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All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test

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  • Chris B.C Offline
    Chris B.C Offline
    Chris B.
    wrote on last edited by Chris B.
    #375

    It's not really about individuals, it's about the balance of the team.

    Rugby is a game of physical dominance and winning the collisions. Up to a point, big men help you do that in every position (for obvious reasons you're not going to play Ben Tameifuna on the wing). If you have too many little men - even in the backs - you're likely to start losing too many collisions - and worst of all losing consecutive collisions.

    Same deal applies - according to my theory of rugby - in the loose forwards. You end up with too many collisions where it's big man on medium-sized man - and the medium-sized man doesn't quite have the angle to get his shoulder in perfectly to make his trademark big hit and he loses an extra few inches.

    And you keep doing this enough times in the game - eventually the opposition is going to score.

    And it's not just in general play. You're giving away a few kgs in the scrum and the maul, you're giving away a few inches at the lineout. And it all matters in the game of inches.

    It's why the AB coaches are regularly trying to pack a few more kgs onto their players (to the absolute tipping point where it starts to compromise their performance elsewhere). Those few extra kgs matter.

    Our gold standard loose forward trio is Kaino, McCaw, Read. They solved the problems that beset Collins McCaw and Rodney (especially in the lineout - our hookers didn't suddenly learn to throw, we gave them better targets).

    I don't believe we're setting a new fashion. I don't believe anyone would pick this new fashion over our gold standard.

    We just don't have players of gold standard dimensions (at 6 & 8 ) who are of proven gold standard quality. We re doing the best we can with what we have.

    I'll tell you what I do like, though - is Papali'i is pretty close to gold standard quality at 7 - and he's significantly bigger than McCaw!

    Go to it!!! 🙂

    ACT CrusaderA gt12G 2 Replies Last reply
    7
    • chimoausC Offline
      chimoausC Offline
      chimoaus
      wrote on last edited by
      #376

      I think most pro players now are trained in the jackal and you will often see backs getting just as many jackals as the 7 now. I don't have the stats, but it wouldn't surprise me that it is shared around more than it once was.

      I think what is changing is it can be a bit risky going full on for the jackal when it's not on, we saw a lot of players being penalised for hands in front, not releasing and not supporting weight and of course you lose a player on D. Kirifi springs to mind as someone who was a little overzealous and often got pinged more than most.

      I do like the recent move towards counter rucking and moving past the ball, it seems like a better percentage play as you are less likely to get penalised.

      I think a 7's role has changed slightly that they should be very dominant in the tackle area and need to protect the 10 in that close channel which is Canes core strength. They should also be good with ball in hand to make those post contact metres which is where Paps shines. Yes, they should try to jackal but they are so much more than that these days.

      J 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • Daffy JaffyD Offline
        Daffy JaffyD Offline
        Daffy Jaffy
        wrote on last edited by
        #377

        M 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • Chris B.C Chris B.

          It's not really about individuals, it's about the balance of the team.

          Rugby is a game of physical dominance and winning the collisions. Up to a point, big men help you do that in every position (for obvious reasons you're not going to play Ben Tameifuna on the wing). If you have too many little men - even in the backs - you're likely to start losing too many collisions - and worst of all losing consecutive collisions.

          Same deal applies - according to my theory of rugby - in the loose forwards. You end up with too many collisions where it's big man on medium-sized man - and the medium-sized man doesn't quite have the angle to get his shoulder in perfectly to make his trademark big hit and he loses an extra few inches.

          And you keep doing this enough times in the game - eventually the opposition is going to score.

          And it's not just in general play. You're giving away a few kgs in the scrum and the maul, you're giving away a few inches at the lineout. And it all matters in the game of inches.

          It's why the AB coaches are regularly trying to pack a few more kgs onto their players (to the absolute tipping point where it starts to compromise their performance elsewhere). Those few extra kgs matter.

          Our gold standard loose forward trio is Kaino, McCaw, Read. They solved the problems that beset Collins McCaw and Rodney (especially in the lineout - our hookers didn't suddenly learn to throw, we gave them better targets).

          I don't believe we're setting a new fashion. I don't believe anyone would pick this new fashion over our gold standard.

          We just don't have players of gold standard dimensions (at 6 & 8 ) who are of proven gold standard quality. We re doing the best we can with what we have.

          I'll tell you what I do like, though - is Papali'i is pretty close to gold standard quality at 7 - and he's significantly bigger than McCaw!

          Go to it!!! 🙂

          ACT CrusaderA Offline
          ACT CrusaderA Offline
          ACT Crusader
          wrote on last edited by
          #378

          @Chris-B I think it was a no brainer bringing in Papalii for Whitelock. Whitelock topped the tackle count last week and is usually in our top 2 or 3. Papalii has a high workrate and tackles like a demon also.

          I don’t think our balance is affected too much. Papalii and Ardie are lineout options.

          I think with starting Scooter last week was about the sort of form he is in. It was a line ball call for me in my Crusaders review between him and Blackadder for POTY.

          Chris B.C 1 Reply Last reply
          1
          • DuluthD Offline
            DuluthD Offline
            Duluth
            wrote on last edited by
            #379

            "Akira, Nepo & to a lesser extent Havili" have niggles

            Havili has had a sore neck throughout the playoffs

            B 1 Reply Last reply
            1
            • Daffy JaffyD Offline
              Daffy JaffyD Offline
              Daffy Jaffy
              wrote on last edited by
              #380

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • DuluthD Duluth

                "Akira, Nepo & to a lesser extent Havili" have niggles

                Havili has had a sore neck throughout the playoffs

                B Offline
                B Offline
                bayimports
                wrote on last edited by bayimports
                #381

                @Duluth said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                Havili has had a sore neck throughout the playoffs

                it must run in the family, his brother has a sore neck too, but his came from having to crane his neck around every time Fiji ran through his teams feeble defence last week

                I will get my coat

                1 Reply Last reply
                2
                • ACT CrusaderA ACT Crusader

                  @Chris-B I think it was a no brainer bringing in Papalii for Whitelock. Whitelock topped the tackle count last week and is usually in our top 2 or 3. Papalii has a high workrate and tackles like a demon also.

                  I don’t think our balance is affected too much. Papalii and Ardie are lineout options.

                  I think with starting Scooter last week was about the sort of form he is in. It was a line ball call for me in my Crusaders review between him and Blackadder for POTY.

                  Chris B.C Offline
                  Chris B.C Offline
                  Chris B.
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #382

                  @ACT-Crusader Ýeah - we're probably doing the best with what we have.

                  The alternative would be starting PGS, but he's a bit error prone.

                  It's not a path I want to see us taking long term though (a small loose trio), because history is a bit littered with that seductive idea coming to a grinding halt - often against men in Black or Green and Yellow jerseys.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • Daffy JaffyD Offline
                    Daffy JaffyD Offline
                    Daffy Jaffy
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #383

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    1
                    • chimoausC Offline
                      chimoausC Offline
                      chimoaus
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #384

                      Gotta love Paps honesty, just wants to go out and smack some bodies and makes some hits.

                      taniwharugbyT 1 Reply Last reply
                      6
                      • chimoausC chimoaus

                        Gotta love Paps honesty, just wants to go out and smack some bodies and makes some hits.

                        taniwharugbyT Offline
                        taniwharugbyT Offline
                        taniwharugby
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #385

                        @chimoaus said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                        just wants to go out and smack some bodies and makes some hits.

                        thats what rugby is about isnt it?

                        ACT CrusaderA 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • taniwharugbyT taniwharugby

                          @chimoaus said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                          just wants to go out and smack some bodies and makes some hits.

                          thats what rugby is about isnt it?

                          ACT CrusaderA Offline
                          ACT CrusaderA Offline
                          ACT Crusader
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #386

                          @taniwharugby I thought it was about looking good and getting the girls.

                          And yes I play in the backline.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          1
                          • CrucialC Crucial

                            @mariner4life said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                            @Crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                            @mariner4life got some evidence to back that up Mr Smarty-Gif-Mouth 🙂

                            back what up? my reply to your absolute fucking guess that has no fucking basis at all?

                            Get over yourself

                            You seem to be guessing that Sotutu is a far more physically dominant player than Savea yourself. I am asking where that assumption comes from.
                            Nothing to get over. It's one of those fern myths that get said enough times they become true and this one paints a picture of a lightweight 8 that lacks physicality.

                            R Offline
                            R Offline
                            reprobate
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #387

                            @Crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                            @mariner4life said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                            @Crucial said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                            @mariner4life got some evidence to back that up Mr Smarty-Gif-Mouth 🙂

                            back what up? my reply to your absolute fucking guess that has no fucking basis at all?

                            Get over yourself

                            You seem to be guessing that Sotutu is a far more physically dominant player than Savea yourself. I am asking where that assumption comes from.
                            Nothing to get over. It's one of those fern myths that get said enough times they become true and this one paints a picture of a lightweight 8 that lacks physicality.

                            Not a myth. Great player, but he is a bit underpowered in big physical games, and at the start of games against bigger guys with fresh legs. Often shines late in the game. Probably won't go well against the Saffas, because they are large, and they have pretty much a whole forward pack on the bench. He's like the anti-Samisoni, but for some reason we're using the wrong one of those two from the bench.
                            Sotutu isn't massively physical either - but he may turn into that, he has been improving. He has a real point of difference with his passing / ball skills.
                            As for Read not being physical, um what? Sure he was very average for the last few years, but in his early days he was far more powerful a tackler and ball runner than Ardie has ever been or will ever be. Used to absolutely hurl himself into contact.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            8
                            • Chris B.C Chris B.

                              It's not really about individuals, it's about the balance of the team.

                              Rugby is a game of physical dominance and winning the collisions. Up to a point, big men help you do that in every position (for obvious reasons you're not going to play Ben Tameifuna on the wing). If you have too many little men - even in the backs - you're likely to start losing too many collisions - and worst of all losing consecutive collisions.

                              Same deal applies - according to my theory of rugby - in the loose forwards. You end up with too many collisions where it's big man on medium-sized man - and the medium-sized man doesn't quite have the angle to get his shoulder in perfectly to make his trademark big hit and he loses an extra few inches.

                              And you keep doing this enough times in the game - eventually the opposition is going to score.

                              And it's not just in general play. You're giving away a few kgs in the scrum and the maul, you're giving away a few inches at the lineout. And it all matters in the game of inches.

                              It's why the AB coaches are regularly trying to pack a few more kgs onto their players (to the absolute tipping point where it starts to compromise their performance elsewhere). Those few extra kgs matter.

                              Our gold standard loose forward trio is Kaino, McCaw, Read. They solved the problems that beset Collins McCaw and Rodney (especially in the lineout - our hookers didn't suddenly learn to throw, we gave them better targets).

                              I don't believe we're setting a new fashion. I don't believe anyone would pick this new fashion over our gold standard.

                              We just don't have players of gold standard dimensions (at 6 & 8 ) who are of proven gold standard quality. We re doing the best we can with what we have.

                              I'll tell you what I do like, though - is Papali'i is pretty close to gold standard quality at 7 - and he's significantly bigger than McCaw!

                              Go to it!!! 🙂

                              gt12G Offline
                              gt12G Offline
                              gt12
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #388

                              @Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                              It's not really about individuals, it's about the balance of the team.

                              Rugby is a game of physical dominance and winning the collisions. Up to a point, big men help you do that in every position (for obvious reasons you're not going to play Ben Tameifuna on the wing). If you have too many little men - even in the backs - you're likely to start losing too many collisions - and worst of all losing consecutive collisions.

                              Same deal applies - according to my theory of rugby - in the loose forwards. You end up with too many collisions where it's big man on medium-sized man - and the medium-sized man doesn't quite have the angle to get his shoulder in perfectly to make his trademark big hit and he loses an extra few inches.

                              And you keep doing this enough times in the game - eventually the opposition is going to score.

                              And it's not just in general play. You're giving away a few kgs in the scrum and the maul, you're giving away a few inches at the lineout. And it all matters in the game of inches.

                              It's why the AB coaches are regularly trying to pack a few more kgs onto their players (to the absolute tipping point where it starts to compromise their performance elsewhere). Those few extra kgs matter.

                              Our gold standard loose forward trio is Kaino, McCaw, Read. They solved the problems that beset Collins McCaw and Rodney (especially in the lineout - our hookers didn't suddenly learn to throw, we gave them better targets).

                              I don't believe we're setting a new fashion. I don't believe anyone would pick this new fashion over our gold standard.

                              We just don't have players of gold standard dimensions (at 6 & 8 ) who are of proven gold standard quality. We re doing the best we can with what we have.

                              I'll tell you what I do like, though - is Papali'i is pretty close to gold standard quality at 7 - and he's significantly bigger than McCaw!

                              Go to it!!! 🙂

                              Could he be our?

                              alt text

                              mariner4lifeM 1 Reply Last reply
                              2
                              • F Offline
                                F Offline
                                Frank
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #389

                                From the sound of that interview, Foster likes Scott Barrett at 6 and we should expect to see him there again.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • J Offline
                                  J Offline
                                  Jimmy Jimmy
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #390

                                  I might be a bit dumb but I cannot quite see the concern regarding Dalton at 6.
                                  He ís 6' 4" and weighs 113 kg so not a lightweight.
                                  Kaino was 6' 5"and weighed 110 kg
                                  Collins was 6' 3"and weighed 112 kg
                                  Jerry and Jerome were our best two blindsides for many a moon and I know it is how you use your physical attributes in a game as we have seen way too many gifted athletes who disappoint but I reckon Dalton is going to be good.

                                  KiwiwombleK Chris B.C 2 Replies Last reply
                                  1
                                  • gt12G gt12

                                    @Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                                    It's not really about individuals, it's about the balance of the team.

                                    Rugby is a game of physical dominance and winning the collisions. Up to a point, big men help you do that in every position (for obvious reasons you're not going to play Ben Tameifuna on the wing). If you have too many little men - even in the backs - you're likely to start losing too many collisions - and worst of all losing consecutive collisions.

                                    Same deal applies - according to my theory of rugby - in the loose forwards. You end up with too many collisions where it's big man on medium-sized man - and the medium-sized man doesn't quite have the angle to get his shoulder in perfectly to make his trademark big hit and he loses an extra few inches.

                                    And you keep doing this enough times in the game - eventually the opposition is going to score.

                                    And it's not just in general play. You're giving away a few kgs in the scrum and the maul, you're giving away a few inches at the lineout. And it all matters in the game of inches.

                                    It's why the AB coaches are regularly trying to pack a few more kgs onto their players (to the absolute tipping point where it starts to compromise their performance elsewhere). Those few extra kgs matter.

                                    Our gold standard loose forward trio is Kaino, McCaw, Read. They solved the problems that beset Collins McCaw and Rodney (especially in the lineout - our hookers didn't suddenly learn to throw, we gave them better targets).

                                    I don't believe we're setting a new fashion. I don't believe anyone would pick this new fashion over our gold standard.

                                    We just don't have players of gold standard dimensions (at 6 & 8 ) who are of proven gold standard quality. We re doing the best we can with what we have.

                                    I'll tell you what I do like, though - is Papali'i is pretty close to gold standard quality at 7 - and he's significantly bigger than McCaw!

                                    Go to it!!! 🙂

                                    Could he be our?

                                    alt text

                                    mariner4lifeM Offline
                                    mariner4lifeM Offline
                                    mariner4life
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #391

                                    @gt12 said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                                    @Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                                    It's not really about individuals, it's about the balance of the team.

                                    Rugby is a game of physical dominance and winning the collisions. Up to a point, big men help you do that in every position (for obvious reasons you're not going to play Ben Tameifuna on the wing). If you have too many little men - even in the backs - you're likely to start losing too many collisions - and worst of all losing consecutive collisions.

                                    Same deal applies - according to my theory of rugby - in the loose forwards. You end up with too many collisions where it's big man on medium-sized man - and the medium-sized man doesn't quite have the angle to get his shoulder in perfectly to make his trademark big hit and he loses an extra few inches.

                                    And you keep doing this enough times in the game - eventually the opposition is going to score.

                                    And it's not just in general play. You're giving away a few kgs in the scrum and the maul, you're giving away a few inches at the lineout. And it all matters in the game of inches.

                                    It's why the AB coaches are regularly trying to pack a few more kgs onto their players (to the absolute tipping point where it starts to compromise their performance elsewhere). Those few extra kgs matter.

                                    Our gold standard loose forward trio is Kaino, McCaw, Read. They solved the problems that beset Collins McCaw and Rodney (especially in the lineout - our hookers didn't suddenly learn to throw, we gave them better targets).

                                    I don't believe we're setting a new fashion. I don't believe anyone would pick this new fashion over our gold standard.

                                    We just don't have players of gold standard dimensions (at 6 & 8 ) who are of proven gold standard quality. We re doing the best we can with what we have.

                                    I'll tell you what I do like, though - is Papali'i is pretty close to gold standard quality at 7 - and he's significantly bigger than McCaw!

                                    Go to it!!! 🙂

                                    Could he be our?

                                    alt text

                                    that's ridiculously high praise

                                    this dude is one of the best rugby players i have ever seen

                                    gt12G Crazy HorseC 2 Replies Last reply
                                    2
                                    • mariner4lifeM mariner4life

                                      @gt12 said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                                      @Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                                      It's not really about individuals, it's about the balance of the team.

                                      Rugby is a game of physical dominance and winning the collisions. Up to a point, big men help you do that in every position (for obvious reasons you're not going to play Ben Tameifuna on the wing). If you have too many little men - even in the backs - you're likely to start losing too many collisions - and worst of all losing consecutive collisions.

                                      Same deal applies - according to my theory of rugby - in the loose forwards. You end up with too many collisions where it's big man on medium-sized man - and the medium-sized man doesn't quite have the angle to get his shoulder in perfectly to make his trademark big hit and he loses an extra few inches.

                                      And you keep doing this enough times in the game - eventually the opposition is going to score.

                                      And it's not just in general play. You're giving away a few kgs in the scrum and the maul, you're giving away a few inches at the lineout. And it all matters in the game of inches.

                                      It's why the AB coaches are regularly trying to pack a few more kgs onto their players (to the absolute tipping point where it starts to compromise their performance elsewhere). Those few extra kgs matter.

                                      Our gold standard loose forward trio is Kaino, McCaw, Read. They solved the problems that beset Collins McCaw and Rodney (especially in the lineout - our hookers didn't suddenly learn to throw, we gave them better targets).

                                      I don't believe we're setting a new fashion. I don't believe anyone would pick this new fashion over our gold standard.

                                      We just don't have players of gold standard dimensions (at 6 & 8 ) who are of proven gold standard quality. We re doing the best we can with what we have.

                                      I'll tell you what I do like, though - is Papali'i is pretty close to gold standard quality at 7 - and he's significantly bigger than McCaw!

                                      Go to it!!! 🙂

                                      Could he be our?

                                      alt text

                                      that's ridiculously high praise

                                      this dude is one of the best rugby players i have ever seen

                                      gt12G Offline
                                      gt12G Offline
                                      gt12
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #392

                                      @mariner4life said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                                      @gt12 said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                                      @Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                                      It's not really about individuals, it's about the balance of the team.

                                      Rugby is a game of physical dominance and winning the collisions. Up to a point, big men help you do that in every position (for obvious reasons you're not going to play Ben Tameifuna on the wing). If you have too many little men - even in the backs - you're likely to start losing too many collisions - and worst of all losing consecutive collisions.

                                      Same deal applies - according to my theory of rugby - in the loose forwards. You end up with too many collisions where it's big man on medium-sized man - and the medium-sized man doesn't quite have the angle to get his shoulder in perfectly to make his trademark big hit and he loses an extra few inches.

                                      And you keep doing this enough times in the game - eventually the opposition is going to score.

                                      And it's not just in general play. You're giving away a few kgs in the scrum and the maul, you're giving away a few inches at the lineout. And it all matters in the game of inches.

                                      It's why the AB coaches are regularly trying to pack a few more kgs onto their players (to the absolute tipping point where it starts to compromise their performance elsewhere). Those few extra kgs matter.

                                      Our gold standard loose forward trio is Kaino, McCaw, Read. They solved the problems that beset Collins McCaw and Rodney (especially in the lineout - our hookers didn't suddenly learn to throw, we gave them better targets).

                                      I don't believe we're setting a new fashion. I don't believe anyone would pick this new fashion over our gold standard.

                                      We just don't have players of gold standard dimensions (at 6 & 8 ) who are of proven gold standard quality. We re doing the best we can with what we have.

                                      I'll tell you what I do like, though - is Papali'i is pretty close to gold standard quality at 7 - and he's significantly bigger than McCaw!

                                      Go to it!!! 🙂

                                      Could he be our?

                                      alt text

                                      that's ridiculously high praise

                                      this dude is one of the best rugby players i have ever seen

                                      I don't know if Dalton has quite that potential, and is a more traditional 7, but fuck it, I'll take any opportunity to post a photo of this guy and remind the world that some of the absolute best didn't wear black jerseys.

                                      My absolute favorite non-AB player ever.

                                      mariner4lifeM 1 Reply Last reply
                                      5
                                      • gt12G gt12

                                        @mariner4life said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                                        @gt12 said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                                        @Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                                        It's not really about individuals, it's about the balance of the team.

                                        Rugby is a game of physical dominance and winning the collisions. Up to a point, big men help you do that in every position (for obvious reasons you're not going to play Ben Tameifuna on the wing). If you have too many little men - even in the backs - you're likely to start losing too many collisions - and worst of all losing consecutive collisions.

                                        Same deal applies - according to my theory of rugby - in the loose forwards. You end up with too many collisions where it's big man on medium-sized man - and the medium-sized man doesn't quite have the angle to get his shoulder in perfectly to make his trademark big hit and he loses an extra few inches.

                                        And you keep doing this enough times in the game - eventually the opposition is going to score.

                                        And it's not just in general play. You're giving away a few kgs in the scrum and the maul, you're giving away a few inches at the lineout. And it all matters in the game of inches.

                                        It's why the AB coaches are regularly trying to pack a few more kgs onto their players (to the absolute tipping point where it starts to compromise their performance elsewhere). Those few extra kgs matter.

                                        Our gold standard loose forward trio is Kaino, McCaw, Read. They solved the problems that beset Collins McCaw and Rodney (especially in the lineout - our hookers didn't suddenly learn to throw, we gave them better targets).

                                        I don't believe we're setting a new fashion. I don't believe anyone would pick this new fashion over our gold standard.

                                        We just don't have players of gold standard dimensions (at 6 & 8 ) who are of proven gold standard quality. We re doing the best we can with what we have.

                                        I'll tell you what I do like, though - is Papali'i is pretty close to gold standard quality at 7 - and he's significantly bigger than McCaw!

                                        Go to it!!! 🙂

                                        Could he be our?

                                        alt text

                                        that's ridiculously high praise

                                        this dude is one of the best rugby players i have ever seen

                                        I don't know if Dalton has quite that potential, and is a more traditional 7, but fuck it, I'll take any opportunity to post a photo of this guy and remind the world that some of the absolute best didn't wear black jerseys.

                                        My absolute favorite non-AB player ever.

                                        mariner4lifeM Offline
                                        mariner4lifeM Offline
                                        mariner4life
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #393

                                        @gt12 said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                                        @mariner4life said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                                        @gt12 said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                                        @Chris-B said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                                        It's not really about individuals, it's about the balance of the team.

                                        Rugby is a game of physical dominance and winning the collisions. Up to a point, big men help you do that in every position (for obvious reasons you're not going to play Ben Tameifuna on the wing). If you have too many little men - even in the backs - you're likely to start losing too many collisions - and worst of all losing consecutive collisions.

                                        Same deal applies - according to my theory of rugby - in the loose forwards. You end up with too many collisions where it's big man on medium-sized man - and the medium-sized man doesn't quite have the angle to get his shoulder in perfectly to make his trademark big hit and he loses an extra few inches.

                                        And you keep doing this enough times in the game - eventually the opposition is going to score.

                                        And it's not just in general play. You're giving away a few kgs in the scrum and the maul, you're giving away a few inches at the lineout. And it all matters in the game of inches.

                                        It's why the AB coaches are regularly trying to pack a few more kgs onto their players (to the absolute tipping point where it starts to compromise their performance elsewhere). Those few extra kgs matter.

                                        Our gold standard loose forward trio is Kaino, McCaw, Read. They solved the problems that beset Collins McCaw and Rodney (especially in the lineout - our hookers didn't suddenly learn to throw, we gave them better targets).

                                        I don't believe we're setting a new fashion. I don't believe anyone would pick this new fashion over our gold standard.

                                        We just don't have players of gold standard dimensions (at 6 & 8 ) who are of proven gold standard quality. We re doing the best we can with what we have.

                                        I'll tell you what I do like, though - is Papali'i is pretty close to gold standard quality at 7 - and he's significantly bigger than McCaw!

                                        Go to it!!! 🙂

                                        Could he be our?

                                        alt text

                                        that's ridiculously high praise

                                        this dude is one of the best rugby players i have ever seen

                                        I don't know if Dalton has quite that potential, and is a more traditional 7, but fuck it, I'll take any opportunity to post a photo of this guy and remind the world that some of the absolute best didn't wear black jerseys.

                                        My absolute favorite non-AB player ever.

                                        absolute weapon. starts at 6 in my All Time XV

                                        S SmutsS 2 Replies Last reply
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                                        • J Jimmy Jimmy

                                          I might be a bit dumb but I cannot quite see the concern regarding Dalton at 6.
                                          He ís 6' 4" and weighs 113 kg so not a lightweight.
                                          Kaino was 6' 5"and weighed 110 kg
                                          Collins was 6' 3"and weighed 112 kg
                                          Jerry and Jerome were our best two blindsides for many a moon and I know it is how you use your physical attributes in a game as we have seen way too many gifted athletes who disappoint but I reckon Dalton is going to be good.

                                          KiwiwombleK Offline
                                          KiwiwombleK Offline
                                          Kiwiwomble
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #394

                                          @Jimmy-Jimmy said in All Blacks v Ireland - 2nd Test:

                                          I might be a bit dumb but I cannot quite see the concern regarding Dalton at 6.
                                          He ís 6' 4" and weighs 113 kg so not a lightweight.
                                          Kaino was 6' 5"and weighed 110 kg
                                          Collins was 6' 3"and weighed 112 kg
                                          Jerry and Jerome were our best two blindsides for many a moon and I know it is how you use your physical attributes in a game as we have seen way too many gifted athletes who disappoint but I reckon Dalton is going to be good.

                                          i dont think there is concern about DP at 6 in isolation, more just the balance with the others and the idea of playing 3 guys who's choice choice is / was 7

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