Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November

Tim

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/tri-nations-rugby-gregor-paul-the-real-reason-behind-the-all-blacks-petulance/FXV23HCJ4MGWNLXEGXRW2XTQIU/

If the All Blacks are honest, this whole business of individuals losing emotional control which has been so evident in the Tri Nations, began during Super Rugby Aotearoa.

Maybe it was the pent up frustration of lockdown coming out or the sense that a New Zealand-only competition, run and refereed by New Zealand administrators and officials, was a safe place to indulge in multiple histrionics on the field without fear of recrimination.

There was definitely something at work, almost compelling players – many senior All Blacks – to behave in a petulant and volatile manner where they challenged referees openly and with hostility; where they stamped their feet and screamed when things didn't go their way and where they reacted physically to any mild sense of injustice.

Remember Brad Weber and Aaron Smith punching it out in Hamilton? Or the Chiefs crowding referee Brendon Pickerill at Eden Park after he awarded the Blues a penalty instead of the visitors a try?

Or what about TJ Perenara being told in the first game that he was no longer, even as co-captain, allowed to engage with referee Mike Fraser who'd had enough of the verbal onslaught.

The signs were all there in Super Rugby that plenty of players were finding it hard to stay on a steady emotional keel – that there was no ability to turn the other cheek.

mariner4life

@gt12 said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:

Scott Barrett (39)

fuck off

@gt12 said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:

Ardie Savea (48)

fuck off

@gt12 said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:

Jordie Barrett (22)

fuck off

@gt12 said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:

TJ Perenara (68)

fuck off

taniwharugby

cracks me up reading some of the comments on social media:
Feel sorry for Webber, he's been the best 9 on tour.
Clack (sic) should be centre
Ardie Savea should be captain
Drop coles bring in amoua
Wow how does Coles not get stood down...Al Black Management have pretty low ethical standards
Thank god auck lock not starting Big no show
Cane still captain get him out hes a crap captain not even really done jack in these games either ardie the better 7

Bovidae

@taniwharugby So Cane was right about the average AB fan.

ARHS

Surprised with some of the selections. Pleased for Akira and Jordan getting deserved match time. Surprised Savea starting and not Sotutu, to get biggest impact from both. I guess pressure will be on Scott and Jordie Barrett, TJ and Richie Mo'unga to repay the faith in them to play to their potential. Thought Brad Weber and Reece might be preferred if bonus point required, and Ardie away rampaging in second half.

Derpus

@Yeetyaah glorious. Shame he's caved and given Akira a go. He'll make a big difference.

That said, with the introduction of Isa the Argies backrow still shits on the ABs (and Wallabies).

Old Samurai Jack

Still have the unbalanced loose forward trio, the switcharoo midfield, and a right winger whose reasons for being in the team are voided by his position.....

mariner4life

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:

Still have the unbalanced loose forward trio, the switcharoo midfield, and a right winger whose reasons for being in the team are voided by his position.....

brilliant isn't it?

Frank

Foster obviously doesn't rate Sotutu as being better at 8 than Savea. Rather strange.

I think he is hoping adding Akira will save the loose forward combo of Savea and Cane.

taniwharugby

there were a number of times when you had ALB set up on one side of the ruck/maul/scrum and Laumape/Goodhue on the other, were also a couple of other ones where they set up with ALB on the inside, so I do think like the whole 2 playmakers at 10/15 thing, Fozzie sees this in the mid-field too (being interchangeable)

Bovidae

Regarding the loosies, it will be Akira that is subbed and Savea will move to 6. So we still won't see our favoured trio.

Duluth

Frizell deserved to be dropped after the last match. It will be interesting to see what happens next year. I think he'll need a huge SR season to get looked at again

So far he's had 13 Tests and sometimes reached the lofty heights of adequate

Regardless of how Ioane goes I think there's a queue of players that the coaches should see more upside in now. Grace, Robinson, Jacobson etc etc

antipodean

@gt12 said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:

Joe Moody (49)
Dane Coles (73)
Nepo Laulala (28)
Scott Barrett (39)

Great. Give the bloke who in the dying stages of Tests does dumb shit to lose.

Samuel Whitelock (121)
Akira Ioane (1)
Sam Cane (73) - captain
Ardie Savea (48)

What more does Sotutu have to do?

Aaron Smith (96)
Richie Mo'unga (21)
Caleb Clarke (4)
Jack Goodhue (17)
Anton Lienert-Brown (48)
Jordie Barrett (22)
Beauden Barrett (88)
Codie Taylor (56)
Karl Tu'inukuafe (16)
Tyrel Lomax (5)
Patrick Tuipulotu (34)
Hoskins Sotutu (4)
TJ Perenara (68)

Can't wait to need some composure in the last quarter and this headless chook comes on.

Rieko Ioane (33)
Will Jordan (1)

Old Samurai Jack

@Frank Oh how we laughed when the Aussies persisted with two opensides when it was obvious it wasn't working....

Kirwan

Well to be positive, hope Jordan is brought on early and scores one of his TM cheesy trys.

sparky

@gt12 said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:

Joe Moody (49)

Dane Coles (73)

Nepo Laulala (28)

Scott Barrett (39)

Samuel Whitelock (121)

Akira Ioane (1)

Sam Cane (73) - captain

Ardie Savea (48)

Aaron Smith (96)

Richie Mo'unga (21)

Caleb Clarke (4)

Jack Goodhue (17)

Anton Lienert-Brown (48)

Jordie Barrett (22)

Beauden Barrett (88)

Codie Taylor (56)

Karl Tu'inukuafe (16)

Tyrel Lomax (5)

Patrick Tuipulotu (34)

Hoskins Sotutu (4)

TJ Perenara (68)

Rieko Ioane (33)

Will Jordan (1)

The clown has selected his 12 and his 13 the wrong way around AGAIN.

Machpants

So conflicted. My head Wants a loss to get rid of foster, but that might not even happen with the tunnel vision of NZR. But heart always desires abs win

taniwharugby

@Machpants I dont want a loss as I know that would not see Foster removed.

TBH, even if he has a 1998 season in 2021, he will see out his contract (which is then anyway isnt it? )

mariner4life

what is crystal clear from these 3 weekends is

Ian Foster knows exactly who 21 of his top 23 are, and probably 14 of his starting 15.

what is not clear is:
Has he picked a game plan to suit his chosen players; or
Has he picked players to suit his chosen game plan, or
Has he stumbled on the worst possible combination of picking his favourite players, and handing them a game plan that doesn't suit.

Or are the players just a bit shit.

mariner4life

@Machpants said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:

So conflicted. My head Wants a loss to get rid of foster, but that might not even happen with the tunnel vision of NZR. But heart always desires abs win

zero chance he gets the sack no matter what happens this weekend.

There will be zero repercussions for anyone involved, players, coaches, selectors, all will be sweet.

The Silver Fern

Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November