All Blacks 2022
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quick morning after match report.
Decent crowd. Was officially 20k, but those figures often feel a few thousand overstaed. Still solid though, and noisy.
Blues are consistently making good decisions in attack and defence. Not perfect by any means, but if you put 50 on one o fthe top Aussie sides and still have plenty to work on, that's a good result.
The Reds werne't bad at all. Strong set piece, tough, and asked some big questions on attack. Classic Brad Thorne - big hard runs, time after time. Tate is a bloody good 9 who knows how to play the ref. Aussies wlil be in the contest this year I feel.
Blues D was superb, and championship level. They keep stopping runners on the advantage line, good double tackles, and it takes something special to break them down. Team working hard for each other -- such a change from a few years ago. Plenty to work on, particularly with the lineout.
I won't say much about the ref, but by god it was a hard watch. Interpretation is one thing, but the most egregious moment was the Reds collapsing a maul that was a metre out from the tryline and going forward, and Fraser missed it. Honestly, had Penalty Try written all over it ... but to get whistled off the park and still put up the offense they did is impressive.
@Tim Robinson was noticeably light at lock. I don't think the scrum gets power with him there, was a really noticeable step up when Romano came on the field.
Clarke was mixed; equal parts sensational, breaking tackles at will, and then getting bumped off twice by Vunivalu. Still offers so much out there, but some work-ons.
RTS goes from strength to strength. Considering this is his first few rugby games, he's on a noticeable upward curve. Good defence, and you can see the quality of his stepping and attacking.
Telea is a bit like Clarke - some great things (ripping, getting over the ball in rucks), but also some rocks in your head moments.
Christie is an underrated component in this team. He took some poor options/executions at times, but his work on D is massive - flying around to shut down the opposition. It's a good feeling struggling to pick a MOTM from the team, but Heem takes the cake for me, coming off the bench to play centre, Christie for his D, and Akira for his work and physicality. Whole forward pack should get it thouhg their work is enabling the backs to look good out there.
So, 2 more comp points and we're minor champs. That's bloody impressive - particularly when you realise we had no preseason and most of the players had no NPC last year. Will we win it? Who knows - but we're certainly giving ourselves a damn good shot at it. It'll take something special to come to EP and beat us; can see Crusaders or a top performance from another Kiwi side doing it. But, frankly, we've won already. From where we were, to being a dominant force - winning the thing is important, but not as important as building the strucutre, talent pipeline and team culture that's being built. Papali'i needs to take some credit for that, stepping up and leading from the front.
Players I think they will pick in the AB squad
Hodgeman
Eklund
Ofa
NepoDalton
Hoskins
Akira
maybe: Robinson for Lock/6 coverChristie
Barrett
PerofetaRTS
Rieko
CalebHuge game next week. Lock up the top spot, and get hte luxury of resting some players going into the finals.
@nzzp I reckon Mark Telea will at least be in the conversation for a wing spot - especially if they decide that their fullbacks are 1 Jordie and 2 Jordan.
Reece looks a certainty - but, they could pick two more wings, with Clarke next in my mind, and then Big Leicester and Telea looking the best of the rest.
Though they could play Jordie at 2nd five. Convert Dave Havili back to fullback and pick Jordan, Havili, Reece, Telea, Big Leicester and Tavatavanawai.
Pity James Lowe will be playing for Ireland or we could pick him as well!
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@nzzp I reckon Mark Telea will at least be in the conversation for a wing spot - especially if they decide that their fullbacks are 1 Jordie and 2 Jordan.
Reece looks a certainty - but, they could pick two more wings, with Clarke next in my mind, and then Big Leicester and Telea looking the best of the rest.
Though they could play Jordie at 2nd five. Convert Dave Havili back to fullback and pick Jordan, Havili, Reece, Telea, Big Leicester and Tavatavanawai.
Pity James Lowe will be playing for Ireland or we could pick him as well!
@Chris-B said in Blues v Reds:
@nzzp I reckon Mark Telea will at least be in the conversation for a wing spot - especially if they decide that their fullbacks are 1 Jordie and 2 Jordan.
Reece looks a certainty - but, they could pick two more wings, with Clarke next in my mind, and then Big Leicester and Telea looking the best of the rest.
Though they could play Jordie at 2nd five. Convert Dave Havili back to fullback and pick Jordan, Havili, Reece, Telea, Big Leicester and Tavatavanawai.
Pity James Lowe will be playing for Ireland or we could pick him as well!
Telea is definitely playing better now that he's moved away from Ta$man.
He's primarily a right wing option and I think that is well covered by Jordan and Reece. He seems to have two really good games followed by a game with really amateur mistakes.
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@Chris-B said in Blues v Reds:
@nzzp I reckon Mark Telea will at least be in the conversation for a wing spot - especially if they decide that their fullbacks are 1 Jordie and 2 Jordan.
Reece looks a certainty - but, they could pick two more wings, with Clarke next in my mind, and then Big Leicester and Telea looking the best of the rest.
Though they could play Jordie at 2nd five. Convert Dave Havili back to fullback and pick Jordan, Havili, Reece, Telea, Big Leicester and Tavatavanawai.
Pity James Lowe will be playing for Ireland or we could pick him as well!
Telea is definitely playing better now that he's moved away from Ta$man.
He's primarily a right wing option and I think that is well covered by Jordan and Reece. He seems to have two really good games followed by a game with really amateur mistakes.
I think they'll likely start with 11 Reece, 14 Jordan, 15 Jordie.
Which could leave the cover options as 11 Clarke/Faingaanuku; 15 Jordan; 14. Reece/Telea. So I don't think he's disqualified if they pick 4 wings.
Beauden and Havili potentially offer fullback cover - but, Perofeta will surely be a part of the conversation if they want Jordan to stay on the right wing.
Wondering who else could be part of the conversation. Bridge - as in, "I presume we're all agreed that George is done". Shaun Stevenson? I wish someone could light a fire under Rayasi - he's got the size and speed to be an elite weapon, but just doesn't get involved enough.
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2022:
https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/05/10/joe-schmidts-intensity-a-key-influence-at-blues-says-christie/
Can someone explain to me how we got to the point where we have a bunch of Super Rugby-ceiling journeymen head coaches forming our national panel in Foster, McLeod, Plumtree, Mooar... yet somehow.. at present, we currently have 3-4 international quality coaches all hoarded at one franchise (McDonald, Schmidt (4x Six Nations winning coach), Afeaki (2x SR winning set-piece coach @ Chiefs), Coventry (2x SR winning coach @ Chiefs). We are truly living in the strangest of timelines.
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2022:
https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/05/10/joe-schmidts-intensity-a-key-influence-at-blues-says-christie/
Can someone explain to me how we got to the point where we have a bunch of Super Rugby-ceiling journeymen head coaches forming our national panel in Foster, McLeod, Plumtree, Mooar... yet somehow.. at present, we currently have 3-4 international quality coaches all hoarded at one franchise (McDonald, Schmidt (4x Six Nations winning coach), Afeaki (2x SR winning set-piece coach @ Chiefs), Coventry (2x SR winning coach @ Chiefs). We are truly living in the strangest of timelines.
@kiwi_expat Afeaki played in those Chiefs sides. Was he coaching as well?
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@kiwi_expat Afeaki played in those Chiefs sides. Was he coaching as well?
@African-Monkey haha, for some reason I got Carl Hoeft mixed up with Afeaki, correction - Ben Afeaki is a 2x SR winner as a player with the Chiefs..
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I'd that Craig McGrath is a very highly regarded defense coach, Daniel Halangahu is their individual specialized skills/backs coach.
It seems almost unfair.
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I'd that Craig McGrath is a very highly regarded defense coach, Daniel Halangahu is their individual specialized skills/backs coach.
It seems almost unfair.
@kiwi_expat said in Blues 2022:
I'd that Craig McGrath is an excellent defense coach, Daniel Halangahu is their individual specialized skills/backs coach.
the answer to your specific question is coaches want to work there because it's a healthy environment with a structure that supports success.
Same way the Crusaders stockpiled talent for years - success breeds success. It feels good to have some envy; for years we were a dumpster fire, and frankly 12 good months don't make up for a decade of underachievement.
something something joke about salty tears of impotent rage
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@kiwi_expat said in Blues 2022:
I'd that Craig McGrath is an excellent defense coach, Daniel Halangahu is their individual specialized skills/backs coach.
the answer to your specific question is coaches want to work there because it's a healthy environment with a structure that supports success.
Same way the Crusaders stockpiled talent for years - success breeds success. It feels good to have some envy; for years we were a dumpster fire, and frankly 12 good months don't make up for a decade of underachievement.
something something joke about salty tears of impotent rage
@nzzp I don't really begrudge the Blues organization, my frustration is more relating to how All Blacks are supposed to be the pinnacle, after all they are considered our 'flagship team'...
To me Foster, McLeod, Plumtree, Mooar is a reasonably acceptable coaching team for a Super Rugby team.
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@nzzp I don't really begrudge the Blues organization, my frustration is more relating to how All Blacks are supposed to be the pinnacle, after all they are considered our 'flagship team'...
To me Foster, McLeod, Plumtree, Mooar is a reasonably acceptable coaching team for a Super Rugby team.
@kiwi_expat said in Blues 2022:
@nzzp I don't really begrudge the Blues organization, my frustration is more relating to how All Blacks are supposed to be the pinnacle.
To me Foster, McLeod, Plumtree, Mooar is a reasonably acceptable coaching team for a Super Rugby team.
only if you never watched their Super Rugby teams
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@kiwi_expat said in Blues 2022:
I'd that Craig McGrath is an excellent defense coach, Daniel Halangahu is their individual specialized skills/backs coach.
the answer to your specific question is coaches want to work there because it's a healthy environment with a structure that supports success.
Same way the Crusaders stockpiled talent for years - success breeds success. It feels good to have some envy; for years we were a dumpster fire, and frankly 12 good months don't make up for a decade of underachievement.
something something joke about salty tears of impotent rage
@nzzp said in Blues 2022:
@kiwi_expat said in Blues 2022:
I'd that Craig McGrath is an excellent defense coach, Daniel Halangahu is their individual specialized skills/backs coach.
the answer to your specific question is coaches want to work there because it's a healthy environment with a structure that supports success.
Same way the Crusaders stockpiled talent for years - success breeds success. It feels good to have some envy; for years we were a dumpster fire, and frankly 12 good months don't make up for a decade of underachievement.
something something joke about salty tears of impotent rage
the Blues are the only team worth tuning in to watch at the moment. They have box office players, and i love the brand they play. If i only have time for one game a weekend (so, every weekend) generally I'll make it the Blues game.
Have fun while it lasts Blues fans.
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@nzzp I don't really begrudge the Blues organization, my frustration is more relating to how All Blacks are supposed to be the pinnacle, after all they are considered our 'flagship team'...
To me Foster, McLeod, Plumtree, Mooar is a reasonably acceptable coaching team for a Super Rugby team.
@kiwi_expat TBF, when the AB appointments were made, none of those were really on the radar, it was a 2 horse race between Foster and Razor, and the former had a huge headstart.
I think NZR placed too much emphasis on continuation following 2011/2015 sucesses, meaning it didnt seem they went through the process properly post 2019 RWC.
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@kiwi_expat said in Blues 2022:
@nzzp I don't really begrudge the Blues organization, my frustration is more relating to how All Blacks are supposed to be the pinnacle.
To me Foster, McLeod, Plumtree, Mooar is a reasonably acceptable coaching team for a Super Rugby team.
only if you never watched their Super Rugby teams
@mariner4life Mooar wasn't a good coach, both Mansbridge & Razor couldn't wait to get rid of him as he wasn't supported or rated by the players or fellow coaches, it's well documented that he was considered a liability.
As for McLeod, he was the weakest link (by far) in an international worthy coaching group that included Jamie Joseph, Tony Brown, Clarke Dermody - and the very highly regarded John Preston.
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@mariner4life Mooar wasn't a good coach, both Mansbridge & Razor couldn't wait to get rid of him as he wasn't supported or rated by the players or fellow coaches, it's well documented that he was considered a liability.
As for McLeod, he was the weakest link (by far) in an international worthy coaching group that included Jamie Joseph, Tony Brown, Clarke Dermody - and the very highly regarded John Preston.
@kiwi_expat yeah no shit, you are making my point back at me
again
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Hoping for 15 Jordan, 14 Reece, 11 Clarke (Jordie at 12)
(but highly confident it won't happen)
@Frank I'd quite like that as well.
Jordie providing more size in the midfield (than last year). Clarke a power wing.
Rieko, Jordan and Beaudy with a ton of pace.
If it all came together it would cover most bases - though that "ïf" contains a fair bit of wishful thinking!
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@Frank I'd quite like that as well.
Jordie providing more size in the midfield (than last year). Clarke a power wing.
Rieko, Jordan and Beaudy with a ton of pace.
If it all came together it would cover most bases - though that "ïf" contains a fair bit of wishful thinking!
@Chris-B said in Blues v Reds:
@Frank I'd quite like that as well.
Jordie providing more size in the midfield (than last year). Clarke a power wing.
Rieko, Jordan and Beaudy with a ton of pace.
If it all came together it would cover most bases - though that "ïf" contains a fair bit of wishful thinking!
it would at least be fun to watch come together
but, knowing NZ rugby's absolute hard on for rotation and "building depth" it would be given one test and then there would be two changes, no matter what the performance looked like.
(i blame 2011 and the need for 8 first fives for this fucking obsession with having every player in the country getting a run to build experience)
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@Chris-B said in Blues v Reds:
@Frank I'd quite like that as well.
Jordie providing more size in the midfield (than last year). Clarke a power wing.
Rieko, Jordan and Beaudy with a ton of pace.
If it all came together it would cover most bases - though that "ïf" contains a fair bit of wishful thinking!
it would at least be fun to watch come together
but, knowing NZ rugby's absolute hard on for rotation and "building depth" it would be given one test and then there would be two changes, no matter what the performance looked like.
(i blame 2011 and the need for 8 first fives for this fucking obsession with having every player in the country getting a run to build experience)
@mariner4life To be honest - I think a part of that rotation is to keep key players from fucking off overseas.
e.g. If you tell either of Beaudy or Richie, "You're clearly number 2", you're risking them thinking, "Well in that case I might as well pick up my multi million pound, franc, yen cheque".
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@kiwi_expat TBF, when the AB appointments were made, none of those were really on the radar, it was a 2 horse race between Foster and Razor, and the former had a huge headstart.
I think NZR placed too much emphasis on continuation following 2011/2015 sucesses, meaning it didnt seem they went through the process properly post 2019 RWC.
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2022:
@kiwi_expat TBF, when the AB appointments were made, none of those were really on the radar, it was a 2 horse race between Foster and Razor, and the former had a huge headstart.
I think NZR placed too much emphasis on continuation following 2011/2015 sucesses, meaning it didnt seem they went through the process properly post 2019 RWC.
The problem is NZR (like every other union on the planet does..) needs to initially seek out the best available head coach -irrespective of age, nationality or experience - and then assist in building the best possible support team around them, that's how Aus got (Rennie, McKellar, Wisemantel, Taylor, Du-Plessis).
