Bledisloe 2
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In another thread where I was praising Tom Wright you said he was prone to brain explosions. Man you’re not wrong, WTF was he thinking with the quick tap and kick? AB’s had 3 defenders back there? Wide to Rieko who ran away from Jordan but penalty, lineout, penalty try and yellow card. That was a costly brain explosion.
@TheMojoman and then dropping the ball cold off that shit pass from White and THEN gifting the ABs a penalty for holding on in basically the same motion. ffs...
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Akira Ioane's try saving tackle on Wilson at 30:35 was brilliant. Wilson had great low body position and pace, and Ioane had to get super low and turn him back from the line in the tackle.
@Tim said in Bledisloe 2:
Akira Ioane's try saving tackle on Wilson at 30:35 was brilliant. Wilson had great low body position and pace, and Ioane had to get super low and turn him back from the line in the tackle.
Mate, it was even better than you make out - he was defending the left side of the ruck until the phase prior, he sprints around the base, shoves through 2 of our guys to get into the line on the right, kind of overruns the spot he wants, and has to dive back to his left to effect the tackle
Amazing effort to get there and then to make that tackle showed immense strength
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@Kirwan said in Bledisloe 2:
@Nepia said in Bledisloe 2:
@canefan said in Bledisloe 2:
@Chris-B said in Bledisloe 2:
@Tim said in Bledisloe 2:
Caleb Clarke under the high ball and on kick offs was absolutely faultless. Shame on anyone who tried to bag him.
Caleb's good under the high ball.
His work ons are pretty evident though.
He makes some great breaks but then fails to link up.
According to ESPN's stats he made 9 runs and no passes last night.
The week before 11 runs and 2 passes.
I watched him from time to time. Always tries to beat or overpower his man as opposed to wondering where his support is. So when he's taken down we have to recycle to restart momentum.
Yeah, I think he's conditioned to being the power wing in the team so always tries the Maori sidestep instead of sizing it up and maybe stepping, going round, or looking for support. If he tidies that up it should be all good.
He has good “problems”, has the pace to go around and the power to go through.
Is so good under the high ball too he’s covering the two fullback approach we seem to like in the back three. Opens up the other wing for a finisher.
It’s a luxury we’re fortunate have ie, power winger and finisher, both world class. Not a lot of tests teams have that.
Clarke under the high ball was fantastic, all 3 of our back 3 can safely diffuse the high ball now.
@TheMojoman said in Bledisloe 2:
It’s a luxury we’re fortunate have ie, power winger and finisher, both world class. Not a lot of tests teams have that.
Not forgetting Sevu Reece
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So I only got to half watch the game cos dinner party thing. I did read through this thread yesterday, and now I'm 25mins into watching the replay.
Forgive me if someone already me mentioned it, but I don't remember much discussion about A Smith? I've been a really big critic of him lately, but he has been unbelievable in the first 20mins - catching balls at his feet, clearing at amazing pace, so quick to each breakdown, and even a well-timed snipe!
So good to see again
@voodoo said in Bledisloe 2:
So I only got to half watch the game cos dinner party thing. I did read through this thread yesterday, and now I'm 25mins into watching the replay.
Forgive me if someone already me mentioned it, but I don't remember much discussion about A Smith? I've been a really big critic of him lately, but he has been unbelievable in the first 20mins - catching balls at his feet, clearing at amazing pace, so quick to each breakdown, and even a well-timed snipe!
So good to see again
He's turned into the Charlie Watts or Ringo of 9's. Nothing flash, but does everything perfectly time and time again.
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Fuck SBW is bad. Why is he employed? Surely it's some sort of work experience, we're not actually paying him are we?
@voodoo said in Bledisloe 2:
Fuck SBW is bad. Why is he employed? Surely it's some sort of work experience, we're not actually paying him are we?
Makes Miles Harrison look professional.
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@Kirwan said in Bledisloe 2:
@Nepia said in Bledisloe 2:
@canefan said in Bledisloe 2:
@Chris-B said in Bledisloe 2:
@Tim said in Bledisloe 2:
Caleb Clarke under the high ball and on kick offs was absolutely faultless. Shame on anyone who tried to bag him.
Caleb's good under the high ball.
His work ons are pretty evident though.
He makes some great breaks but then fails to link up.
According to ESPN's stats he made 9 runs and no passes last night.
The week before 11 runs and 2 passes.
I watched him from time to time. Always tries to beat or overpower his man as opposed to wondering where his support is. So when he's taken down we have to recycle to restart momentum.
Yeah, I think he's conditioned to being the power wing in the team so always tries the Maori sidestep instead of sizing it up and maybe stepping, going round, or looking for support. If he tidies that up it should be all good.
He has good “problems”, has the pace to go around and the power to go through.
Is so good under the high ball too he’s covering the two fullback approach we seem to like in the back three. Opens up the other wing for a finisher.
It’s a luxury we’re fortunate have ie, power winger and finisher, both world class. Not a lot of tests teams have that.
Clarke under the high ball was fantastic, all 3 of our back 3 can safely diffuse the high ball now.
@TheMojoman which is a huge improvement from the Irish series where we could barely catch a cold...
Still think we should be utilising our resources better (Jane for high ball work, DC to assist with our 10s...I mean he has been in SA working with thier young guys)
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Fuck SBW is bad. Why is he employed? Surely it's some sort of work experience, we're not actually paying him are we?
@voodoo said in Bledisloe 2:
Fuck SBW is bad. Why is he employed? Surely it's some sort of work experience, we're not actually paying him are we?
Well those of us who live here in NZ don't have to listen him too much, but I would wonder the same thing on the odd time I have seen him on coverage from Aus.
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@Tim said in Bledisloe 2:
Akira Ioane's try saving tackle on Wilson at 30:35 was brilliant. Wilson had great low body position and pace, and Ioane had to get super low and turn him back from the line in the tackle.
Mate, it was even better than you make out - he was defending the left side of the ruck until the phase prior, he sprints around the base, shoves through 2 of our guys to get into the line on the right, kind of overruns the spot he wants, and has to dive back to his left to effect the tackle
Amazing effort to get there and then to make that tackle showed immense strength
@voodoo said in Bledisloe 2:
@Tim said in Bledisloe 2:
Akira Ioane's try saving tackle on Wilson at 30:35 was brilliant. Wilson had great low body position and pace, and Ioane had to get super low and turn him back from the line in the tackle.
Mate, it was even better than you make out - he was defending the left side of the ruck until the phase prior, he sprints around the base, shoves through 2 of our guys to get into the line on the right, kind of overruns the spot he wants, and has to dive back to his left to effect the tackle
Amazing effort to get there and then to make that tackle showed immense strength
It was a hell of a play but I think most people missed it
Ian Smith started talking about it "I think we've seen something special here" but the AB's took the dropout quickly and there was never a replay
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@TheMojoman said in Bledisloe 2:
It’s a luxury we’re fortunate have ie, power winger and finisher, both world class. Not a lot of tests teams have that.
Not forgetting Sevu Reece
@Victor-Meldrew said in Bledisloe 2:
@TheMojoman said in Bledisloe 2:
It’s a luxury we’re fortunate have ie, power winger and finisher, both world class. Not a lot of tests teams have that.
Not forgetting Sevu Reece
Definitely, not the size but boy does he pack some punch as Hodge found out.
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The Akira "turnover" for getting isolated at 37mins was 100% Ardies fault for a pathetic clean attempt. Try begging
@voodoo said in Bledisloe 2:
The Akira "turnover" for getting isolated at 37mins was 100% Ardies fault for a pathetic clean attempt. Try begging
Yep. Wasn't accurate enough to get shoulder on Samu and was forced to try and wrestle him off the ball. It was good, hard, direct meters by Ioane which he's often criticised for shirking.
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@voodoo said in Bledisloe 2:
@Tim said in Bledisloe 2:
Akira Ioane's try saving tackle on Wilson at 30:35 was brilliant. Wilson had great low body position and pace, and Ioane had to get super low and turn him back from the line in the tackle.
Mate, it was even better than you make out - he was defending the left side of the ruck until the phase prior, he sprints around the base, shoves through 2 of our guys to get into the line on the right, kind of overruns the spot he wants, and has to dive back to his left to effect the tackle
Amazing effort to get there and then to make that tackle showed immense strength
It was a hell of a play but I think most people missed it
Ian Smith started talking about it "I think we've seen something special here" but the AB's took the dropout quickly and there was never a replay
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@Tim said in Bledisloe 2:
Here's the clip:
Not bad for a "showpony". Great read on defence, and awesome technique and strength! Looks like he knocked the ball out too.
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@Tim Great effort, Taylor actually fucked up there and Akira cleaned up, I also think it was Smith instructing Akira to get over there.
@chimoaus said in Bledisloe 2:
@Tim Great effort, Taylor actually fucked up there and Akira cleaned up, I also think it was Smith instructing Akira to get over there.
Yep, Smith and Akira working well together there. Akira was watching Wilson's (very clever) path too, and Smith made the call to cover.
Good shoulder there from Akira....
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@KiwiMurph His best game since Super Rugby 2019.
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@Tim Great effort, Taylor actually fucked up there and Akira cleaned up, I also think it was Smith instructing Akira to get over there.
@chimoaus I thought Taylor was covering Valetini which you could’ve expected someone like him to take a pick and go from that close.
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@chimoaus I thought Taylor was covering Valetini which you could’ve expected someone like him to take a pick and go from that close.
@ACT-Crusader said in Bledisloe 2:
@chimoaus I thought Taylor was covering Valetini which you could’ve expected someone like him to take a pick and go from that close.
Looked to me like Codie was the post at that ruck - if he moved to cover Wilson, you'd have him and McLeod shot at dawn.
