2019 under 20's
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Average first half. Weak scrum, leaky defence, sloppy passing. It's only because Japan can't defend that we are so far ahead.
@Stargazer well summed up..!
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It looks like Punivai has replaced Fihaki and plays at centre. I assume Lalomilo has moved to the wing?
Edit: nope. Fihaki still on the field. Has Gregory gone off?
@Stargazer yeah looks like it, he did hurt his shoulder a little in his try
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@Stargazer Not as badly as the 14 just mangled that guy!
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@Stargazer said in 2019 under 20's:
Our scrum is sh&t.
Can you confirm that Mr. Philpott is coaching the scrum please?
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@Stargazer said in 2019 under 20's:
Our scrum is sh&t.
Can you confirm that Mr. Philpott is coaching the scrum please?
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@Stargazer from what I understand,Whitcombe is back in NZ having a back operation,so has quite linked up with the 20s at this stage,on saying that there’s some work to be done.
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Japan can't field a new hooker. Uncontested scrums from now on. That's a pity. Just now that we have a new frontrow on the field.
@Stargazer said in 2019 under 20's:
Japan can't field a new hooker. Uncontested scrums from now on. That's a pity. Just now that we have a new frontrow on the field.
Can't they find one amongst their 27 guys on the bench?
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@Stargazer said in 2019 under 20's:
Japan can't field a new hooker. Uncontested scrums from now on. That's a pity. Just now that we have a new frontrow on the field.
Can't they find one amongst their 27 guys on the bench?
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Overall found it very similar to first game. They started really poor but came into it. Once the defence clicked we played off that a lot.
Still really concerned with a few areas.
1- skills. Like first game we did not look fluid on attack, dropped heaps of ball. Against NH teams and even Aussies will need huge improvement.
2- still lack of forward impact around park. Against France, England we will need ball carriers and fetchers and just have not seen it.
3- half back. Was unimpressed with Fuinaki. Lacks game sense, a lot of passes to short runners heavy and longer passes lacked accuracy. In years we have done well we have had dominant 9s at this level like TTT 2015 and Enari 2017. -
Very difficult to draw conclusions from a match against such a weak opponent, but I'll try it anyway.
- Although you can't solely blame the frontrow for a weak scrum, I think it's fair to say that Friday's starting frontrow was better than today's.
- Locks: haven't seen anything noteworthy; there were not many line-outs. I'd probably go for Grace and Vaa'i for the game against Oz.
- Loosies: Parker played reasonably well at no. 8, but Flanders is clearly better. If Parker can play 6, I'd move him there. Herbert scored a few easy tries, but I didn't notice him much during the game apart from that. Boshier probably better than Finau, but as I said, I'd probably move Parker to 6 if he can play there.
- Halfback: still some sloppy passing; Funaki is better than Carter, but that's about all I can say about it.
- First five-eighth: still a messy game, disorganised, so game management still a lot to improve. Good kicking. I'd pick Reihana over Burke, lacking a better pivot.
- Midfield: McLeod was better today than last Friday, but that was easy against Japan. I'd really like to see Gregory at 12 with Lalomilo at 13, but I'm afraid McLeod will get that 12 jersey again, with Gregory being kept on the left wing, at least, until the Super Rugby boys are released. Lalomilo is someone to keep at centre. Can Tupaea play on the wing? Forbes was invisible for most of the game; didn't impress at fullback.
NZ best forward: hard to say; nobody really stood out, maybe Parker
NZ best back: Gregory and Lalomilo
Weakest link in the forwards: can't really single out one player.
Weakest link in the backs: same; right wing and fullback were very quiet.Worst part of our game: see previous game (no real improvement in ball handling and game management). Worse than previous game: the scrum.
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Bit late to the party on this one but I really like the trial reserve rules. Opens up way more tactics for substitutions. Trying to close out a close one? Bring on the better defensive players. Need to play catch up? Put out an aggressive attacking backline.
Coaches basically programme in their subs as part of game planning now, this would open things up and reward the better tactical coaches.
