All Blacks 2024
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@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024:
@gt12 but why is Grace more ready than Finau? Jackson Hemopo is looking like a decent loss right now.
Anyway bring back Luke whitelock.
He may also need time but based on what I saw on the weekend, Finau isn't playing like Finau. If they are trying to get Finau to be a Crusader 6, I imagine it will take time and they may be better just choosing the guy doing the role they imagine.
Hopefully, Finau is just adjusting to the pace of international rugby.
Beyond him, I can't think of any other real 6s who have actually been playing in that position.
Flanders would be the same as Finau and Grace with less height (he looks like an 8 to me), Ioane is seemingly never going to be picked, and the young guy from the Landers is a mile away (he has class, but he's not close yet). Those and toaster hands are the options, yet Blackadder was chosen as the backup.
Finai is listed as 1.96
Grace and Flanders as 1.93
@Winger said in All Blacks 2024:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024:
@gt12 but why is Grace more ready than Finau? Jackson Hemopo is looking like a decent loss right now.
Anyway bring back Luke whitelock.
He may also need time but based on what I saw on the weekend, Finau isn't playing like Finau. If they are trying to get Finau to be a Crusader 6, I imagine it will take time and they may be better just choosing the guy doing the role they imagine.
Hopefully, Finau is just adjusting to the pace of international rugby.
Beyond him, I can't think of any other real 6s who have actually been playing in that position.
Flanders would be the same as Finau and Grace with less height (he looks like an 8 to me), Ioane is seemingly never going to be picked, and the young guy from the Landers is a mile away (he has class, but he's not close yet). Those and toaster hands are the options, yet Blackadder was chosen as the backup.
Finai is listed as 1.96
Grace and Flanders as 1.93
OK, then fuck that idea!
He is the only other loose forward / lock (he has played there) running around though I think.
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@Winger said in All Blacks 2024:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024:
@gt12 but why is Grace more ready than Finau? Jackson Hemopo is looking like a decent loss right now.
Anyway bring back Luke whitelock.
He may also need time but based on what I saw on the weekend, Finau isn't playing like Finau. If they are trying to get Finau to be a Crusader 6, I imagine it will take time and they may be better just choosing the guy doing the role they imagine.
Hopefully, Finau is just adjusting to the pace of international rugby.
Beyond him, I can't think of any other real 6s who have actually been playing in that position.
Flanders would be the same as Finau and Grace with less height (he looks like an 8 to me), Ioane is seemingly never going to be picked, and the young guy from the Landers is a mile away (he has class, but he's not close yet). Those and toaster hands are the options, yet Blackadder was chosen as the backup.
Finai is listed as 1.96
Grace and Flanders as 1.93
OK, then fuck that idea!
He is the only other loose forward / lock (he has played there) running around though I think.
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024:
He is the only other loose forward / lock (he has played there) running around though I think.
Suafoa. However he didn't get much game time this year for medical reasons
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@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024:
He is the only other loose forward / lock (he has played there) running around though I think.
Suafoa. However he didn't get much game time this year for medical reasons
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2024:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024:
He is the only other loose forward / lock (he has played there) running around though I think.
Suafoa. However he didn't get much game time this year for medical reasons
100% for the future. If his medical issues are behind him, he will also clearly have the mental fortitude to deal with test rugby.
I'd have him 100 locked in for the Blues 6 next year.
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@Kiwiwomble there were photos of Blackadder training in full contact, don't no about the niggles, can't be much in it.
@george33 said in All Blacks 2024:
@Kiwiwomble there were photos of Blackadder training in full contact, don't no about the niggles, can't be much in it.
They found a ground hard enough so he wouldn't break it?
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024:
Hopefully some further improvement to come from Scott Barrett.
Just rewatching the first half and he is in absolutely everying. Extraordinary motor - so many involvements. I'm very very impressed - missed it live but his workrate is off the charts.
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024:
@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2024:
Hopefully some further improvement to come from Scott Barrett.
Just rewatching the first half and he is in absolutely everying. Extraordinary motor - so many involvements. I'm very very impressed - missed it live but his workrate is off the charts.
He covers so much ground and runs excellent lines defensively. I was watching him pretty closely on ruck involvement during a replay and was thinking how is he at that one when he was at the last one! And he’s sticking his shoulder in with a bit of feeling.
But our back 5 combination (4-8) are still finding out what the others are doing. I never underestimate the value of time and combination when it comes to the small stuff that needs to be done well consistently - at the ruck, in phase play, at set piece. We look disjointed at times mixed with some good play with bodies in motion. I’m optimistic about our chances in Sth Africa because there is something to build from.
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@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024:
He is the only other loose forward / lock (he has played there) running around though I think.
Suafoa. However he didn't get much game time this year for medical reasons
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2024:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2024:
He is the only other loose forward / lock (he has played there) running around though I think.
Suafoa. However he didn't get much game time this year for medical reasons
Blues say 196.
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@gt12 but why is Grace more ready than Finau? Jackson Hemopo is looking like a decent loss right now.
Anyway bring back Luke whitelock.
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Akira Ioane was the obvious choice as he has all the attributes of a world class blindside loose forward. It's a shame Sotutu is an exclusive Nr.8. A trio formed with Sotutu (8) - Savea (7) and Papali'i (6) could be a stop gap.
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Akira Ioane was the obvious choice as he has all the attributes of a world class blindside loose forward. It's a shame Sotutu is an exclusive Nr.8. A trio formed with Sotutu (8) - Savea (7) and Papali'i (6) could be a stop gap.
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Akira 22 caps Frizzle 33 caps...same same.... A couple of good games amongst many anonymous efforts.
Let it go
We need someone consistently busier and harder than those two.
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With Zach Gallagher coming to the Canes next year I wouldn't mind the Canes shifting Caleb Delany back to 6 where he helped the Lions win an NPC. Great carrier of the ball, awesome lineout jumper but probably needs to work on becoming more of a dominant tackler At 115kg and 197m, he could be an option for the ABs going forward after having a superb season at lock before injury struck.
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how is Savea everyone's hard on for 7 when the shit he is worst at are what we want from a 7?
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how is Savea everyone's hard on for 7 when the shit he is worst at are what we want from a 7?
@mariner4life people are just desperate for him to land somewhere where he doesnt pose more questions than he answers....to see him the way the rest of the world seems too....and 7's kind of the only option
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Savea's played 13 tests out of 80 odd at 7. He's never been the answer at 7, he's best suited to be a super sub or the loose attacking 8 role he currently plays.
@Nepia with not other considerations....i would definitely have BB and Savea nailed on as my bench, would be the foundation of a devastating weapon for the final 30min, teams would shit themselves if after playing 50-60 mins of test match rugby.....those two ran on....plus both can play multiple positions, starting xv more traditional selection based around combinations, locks that play together, front rows, loosies etc
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how is Savea everyone's hard on for 7 when the shit he is worst at are what we want from a 7?
@mariner4life Don't bother trying to debate it, it gets you nowhere on here.
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how is Savea everyone's hard on for 7 when the shit he is worst at are what we want from a 7?
@mariner4life because 7s are allowed to be short-arses who are shit in lineouts.
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So, after a tight England series, thoughts?
Props: Scrum good. Defense good. Lineout work not good. Carrying not good. Overall look to be in a pretty good place, but shit we do need some yards out of these blokes.
Hookers. Taylor has been pretty good around the track defensively, still loves a dumb breakdown penalty. But threw poorly. Aumua looked good off the bench but i am not ready to chuck him the keys yet. Not our worst spot.
Locks. SBarrett got shown on Saturday what a real world class lock looks like. He's a trier Scott, but he lacks that bit of class to help separate us from other teams. Patty T was picked to carry, and didn't do it too well. Lineout was a bit shit. Vaa'i has added a bit off the bench in both games, has come a long was since last year. As a unit again not bad without being world beaters, obviously scrumming well but need to suss the fucking lineout.
The tight 5 is the least of our worries it seems. Not dominant, but pretty handy.Loosies. Disjointed is the best word i can come up with. Papali'i had an okay test and a good test. He is what he is, and when he's on like Saturday he's an asset. Sure to start going forward. Savea is a problem. All his weaknesses are really highlighted when the youtube reel shit isn't there to compensate. Two very quiet games, definitely beaten by his opposite. Finau barely fired a shot. Definitely looks hesitant where at the level below he's flat out. Could be instructions or it could be that the game is too quick. Needs to find something and quick. The other options aren't tall enough. If Finau isn't going to carry and hit like in Super season then the whole trio is too weak. Jacobson came on and worked, like he does, but he's no differnece maker at this level. Big area of improvement.
Halfbacks. At expectation. We got what we knew we already had because they are not new. TJ is TJ and will always be TJ. Christie slows the game down and has an average pass. Ratima looked better just because he got the ball out quick and let us play. In my mind decisions to be made, but the coaches may value the experience in South Africa which means the rest of the team will suffer. If our plan is fast and wide, then playing shitty passing halfbacks is an enormous handbrake.
- DMac was what we thought. At the heart of everything good we do. Incredible at getting others in to space, or finding mismatches by drawing players. We're obviously trying to get him the ball in wide channels to use his pace (like how the Crusaders used Mo'unga). Kicked from hand pretty well, brought back the wipers as well. When we get bogged down he battles, and definitely looks worse with ropey ball from 9. Tough as fuck in defense as well.
Midfield. Should be settled, probably isn't. I see the sentiment on here is still "play Reiko on the wing, he can't distribute" even though that is never happening. Looks to me like they are being asked to play narrow and straight to try and give DMac space to loop them and get out wide. Problem is, neither of our midfield are actually great passers of the ball. Jordie passes late, and often very inaccurately, putting everyone under pressure. Reiko is not a natural either. I still think this is our best combination, JB can really carry in traffic, and Reiko has pace. They just need to work out the new system. Defensively they are adequate, but neither rock solid.
Wingers: okay i guess. Reece is a livewire, happy to pin his ears, happy to stick his head over the ball. Telea beats tacklers for fun, but lacks top end pace, and defensively is pretty suspect. I am not sure either should be feeling confident about their place going forward.
Fullbacks: Hand up, very wrong about both these blokes. Perofeta went way better than i thought. Still put himself under pressure unnecessarily at times, but should have set up a try in both games, and looked quite lively in attack. Obviously my "BB is cooked" aged like milk. Ok in the first, but with the same shit we have whinged about for years. The 2nd had a ropey kick, and that skill/luck double kick. But he came on and added a lot. He and DMac always look like they play well together. Two good options. When Jordan comes back he's a wing again?
I don't really see what the plan is except to use DMacs passing to outflank the rush, or to loop him and get him in the wider spaces. Carrying needs work as the English rush defence was sitting guys down as soon as they got the ball. The way the Irish set up their forward runners compared to ours is night and day different.
Defence looks okay, but England got plenty of joy when they put pace on the game, and we are still quite passive. It looked to me like a huge focus on legs tackles rather than dominant hits, which is a big departure from previous years.Great to win 2-0. The Fiji game you would think makes it 3-0 to start. Plenty to work on before a big game in the Republic.
@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2024:
Halfbacks. If our plan is fast and wide, then playing shitty passing halfbacks is an enormous handbrake.
Midfield. Should be settled, probably isn't. I see the sentiment on here is still "play Reiko on the wing, he can't distribute" even though that is never happening. Looks to me like they are being asked to play narrow and straight to try and give DMac space to loop them and get out wide. Problem is, neither of our midfield are actually great passers of the ball. Jordie passes late, and often very inaccurately, putting everyone under pressure. Reiko is not a natural either. I still think this is our best combination, JB can really carry in traffic, and Reiko has pace. They just need to work out the new system. Defensively they are adequate, but neither rock solid.
I don't really see what the plan is except to use DMacs passing to outflank the rush, or to loop him and get him in the wider spaces. Carrying needs work as the English rush defence was sitting guys down as soon as they got the ball. The way the Irish set up their forward runners compared to ours is night and day different.
This is the crux of the backline problem. The plan is to use McKenzie's passing to beat the rush, or in the 2nd wave. And to use Jordie on the hit-up with Rieko off the shoulder.
None of it works if the halfback can't pass (and we can't get some momentum at the ruck). McKenzie can't outflank a rush defence that is already in our line when he gets the ball. Our midfielders don't have the hands to deal with ball and tackler at the same time. -
One thing that really annoys me with rugby is the idea that the bench role is 'lesser'.
Beauden's excellent displays off the bench should be seen as vindication for selecting him as a bench option not automatically meaning he has to start.
I think the likes of Ardie and Rieko could be excellent bench options but there's a stigma that they'll be 'dropped' to the bench.
