RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Cancelled) (Pool B)

voodoo

I've given up trying to pick the teams, but I really hope Rieko gets some time, even if just off the bench. I think he still has something to offer in this tourney, I would not be at all surprised to see him picked and deliver in the knockout stages

Crucial

@voodoo said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

I've given up trying to pick the teams, but I really hope Rieko gets some time, even if just off the bench. I think he still has something to offer in this tourney, I would not be at all surprised to see him picked and deliver in the knockout stages

Bridge may have opened the door just a crack after his last performance.

No Quarter

@Crucial said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@voodoo said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

I've given up trying to pick the teams, but I really hope Rieko gets some time, even if just off the bench. I think he still has something to offer in this tourney, I would not be at all surprised to see him picked and deliver in the knockout stages

Bridge may have opened the door just a crack after his last performance.

I don't think Bridge has been nearly as good as people are making out. He's had a pretty good run, especially being involved in games where our forwards bitch slapped the opposition, but he's been far from error free and has butchered a few tries with poor option taking.

Crucial

@No-Quarter said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@Crucial said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@voodoo said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

I've given up trying to pick the teams, but I really hope Rieko gets some time, even if just off the bench. I think he still has something to offer in this tourney, I would not be at all surprised to see him picked and deliver in the knockout stages

Bridge may have opened the door just a crack after his last performance.

I don't think Bridge has been nearly as good as people are making out. He's had a pretty good run, especially being involved in games where our forwards bitch slapped the opposition, but he's been far from error free and has butchered a few tries with poor option taking.

Surprisingly he had game high metres run against Namibia but I don’t recall him being anywhere near as assertive as would be expected against them.
I guess the coaches will have a better idea from training but if Rieko is showing any signs of exploding back into form then it wouldn’t surprise me if Bridge is swapped out.

canefan

@No-Quarter said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@Crucial said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@voodoo said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

I've given up trying to pick the teams, but I really hope Rieko gets some time, even if just off the bench. I think he still has something to offer in this tourney, I would not be at all surprised to see him picked and deliver in the knockout stages

Bridge may have opened the door just a crack after his last performance.

I don't think Bridge has been nearly as good as people are making out. He's had a pretty good run, especially being involved in games where our forwards bitch slapped the opposition, but he's been far from error free and has butchered a few tries with poor option taking.

At the moment his workrate is far superior, he puts himself about on defence as well as attack. Rieko just looks out of sorts, and dare I say it slow right now. He just doesn't seem to be able to beat his man

Hooroo

@canefan said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@No-Quarter said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@Crucial said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@voodoo said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

I've given up trying to pick the teams, but I really hope Rieko gets some time, even if just off the bench. I think he still has something to offer in this tourney, I would not be at all surprised to see him picked and deliver in the knockout stages

Bridge may have opened the door just a crack after his last performance.

I don't think Bridge has been nearly as good as people are making out. He's had a pretty good run, especially being involved in games where our forwards bitch slapped the opposition, but he's been far from error free and has butchered a few tries with poor option taking.

At the moment his workrate is far superior, he puts himself about on defence as well as attack. Rieko just looks out of sorts, and dare I say it slow right now. He just doesn't seem to be able to beat his man

It's like he's lost his Rugby Vision on where to be and how to time it. This will be compounded by the pressure of trying to get his position back.

I agree that all it will take is one good game/half to get his mojo back. Italy will prolly be last chance saloon unless Bridge has an absolute howler.

No Quarter

@canefan said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@No-Quarter said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@Crucial said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@voodoo said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

I've given up trying to pick the teams, but I really hope Rieko gets some time, even if just off the bench. I think he still has something to offer in this tourney, I would not be at all surprised to see him picked and deliver in the knockout stages

Bridge may have opened the door just a crack after his last performance.

I don't think Bridge has been nearly as good as people are making out. He's had a pretty good run, especially being involved in games where our forwards bitch slapped the opposition, but he's been far from error free and has butchered a few tries with poor option taking.

At the moment his workrate is far superior, he puts himself about on defence as well as attack. Rieko just looks out of sorts, and dare I say it slow right now. He just doesn't seem to be able to beat his man

Yeah I wasn't advocating starting Rieko ahead of him. Bridge is nailed in at the moment. Just don't think he's been as good as people are making out - the 11 spot is still pretty open for anyone that steps up.

ACT Crusader

@Hooroo said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@canefan said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@No-Quarter said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@Crucial said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@voodoo said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

I've given up trying to pick the teams, but I really hope Rieko gets some time, even if just off the bench. I think he still has something to offer in this tourney, I would not be at all surprised to see him picked and deliver in the knockout stages

Bridge may have opened the door just a crack after his last performance.

I don't think Bridge has been nearly as good as people are making out. He's had a pretty good run, especially being involved in games where our forwards bitch slapped the opposition, but he's been far from error free and has butchered a few tries with poor option taking.

At the moment his workrate is far superior, he puts himself about on defence as well as attack. Rieko just looks out of sorts, and dare I say it slow right now. He just doesn't seem to be able to beat his man

It's like he's lost his Rugby Vision on where to be and how to time it. This will be compounded by the pressure of trying to get his position back.

I agree that all it will take is one good game/half to get his mojo back. Italy will prolly be last chance saloon unless Bridge has an absolute howler.

I think they may give Bridge and Ioane a run against Italy. It appears that Reece is a certainty for the QF. Who partners him on the other wing might be up for question.

I’m a big fan of Ioane but every time he gets the ball it seems he’s trying too hard and that natural instinct we’ve seen just isn’t there.

Frank

Is this game indoors?

Things I would never have picked at the beginning of this year.

BFA not in test 15, and perhaps not in test 23.
Rieko Ioane on the outer.
Reece and Bridge being our top two wingers.
Ardie Savea playing at blindside.
Jack Goodhue not being first choice 13.
Scott Barrett and Patty T improving.
Owen Franks not going to the World Cup.

antipodean

@Frank No, it's an open stadium.

nzzp

@Frank said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

Is this game indoors?

Things I would never have picked at the beginning of this year.
4. Ardie Savea playing at blindside.

Ardie Surveyor playing awesome at 6

Hooroo

@nzzp said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@Frank said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

Is this game indoors?

Things I would never have picked at the beginning of this year.
4. Ardie Savea playing at blindside.

Ardie Surveyor playing awesome at 6

Ardie Savea the best All Black on the park

Kirwan

@Hooroo said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@nzzp said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@Frank said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

Is this game indoors?

Things I would never have picked at the beginning of this year.
4. Ardie Savea playing at blindside.

Ardie Surveyor playing awesome at 6

Ardie Savea the best All Black on the park

He couldn’t have timed his run of form any better

pukunui

No surprise but there are still big question marks over both Reece and Bridge. Have either of them actually performed in a real tight test yet?
Bled 2 and the opener against the Boks were “big” games but both ended up being pretty comfortable wins.

Bridge seems to fit the 2nd full back type winger we have had for the last 8 years or so but still doesn’t seem to be the type of winger to create something out of nothing by busting a tackle or gassing someone on the outside.

Reece does have that something out of nothing ability but has question marks over defence and taking the high ball.

I think the selectors have screwed it up a bit to be honest. The way to get Rieko (our best back other than BB for the last 2 years) back up to top form and confidence wasn’t to drop him then play him in midfield from the bench. They also did similar with Ben Smith, dropping him then claiming he had lost his self belief. Which he later said wasn’t true.

Who knows what level Ioane and Smith would have been at if they had been retained starting for the Bled 2 cake walk.

Bones

@pukunui yeah, I'd agree that apart from when Bridge has gassed someone or broken a tackle, he definitely doesn't seem to gas anyone or break tackles.

Like you say, Reece is really uncreative and tends to look meh ball in hand.

Plus Ioane is super amazing in defence and kick receipt.

pukunui

@Bones said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@pukunui yeah, I'd agree that apart from when Bridge has gassed someone or broken a tackle, he definitely doesn't seem to gas anyone or break tackles.

Like you say, Reece is really uncreative and tends to look meh ball in hand.

Plus Ioane is super amazing in defence and kick receipt.

Looking past your lame attempt at humour I would say Rieko at his peak (which wasn’t long ago) makes Bridge look pedestrian.
I like Bridge as the 2nd fullback type player though.
Just not more than Smith.

I don’t know what you are talking about with Reece. I said he HAS the “create something out of nothing” ability. It is the other aspects of his game im questioning.

Edit: just realised I didn’t write what i meant about Reece. Will edit.

ACT Crusader

@pukunui said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@Bones said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@pukunui yeah, I'd agree that apart from when Bridge has gassed someone or broken a tackle, he definitely doesn't seem to gas anyone or break tackles.

Like you say, Reece is really uncreative and tends to look meh ball in hand.

Plus Ioane is super amazing in defence and kick receipt.

Looking past your lame attempt at humour I would say Rieko at his peak (which wasn’t long ago) makes Bridge look pedestrian.
I like Bridge as the 2nd fullback type player though.
Just not more than Smith.

I don’t know what you are talking about with Reece. I said he HAS the “create something out of nothing” ability. It is the other aspects of his game im questioning.

Edit: just realised I didn’t write what i meant about Reece. Will edit.

The stuff Bridge does well is what the team actually needs - a guy that works hard to run the right line and angle. He’s on the end of stuff because of his work rate not because it magically falls into his lap. And when he has had to beat a man he has.

pukunui

@ACT-Crusader said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@pukunui said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@Bones said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@pukunui yeah, I'd agree that apart from when Bridge has gassed someone or broken a tackle, he definitely doesn't seem to gas anyone or break tackles.

Like you say, Reece is really uncreative and tends to look meh ball in hand.

Plus Ioane is super amazing in defence and kick receipt.

Looking past your lame attempt at humour I would say Rieko at his peak (which wasn’t long ago) makes Bridge look pedestrian.
I like Bridge as the 2nd fullback type player though.
Just not more than Smith.

I don’t know what you are talking about with Reece. I said he HAS the “create something out of nothing” ability. It is the other aspects of his game im questioning.

Edit: just realised I didn’t write what i meant about Reece. Will edit.

The stuff Bridge does well is what the team actually needs - a guy that works hard to run the right line and angle. He’s on the end of stuff because of his work rate not because it magically falls into his lap. And when he has had to beat a man he has.

Kind of like Ben Smith. Just not as good.

ACT Crusader

@pukunui said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@ACT-Crusader said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@pukunui said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@Bones said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@pukunui yeah, I'd agree that apart from when Bridge has gassed someone or broken a tackle, he definitely doesn't seem to gas anyone or break tackles.

Like you say, Reece is really uncreative and tends to look meh ball in hand.

Plus Ioane is super amazing in defence and kick receipt.

Looking past your lame attempt at humour I would say Rieko at his peak (which wasn’t long ago) makes Bridge look pedestrian.
I like Bridge as the 2nd fullback type player though.
Just not more than Smith.

I don’t know what you are talking about with Reece. I said he HAS the “create something out of nothing” ability. It is the other aspects of his game im questioning.

Edit: just realised I didn’t write what i meant about Reece. Will edit.

The stuff Bridge does well is what the team actually needs - a guy that works hard to run the right line and angle. He’s on the end of stuff because of his work rate not because it magically falls into his lap. And when he has had to beat a man he has.

Kind of like Ben Smith. Just not as good.

But far quicker than the current version of Bender.

Siam

@ACT-Crusader said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@pukunui said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@ACT-Crusader said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@pukunui said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@Bones said in RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Pool B):

@pukunui yeah, I'd agree that apart from when Bridge has gassed someone or broken a tackle, he definitely doesn't seem to gas anyone or break tackles.

Like you say, Reece is really uncreative and tends to look meh ball in hand.

Plus Ioane is super amazing in defence and kick receipt.

Looking past your lame attempt at humour I would say Rieko at his peak (which wasn’t long ago) makes Bridge look pedestrian.
I like Bridge as the 2nd fullback type player though.
Just not more than Smith.

I don’t know what you are talking about with Reece. I said he HAS the “create something out of nothing” ability. It is the other aspects of his game im questioning.

Edit: just realised I didn’t write what i meant about Reece. Will edit.

The stuff Bridge does well is what the team actually needs - a guy that works hard to run the right line and angle. He’s on the end of stuff because of his work rate not because it magically falls into his lap. And when he has had to beat a man he has.

Kind of like Ben Smith. Just not as good.

But far quicker than the current version of Bender.

That's the bit otherwise Bridge seems like a Corey Jane without the fend.

I'd wear a Reiko punt over Bridge in the first knockout game

The Silver Fern

RWC: All Blacks v Italy (Cancelled) (Pool B)