Japan vs All Blacks
-
Jordie needs to have a go at his natural position which is 12.
@rancid-schnitzel said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Jordie needs to have a go at his natural position which is 12.
He'd have to fight off Ardie first.
-
Should do it in a canter. Two considerations that give me slight pause. First team in 5-10 years that:
-
I can genuinely see the lineout going off the rails. Hasn't been an issue since BBBR but manylate 00 tests were unbearable as we struggled to gain any momentum because of crooked throws and poor timing.
-
Has a bench that isn't an weapon itself. If things are going pear shaped around the 60 minute mark there are big questions about how much experience is worth over fresh legs.
-
-
Eight of those guys will make the RWC squad, seven or so will probably be involved in the ABs in 2020. For the others this is the highlight of their All Blacks career.
Mixed bag of a team. Stoked to see Dane Coles back in Black. Pleased to see Dalton Papali'i there who will hopefully have a long career in Black. Delighted for Matt Proctor who has toiled away for the Hurricanes and Wellington for a couple of seasons and been the lynch pin of their backlines. George Bridge is another player who has been in excellent form for a couple of years and deserves his shot at test rugby. Ofa T is developing into a world-class prop who can play on both sides of the scrum. Patrick Tuipulotu is another playing who is beginning to deliver on his obvious talent
There are a few dodgy sections though. I can't think of a more mediocre player to have been All Black captain than Luke Whitelock. Tough seeing such a journeyman as All Black skipper. Akira Ioane should be the starting 8 for this team. Jackson Hemopo at Lock is a strange call. Bizarre to see the Crusader number 3 First Five as an All Black. Biggest bolter in years. I have seen nothing in Brent Cameron's career to suggest he is remotely a player of All Blacks quality.
@sparky said in Japan vs All Blacks:
There are a few dodgy sections though. I can't think of a more mediocre player to have been All Black captain than Luke Whitelock. Tough seeing such a journeyman as All Black skipper.
Blackadder? Thorne?
-
@sparky said in Japan vs All Blacks:
There are a few dodgy sections though. I can't think of a more mediocre player to have been All Black captain than Luke Whitelock. Tough seeing such a journeyman as All Black skipper.
Blackadder? Thorne?
-
@sparky said in Japan vs All Blacks:
There are a few dodgy sections though. I can't think of a more mediocre player to have been All Black captain than Luke Whitelock. Tough seeing such a journeyman as All Black skipper.
Blackadder? Thorne?
-
@sparky why is Hemopo a strange call?
Hah yeah really tough to think of mediocre players captaining the ABs. I mean who even remembers Blackadder?
-
@mimic Thorne was never a journeyman, just not as spectacular in the backrow as his partners McCaw or Collins. Blackadder captained a team to victory in Super Rugby three years in a row.
@sparky said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@mimic Thorne was never a journeyman, just not as spectacular in the backrow as his partners McCaw or Collins. Blackadder captained a team to victory in Super Rugby three years in a row.
He was so fucking invisible even his supporters used to endlessly chant his name hoping he'd put his hand up so they could see him.
-
Eight of those guys will make the RWC squad, seven or so will probably be involved in the ABs in 2020. For the others this is the highlight of their All Blacks career.
Mixed bag of a team. Stoked to see Dane Coles back in Black. Pleased to see Dalton Papali'i there who will hopefully have a long career in Black. Delighted for Matt Proctor who has toiled away for the Hurricanes and Wellington for a couple of seasons and been the lynch pin of their backlines. George Bridge is another player who has been in excellent form for a couple of years and deserves his shot at test rugby. Ofa T is developing into a world-class prop who can play on both sides of the scrum. Patrick Tuipulotu is another playing who is beginning to deliver on his obvious talent
There are a few dodgy sections though. I can't think of a more mediocre player to have been All Black captain than Luke Whitelock. Tough seeing such a journeyman as All Black skipper. Akira Ioane should be the starting 8 for this team. Jackson Hemopo at Lock is a strange call. Bizarre to see the Crusader number 3 First Five as an All Black. Biggest bolter in years. I have seen nothing in Brent Cameron's career to suggest he is remotely a player of All Blacks quality.
@sparky said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Eight of those guys will make the RWC squad, seven or so will probably be involved in the ABs in 2020. For the others this is the highlight of their All Blacks career.
And a bottle top quiz in the years to come...
Another set of AB brothers to join the club too (the Evans).
-
@sparky said in Japan vs All Blacks:
There are a few dodgy sections though. I can't think of a more mediocre player to have been All Black captain than Luke Whitelock. Tough seeing such a journeyman as All Black skipper.
Blackadder? Thorne?
@mimic said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@sparky said in Japan vs All Blacks:
There are a few dodgy sections though. I can't think of a more mediocre player to have been All Black captain than Luke Whitelock. Tough seeing such a journeyman as All Black skipper.
Blackadder? Thorne?
Those two led their teams to Super Rugby glory numerous times though. Thorne also got selected by 4 different AB coaches.
-
@mimic said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@sparky said in Japan vs All Blacks:
There are a few dodgy sections though. I can't think of a more mediocre player to have been All Black captain than Luke Whitelock. Tough seeing such a journeyman as All Black skipper.
Blackadder? Thorne?
Those two led their teams to Super Rugby glory numerous times though. Thorne also got selected by 4 different AB coaches.
@mn5 thats cos he turned up to all the trainings, sat in the corner and no one saw him to tell him he shouldnt be there!
Seriously though, I liked what Thorne bought to the team.
As to this game, I am most keen to see how Papali'i, Coles, TTT & RM go.
Papali'i as he comes with huge expectations, but seems like he will deliver
Coles, cos, well, fucking Dane Coles is back, hopefully the real Dane Coles stands up!
TTT, with a similar game to Smith, hopefully he can push on and become his own man and push for a start in a RWC year if AS doesnt up his game.
RM, live up to the Super hype, given he has always been behind a Rolls Royce pack, now he has to settle for a Holden V8 pack, am sure he will be sweet. -
@mn5 thats cos he turned up to all the trainings, sat in the corner and no one saw him to tell him he shouldnt be there!
Seriously though, I liked what Thorne bought to the team.
As to this game, I am most keen to see how Papali'i, Coles, TTT & RM go.
Papali'i as he comes with huge expectations, but seems like he will deliver
Coles, cos, well, fucking Dane Coles is back, hopefully the real Dane Coles stands up!
TTT, with a similar game to Smith, hopefully he can push on and become his own man and push for a start in a RWC year if AS doesnt up his game.
RM, live up to the Super hype, given he has always been behind a Rolls Royce pack, now he has to settle for a Holden V8 pack, am sure he will be sweet.@taniwharugby said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@mn5 thats cos he turned up to all the trainings, sat in the corner and no one saw him to tell him he shouldnt be there!
Seriously though, I liked what Thorne bought to the team.
As to this game, I am most keen to see how Papali'i, Coles, TTT & RM go.
Papali'i as he comes with huge expectations, but seems like he will deliver
Coles, cos, well, fucking Dane Coles is back, hopefully the real Dane Coles stands up!
TTT, with a similar game to Smith, hopefully he can push on and become his own man and push for a start in a RWC year if AS doesnt up his game.
RM, live up to the Super hype, given he has always been behind a Rolls Royce pack, now he has to settle for a Holden V8 pack, am sure he will be sweet.Justin Marshall compared Thorne to a bass player in a band. As a former bass player in a band I'm not sure if this is a compliment or insult.
He's a fucken big 7, bigger than @Bones boy Hemopo according to the stats.
-
@akan004 said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Only against 5 foot Japanese players.
Oh good. At least there's a chance that if Jordie throws another idiotic pass infield, it will sail over the Japanese players heads...
-
@taniwharugby said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@mn5 thats cos he turned up to all the trainings, sat in the corner and no one saw him to tell him he shouldnt be there!
Seriously though, I liked what Thorne bought to the team.
As to this game, I am most keen to see how Papali'i, Coles, TTT & RM go.
Papali'i as he comes with huge expectations, but seems like he will deliver
Coles, cos, well, fucking Dane Coles is back, hopefully the real Dane Coles stands up!
TTT, with a similar game to Smith, hopefully he can push on and become his own man and push for a start in a RWC year if AS doesnt up his game.
RM, live up to the Super hype, given he has always been behind a Rolls Royce pack, now he has to settle for a Holden V8 pack, am sure he will be sweet.Justin Marshall compared Thorne to a bass player in a band. As a former bass player in a band I'm not sure if this is a compliment or insult.
He's a fucken big 7, bigger than @Bones boy Hemopo according to the stats.
@mn5 said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Justin Marshall compared Thorne to a bass player in a band. As a former bass player in a band I'm not sure if this is a compliment or insult.
Depends if you're Paul McCartney or Derek Smalls, I suppose.
-
@akan004 said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Only against 5 foot Japanese players.
Oh good. At least there's a chance that if Jordie throws another idiotic pass infield, it will sail over the Japanese players heads...
@victor-meldrew I thought you were going to suggest putting Jordie in the lineout. You know it would work...
-
@mn5 said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Justin Marshall compared Thorne to a bass player in a band. As a former bass player in a band I'm not sure if this is a compliment or insult.
Depends if you're Paul McCartney or Derek Smalls, I suppose.
@victor-meldrew said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@mn5 said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Justin Marshall compared Thorne to a bass player in a band. As a former bass player in a band I'm not sure if this is a compliment or insult.
Depends if you're Paul McCartney or Derek Spalls, I suppose.
I think Cliff Burton/Jason Newstead is more apt considering they were in the same band.
One ripped out solos and died young, the other couldn't even be heard on one album ( all Lars fault )
-
@mimic said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@sparky said in Japan vs All Blacks:
There are a few dodgy sections though. I can't think of a more mediocre player to have been All Black captain than Luke Whitelock. Tough seeing such a journeyman as All Black skipper.
Blackadder? Thorne?
Those two led their teams to Super Rugby glory numerous times though. Thorne also got selected by 4 different AB coaches.
@mn5 said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Thorne also got selected by 4 different AB coaches.
That's an awfully charitable way of saying Wayne Smith, Graham Henry and John Hart thought he was a fringe All Black at best while John Mitchell thought he was All Black captain material*.
Lost three World Cups too.
edit: And I will put my hand up and say I forgot Ted gave Thorne a test against Canada in '07 as captain, but still he was virtually replaceable for Ted's tenure.
-
@mn5 said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Thorne also got selected by 4 different AB coaches.
That's an awfully charitable way of saying Wayne Smith, Graham Henry and John Hart thought he was a fringe All Black at best while John Mitchell thought he was All Black captain material*.
Lost three World Cups too.
edit: And I will put my hand up and say I forgot Ted gave Thorne a test against Canada in '07 as captain, but still he was virtually replaceable for Ted's tenure.
@rotated said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@mn5 said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Thorne also got selected by 4 different AB coaches.
That's an awfully charitable way of saying Wayne Smith, Graham Henry and John Hart thought he was a fringe All Black at best while John Mitchell thought he was All Black captain material*.
Lost three World Cups too.
edit: And I will put my hand up and say I forgot Ted gave Thorne a test against Canada in '07 as captain, but still he was virtually replaceable for Ted's tenure.
It's more a dig at Luke Whitelock than a gauge on Thorne to be fair.
-
@sparky said in Japan vs All Blacks:
There are a few dodgy sections though. I can't think of a more mediocre player to have been All Black captain than Luke Whitelock. Tough seeing such a journeyman as All Black skipper.
Blackadder? Thorne?
@mimic said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@sparky said in Japan vs All Blacks:
There are a few dodgy sections though. I can't think of a more mediocre player to have been All Black captain than Luke Whitelock. Tough seeing such a journeyman as All Black skipper.
Blackadder? Thorne?
Maybe not even the worst AB captain vs Japan.
I didn't watch enough of his (brief) AB career to properly gauge his talent but how Paul Henderson skippered the 95 World Cup massacre with Zinny and others in the side. Perhaps Super League/WRC rumours at the time?
-
@mimic said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@sparky said in Japan vs All Blacks:
There are a few dodgy sections though. I can't think of a more mediocre player to have been All Black captain than Luke Whitelock. Tough seeing such a journeyman as All Black skipper.
Blackadder? Thorne?
Maybe not even the worst AB captain vs Japan.
I didn't watch enough of his (brief) AB career to properly gauge his talent but how Paul Henderson skippered the 95 World Cup massacre with Zinny and others in the side. Perhaps Super League/WRC rumours at the time?
-
@rotated Henderson was class. He kept Duane Monkley out of the ABs.
TBF, Zinny could have been given the captaincy then and should have been given in 1997 when Marshall was given it.
@nepia said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@rotated Henderson was class. He kept Duane Monkley out of the ABs.
TBF, Zinny could have been given the captaincy then and should have been given in 1997 when Marshall was given it.
Ginge was an excellent AB.
I'm not bothering to look it up I doubt zinny played v Japan in 95? He was carrying an injury that tournament. Or was that his first game back after missing the 2 openers.
