2019 Rugby World Cup
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No they shouldn’t
[link text](link url)http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup/rwc-2019-japan/112399694/all-blacks-should-bend-the-rules-for-superstar-lima-sopoaga@Chris said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
No they shouldn’t
[link text](link url)http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup/rwc-2019-japan/112399694/all-blacks-should-bend-the-rules-for-superstar-lima-sopoagaWas about to post that in here
Define "Superstar" ...
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@Chris said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
No they shouldn’t
[link text](link url)http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup/rwc-2019-japan/112399694/all-blacks-should-bend-the-rules-for-superstar-lima-sopoagaWas about to post that in here
Define "Superstar" ...
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@Chris I'm always confused by why they always put up photos of Ricky Jerret and not Lima.
Lima Sopoaga:
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@Chris I'm always confused by why they always put up photos of Ricky Jerret and not Lima.
Lima Sopoaga:
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Superstar? Come again?
@mariner4life said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
Superstar? Come again?
He's in Ballers, starring alongside Dwayne Johnson. That's pretty up there in terms of stardom.
As an aside, I wonder how many other Dwayne Johnson's are dotted around Wainui/Upper Hutt?
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No they shouldn’t
[link text](link url)http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup/rwc-2019-japan/112399694/all-blacks-should-bend-the-rules-for-superstar-lima-sopoaga -
@Machpants said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
Priorities
Apparently the World Cup Committee hasn't been to Japan. It's not going to be an issue.
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@Machpants said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
Priorities
Apparently the World Cup Committee hasn't been to Japan. It's not going to be an issue.
@antipodean Better safe than sorry!
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If Shag decides to roll the dice and go with a few "bolters" at the WC, the choice at 10 is firming up somewhat. I think Black is slowly playing himself out of contention, whereas Ioane is playing himself into contention. Questionmarks still remain over Mitch Hunt's ability to control a game for 80, but seemingly not at the death when there are points on offer. An interesting conundrum.
The more I see of Ioane the more I like him, and his ability / confidence seems to be sharpening with every game. Here I disagree with Mauger. Shag, take a punt (literally) and include both Ioane's in the squad. Neither one will disappoint. -
If Shag decides to roll the dice and go with a few "bolters" at the WC, the choice at 10 is firming up somewhat. I think Black is slowly playing himself out of contention, whereas Ioane is playing himself into contention. Questionmarks still remain over Mitch Hunt's ability to control a game for 80, but seemingly not at the death when there are points on offer. An interesting conundrum.
The more I see of Ioane the more I like him, and his ability / confidence seems to be sharpening with every game. Here I disagree with Mauger. Shag, take a punt (literally) and include both Ioane's in the squad. Neither one will disappoint.@Jailbreak7 said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
If Shag decides to roll the dice and go with a few "bolters" at the WC, the choice at 10 is firming up somewhat. I think Black is slowly playing himself out of contention, whereas Ioane is playing himself into contention. Questionmarks still remain over Mitch Hunt's ability to control a game for 80, but seemingly not at the death when there are points on offer. An interesting conundrum.
The more I see of Ioane the more I like him, and his ability / confidence seems to be sharpening with every game. Here I disagree with Mauger. Shag, take a punt (literally) and include both Ioane's in the squad. Neither one will disappoint.I like Ioane's partnership with AS as well. Knows when to let him direct the play and creates a different version of the two playmaker thing.
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Much more interesting episode of The Breakdown tonight. Especially because they had Sir Ted on. A few things he said:
They need to take three 9s and three 10s.
Josh Ioane looks the best of the young 10s, but he also liked the look of Fletcher Smith in the NPC. We need to remember 2011, when Aaron Cruden started the final as a 21 year old - still in nappies. Beauden and Richie are both superb first fives.
He thought Wales were superb in the 6N - thinks this is the best Welsh team in 50 years.
Ireland will be very tough, defend well and very well coached.
England tough as well - should be the best in the world (subtle dig at Eddie?).
South Africa has got better - great for rugby.
Along with the ABs, the winner should come from those five teams.
Had a few general comments about how the NH teams will play differently to us. Won't put it through the hands as much. Strong at set piece. Kick more and kick very well.
Thinks Shag will have around 21 players already inked in and they'll have been watching the others and for bolters. Thinks they'll probably pick a squad of 40 for the Championship and play-off say 20 contenders against one another - choose the best 10.
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Much more interesting episode of The Breakdown tonight. Especially because they had Sir Ted on. A few things he said:
They need to take three 9s and three 10s.
Josh Ioane looks the best of the young 10s, but he also liked the look of Fletcher Smith in the NPC. We need to remember 2011, when Aaron Cruden started the final as a 21 year old - still in nappies. Beauden and Richie are both superb first fives.
He thought Wales were superb in the 6N - thinks this is the best Welsh team in 50 years.
Ireland will be very tough, defend well and very well coached.
England tough as well - should be the best in the world (subtle dig at Eddie?).
South Africa has got better - great for rugby.
Along with the ABs, the winner should come from those five teams.
Had a few general comments about how the NH teams will play differently to us. Won't put it through the hands as much. Strong at set piece. Kick more and kick very well.
Thinks Shag will have around 21 players already inked in and they'll have been watching the others and for bolters. Thinks they'll probably pick a squad of 40 for the Championship and play-off say 20 contenders against one another - choose the best 10.
@Chris-B Great to hear what Ted had say.......
He is wrong on a couple of details.
- The great Wales team of 1971 were the best in the world and better than the current lot.
2 Ted 's 2011 RWC squad only had two first-fives initially. Cruden and then Donald came in after injuries:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1108/S00382/all-blacks-squad-named-for-2011-rugby-world-cup.htm
- The great Wales team of 1971 were the best in the world and better than the current lot.
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Maybe it’s just me...but what ted says seems pretty obvious, no?
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@Chris-B Great to hear what Ted had say.......
He is wrong on a couple of details.
- The great Wales team of 1971 were the best in the world and better than the current lot.
2 Ted 's 2011 RWC squad only had two first-fives initially. Cruden and then Donald came in after injuries:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1108/S00382/all-blacks-squad-named-for-2011-rugby-world-cup.htm
- The great Wales team of 1971 were the best in the world and better than the current lot.
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For those of you who might want to watch this episode of The Breakdown it looks like it's been posted in full on the ABs facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/AllBlacks/videos/vb.56918111914/374101776532460/?type=2&theater
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@Chris-B Great to hear what Ted had say.......
He is wrong on a couple of details.
- The great Wales team of 1971 were the best in the world and better than the current lot.
2 Ted 's 2011 RWC squad only had two first-fives initially. Cruden and then Donald came in after injuries:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1108/S00382/all-blacks-squad-named-for-2011-rugby-world-cup.htm
@sparky said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:
2 Ted 's 2011 RWC squad only had two first-fives initially. Cruden and then Donald came in after injuries:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1108/S00382/all-blacks-squad-named-for-2011-rugby-world-cup.htm
Which is probably why Ted knows that they do actually need three 10s. When in the same situation 8 years ago (the third choice 10 not worthy of selection compared to the e.g. 7th best loose forward etc) that this was a actually hopeless cop-out strategy as they immediately needed to replace the injured 10 from out of the squad, ASAP. Donald would have been in on the Monday after the quarter-final etc, if they knew where he actually was.
Donald was an un-used sub (the only un-used sub) in the 2011 semi. Was that because Ted co thought he was a bit meh? Or because he was so far behind in the homework as he was from outside the squad? And Cruden was needing all the prep-time coaching attention in the leadup to the semi as he was also catching up having been brought in from outside the squad ....
Even though they actually had Weepu as a 3rd choice back in 2011 , People on this thread have been suggesting Crotty for 3rd choice in 2019 ..... imagine that ...
- The great Wales team of 1971 were the best in the world and better than the current lot.
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One of the greatest mistakes the military makes is training to win the previous war. That's what Ted looks like he's doing: "I needed four five-eighths, so you should definitely take three"
