All Blacks 2023
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:
I know super rugby form doesn't mean much
But if I was in charge of picking the loose forwards
I'm picking Harmon at 7, the only guy in NZ rugby still hard at the ball
I've got Akira Ioane at 8 because I know he will get me through a defensive line
And I have Finau at 6 for very fucking hard shoulders.On the bench is either Ardie Savea or Sotutu to offer something different late in a game
I have height. I have balance. I have heat on the ground. I gave guys who are hard to tackle. I have guys who you don't want to he hit by
- FINAU
- BLACKADDER
- SAVEA
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@Steve you can’t select Finau if he isn’t in the squad. If Cane relapses, maybe the selectors will bring him in.
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@stodders said in All Blacks 2023:
@Steve you can’t select Finau if he isn’t in the squad. If Cane relapses, maybe the selectors will bring him in.
I was replying to mariner4life with his hypothetical backrow.
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Cannot listen to Hansen anymore.
He should have gone in 2017 as he said he would and his strenuous efforts to have Foster installed as his successor enraged me at the time and still do.@Jimmy-Jimmy said in All Blacks 2023:
Cannot listen to Hansen anymore.
He should have gone in 2017 as he said he would and his strenuous efforts to have Foster installed as his successor enraged me at the time and still do.Couldn’t agree more. Not to mention his condescending support of foster.
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Is there any science behind the A Smith subbing.
@BerniesCorner He was obviously tired and slow when he was subbed. His box kicks were poor. He was great in the first half. He missed two important tackles, but the forwards should have been there for those.
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Has rugby changed so much in the last decade that a skilled first five can't apply territorial pressure with his long boot? Players are faster on ball retrieval?/Lifting in lineouts negates the advantage?
This 50/20 rule seems a goodie. Something to work on. Constant up and unders seem such a hit and miss strategy.
Shovelling mediocre ball along the backline is futile against good teams.
Boks are in the box seat. Awesome scrum/lineout/prop and lock subs/backline defence@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2023:
Has rugby changed so much in the last decade that a skilled first five can't apply territorial pressure with his long boot?
No, cf. George Ford
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The SA props and locks subs are a major problem. Awesome power
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2023:
The SA props and locks subs are a major problem. Awesome power
Intimidation factor aplenty too.
RG Snyman looks like a henchman from Vikings.
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Our lack of depth really prevents us from making early forward substitutions. Our whole frontrow will need to play deep into the second half. We also don't have an impact loose forward. Having Whitelock replace Retallick early is probably our best option.
@Tim said in All Blacks 2023:
Our lack of depth really prevents us from making early forward substitutions. Our whole frontrow will need to play deep into the second half. We also don't have an impact loose forward. Having Whitelock replace Retallick early is probably our best option.
I remember Cameron Suafoa being an absolute beast against the midweek Ireland side in Hamilton last year. Easily the best forward on the park, and then he's not selected for the 2nd game against them. Couldn't understand why but I guess it must have been influenced by the AB selectors.
We finally have a big power loose foward and we discard him. Instead we are obsessed with smaller, mobile forwards when the game internationally has shifted to a power game.
I'm not saying that he would definitely be test ready by now but he could have been if we had picked him and persevered with him. At least have a look instead of sticking to the same outdated formula. Same with Finau.
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@Tim said in All Blacks 2023:
Our lack of depth really prevents us from making early forward substitutions. Our whole frontrow will need to play deep into the second half. We also don't have an impact loose forward. Having Whitelock replace Retallick early is probably our best option.
I remember Cameron Suafoa being an absolute beast against the midweek Ireland side in Hamilton last year. Easily the best forward on the park, and then he's not selected for the 2nd game against them. Couldn't understand why but I guess it must have been influenced by the AB selectors.
We finally have a big power loose foward and we discard him. Instead we are obsessed with smaller, mobile forwards when the game internationally has shifted to a power game.
I'm not saying that he would definitely be test ready by now but he could have been if we had picked him and persevered with him. At least have a look instead of sticking to the same outdated formula. Same with Finau.
@akan004 said in All Blacks 2023:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2023:
Our lack of depth really prevents us from making early forward substitutions. Our whole frontrow will need to play deep into the second half. We also don't have an impact loose forward. Having Whitelock replace Retallick early is probably our best option.
I remember Cameron Suafoa being an absolute beast against the midweek Ireland side in Hamilton last year. Easily the best forward on the park, and then he's not selected for the 2nd game against them. Couldn't understand why but I guess it must have been influenced by the AB selectors.
We finally have a big power loose foward and we discard him. Instead we are obsessed with smaller, mobile forwards when the game internationally has shifted to a power game.
I'm not saying that he would definitely be test ready by now but he could have been if we had picked him and persevered with him. At least have a look instead of sticking to the same outdated formula. Same with Finau.
Is it that or do they not play “big” enough ?
Papalii and Jacobsen are not small men.
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@akan004 said in All Blacks 2023:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2023:
Our lack of depth really prevents us from making early forward substitutions. Our whole frontrow will need to play deep into the second half. We also don't have an impact loose forward. Having Whitelock replace Retallick early is probably our best option.
I remember Cameron Suafoa being an absolute beast against the midweek Ireland side in Hamilton last year. Easily the best forward on the park, and then he's not selected for the 2nd game against them. Couldn't understand why but I guess it must have been influenced by the AB selectors.
We finally have a big power loose foward and we discard him. Instead we are obsessed with smaller, mobile forwards when the game internationally has shifted to a power game.
I'm not saying that he would definitely be test ready by now but he could have been if we had picked him and persevered with him. At least have a look instead of sticking to the same outdated formula. Same with Finau.
Is it that or do they not play “big” enough ?
Papalii and Jacobsen are not small men.
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2023:
@akan004 said in All Blacks 2023:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2023:
Our lack of depth really prevents us from making early forward substitutions. Our whole frontrow will need to play deep into the second half. We also don't have an impact loose forward. Having Whitelock replace Retallick early is probably our best option.
I remember Cameron Suafoa being an absolute beast against the midweek Ireland side in Hamilton last year. Easily the best forward on the park, and then he's not selected for the 2nd game against them. Couldn't understand why but I guess it must have been influenced by the AB selectors.
We finally have a big power loose foward and we discard him. Instead we are obsessed with smaller, mobile forwards when the game internationally has shifted to a power game.
I'm not saying that he would definitely be test ready by now but he could have been if we had picked him and persevered with him. At least have a look instead of sticking to the same outdated formula. Same with Finau.
Is it that or do they not play “big” enough ?
Papalii and Jacobsen are not small men.
Yeah that's a valid point. A guy like Kolisi is not big but he has immense power. However, since our existing players aren't playing big enough, we need to look at other players.
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@voodoo said in All Blacks 2023:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2023:
@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2023:
@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
@reprobate said in All Blacks 2023:
@nzzp i really don't think we are going to be ripping anyone apart bringing on the likes of christie, newell, laulala (once lomax is back), havili, ALB, jacobsen etc.
surely if that's the plan you'd pick a different bench?Foster has definitely been conservative in his selections, squad wise and on game day.
I think Beauden Barretts inclusion is a massive problem because he also creates collateral damage on the bench.
If you had a Jordan or Stevenson at 15
Lol thank fuck you're not a selector.
Do you think the last few years of Barrett at 15 have been productive?
No, for various reasons.
Do you think we should continue?
Yes. If he's not the best option he's second best.
He is one of my favourite players of all time but its not working in my opinion.
It's not going to work with players that are less skilled.
SS has glaring issues in his game he needs to address. Jordan just gave a horror show on top of his obvious frailties in the defensive aspect of the game.
We are all agreed that it's not working.
SS / WJ / DM all have issues sure. But they also all have an x-factor. BB just has issues right now, the x-factor is long gone. Yeah, we can argue he is playing Fozzie's tactics, and maybe dismiss some of the frustrating kicking - but he also makes a shitload of errors, and has a generally poor kicking game, both exits and bomb accuracy. When is the last time he actually did something of truly high quality? He's not making breaks or counter attacking any more, he's not hitting the line with any venom. Defensively maybe he's the stronger of the 4, but DM might argue that.
I just don't see what he brings. If he was super-safe but unexciting, then I could be convinced that making a change was dangerous. But he's really not. The others guys for me offer way more upside, and a similar level of downside.
I'd be starting WJ at 15 if I was picking.
For all the Stevenson/Jordan/DMAC at 15 boo boys, look at it this way.
The favourites for the tournament have Mack Hansen and James Lowe in the back three.
Hardly generational talents.
The persistence with Beaudy has created a logjam where nobody else bar his brother got time in the saddle at 15.
@Steve said in All Blacks 2023:
The favourites for the tournament have Mack Hansen and James Lowe in the back three.
Hardly generational talents.
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2023:
It’s worth pointing out that the ABs won a World Cup with Richard Kahui on the wing.
what we're proving here is that the natural talent of a player is only a part of the equation......i half decent coach will come up with a game plan that lets everyone shine....rather than deciding on a game plan....and independently picking "the best" 32 players....and then wondering why its not clicking
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Razor doing his home work already.
For those without instagram:
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Interesting to hear Ryan say that if we had a full deck we would be able to compete. So he's admitting that the backups are shit. That sure doesn't fill me with confidence, perhaps they should have picked a better squad.
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@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2023:
Yes I would have him as well. He played really well in his test against Argentina this year and he has a big future in Black.
Vaai is a light lock who plays about 10kgs lighter than he looks.
I don’t see the attraction in him at the moment
Tupou Vaai has 19 caps......
Let that sink in.
I have binned him after the first 5 or so.
@Steve Sad thing is, is he's actually played 23 tests.
