Bledisloe 1
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@KiwiMurph I knew it was going to be grim but seeing it still hurts.
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@Windows97 said in Bledisloe 1:
Terrible loose forward trio - one out of position, one out of form and one out of practice.
We've fallen so far since the days of Kaino, McCaw and Read

and if Kaino and Read were out we would have had Messam and i can't remember who at 8. And people would have kicked off about how shit it was (because Messam was hugely under rated)
@mariner4life Second string back then was Messam, Cane and Vito - still a lot better than what we have now. Messam had some outstanding games, particularly against the Boks. All 3 second stringers were very good and you could trust them to do the job.
I don't have confidence in the current back 3 for reasons stated above.
Still these days I don't really trust the AB's to get the job done so I guess quibbling about the loose forward trio is merely splitting hairs of discontent.
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I hope Foster and co have a plan for Retallick and Whitelock. Ideally, if they can decide on their no.6 we can put one veteran lock on the bench to manage their minutes between now and the RWC. These are the three best locks, and Vaa'i is still very young so has time to continue to develop.
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@Nepia im grasping at straws here but i thought he played much better than expected last time he played at 6?....didn;t he?
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@Kirwan i don't think you can play Savea and Akira in the same starting pack even behind teh england 2003 tight 5.
I don't give a shit about the chat on here. the only thing SF did was smack rucks and run straight, oh and tackle with a shoulder. Far from perfect but it made the team better. Akira might want to think about that.
I've seen nothing from Vaai at any level that says to me he is now in the top 3 locks. He's in the squad, and if he suddenly turns in to a beast at Super level then he is there to go.
We don't have a Mehrts floating around. We have two limited 10s, and a guy who can't start at the Blues in front of one of those 10s. There is no one at the other 3 teams. IIs there any evidence at all, anywhere, that says that SP is actually a better option?
DH is pretty limited, but it looks like he's the type we need between the 10 and 13 we have. Again, his role makes the team better.
Now, form says we suck this week. But i just can't see the players around that makes this team better on paper.
@mariner4life said in Bledisloe 1:
@Kirwan i don't think you can play Savea and Akira in the same starting pack even behind teh england 2003 tight 5.
I don't give a shit about the chat on here. the only thing SF did was smack rucks and run straight, oh and tackle with a shoulder. Far from perfect but it made the team better. Akira might want to think about that.
See this is the silliness I'm talking about. Akira has done everything that Frizzell has done recently (with the exception of throwing away tries), including tackling hard and running hard (once through four Irish defenders for a try).
Savea and Akira have combined well on many occasions, this is a classic Fern myth brewing. One of the dumber ones too.
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Barrett's mobility should be tested under the roof against that mobile Aussie team named. Will be a good barometer.
The question for Akira this week is when is he introduced? We know Cane typically gets subbed around the 60/65 minute mark for Papali'i but it will be interesting when Akira is brought on (and for who).
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@Nepia im grasping at straws here but i thought he played much better than expected last time he played at 6?....didn;t he?
@Kiwiwomble said in Bledisloe 1:
@Nepia im grasping at straws here but i thought he played much better than expected last time he played at 6?....didn;t he?
Thats as I remember it. The consensus was he went well
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@Nepia im grasping at straws here but i thought he played much better than expected last time he played at 6?....didn;t he?
@Kiwiwomble said in Bledisloe 1:
@Nepia im grasping at straws here but i thought he played much better than expected last time he played at 6?....didn;t he?
He played well there in Ireland 1.
Looking forward to seeing how this pack performs. Good balance in the backrow. Plenty of experience and players coming into good form. Should be far too good for this Australia team.
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Barrett's mobility should be tested under the roof against that mobile Aussie team named. Will be a good barometer.
The question for Akira this week is when is he introduced? We know Cane typically gets subbed around the 60/65 minute mark for Papali'i but it will be interesting when Akira is brought on (and for who).
@KiwiMurph said in Bledisloe 1:
Barrett's mobility should be tested under the roof against that mobile Aussie team named. Will be a good barometer.
The question for Akira this week is when is he introduced? We know Cane typically gets subbed around the 60/65 minute mark for Papali'i but it will be interesting when Akira is brought on (and for who).
yeah, he definitely needs to back up his last performance at 6
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Barrett's mobility should be tested under the roof against that mobile Aussie team named. Will be a good barometer.
The question for Akira this week is when is he introduced? We know Cane typically gets subbed around the 60/65 minute mark for Papali'i but it will be interesting when Akira is brought on (and for who).
@KiwiMurph said in Bledisloe 1:
Barrett's mobility should be tested under the roof against that mobile Aussie team named. Will be a good barometer.
The question for Akira this week is when is he introduced? We know Cane typically gets subbed around the 60/65 minute mark for Papali'i but it will be interesting when Akira is brought on (and for who).
It will be interesting to see if Cane does get subbed given Ardie is not in the side. I think it’s probably still the plan, but may not be as early.
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I’m ok with the team except I would have brought Reece back. Not sure what he did to get dropped tbh other than play pretty well against Ireland.
Sotutu needs to take his opportunity. It’s entirely in his hands.
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@mariner4life said in Bledisloe 1:
@Kirwan i don't think you can play Savea and Akira in the same starting pack even behind teh england 2003 tight 5.
I don't give a shit about the chat on here. the only thing SF did was smack rucks and run straight, oh and tackle with a shoulder. Far from perfect but it made the team better. Akira might want to think about that.
See this is the silliness I'm talking about. Akira has done everything that Frizzell has done recently (with the exception of throwing away tries), including tackling hard and running hard (once through four Irish defenders for a try).
Savea and Akira have combined well on many occasions, this is a classic Fern myth brewing. One of the dumber ones too.
@Kirwan said in Bledisloe 1:
@mariner4life said in Bledisloe 1:
@Kirwan i don't think you can play Savea and Akira in the same starting pack even behind teh england 2003 tight 5.
I don't give a shit about the chat on here. the only thing SF did was smack rucks and run straight, oh and tackle with a shoulder. Far from perfect but it made the team better. Akira might want to think about that.
See this is the silliness I'm talking about. Akira has done everything that Frizzell has done recently (with the exception of throwing away tries), including tackling hard and running hard (once through four Irish defenders for a try).
Savea and Akira have combined well on many occasions, this is a classic Fern myth brewing. One of the dumber ones too.
to how many fucking losses??
Fuck i'm starting to see where the Cantabs are coming from
You of all people know i'm a fan. BUT, and there is a huge but, just perhaps how the guy plays doesn't translate to the team playing well. Is he a "better" 6 than Barrett? I believe yes. Is the way he plays 6 the best for THIS AB team? perhaps not.
That one half he played v Ireland was inspired. Has he reached those heights again? No. Has the AB play looked the best in the games he hasn't played? yes
Draw your own conclusions. I'm out
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I’m ok with the team except I would have brought Reece back. Not sure what he did to get dropped tbh other than play pretty well against Ireland.
Sotutu needs to take his opportunity. It’s entirely in his hands.
@Billy-Tell said in Bledisloe 1:
I’m ok with the team except I would have brought Reece back. Not sure what he did to get dropped tbh other than play pretty well against Ireland.
Sotutu needs to take his opportunity. It’s entirely in his hands.
i know right, i think thats whats gets me, the people that get dropped after playing well and those that keep playing after playing poorly...hence my suspicion fozzie does his selections based on Rugby Challenge 19 player ratings
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Hmmm. I see the akira is awesome posts again. Bloody well show us please akira with a dominant display off the bench rather than an ok-ish one.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Bledisloe 1:
@mariner4life has to go with
6 AI
8 sotutu....doesn't he?
Wouldn’t surprise me if they went
6 Barrett
7 Cane
8 Sotutu@ACT-Crusader said in Bledisloe 1:
Wouldn’t surprise me if they went
6 Barrett
7 Cane
8 SotutuFozzie’s at least reading my emails again.
Happy to see Newell get another shot in spite of them bringing Laulala back into the squad.
The Aussies beat us at cricket and in the womens 7s, they are laughing at us and still think they got the better NZ coach. Time to fire up boys and send a message to the bogans
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@Kirwan said in Bledisloe 1:
@mariner4life said in Bledisloe 1:
@Kirwan i don't think you can play Savea and Akira in the same starting pack even behind teh england 2003 tight 5.
I don't give a shit about the chat on here. the only thing SF did was smack rucks and run straight, oh and tackle with a shoulder. Far from perfect but it made the team better. Akira might want to think about that.
See this is the silliness I'm talking about. Akira has done everything that Frizzell has done recently (with the exception of throwing away tries), including tackling hard and running hard (once through four Irish defenders for a try).
Savea and Akira have combined well on many occasions, this is a classic Fern myth brewing. One of the dumber ones too.
to how many fucking losses??
Fuck i'm starting to see where the Cantabs are coming from
You of all people know i'm a fan. BUT, and there is a huge but, just perhaps how the guy plays doesn't translate to the team playing well. Is he a "better" 6 than Barrett? I believe yes. Is the way he plays 6 the best for THIS AB team? perhaps not.
That one half he played v Ireland was inspired. Has he reached those heights again? No. Has the AB play looked the best in the games he hasn't played? yes
Draw your own conclusions. I'm out
@mariner4life said in Bledisloe 1:
@Kirwan said in Bledisloe 1:
@mariner4life said in Bledisloe 1:
@Kirwan i don't think you can play Savea and Akira in the same starting pack even behind teh england 2003 tight 5.
I don't give a shit about the chat on here. the only thing SF did was smack rucks and run straight, oh and tackle with a shoulder. Far from perfect but it made the team better. Akira might want to think about that.
See this is the silliness I'm talking about. Akira has done everything that Frizzell has done recently (with the exception of throwing away tries), including tackling hard and running hard (once through four Irish defenders for a try).
Savea and Akira have combined well on many occasions, this is a classic Fern myth brewing. One of the dumber ones too.
to how many fucking losses??
Fuck i'm starting to see where the Cantabs are coming from
You of all people know i'm a fan. BUT, and there is a huge but, just perhaps how the guy plays doesn't translate to the team playing well. Is he a "better" 6 than Barrett? I believe yes. Is the way he plays 6 the best for THIS AB team? perhaps not.
That one half he played v Ireland was inspired. Has he reached those heights again? No. Has the AB play looked the best in the games he hasn't played? yes
Draw your own conclusions. I'm out
Correlation not causation. Kaino could have been playing at six for some of those games with the tight five going missing and look average.
If the tight five swings back to powder puff (we seem to alternating at the moment) then the lossies are not going to be as effective. Pretty simple.
The complete ignoring of Frizzell's mistakes and cheerleading for stuff that Akira was also doing is what is frankly bizarre.
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Hmmm. I see the akira is awesome posts again. Bloody well show us please akira with a dominant display off the bench rather than an ok-ish one.
@Billy-Tell said in Bledisloe 1:
Hmmm. I see the akira is awesome posts again. Bloody well show us please akira with a dominant display off the bench rather than an ok-ish one.
Well hopefully he gets more that 12 minutes to show something.