AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?
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@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@voodoo said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I'm almost thankful that we have no games this year, or at most, a couple against the Aussies. Because this team is pretty uninspiring to me. Not for a lack of talent, but for how "messy" it feels. So few guys picking themselves as automatic selections, too many being touted to play out of position, and a new captain that is injury prone and probably not world class even at full fitness.
How can we have gone through another season and still have no idea what our midfield should look like? How is it that we have no natural 12's any more? We are touting Jordie Barret or Ennor (pre-injury) as great options, WTF?
We are still debating who to play at 10, who our best wings are, who to play at 15. We have no standout at 6, even 8 (maybe Sotutu), and arguably our best 7 will need to come off the bench.
And what we absolutely don't have is an cohesiveness in the combinations across the park. Tight 5? Nah. Loosie combination? No. Number 8/9 combo? Nope. Midfield? Maybe of they go back to ALB/Goodhue, but people seem to think this is unlikely. Back 3? Nuh uh.
I could see this team getting toasted by SA if we played them tomorrow.
You said it Homer.
I don't share the negativity.
I'm also trying to ignore the Cane trolling.
@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@voodoo said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I'm almost thankful that we have no games this year, or at most, a couple against the Aussies. Because this team is pretty uninspiring to me. Not for a lack of talent, but for how "messy" it feels. So few guys picking themselves as automatic selections, too many being touted to play out of position, and a new captain that is injury prone and probably not world class even at full fitness.
How can we have gone through another season and still have no idea what our midfield should look like? How is it that we have no natural 12's any more? We are touting Jordie Barret or Ennor (pre-injury) as great options, WTF?
We are still debating who to play at 10, who our best wings are, who to play at 15. We have no standout at 6, even 8 (maybe Sotutu), and arguably our best 7 will need to come off the bench.
And what we absolutely don't have is an cohesiveness in the combinations across the park. Tight 5? Nah. Loosie combination? No. Number 8/9 combo? Nope. Midfield? Maybe of they go back to ALB/Goodhue, but people seem to think this is unlikely. Back 3? Nuh uh.
I could see this team getting toasted by SA if we played them tomorrow.
You said it Homer.
I don't share the negativity.
I'm also trying to ignore the Cane trolling.
I know. Palmy is part of Canes country. It makes no sense.
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@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@voodoo said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I'm almost thankful that we have no games this year, or at most, a couple against the Aussies. Because this team is pretty uninspiring to me. Not for a lack of talent, but for how "messy" it feels. So few guys picking themselves as automatic selections, too many being touted to play out of position, and a new captain that is injury prone and probably not world class even at full fitness.
How can we have gone through another season and still have no idea what our midfield should look like? How is it that we have no natural 12's any more? We are touting Jordie Barret or Ennor (pre-injury) as great options, WTF?
We are still debating who to play at 10, who our best wings are, who to play at 15. We have no standout at 6, even 8 (maybe Sotutu), and arguably our best 7 will need to come off the bench.
And what we absolutely don't have is an cohesiveness in the combinations across the park. Tight 5? Nah. Loosie combination? No. Number 8/9 combo? Nope. Midfield? Maybe of they go back to ALB/Goodhue, but people seem to think this is unlikely. Back 3? Nuh uh.
I could see this team getting toasted by SA if we played them tomorrow.
You said it Homer.
I don't share the negativity.
I'm also trying to ignore the Cane trolling.
@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@voodoo said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I'm almost thankful that we have no games this year, or at most, a couple against the Aussies. Because this team is pretty uninspiring to me. Not for a lack of talent, but for how "messy" it feels. So few guys picking themselves as automatic selections, too many being touted to play out of position, and a new captain that is injury prone and probably not world class even at full fitness.
How can we have gone through another season and still have no idea what our midfield should look like? How is it that we have no natural 12's any more? We are touting Jordie Barret or Ennor (pre-injury) as great options, WTF?
We are still debating who to play at 10, who our best wings are, who to play at 15. We have no standout at 6, even 8 (maybe Sotutu), and arguably our best 7 will need to come off the bench.
And what we absolutely don't have is an cohesiveness in the combinations across the park. Tight 5? Nah. Loosie combination? No. Number 8/9 combo? Nope. Midfield? Maybe of they go back to ALB/Goodhue, but people seem to think this is unlikely. Back 3? Nuh uh.
I could see this team getting toasted by SA if we played them tomorrow.
You said it Homer.
I don't share the negativity.
I'm also trying to ignore the Cane trolling.
Trolling? Why do say that? Is any criticism of him disallowed?
I like Cane, I was amongst those calling for Hansons immediate sacking when he was omitted from the SF team. He hits like a rock, and in that backdrop in particular, he was absolutely necessary.
But in a balanced back row, with a traditional big 6 and a more powerful 8 (say Frizell and Sotutu), I don't think Cane is a world class 7 and I'd rather see Ardie in there.
Hardly trolling
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I'm almost thankful that we have no games this year, or at most, a couple against the Aussies. Because this team is pretty uninspiring to me. Not for a lack of talent, but for how "messy" it feels. So few guys picking themselves as automatic selections, too many being touted to play out of position, and a new captain that is injury prone and probably not world class even at full fitness.
How can we have gone through another season and still have no idea what our midfield should look like? How is it that we have no natural 12's any more? We are touting Jordie Barret or Ennor (pre-injury) as great options, WTF?
We are still debating who to play at 10, who our best wings are, who to play at 15. We have no standout at 6, even 8 (maybe Sotutu), and arguably our best 7 will need to come off the bench.
And what we absolutely don't have is an cohesiveness in the combinations across the park. Tight 5? Nah. Loosie combination? No. Number 8/9 combo? Nope. Midfield? Maybe of they go back to ALB/Goodhue, but people seem to think this is unlikely. Back 3? Nuh uh.
I could see this team getting toasted by SA if we played them tomorrow.
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@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@voodoo said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I'm almost thankful that we have no games this year, or at most, a couple against the Aussies. Because this team is pretty uninspiring to me. Not for a lack of talent, but for how "messy" it feels. So few guys picking themselves as automatic selections, too many being touted to play out of position, and a new captain that is injury prone and probably not world class even at full fitness.
How can we have gone through another season and still have no idea what our midfield should look like? How is it that we have no natural 12's any more? We are touting Jordie Barret or Ennor (pre-injury) as great options, WTF?
We are still debating who to play at 10, who our best wings are, who to play at 15. We have no standout at 6, even 8 (maybe Sotutu), and arguably our best 7 will need to come off the bench.
And what we absolutely don't have is an cohesiveness in the combinations across the park. Tight 5? Nah. Loosie combination? No. Number 8/9 combo? Nope. Midfield? Maybe of they go back to ALB/Goodhue, but people seem to think this is unlikely. Back 3? Nuh uh.
I could see this team getting toasted by SA if we played them tomorrow.
You said it Homer.
I don't share the negativity.
I'm also trying to ignore the Cane trolling.
Trolling? Why do say that? Is any criticism of him disallowed?
I like Cane, I was amongst those calling for Hansons immediate sacking when he was omitted from the SF team. He hits like a rock, and in that backdrop in particular, he was absolutely necessary.
But in a balanced back row, with a traditional big 6 and a more powerful 8 (say Frizell and Sotutu), I don't think Cane is a world class 7 and I'd rather see Ardie in there.
Hardly trolling
@voodoo said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@voodoo said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I'm almost thankful that we have no games this year, or at most, a couple against the Aussies. Because this team is pretty uninspiring to me. Not for a lack of talent, but for how "messy" it feels. So few guys picking themselves as automatic selections, too many being touted to play out of position, and a new captain that is injury prone and probably not world class even at full fitness.
How can we have gone through another season and still have no idea what our midfield should look like? How is it that we have no natural 12's any more? We are touting Jordie Barret or Ennor (pre-injury) as great options, WTF?
We are still debating who to play at 10, who our best wings are, who to play at 15. We have no standout at 6, even 8 (maybe Sotutu), and arguably our best 7 will need to come off the bench.
And what we absolutely don't have is an cohesiveness in the combinations across the park. Tight 5? Nah. Loosie combination? No. Number 8/9 combo? Nope. Midfield? Maybe of they go back to ALB/Goodhue, but people seem to think this is unlikely. Back 3? Nuh uh.
I could see this team getting toasted by SA if we played them tomorrow.
You said it Homer.
I don't share the negativity.
I'm also trying to ignore the Cane trolling.
Trolling? Why do say that? Is any criticism of him disallowed?
I like Cane, I was amongst those calling for Hansons immediate sacking when he was omitted from the SF team. He hits like a rock, and in that backdrop in particular, he was absolutely necessary.
But in a balanced back row, with a traditional big 6 and a more powerful 8 (say Frizell and Sotutu), I don't think Cane is a world class 7 and I'd rather see Ardie in there.
Hardly trolling
My apologies. I thought he was referring to "the Canes" rather than "Cane".
I chose to jump in and put the boot in without knowing the facts. This makes me no better than a typical "Black Lives Matter" protester.
As you were.
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@voodoo and yet we go back to the Richie era and were many calls that things were boring, the team picked itself, we won too much etc...
Never bloody happy are you
@taniwharugby said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@voodoo and yet we go back to the Richie era and were many calls that things were boring, the team picked itself, we won too much etc...
Never bloody happy are you
who were the sad fckers complaining about that!!!
I'm not as negative as the post probably appeared, there is talent in there. But I am glad (from a results perspective rather than a getting-to-watch rugby perspective) that we are not playing SA or England any time soon
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I am the opposite, the coaching group have been up front about where we were shite in RWC, and a few of the previous games since Lions. They are not talking, like Hansen, that we’ll use ‘new tactics and gameplans’ to get around the defences that trouble us. they’ve said we were not dominant up front and we’ve picked to fix that. Personally this should have happened post Lions like Hansen originaly said, then we’d have had two years upto the RWC for Fozzie to fail or win. And now, probably, Robertson would be coach, someone who is pragmatic (see saders) but also engages with the players and is a bit more modern.
And also not another fat fluffybunny, always hate it when our coaches are such bloaters.
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I am the opposite, the coaching group have been up front about where we were shite in RWC, and a few of the previous games since Lions. They are not talking, like Hansen, that we’ll use ‘new tactics and gameplans’ to get around the defences that trouble us. they’ve said we were not dominant up front and we’ve picked to fix that. Personally this should have happened post Lions like Hansen originaly said, then we’d have had two years upto the RWC for Fozzie to fail or win. And now, probably, Robertson would be coach, someone who is pragmatic (see saders) but also engages with the players and is a bit more modern.
And also not another fat fluffybunny, always hate it when our coaches are such bloaters.
@Machpants said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I am the opposite, the coaching group have been up front about where we were shite in RWC, and a few of the previous games since Lions. They are not talking, like Hansen, that we’ll use ‘new tactics and gameplans’ to get around the defences that trouble us. they’ve said we were not dominant up front and we’ve picked to fix that. Personally this should have happened post Lions like Hansen originaly said, then we’d have had two years upto the RWC for Fozzie to fail or win. And now, probably, Robertson would be coach, someone who is pragmatic (see saders) but also engages with the players and is a bit more modern.
And also not another fat fluffybunny, always hate it when our coaches are such bloaters.
Fucken aye. This irks the shit out of me too. For a couple of former svelte backs Hansen and Foster have clearly been taking tips from Ian Smith on how to truly let yourself go.
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@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@voodoo said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I'm almost thankful that we have no games this year, or at most, a couple against the Aussies. Because this team is pretty uninspiring to me. Not for a lack of talent, but for how "messy" it feels. So few guys picking themselves as automatic selections, too many being touted to play out of position, and a new captain that is injury prone and probably not world class even at full fitness.
How can we have gone through another season and still have no idea what our midfield should look like? How is it that we have no natural 12's any more? We are touting Jordie Barret or Ennor (pre-injury) as great options, WTF?
We are still debating who to play at 10, who our best wings are, who to play at 15. We have no standout at 6, even 8 (maybe Sotutu), and arguably our best 7 will need to come off the bench.
And what we absolutely don't have is an cohesiveness in the combinations across the park. Tight 5? Nah. Loosie combination? No. Number 8/9 combo? Nope. Midfield? Maybe of they go back to ALB/Goodhue, but people seem to think this is unlikely. Back 3? Nuh uh.
I could see this team getting toasted by SA if we played them tomorrow.
You said it Homer.
I don't share the negativity.
I'm also trying to ignore the Cane trolling.
Trolling? Why do say that? Is any criticism of him disallowed?
I like Cane, I was amongst those calling for Hansons immediate sacking when he was omitted from the SF team. He hits like a rock, and in that backdrop in particular, he was absolutely necessary.
But in a balanced back row, with a traditional big 6 and a more powerful 8 (say Frizell and Sotutu), I don't think Cane is a world class 7 and I'd rather see Ardie in there.
Hardly trolling
@voodoo said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@voodoo said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I'm almost thankful that we have no games this year, or at most, a couple against the Aussies. Because this team is pretty uninspiring to me. Not for a lack of talent, but for how "messy" it feels. So few guys picking themselves as automatic selections, too many being touted to play out of position, and a new captain that is injury prone and probably not world class even at full fitness.
How can we have gone through another season and still have no idea what our midfield should look like? How is it that we have no natural 12's any more? We are touting Jordie Barret or Ennor (pre-injury) as great options, WTF?
We are still debating who to play at 10, who our best wings are, who to play at 15. We have no standout at 6, even 8 (maybe Sotutu), and arguably our best 7 will need to come off the bench.
And what we absolutely don't have is an cohesiveness in the combinations across the park. Tight 5? Nah. Loosie combination? No. Number 8/9 combo? Nope. Midfield? Maybe of they go back to ALB/Goodhue, but people seem to think this is unlikely. Back 3? Nuh uh.
I could see this team getting toasted by SA if we played them tomorrow.
You said it Homer.
I don't share the negativity.
I'm also trying to ignore the Cane trolling.
Trolling? Why do say that? Is any criticism of him disallowed?
I like Cane, I was amongst those calling for Hansons immediate sacking when he was omitted from the SF team. He hits like a rock, and in that backdrop in particular, he was absolutely necessary.
But in a balanced back row, with a traditional big 6 and a more powerful 8 (say Frizell and Sotutu), I don't think Cane is a world class 7 and I'd rather see Ardie in there.
Hardly trolling
Of course it's trolling. What did Ardie do as an openside in the NvS game apart from watch a number 8 go flying by at a scrum?
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@taniwharugby said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@voodoo and yet we go back to the Richie era and were many calls that things were boring, the team picked itself, we won too much etc...
Never bloody happy are you
who were the sad fckers complaining about that!!!
I'm not as negative as the post probably appeared, there is talent in there. But I am glad (from a results perspective rather than a getting-to-watch rugby perspective) that we are not playing SA or England any time soon
@voodoo said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@taniwharugby said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@voodoo and yet we go back to the Richie era and were many calls that things were boring, the team picked itself, we won too much etc...
Never bloody happy are you
who were the sad fckers complaining about that!!!
I'm not as negative as the post probably appeared, there is talent in there. But I am glad (from a results perspective rather than a getting-to-watch rugby perspective) that we are not playing SA or England any time soon
that was me. it was boring.
I think half the problem is, up until the start of last year, the ABs thought they were perfectly positioned. And then they got muddled in their thinking, panicked, and left us in a mess. And a few chickens came home to roost as well with regards to developmental processes.
This is very much 2004. Except with a guy in charge who was already there and caused this mess to start with.
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@voodoo said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@taniwharugby said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@voodoo and yet we go back to the Richie era and were many calls that things were boring, the team picked itself, we won too much etc...
Never bloody happy are you
who were the sad fckers complaining about that!!!
I'm not as negative as the post probably appeared, there is talent in there. But I am glad (from a results perspective rather than a getting-to-watch rugby perspective) that we are not playing SA or England any time soon
that was me. it was boring.
I think half the problem is, up until the start of last year, the ABs thought they were perfectly positioned. And then they got muddled in their thinking, panicked, and left us in a mess. And a few chickens came home to roost as well with regards to developmental processes.
This is very much 2004. Except with a guy in charge who was already there and caused this mess to start with.
@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I think half the problem is, up until the start of last year, the ABs thought they were perfectly positioned. And then they got muddled in their thinking, panicked, and left us in a mess. And a few chickens came home to roost as well with regards to developmental processes.
Lost faith in their senior players who fell off a cliff, didn't keep experience on the paddock, had terrible luck with injuries, missed a strong leader, and you get the volatile performances that wind up in a semifinal spanking.
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I'm almost thankful that we have no games this year, or at most, a couple against the Aussies. Because this team is pretty uninspiring to me. Not for a lack of talent, but for how "messy" it feels. So few guys picking themselves as automatic selections, too many being touted to play out of position, and a new captain that is injury prone and probably not world class even at full fitness.
How can we have gone through another season and still have no idea what our midfield should look like? How is it that we have no natural 12's any more? We are touting Jordie Barret or Ennor (pre-injury) as great options, WTF?
We are still debating who to play at 10, who our best wings are, who to play at 15. We have no standout at 6, even 8 (maybe Sotutu), and arguably our best 7 will need to come off the bench.
And what we absolutely don't have is an cohesiveness in the combinations across the park. Tight 5? Nah. Loosie combination? No. Number 8/9 combo? Nope. Midfield? Maybe of they go back to ALB/Goodhue, but people seem to think this is unlikely. Back 3? Nuh uh.
I could see this team getting toasted by SA if we played them tomorrow.
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@voodoo Are we overrating SA a tad? I mean we beat them last year and really should have done it twice with an equally uninspiring team and coaching setup. I would give us a decent chance of winning again this year.
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@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I think half the problem is, up until the start of last year, the ABs thought they were perfectly positioned. And then they got muddled in their thinking, panicked, and left us in a mess. And a few chickens came home to roost as well with regards to developmental processes.
Lost faith in their senior players who fell off a cliff, didn't keep experience on the paddock, had terrible luck with injuries, missed a strong leader, and you get the volatile performances that wind up in a semifinal spanking.
@nzzp said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I think half the problem is, up until the start of last year, the ABs thought they were perfectly positioned. And then they got muddled in their thinking, panicked, and left us in a mess. And a few chickens came home to roost as well with regards to developmental processes.
Lost faith in their senior players who fell off a cliff, didn't keep experience on the paddock, had terrible luck with injuries, missed a strong leader, and you get the volatile performances that wind up in a semifinal spanking.
In a world cup year it's a bit much to
change your back 3
constantly shuffle your midfield
change your 10
change your thinking at 6. twice. -
@voodoo said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@MN5 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@antipodean said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@voodoo said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I'm almost thankful that we have no games this year, or at most, a couple against the Aussies. Because this team is pretty uninspiring to me. Not for a lack of talent, but for how "messy" it feels. So few guys picking themselves as automatic selections, too many being touted to play out of position, and a new captain that is injury prone and probably not world class even at full fitness.
How can we have gone through another season and still have no idea what our midfield should look like? How is it that we have no natural 12's any more? We are touting Jordie Barret or Ennor (pre-injury) as great options, WTF?
We are still debating who to play at 10, who our best wings are, who to play at 15. We have no standout at 6, even 8 (maybe Sotutu), and arguably our best 7 will need to come off the bench.
And what we absolutely don't have is an cohesiveness in the combinations across the park. Tight 5? Nah. Loosie combination? No. Number 8/9 combo? Nope. Midfield? Maybe of they go back to ALB/Goodhue, but people seem to think this is unlikely. Back 3? Nuh uh.
I could see this team getting toasted by SA if we played them tomorrow.
You said it Homer.
I don't share the negativity.
I'm also trying to ignore the Cane trolling.
Trolling? Why do say that? Is any criticism of him disallowed?
I like Cane, I was amongst those calling for Hansons immediate sacking when he was omitted from the SF team. He hits like a rock, and in that backdrop in particular, he was absolutely necessary.
But in a balanced back row, with a traditional big 6 and a more powerful 8 (say Frizell and Sotutu), I don't think Cane is a world class 7 and I'd rather see Ardie in there.
Hardly trolling
Of course it's trolling. What did Ardie do as an openside in the NvS game apart from watch a number 8 go flying by at a scrum?
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@nzzp said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I think half the problem is, up until the start of last year, the ABs thought they were perfectly positioned. And then they got muddled in their thinking, panicked, and left us in a mess. And a few chickens came home to roost as well with regards to developmental processes.
Lost faith in their senior players who fell off a cliff, didn't keep experience on the paddock, had terrible luck with injuries, missed a strong leader, and you get the volatile performances that wind up in a semifinal spanking.
In a world cup year it's a bit much to
change your back 3
constantly shuffle your midfield
change your 10
change your thinking at 6. twice.@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@nzzp said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I think half the problem is, up until the start of last year, the ABs thought they were perfectly positioned. And then they got muddled in their thinking, panicked, and left us in a mess. And a few chickens came home to roost as well with regards to developmental processes.
Lost faith in their senior players who fell off a cliff, didn't keep experience on the paddock, had terrible luck with injuries, missed a strong leader, and you get the volatile performances that wind up in a semifinal spanking.
In a world cup year it's a bit much to
change your back 3
constantly shuffle your midfield
change your 10
change your thinking at 6. twice.And your TH prop, and your 7.
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@voodoo Are we overrating SA a tad? I mean we beat them last year and really should have done it twice with an equally uninspiring team and coaching setup. I would give us a decent chance of winning again this year.
@akan004 said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@voodoo Are we overrating SA a tad? I mean we beat them last year and really should have done it twice with an equally uninspiring team and coaching setup. I would give us a decent chance of winning again this year.
their RWC team was a big step up as they picked overseas players. If we'd done that I reckon we could have been super competitive ... in the short term, at the expense of throwing Super and our local development pathways under a bus.
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@antipodean Ardie did the exact same thing to Cane in SRA.
@Toddy said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@antipodean Ardie did the exact same thing to Cane in SRA.
[I don’t know how to post the gif of Michael Jackson eating popcorn]
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And the thing is when we start trying to compare ourselves to the Boks, it’s a false dichotomy because when we have had dominant teams in the past we have still lost to the Boks (and also won). And when we have had what appear to be lesser or smaller packs, we have still won.
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I'm almost thankful that we have no games this year, or at most, a couple against the Aussies. Because this team is pretty uninspiring to me. Not for a lack of talent, but for how "messy" it feels. So few guys picking themselves as automatic selections, too many being touted to play out of position, and a new captain that is injury prone and probably not world class even at full fitness.
How can we have gone through another season and still have no idea what our midfield should look like? How is it that we have no natural 12's any more? We are touting Jordie Barret or Ennor (pre-injury) as great options, WTF?
We are still debating who to play at 10, who our best wings are, who to play at 15. We have no standout at 6, even 8 (maybe Sotutu), and arguably our best 7 will need to come off the bench.
And what we absolutely don't have is an cohesiveness in the combinations across the park. Tight 5? Nah. Loosie combination? No. Number 8/9 combo? Nope. Midfield? Maybe of they go back to ALB/Goodhue, but people seem to think this is unlikely. Back 3? Nuh uh.
I could see this team getting toasted by SA if we played them tomorrow.
I am looking forward to the ABs playing anyone including the Boks or England. We have to find out where we stand and sooner better than later.
There appears to be too much attrition these days at 2nd five and center. SBW and Crotty are prime examples. I do prefer to have defined positions so if ALB is the choice right now then I hope they stick with him and Reiko. More X factor in Reiko than Goodhue. Give them a chance to gel. Same with Sotutu. Throw him in the fire. I don’t like Ardie at 8 and I agree Cane is not the player he used to be. Injured and I don’t see him being their in 4 years so caretaker captain? Ardie will probably fill the void when Cane is injured and 7 is really his position. He did not have a very good north south.
I want to see the ABs play because I like rugby, it’s a new year and hopefully a new approach to our game (I am not convinced with Foster) and foremost I am tired of a virus dictating how we live.
Jordie, Clarke, Reiko, ALB, one of the cantabs, BB, Smith, Sotutu, Cane, Akira, Whitlock, PT, moody, Taylor and Laulala (Moanga, Perenara and Goodhue, Ofa, Coles, Big T, Vaai, Papalii)
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@nzzp said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I think half the problem is, up until the start of last year, the ABs thought they were perfectly positioned. And then they got muddled in their thinking, panicked, and left us in a mess. And a few chickens came home to roost as well with regards to developmental processes.
Lost faith in their senior players who fell off a cliff, didn't keep experience on the paddock, had terrible luck with injuries, missed a strong leader, and you get the volatile performances that wind up in a semifinal spanking.
In a world cup year it's a bit much to
change your back 3
constantly shuffle your midfield
change your 10
change your thinking at 6. twice.@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@nzzp said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
@mariner4life said in AB squad for the Bledisloe Cup?:
I think half the problem is, up until the start of last year, the ABs thought they were perfectly positioned. And then they got muddled in their thinking, panicked, and left us in a mess. And a few chickens came home to roost as well with regards to developmental processes.
Lost faith in their senior players who fell off a cliff, didn't keep experience on the paddock, had terrible luck with injuries, missed a strong leader, and you get the volatile performances that wind up in a semifinal spanking.
In a world cup year it's a bit much to
change your back 3
constantly shuffle your midfield
change your 10
change your thinking at 6. twice.In my mind way simpler than that, our three workhorses Rettallick, Whitelock and Read all came up empty. Read probably stuck around 2 years too long, Rettalick underdone and Whitelock nothing left in the tank.
