yep I edited my post above 5 mins ago...
@taniwharugby Yup, and I added that it was his hand.
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@tim Mounga and TKB?
Question is...assuming Reiko cant win Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, does he get the 'bigger' prize of player of the Year?
edit scratch Mounga, he broke something...
@taniwharugby TKB was unavailable for the final game, I think.
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@taniwharugby TKB was unavailable for the final game, I think.
@tim tkb was there at the ground
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@taniwharugby TKB was unavailable for the final game, I think.
@tim you are probably right, I thought they had just decided not to play him
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Wayne Barnes has absolutely no idea what's going on at rucks. I don't know why I'm being specific. He's a dreadful referee.
Also; how is Ofa an All Black? Seriously.
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Wayne Barnes has absolutely no idea what's going on at rucks. I don't know why I'm being specific. He's a dreadful referee.
Also; how is Ofa an All Black? Seriously.
@antipodean ofa has done a great job this year and deserves his place
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@rancid-schnitzel said in AB's v Wales:
@nepia said in AB's v Wales:
@Rancid-Schnitzel I've used it for years - you're talking about arguments everyone on the Fern uses, we're all hypocritical in that respect. Also, where did I label anyone a hater? I said there were posters whinging about him.
Sure, if you use that argument then everyone else must. As I said, you bitching about knights riding in to defend a player no matter what is absolutely hilarious.
If you want to pretend I'm somehow worse than everyone else on the Fern then go for your life, although, if I hadn't have mentioned BB's performance you likely wouldn't have bothered responding.
@Tim I think he's actually all good for once isn't he?
@nepia said in AB's v Wales:
@rancid-schnitzel said in AB's v Wales:
@nepia said in AB's v Wales:
@Rancid-Schnitzel I've used it for years - you're talking about arguments everyone on the Fern uses, we're all hypocritical in that respect. Also, where did I label anyone a hater? I said there were posters whinging about him.
Sure, if you use that argument then everyone else must. As I said, you bitching about knights riding in to defend a player no matter what is absolutely hilarious.
If you want to pretend I'm somehow worse than everyone else on the Fern then go for your life, although, if I hadn't have mentioned BB's performance you likely wouldn't have bothered responding.
@Tim I think he's actually all good for once isn't he?
Actually didn't care about BB criticism. There was plenty of it before you chimed in. What I reacted to was your comment about "knights" defending a player no matter what, particularly since it was coming from you.
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Probably a completely pointless bit of info, but it's interesting that the 2 locks in the 7 man scrum were Barrett and Squire. Obviously there is a question mark (by many) about these 2 being in black, but they must be farking strong to be able to pull that off not once but 3 times.
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@antipodean ofa has done a great job this year and deserves his place
@family-man said in AB's v Wales:
@antipodean ofa has done a great job this year and deserves his place
At what? His defence? Carrying? Scrummaging?
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@family-man said in AB's v Wales:
@antipodean ofa has done a great job this year and deserves his place
At what? His defence? Carrying? Scrummaging?
@antipodean said in AB's v Wales:
@family-man said in AB's v Wales:
@antipodean ofa has done a great job this year and deserves his place
At what? His defence? Carrying? Scrummaging?
He gets no credit for the seven man scrums that held on attack and defence against Wales? They also got a penalty out of one of them.
He defence has been good, today he had a bit of the droppsies, but his core role was very good.
