RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy
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There will be a high of 30 degrees tomorrow in Lyon. I’m amazed it is still that hot at this time of year (UK feels like autumn already!)
I hope this doesn’t lead Fozzie into overuse of a kicking game to preserve players.
While on paper we should beat Italy comfortably, we know world cups are different and I believe Italy will have been targeting this game for some time.
They have improved a lot of the last year and will love the opportunity of a knockout match against the All Blacks.
I want to see us tighten our game up, play direct with ball in hand, kick well but not just for the sake of it and put down a marker to show that they are capable of going deep in this tournament.
Discipline needs to be spot on as this ref could blow us off the park if we are not at our best and a red card could mean the end of our World Cup.
There is an article on the herald stating the ABs are being ignored with no one turning up to press conferences etc and are literally not regarded as a threat. I want to see that change by tomorrow night.
@DaGrubster said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
I hope this doesn’t lead Fozzie into overuse of a kicking game to preserve players.
stats show kicking is a big part of games in recent times, which I thnk we are in line with others, its just the amount of times we fuck around in our own 22 and/or half with short kicks that creates undue pressure on ourselves.
As I have said, kick and chase game being improved will help immensely, harder to fix though is our discipline, this aspect will be more crucial against tougher opposition, but lest start by improving drastically v Italy
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The closer the game is the more concerned I am about it. Not sure why as it should be a comfortable win for us but I just have a nagging feeling about this game for some reason.
@DaGrubster said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
The closer the game is the more concerned I am about it. Not sure why as it should be a comfortable win for us but I just have a nagging feeling about this game for some reason.
a feeling of impending doom.......
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@DaGrubster said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
I hope this doesn’t lead Fozzie into overuse of a kicking game to preserve players.
stats show kicking is a big part of games in recent times, which I thnk we are in line with others, its just the amount of times we fuck around in our own 22 and/or half with short kicks that creates undue pressure on ourselves.
As I have said, kick and chase game being improved will help immensely, harder to fix though is our discipline, this aspect will be more crucial against tougher opposition, but lest start by improving drastically v Italy
@taniwharugby said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@DaGrubster said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
I hope this doesn’t lead Fozzie into overuse of a kicking game to preserve players.
stats show kicking is a big part of games in recent times, which I thnk we are in line with others, its just the amount of times we fuck around in our own 22 and/or half with short kicks that creates undue pressure on ourselves.
As I have said, kick and chase game being improved will help immensely, harder to fix though, our disipline, this aspect is more crucial against tougher opposition.
99% of that is BB
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@DaGrubster said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
The closer the game is the more concerned I am about it. Not sure why as it should be a comfortable win for us but I just have a nagging feeling about this game for some reason.
a feeling of impending doom.......
@Mattasaurus said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@DaGrubster said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
The closer the game is the more concerned I am about it. Not sure why as it should be a comfortable win for us but I just have a nagging feeling about this game for some reason.
a feeling of impending doom.......
Foster said that statistic meant nothing ahead of Friday’s clash.
“History means nothing,” he added. “History is yesterday’s newspaper, isn’t it, not tomorrow’s.”
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What odds are other sites offering on this game?
Obviously TAB have us all but unbackable faves.
TAB has us at $1.01 and Italy at $15, and even $2.25 to simply lead at any time.
NZ 1-12 @ $5
NZ 13+ @ $1.12
Points start at -31.5 for $1.87. -
What odds are other sites offering on this game?
Obviously TAB have us all but unbackable faves.
TAB has us at $1.01 and Italy at $15, and even $2.25 to simply lead at any time.
NZ 1-12 @ $5
NZ 13+ @ $1.12
Points start at -31.5 for $1.87.@taniwharugby said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
What odds are other sites offering on this game?
sportsbet has us at $1.01 and Italy at $19.
NZ 1-7 @ $15
NZ 8-14@ $8.75
NZ 15+ @ $1.12
Points start at -28.5 for $1.86 -
@reprobate said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@Tim said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
Poor coaching, as is the standard.
Same coaching set-up when he was getting game-time and being so bloody effective coming off the bench. Weird.
Foster has always preferred Taylor, even when it was blindingly obvious that he was playing terribly and Samisoni was playing great. IIRC he dropped Samisoni despite being our best forward for the Irish decider, then continued using Taylor while our lineout and his general play was dogshit all last season. Taylor is a decent player, but his form last year was arguably the worst I've seen an AB get away with and keep being selected - and that's not when the cupboard was bare, but when we had another option who was clearly better. It is just shit selection.
Samisoni should be a bolted on starter by now. Taylor or Coles should be the bench guy, or if we were better at handling young players, Aumua could have been ready in time.
We all sit around bemoaning Super rugby and our lack of grunt up front - and we have that guy right fucking there and they won't fucking pick him!If what you say is true - and it may be - you have to question what value Ryan actually adds, don't you?
@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@reprobate said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@Tim said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
Poor coaching, as is the standard.
Same coaching set-up when he was getting game-time and being so bloody effective coming off the bench. Weird.
Foster has always preferred Taylor, even when it was blindingly obvious that he was playing terribly and Samisoni was playing great. IIRC he dropped Samisoni despite being our best forward for the Irish decider, then continued using Taylor while our lineout and his general play was dogshit all last season. Taylor is a decent player, but his form last year was arguably the worst I've seen an AB get away with and keep being selected - and that's not when the cupboard was bare, but when we had another option who was clearly better. It is just shit selection.
Samisoni should be a bolted on starter by now. Taylor or Coles should be the bench guy, or if we were better at handling young players, Aumua could have been ready in time.
We all sit around bemoaning Super rugby and our lack of grunt up front - and we have that guy right fucking there and they won't fucking pick him!If what you say is true - and it may be - you have to question what value Ryan actually adds, don't you?
Not really. Foster's preference for Taylor and Taylor's terrible form pre-dates Ryan being involved.
Has Ryan changed that? No. Has he tried? No idea.
Buck stops with the head coach. -
@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@reprobate said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@Tim said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
Poor coaching, as is the standard.
Same coaching set-up when he was getting game-time and being so bloody effective coming off the bench. Weird.
Foster has always preferred Taylor, even when it was blindingly obvious that he was playing terribly and Samisoni was playing great. IIRC he dropped Samisoni despite being our best forward for the Irish decider, then continued using Taylor while our lineout and his general play was dogshit all last season. Taylor is a decent player, but his form last year was arguably the worst I've seen an AB get away with and keep being selected - and that's not when the cupboard was bare, but when we had another option who was clearly better. It is just shit selection.
Samisoni should be a bolted on starter by now. Taylor or Coles should be the bench guy, or if we were better at handling young players, Aumua could have been ready in time.
We all sit around bemoaning Super rugby and our lack of grunt up front - and we have that guy right fucking there and they won't fucking pick him!If what you say is true - and it may be - you have to question what value Ryan actually adds, don't you?
Not really. Foster's preference for Taylor and Taylor's terrible form pre-dates Ryan being involved.
Has Ryan changed that? No. Has he tried? No idea.
Buck stops with the head coach.@reprobate said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@reprobate said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@Tim said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
Poor coaching, as is the standard.
Same coaching set-up when he was getting game-time and being so bloody effective coming off the bench. Weird.
Foster has always preferred Taylor, even when it was blindingly obvious that he was playing terribly and Samisoni was playing great. IIRC he dropped Samisoni despite being our best forward for the Irish decider, then continued using Taylor while our lineout and his general play was dogshit all last season. Taylor is a decent player, but his form last year was arguably the worst I've seen an AB get away with and keep being selected - and that's not when the cupboard was bare, but when we had another option who was clearly better. It is just shit selection.
Samisoni should be a bolted on starter by now. Taylor or Coles should be the bench guy, or if we were better at handling young players, Aumua could have been ready in time.
We all sit around bemoaning Super rugby and our lack of grunt up front - and we have that guy right fucking there and they won't fucking pick him!If what you say is true - and it may be - you have to question what value Ryan actually adds, don't you?
Not really. Foster's preference for Taylor and Taylor's terrible form pre-dates Ryan being involved.
Has Ryan changed that? No. Has he tried? No idea.
Buck stops with the head coach.So you're now also saying the Head coach and not the Forwards coach deserves the credit when the forwards are going well?
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@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@Tim said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
Poor coaching, as is the standard.
Same coaching set-up when he was getting game-time and being so bloody effective coming off the bench. Weird.
Foster has always preferred Taylor, even when it was blindingly obvious that he was playing terribly and Samisoni was playing great. IIRC he dropped Samisoni despite being our best forward for the Irish decider, then continued using Taylor while our lineout and his general play was dogshit all last season. Taylor is a decent player, but his form last year was arguably the worst I've seen an AB get away with and keep being selected - and that's not when the cupboard was bare, but when we had another option who was clearly better. It is just shit selection.
Samisoni should be a bolted on starter by now. Taylor or Coles should be the bench guy, or if we were better at handling young players, Aumua could have been ready in time.
We all sit around bemoaning Super rugby and our lack of grunt up front - and we have that guy right fucking there and they won't fucking pick him!@reprobate said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
Aumua could have been ready in time
Aumua's big problem - that kept him out of the ABs, esp. since ST was picked - was his very poor line-out throwing. He got his chances, but didn't take them. It was only last year that he improved his line-out throwing. Injuries have played a role, too.
Anyway, if Aumua had been considered for the RWC squad, it would have been a choice between him and Coles.
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Ritchie being out injured may be the tried and true Foster approaching to improving his team (being forced to change selections by injury).
We aren't winning the world cup with Ritchie Mounga at 10. might as well try DMac.
@Kirwan said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
Ritchie being out injured may be the tried and true Foster approaching to improving his team (being forced to change selections by injury).
We aren't winning the world cup with Ritchie Mounga at 10. might as well try DMac.
Is he confirmed out? I can’t find anything
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I know he is trying to say 'we're taking this game seriously' but for a coach that has a history of wrecking ABs history, not a great line to take!
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@Kirwan said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
Ritchie being out injured may be the tried and true Foster approaching to improving his team (being forced to change selections by injury).
We aren't winning the world cup with Ritchie Mounga at 10. might as well try DMac.
Is he confirmed out? I can’t find anything
@voodoo said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@Kirwan said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
Ritchie being out injured may be the tried and true Foster approaching to improving his team (being forced to change selections by injury).
We aren't winning the world cup with Ritchie Mounga at 10. might as well try DMac.
Is he confirmed out? I can’t find anything
I'm just assuming watching him hobble up the stairs with a thigh bandage.
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@MajorRage said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@stodders this is ROG telling Ireland fans to shut the Fuck up about the easy QF route …
ive heard a few Irish ex players and media types now politely say , they would rather play NZ than France ,
they usually start with something like ,
while it does feel strange to say we would prefer to play Nz .........
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@MajorRage said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@stodders this is ROG telling Ireland fans to shut the Fuck up about the easy QF route …
ive heard a few Irish ex players and media types now politely say , they would rather play NZ than France ,
they usually start with something like ,
while it does feel strange to say we would prefer to play Nz .........
@kiwiinmelb said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@MajorRage said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@stodders this is ROG telling Ireland fans to shut the Fuck up about the easy QF route …
ive heard a few Irish ex players and media types now politely say , they would rather play NZ than France ,
they usually start with something like ,
while it does feel strange to say we would prefer to play Nz .........
To be sure, while it does feel strange to say we would prefer to play NZ, we’d rather play them so we would. Top of the morning to ye.
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@kiwiinmelb said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@MajorRage said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@stodders this is ROG telling Ireland fans to shut the Fuck up about the easy QF route …
ive heard a few Irish ex players and media types now politely say , they would rather play NZ than France ,
they usually start with something like ,
while it does feel strange to say we would prefer to play Nz .........
To be sure, while it does feel strange to say we would prefer to play NZ, we’d rather play them so we would. Top of the morning to ye.
@Billy-Tell said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@kiwiinmelb said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@MajorRage said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
@stodders this is ROG telling Ireland fans to shut the Fuck up about the easy QF route …
ive heard a few Irish ex players and media types now politely say , they would rather play NZ than France ,
they usually start with something like ,
while it does feel strange to say we would prefer to play Nz .........
To be sure, while it does feel strange to say we would prefer to play NZ, we’d rather play them so we would. Top of the morning to ye.
But like the Guinness, we're not bitter about taking on ABS rather than France
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Ritchie being out injured may be the tried and true Foster approaching to improving his team (being forced to change selections by injury).
We aren't winning the world cup with Ritchie Mounga at 10. might as well try DMac.
@Kirwan said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
Ritchie being out injured may be the tried and true Foster approaching to improving his team (being forced to change selections by injury).
We aren't winning the world cup with Ritchie Mounga at 10. might as well try DMac.
I'm not sure its Mounga at 10 that is the problem .. for me its the persistence of the Richie / BB dual playmaker BS that is the problem.... Mounga has shown he can play the big games well - eg SR 2023 final where he shaded Dmac in my opinion (I am a Dmac fan)-- key thing in that game was is he didn't have BB poking his shitty low percentage options in all the time..
But yeah forced changes are the only time we seem to get significant change from Foster. So would be happy to see Dmac start at 10....
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@Kirwan said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
Ritchie being out injured may be the tried and true Foster approaching to improving his team (being forced to change selections by injury).
We aren't winning the world cup with Ritchie Mounga at 10. might as well try DMac.
I'm not sure its Mounga at 10 that is the problem .. for me its the persistence of the Richie / BB dual playmaker BS that is the problem.... Mounga has shown he can play the big games well - eg SR 2023 final where he shaded Dmac in my opinion (I am a Dmac fan)-- key thing in that game was is he didn't have BB poking his shitty low percentage options in all the time..
But yeah forced changes are the only time we seem to get significant change from Foster. So would be happy to see Dmac start at 10....
@Mattasaurus said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:
I'm not sure its Mounga at 10 that is the problem .. for me its the persistence of the Richie / BB dual playmaker BS that is the problem
McKenzie/Barrett worked well in the limited times we've seen it. A few years ago Barrett/McKenzie worked too
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