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Foster, Robertson etc

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Sports Talk
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  • mariner4lifeM Online
    mariner4lifeM Online
    mariner4life
    wrote on last edited by
    #697

    there is the old saying that goes something like "what makes great coaches? Great players"

    Maybe, if we step back and take the black glasses off, this isn't all Ian's fault. Maybe, just maybe, NZ players aren't very good any more.

    Our front row players range from adequate to definitely substandard (with one possible, but as yet unproven) exception
    Our 2nd rowers are putting in a shift, but do they actually contribute anything meaningful?
    In the loose forwards, on the weekend perhaps our 6 & 8 had points wins over their opposite (7 clearly did not) but that is only if you ignore the fact we lost the ruck battle, and the tackle battle.
    Our halfback can't kick with accuracy or depth.
    there is no 10 in the country who can calmly run a game, or kick well from hand.
    We don't appear to have a 12 anywhere, though playing 12 outside our erratic and unpredictable 10s must be a fucking nightmare
    Our 13 is a converted winger with limitless potential but still several key questionmarks
    Win seems okay
    Our fullback is good under the high ball, but not much good at anything else, and loves a poor option

    And a big issue is, who do you swap these guys out for? No one else is bashing the door down.

    I'm just throwing it out there, maybe, just maybe, we lose to Ireland because they have better players than us now. And we, the NZ rugby fan, refuse to believe it because it has never been so.

    taniwharugbyT TimT KiwiMurphK Chester DrawsC F 7 Replies Last reply
    4
    • mariner4lifeM mariner4life

      there is the old saying that goes something like "what makes great coaches? Great players"

      Maybe, if we step back and take the black glasses off, this isn't all Ian's fault. Maybe, just maybe, NZ players aren't very good any more.

      Our front row players range from adequate to definitely substandard (with one possible, but as yet unproven) exception
      Our 2nd rowers are putting in a shift, but do they actually contribute anything meaningful?
      In the loose forwards, on the weekend perhaps our 6 & 8 had points wins over their opposite (7 clearly did not) but that is only if you ignore the fact we lost the ruck battle, and the tackle battle.
      Our halfback can't kick with accuracy or depth.
      there is no 10 in the country who can calmly run a game, or kick well from hand.
      We don't appear to have a 12 anywhere, though playing 12 outside our erratic and unpredictable 10s must be a fucking nightmare
      Our 13 is a converted winger with limitless potential but still several key questionmarks
      Win seems okay
      Our fullback is good under the high ball, but not much good at anything else, and loves a poor option

      And a big issue is, who do you swap these guys out for? No one else is bashing the door down.

      I'm just throwing it out there, maybe, just maybe, we lose to Ireland because they have better players than us now. And we, the NZ rugby fan, refuse to believe it because it has never been so.

      taniwharugbyT Offline
      taniwharugbyT Offline
      taniwharugby
      wrote on last edited by
      #698

      @mariner4life yep, without a doubt, problems are not just Fozzie, they go above and below him, but Robinson aint gonna sack himself, Fozzie isnt gonna be able to attract some quality new assistants to help him.

      Some work needs to be done on the development, the loss of players over the past 10 or so years now finally starting to hurt?

      1 Reply Last reply
      2
      • mariner4lifeM mariner4life

        there is the old saying that goes something like "what makes great coaches? Great players"

        Maybe, if we step back and take the black glasses off, this isn't all Ian's fault. Maybe, just maybe, NZ players aren't very good any more.

        Our front row players range from adequate to definitely substandard (with one possible, but as yet unproven) exception
        Our 2nd rowers are putting in a shift, but do they actually contribute anything meaningful?
        In the loose forwards, on the weekend perhaps our 6 & 8 had points wins over their opposite (7 clearly did not) but that is only if you ignore the fact we lost the ruck battle, and the tackle battle.
        Our halfback can't kick with accuracy or depth.
        there is no 10 in the country who can calmly run a game, or kick well from hand.
        We don't appear to have a 12 anywhere, though playing 12 outside our erratic and unpredictable 10s must be a fucking nightmare
        Our 13 is a converted winger with limitless potential but still several key questionmarks
        Win seems okay
        Our fullback is good under the high ball, but not much good at anything else, and loves a poor option

        And a big issue is, who do you swap these guys out for? No one else is bashing the door down.

        I'm just throwing it out there, maybe, just maybe, we lose to Ireland because they have better players than us now. And we, the NZ rugby fan, refuse to believe it because it has never been so.

        TimT Away
        TimT Away
        Tim
        wrote on last edited by
        #699

        @mariner4life said in Foster must go:

        We don't appear to have a 12 anywhere, though playing 12 outside our erratic and unpredictable 10s must be a fucking nightmare

        Are there any genuinely large, fast, and powerful 12s in NZ? TUJ has potential but is almost always injured.

        mariner4lifeM 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • TimT Tim

          @mariner4life said in Foster must go:

          We don't appear to have a 12 anywhere, though playing 12 outside our erratic and unpredictable 10s must be a fucking nightmare

          Are there any genuinely large, fast, and powerful 12s in NZ? TUJ has potential but is almost always injured.

          mariner4lifeM Online
          mariner4lifeM Online
          mariner4life
          wrote on last edited by
          #700

          @Tim said in Foster must go:

          @mariner4life said in Foster must go:

          We don't appear to have a 12 anywhere, though playing 12 outside our erratic and unpredictable 10s must be a fucking nightmare

          Are there any genuinely large, fast, and powerful 12s in NZ? TUJ has potential but is almost always injured.

          12 is a great microcosm of our current issue

          In all reality you have 5 in teh country to choose from. Currently the Highlanders are so shit you would have to be amazing to be considered. So we are down to 4.
          We picked 3 of them. Every single player selected is different. The coaches don't know what they want in a 12, so they just picked the best performing 3 (well 4, but one is also a centre).

          So a shallow talent pool playing a small number of systems (all very similar) and a selection committee not sold on what they want their 12 to be.

          How does that create success?

          TimT nostrildamusN 2 Replies Last reply
          1
          • mariner4lifeM mariner4life

            @Tim said in Foster must go:

            @mariner4life said in Foster must go:

            We don't appear to have a 12 anywhere, though playing 12 outside our erratic and unpredictable 10s must be a fucking nightmare

            Are there any genuinely large, fast, and powerful 12s in NZ? TUJ has potential but is almost always injured.

            12 is a great microcosm of our current issue

            In all reality you have 5 in teh country to choose from. Currently the Highlanders are so shit you would have to be amazing to be considered. So we are down to 4.
            We picked 3 of them. Every single player selected is different. The coaches don't know what they want in a 12, so they just picked the best performing 3 (well 4, but one is also a centre).

            So a shallow talent pool playing a small number of systems (all very similar) and a selection committee not sold on what they want their 12 to be.

            How does that create success?

            TimT Away
            TimT Away
            Tim
            wrote on last edited by
            #701

            @mariner4life Bring back the NPC! 10 NZ based teams, followed by knock out series against 7 Australian based teams.

            mariner4lifeM 1 Reply Last reply
            1
            • TimT Tim

              @mariner4life Bring back the NPC! 10 NZ based teams, followed by knock out series against 7 Australian based teams.

              mariner4lifeM Online
              mariner4lifeM Online
              mariner4life
              wrote on last edited by
              #702

              @Tim said in Foster must go:

              @mariner4life Bring back the NPC! 10 NZ based teams, followed by knock out series against 7 Australian based teams.

              unfortunately this makes us even worse because we spread the talent even further, and our players slip in their development.

              TimT 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • mariner4lifeM mariner4life

                @Tim said in Foster must go:

                @mariner4life Bring back the NPC! 10 NZ based teams, followed by knock out series against 7 Australian based teams.

                unfortunately this makes us even worse because we spread the talent even further, and our players slip in their development.

                TimT Away
                TimT Away
                Tim
                wrote on last edited by
                #703

                @mariner4life Coaches wouldn't be as good overall, but there would be more players getting game time, and more room for different styles of play.

                GrooterG 1 Reply Last reply
                3
                • TimT Tim

                  @mariner4life Coaches wouldn't be as good overall, but there would be more players getting game time, and more room for different styles of play.

                  GrooterG Offline
                  GrooterG Offline
                  Grooter
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #704

                  @Tim said in Foster must go:

                  @mariner4life Coaches wouldn't be as good overall, but there would be more players getting game time, and more room for different styles of play.

                  who would Peter Russel of the central vikings choose between Fakatava or Smith? the other must stay & play for the Otago Stags

                  NepiaN 1 Reply Last reply
                  2
                  • GrooterG Grooter

                    @Tim said in Foster must go:

                    @mariner4life Coaches wouldn't be as good overall, but there would be more players getting game time, and more room for different styles of play.

                    who would Peter Russel of the central vikings choose between Fakatava or Smith? the other must stay & play for the Otago Stags

                    NepiaN Offline
                    NepiaN Offline
                    Nepia
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #705

                    @FakatavaAllBlack said in Foster must go:

                    @Tim said in Foster must go:

                    @mariner4life Coaches wouldn't be as good overall, but there would be more players getting game time, and more room for different styles of play.

                    who would Peter Russel of the central vikings choose between Fakatava or Smith? the other must stay & play for the Otago Stags

                    Someone ban this mofo please.

                    taniwharugbyT 1 Reply Last reply
                    7
                    • mariner4lifeM mariner4life

                      there is the old saying that goes something like "what makes great coaches? Great players"

                      Maybe, if we step back and take the black glasses off, this isn't all Ian's fault. Maybe, just maybe, NZ players aren't very good any more.

                      Our front row players range from adequate to definitely substandard (with one possible, but as yet unproven) exception
                      Our 2nd rowers are putting in a shift, but do they actually contribute anything meaningful?
                      In the loose forwards, on the weekend perhaps our 6 & 8 had points wins over their opposite (7 clearly did not) but that is only if you ignore the fact we lost the ruck battle, and the tackle battle.
                      Our halfback can't kick with accuracy or depth.
                      there is no 10 in the country who can calmly run a game, or kick well from hand.
                      We don't appear to have a 12 anywhere, though playing 12 outside our erratic and unpredictable 10s must be a fucking nightmare
                      Our 13 is a converted winger with limitless potential but still several key questionmarks
                      Win seems okay
                      Our fullback is good under the high ball, but not much good at anything else, and loves a poor option

                      And a big issue is, who do you swap these guys out for? No one else is bashing the door down.

                      I'm just throwing it out there, maybe, just maybe, we lose to Ireland because they have better players than us now. And we, the NZ rugby fan, refuse to believe it because it has never been so.

                      KiwiMurphK Online
                      KiwiMurphK Online
                      KiwiMurph
                      wrote on last edited by KiwiMurph
                      #706

                      @mariner4life said in Foster must go:

                      there is no 10 in the country who can calmly run a game, or kick well from hand.

                      Stacking of talent doesn't help.

                      Beauden, Perofeta and Zarn at the Blues whilst Highlanders have to roll out Marty Banks at 10.

                      Same for Suafoa - Maori game 1 showed he has enough ability to be a regular Super Rugby 6 (and maybe more) but he only got 2.5 games this year.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      4
                      • NepiaN Nepia

                        @FakatavaAllBlack said in Foster must go:

                        @Tim said in Foster must go:

                        @mariner4life Coaches wouldn't be as good overall, but there would be more players getting game time, and more room for different styles of play.

                        who would Peter Russel of the central vikings choose between Fakatava or Smith? the other must stay & play for the Otago Stags

                        Someone ban this mofo please.

                        taniwharugbyT Offline
                        taniwharugbyT Offline
                        taniwharugby
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #707

                        @Nepia we all know how much you loved the CV and thier orange jersies....

                        19d16e46-7d5b-48c6-bba0-4ada4bd791ff-image.png

                        StargazerS NepiaN HigginsH 3 Replies Last reply
                        1
                        • taniwharugbyT taniwharugby

                          @Nepia we all know how much you loved the CV and thier orange jersies....

                          19d16e46-7d5b-48c6-bba0-4ada4bd791ff-image.png

                          StargazerS Offline
                          StargazerS Offline
                          Stargazer
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #708

                          @taniwharugby An orange jersey is fine ... but only if worn by athletes from the Netherlands.

                          mariner4lifeM 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • StargazerS Stargazer

                            @taniwharugby An orange jersey is fine ... but only if worn by athletes from the Netherlands.

                            mariner4lifeM Online
                            mariner4lifeM Online
                            mariner4life
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #709

                            @Stargazer said in Foster must go:

                            @taniwharugby An orange jersey is fine ... but only if worn by athletes from the Netherlands.

                            nether regions is close enough...

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            3
                            • mariner4lifeM mariner4life

                              there is the old saying that goes something like "what makes great coaches? Great players"

                              Maybe, if we step back and take the black glasses off, this isn't all Ian's fault. Maybe, just maybe, NZ players aren't very good any more.

                              Our front row players range from adequate to definitely substandard (with one possible, but as yet unproven) exception
                              Our 2nd rowers are putting in a shift, but do they actually contribute anything meaningful?
                              In the loose forwards, on the weekend perhaps our 6 & 8 had points wins over their opposite (7 clearly did not) but that is only if you ignore the fact we lost the ruck battle, and the tackle battle.
                              Our halfback can't kick with accuracy or depth.
                              there is no 10 in the country who can calmly run a game, or kick well from hand.
                              We don't appear to have a 12 anywhere, though playing 12 outside our erratic and unpredictable 10s must be a fucking nightmare
                              Our 13 is a converted winger with limitless potential but still several key questionmarks
                              Win seems okay
                              Our fullback is good under the high ball, but not much good at anything else, and loves a poor option

                              And a big issue is, who do you swap these guys out for? No one else is bashing the door down.

                              I'm just throwing it out there, maybe, just maybe, we lose to Ireland because they have better players than us now. And we, the NZ rugby fan, refuse to believe it because it has never been so.

                              Chester DrawsC Offline
                              Chester DrawsC Offline
                              Chester Draws
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #710

                              @mariner4life said in Foster must go:

                              I'm just throwing it out there, maybe, just maybe, we lose to Ireland because they have better players than us now. And we, the NZ rugby fan, refuse to believe it because it has never been so.

                              Foster must be one of the most unlucky bastards ever to live then.

                              He must have had crap players at the Chiefs, only for Rennie to get lucky and have brilliant ones just as he left.

                              And then he takes a winning AB side, albeit with a couple of issues, and all the players turn to custard just at the same time! Players who lead Super sides well, only to be headless chooks when playing for him.

                              Rennie actually has that issue. But his sides still have some structure, whether winning or losing. The ABs don't even know what they are doing half the time.

                              Foster has done with the ABs exactly what those who watched the Chiefs carefully said would happen. We said he would have favourites that he would not drop, that his selections otherwise would be baffling, that his "game plan" is basically to spread it wide and hope. And worst of all, his teams would be poorly prepared mentally . They weren't lucky guesses.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              10
                              • taniwharugbyT taniwharugby

                                @Nepia we all know how much you loved the CV and thier orange jersies....

                                19d16e46-7d5b-48c6-bba0-4ada4bd791ff-image.png

                                NepiaN Offline
                                NepiaN Offline
                                Nepia
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #711

                                @taniwharugby said in Foster must go:

                                @Nepia we all know how much you loved the CV and thier orange jersies....

                                19d16e46-7d5b-48c6-bba0-4ada4bd791ff-image.png

                                Ugh, someone had to design that, which meant they probably had it on their CV at some stage. :astonished_face:

                                nostrildamusN 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • mariner4lifeM mariner4life

                                  @Tim said in Foster must go:

                                  @mariner4life said in Foster must go:

                                  We don't appear to have a 12 anywhere, though playing 12 outside our erratic and unpredictable 10s must be a fucking nightmare

                                  Are there any genuinely large, fast, and powerful 12s in NZ? TUJ has potential but is almost always injured.

                                  12 is a great microcosm of our current issue

                                  In all reality you have 5 in teh country to choose from. Currently the Highlanders are so shit you would have to be amazing to be considered. So we are down to 4.
                                  We picked 3 of them. Every single player selected is different. The coaches don't know what they want in a 12, so they just picked the best performing 3 (well 4, but one is also a centre).

                                  So a shallow talent pool playing a small number of systems (all very similar) and a selection committee not sold on what they want their 12 to be.

                                  How does that create success?

                                  nostrildamusN Online
                                  nostrildamusN Online
                                  nostrildamus
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #712

                                  @mariner4life said in Foster must go:

                                  @Tim said in Foster must go:

                                  @mariner4life said in Foster must go:

                                  We don't appear to have a 12 anywhere, though playing 12 outside our erratic and unpredictable 10s must be a fucking nightmare

                                  Are there any genuinely large, fast, and powerful 12s in NZ? TUJ has potential but is almost always injured.

                                  12 is a great microcosm of our current issue

                                  In all reality you have 5 in teh country to choose from. Currently the Highlanders are so shit you would have to be amazing to be considered. So we are down to 4.
                                  We picked 3 of them. Every single player selected is different. The coaches don't know what they want in a 12, so they just picked the best performing 3 (well 4, but one is also a centre).

                                  So a shallow talent pool playing a small number of systems (all very similar) and a selection committee not sold on what they want their 12 to be.

                                  How does that create success?

                                  If I am not allowed to consider TUJ* then RTS, Tupea, Goodhue, Havili..and JB!'
                                  I count 5! Do I win something? Next year, ALB**, so 2023 has six.

                                  Now that should be enough. We just need to coach them properly and choose a 10 that can work effectively with them.

                                  [So don't consider this oddball but does Zarn Sullivan have 12 potential? He's nearly JB size!
                                  https://www.blues.rugby/zarn-sullivan-player-profile
                                  Oh and where is he ranked nationally as a 10? Has he played enough there? ]

                                  *So I am biased. If you are a nephew of Tana and Jerry you are basically T-Rex terrifying, tackle-crunching mofo royalty as far as I am concerned.
                                  **I think(?) ALB has played 12 more often than 13 for the ABs?

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  1
                                  • NepiaN Nepia

                                    @taniwharugby said in Foster must go:

                                    @Nepia we all know how much you loved the CV and thier orange jersies....

                                    19d16e46-7d5b-48c6-bba0-4ada4bd791ff-image.png

                                    Ugh, someone had to design that, which meant they probably had it on their CV at some stage. :astonished_face:

                                    nostrildamusN Online
                                    nostrildamusN Online
                                    nostrildamus
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #713

                                    @Nepia said in Foster must go:

                                    @taniwharugby said in Foster must go:

                                    @Nepia we all know how much you loved the CV and thier orange jersies....

                                    19d16e46-7d5b-48c6-bba0-4ada4bd791ff-image.png

                                    Ugh, someone had to design that, which meant they probably had it on their CV at some stage. :astonished_face:

                                    Where did the 50 year old model come from?

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • DamoD Offline
                                      DamoD Offline
                                      Damo
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #714

                                      Laumape was a big loss to out 12 stocks. He was improving all the time and by now might well have secured his spot.

                                      Our style needs a big bruising number 12 I think to complete our backline.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      1
                                      • mariner4lifeM mariner4life

                                        there is the old saying that goes something like "what makes great coaches? Great players"

                                        Maybe, if we step back and take the black glasses off, this isn't all Ian's fault. Maybe, just maybe, NZ players aren't very good any more.

                                        Our front row players range from adequate to definitely substandard (with one possible, but as yet unproven) exception
                                        Our 2nd rowers are putting in a shift, but do they actually contribute anything meaningful?
                                        In the loose forwards, on the weekend perhaps our 6 & 8 had points wins over their opposite (7 clearly did not) but that is only if you ignore the fact we lost the ruck battle, and the tackle battle.
                                        Our halfback can't kick with accuracy or depth.
                                        there is no 10 in the country who can calmly run a game, or kick well from hand.
                                        We don't appear to have a 12 anywhere, though playing 12 outside our erratic and unpredictable 10s must be a fucking nightmare
                                        Our 13 is a converted winger with limitless potential but still several key questionmarks
                                        Win seems okay
                                        Our fullback is good under the high ball, but not much good at anything else, and loves a poor option

                                        And a big issue is, who do you swap these guys out for? No one else is bashing the door down.

                                        I'm just throwing it out there, maybe, just maybe, we lose to Ireland because they have better players than us now. And we, the NZ rugby fan, refuse to believe it because it has never been so.

                                        F Offline
                                        F Offline
                                        Frye
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #715

                                        @mariner4life said in Foster must go:

                                        there is the old saying that goes something like "what makes great coaches? Great players"

                                        Maybe, if we step back and take the black glasses off, this isn't all Ian's fault. Maybe, just maybe, NZ players aren't very good any more.

                                        Our front row players range from adequate to definitely substandard (with one possible, but as yet unproven) exception
                                        Our 2nd rowers are putting in a shift, but do they actually contribute anything meaningful?
                                        In the loose forwards, on the weekend perhaps our 6 & 8 had points wins over their opposite (7 clearly did not) but that is only if you ignore the fact we lost the ruck battle, and the tackle battle.
                                        Our halfback can't kick with accuracy or depth.
                                        there is no 10 in the country who can calmly run a game, or kick well from hand.
                                        We don't appear to have a 12 anywhere, though playing 12 outside our erratic and unpredictable 10s must be a fucking nightmare
                                        Our 13 is a converted winger with limitless potential but still several key questionmarks
                                        Win seems okay
                                        Our fullback is good under the high ball, but not much good at anything else, and loves a poor option

                                        And a big issue is, who do you swap these guys out for? No one else is bashing the door down.

                                        I'm just throwing it out there, maybe, just maybe, we lose to Ireland because they have better players than us now. And we, the NZ rugby fan, refuse to believe it because it has never been so.

                                        You could be just as equally critical of any countries depth chart. If you choose to believe Keith Earls would be the first backline player picked for the All Blacks for example, then you are certainly welcome to that opinion.

                                        mariner4lifeM 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • F Frye

                                          @mariner4life said in Foster must go:

                                          there is the old saying that goes something like "what makes great coaches? Great players"

                                          Maybe, if we step back and take the black glasses off, this isn't all Ian's fault. Maybe, just maybe, NZ players aren't very good any more.

                                          Our front row players range from adequate to definitely substandard (with one possible, but as yet unproven) exception
                                          Our 2nd rowers are putting in a shift, but do they actually contribute anything meaningful?
                                          In the loose forwards, on the weekend perhaps our 6 & 8 had points wins over their opposite (7 clearly did not) but that is only if you ignore the fact we lost the ruck battle, and the tackle battle.
                                          Our halfback can't kick with accuracy or depth.
                                          there is no 10 in the country who can calmly run a game, or kick well from hand.
                                          We don't appear to have a 12 anywhere, though playing 12 outside our erratic and unpredictable 10s must be a fucking nightmare
                                          Our 13 is a converted winger with limitless potential but still several key questionmarks
                                          Win seems okay
                                          Our fullback is good under the high ball, but not much good at anything else, and loves a poor option

                                          And a big issue is, who do you swap these guys out for? No one else is bashing the door down.

                                          I'm just throwing it out there, maybe, just maybe, we lose to Ireland because they have better players than us now. And we, the NZ rugby fan, refuse to believe it because it has never been so.

                                          You could be just as equally critical of any countries depth chart. If you choose to believe Keith Earls would be the first backline player picked for the All Blacks for example, then you are certainly welcome to that opinion.

                                          mariner4lifeM Online
                                          mariner4lifeM Online
                                          mariner4life
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #716

                                          @Frye said in Foster must go:

                                          @mariner4life said in Foster must go:

                                          there is the old saying that goes something like "what makes great coaches? Great players"

                                          Maybe, if we step back and take the black glasses off, this isn't all Ian's fault. Maybe, just maybe, NZ players aren't very good any more.

                                          Our front row players range from adequate to definitely substandard (with one possible, but as yet unproven) exception
                                          Our 2nd rowers are putting in a shift, but do they actually contribute anything meaningful?
                                          In the loose forwards, on the weekend perhaps our 6 & 8 had points wins over their opposite (7 clearly did not) but that is only if you ignore the fact we lost the ruck battle, and the tackle battle.
                                          Our halfback can't kick with accuracy or depth.
                                          there is no 10 in the country who can calmly run a game, or kick well from hand.
                                          We don't appear to have a 12 anywhere, though playing 12 outside our erratic and unpredictable 10s must be a fucking nightmare
                                          Our 13 is a converted winger with limitless potential but still several key questionmarks
                                          Win seems okay
                                          Our fullback is good under the high ball, but not much good at anything else, and loves a poor option

                                          And a big issue is, who do you swap these guys out for? No one else is bashing the door down.

                                          I'm just throwing it out there, maybe, just maybe, we lose to Ireland because they have better players than us now. And we, the NZ rugby fan, refuse to believe it because it has never been so.

                                          You could be just as equally critical of any countries depth chart. If you choose to believe Keith Earls would be the first backline player picked for the All Blacks for example, then you are certainly welcome to that opinion.

                                          nah yeah you're right all our players are heaps awesome and it's one dude's fault entirely

                                          Earls isn't even first choice for Ireland so good name to throw in there
                                          Hard to make a case that the 3 best midfielders on show over the past 3 weekends weren't Ringrose, Henshaw and Aki

                                          No QuarterN J 2 Replies Last reply
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