All Blacks 2021
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@canefan said in All Blacks 2021:
@bones said in All Blacks 2021:
Holy shit, who knew a small change to a collar could make a jersey so fucken ghastly 🤮
And the armbands. Don't forget the arm bands
That change kit can go in the bin anyway, what with all the jersey clashes this year.
Serious question, does TJP play better when he does those Loki impersonations?
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It’s really hard to gauge where we are at against the opposition we have faced over the last 2 weeks. But I guess most countries are in a very similar position in that regard.
The forwards have been the biggest issue for 3-4 years now and we seem to be in gradual decline there still, even though we have publicly acknowledged this is the area that we are focussing on to turn around and bring physicality back to our pack.
I haven’t seen any real evidence of this and I do wonder what would happen if we meet South Africa on a day when their pack is on fire.
It has got me wondering about the direction of All Black rugby and New Zealand rugby overall. Specifically, how does New Zealand rugby strategise for the development of the professional game, the style of play and also the type of player we are producing for international rugby?
I always assumed this direction was done through the All Blacks mgmt and coaching but it seems like we are out of synch with the way the rugby world is going in a number of areas.
Firstly, the forwards we produce for the All Blacks for a long time now are much leaner than their counterparts in the NH and SA. We all know we don’t produce the same amount of big men as these sides traditionally but we seem to be continuing down the leaner, mobile type of players even though rugby has changed - it’s slower, with more stoppages and it becomes harder to fatigue teams as we once used to be able to do.
This approach was found out against a fired up England in the RWC semi final. It was an embarrassing loss. One glaring area was the work of England’s tight 5 compared to ours. Set piece as well as in the loose.
Secondly, we have never solved the rush defence problem that first presented itself against The Lions. Other teams have managed to score tries against those defences but it is still our kryptonite. The dual playmaker was a desperate attempt by Hansen in my view as he realised he couldn’t win the World Cup after the Irish loss in 2018. Ironically our best performance came in the qtr final against Ireland. But, by then, it was evident that getting up for 3 big games in a row were beyond that All Black group.
Thirdly, defence. Why have we not employed the same type of rush defence that we have so much trouble with? I get it is perfect against NZ and other teams don’t try to play like we do but surely if we find it so difficult why are we persisting with other defensive structures that do not provide the necessary solidity or turnover options. We might understand how to attack it better if we used the rush defences our opponents use against us.
I actually can’t recall the last piece of innovation that Come out of NZ rugby that had the rest of the world trying to catch up. Interesting how no one has adopted the dual playmaker from RWC2019.
Then I wondered whether it’s because of our set up? Hansen’s last gig as a head coach was 2003 before taking the reins in 2012. Foster’s last gig as a head coach was 2010.
Is being an asst coaches for so long in an All Blacks environment really the best preparation for leading the All Blacks? A side always under pressure to be the best side in the world?
It seems very insular in its thinking to me that we have coaches wrapped up in a largely All Black winning bubble, for a long period of time, and then expect them to keep ahead of the rest of the world. Hansen ran out of ideas (and motivation?) after the Lions series and the loss of some all time great All Blacks after 2015. To expect Foster to be the man to bring the All Blacks back to the summit of world rugby is probably asking far too much of him.
What’s the answer? Is it time to ditch the continuity? Do we need a coach with more recent head coach experience, do we need to change the way we condition players, particularly forwards? Do the All Blacks/NZ rugby need to learn more from NH rugby to improve/change our approach? Have we fallen behind other countries/clubs in innovation?
The answer to all of these questions seem to be a resounding ‘yes’
AB forwards too small, not the right type. Really?
Starting pack weights v England 2019 WC per ultimaterugby.com
AB
Moody 120
Taylor 108
Laulala 116
Retallick 120
Whitelock 114
Barrett 105
Savea 102
Read 110
Total 895Bok
Mtawarira 118
Mbonambi 106
Malherbe 125
Etzebeth 117
De Jager 112
Kolisi 106
Du Toit 119
Vermeulen 116
Total 919Only real difference is in the loosies. If you think you have to be bigger, swap Ardie for Akira and you have parity. I suspect that in the next couple of hours the Wallabies will find the AB pack quite a handful
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AB forwards too small, not the right type. Really?
Starting pack weights v England 2019 WC per ultimaterugby.com
AB
Moody 120
Taylor 108
Laulala 116
Retallick 120
Whitelock 114
Barrett 105
Savea 102
Read 110
Total 895Bok
Mtawarira 118
Mbonambi 106
Malherbe 125
Etzebeth 117
De Jager 112
Kolisi 106
Du Toit 119
Vermeulen 116
Total 919Only real difference is in the loosies. If you think you have to be bigger, swap Ardie for Akira and you have parity. I suspect that in the next couple of hours the Wallabies will find the AB pack quite a handful
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@big-bok think your weights are dodgy there (in your arguments favour). There's no way Barrett is only 105 and I'd be very surprised if Ardie is only just over the tonne.
@bones said in All Blacks 2021:
@big-bok think your weights are dodgy there (in your arguments favour). There's no way Barrett is only 105 and I'd be very surprised if Ardie is only just over the tonne.
Around 111kg, I believe.
Edit wrong on Whitelock as well 117kg not 114kg.
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@bones said in All Blacks 2021:
@big-bok think your weights are dodgy there (in your arguments favour). There's no way Barrett is only 105 and I'd be very surprised if Ardie is only just over the tonne.
Around 111kg, I believe.
Edit wrong on Whitelock as well 117kg not 114kg.
I think with Dalton and A Ioane and despite Ardie supplanting the bigger Read, that the ABs are maybe the same now or a few kg heavier?
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Depth at TH is the biggest worry IMO. Will Ofa T be fit for the RC ? He and Laulala are both essential for the AB scrum (though not world beaters) as Lomax and Ta'avao are nowhere near international standard as far as scrummaging is concerned. I hope Moli can come back strongly and be included in the EOYT squad. And what about Owen Franks ? Will he play in the NPC ? He is not that old.
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@bovidae
Yes, he is a good scrummager but does not offer much in the loose. His mobility can be questioned too. -
@stargazer said in All Blacks 2021:
https://twitter.com/AlexChapmanNZ/status/1425609132942401545
Sometimes we really need a downquote button.
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@stargazer said in All Blacks 2021:
https://www.rugbypass.com/news/progressing-well-all-blacks-captain-sam-cane-gives-injury-update/
If he can get back for a training run vs the USA that would be great, Wales will also be a bit under strength as it is outside the test window - but only a bit. Italy also another good warm up for him
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so does Clarke come back in at any point? Must be out of iso shortly?
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so does Clarke come back in at any point? Must be out of iso shortly?
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2021:
so does Clarke come back in at any point? Must be out of iso shortly?
Not in the squad for RC, he’ll have to prove hiself at NPC minimum before called back. Maybe for NH tour, could ease in vs USA and Italy
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@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2021:
so does Clarke come back in at any point? Must be out of iso shortly?
Not in the squad for RC, he’ll have to prove hiself at NPC minimum before called back. Maybe for NH tour, could ease in vs USA and Italy
@machpants it is beginning to look more of a competition at wing for Clarke isn't it? A few months ago winger spots seemed much more open..
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@machpants it is beginning to look more of a competition at wing for Clarke isn't it? A few months ago winger spots seemed much more open..
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2021:
@machpants it is beginning to look more of a competition at wing for Clarke isn't it? A few months ago winger spots seemed much more open..
He would make a great bench option instead of Jordie/Dmac in the 23 jersey.
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Nah, Clarke's form was so bad he shouldn't have made the ABs at all let alone be in the starting Blues 15.
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so does Clarke come back in at any point? Must be out of iso shortly?
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2021:
so does Clarke come back in at any point? Must be out of iso shortly?
Caleb Clarke was poor for the Blues at the start of the season. Needs to prove form and fitness through the NPC before he can be considered for the ABs again.
