Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November
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@Donsteppa Yeah. The on field leadership group hasn't been exactly "follow me" in their performance. Cane does need some help (although having a go at fans doesn't endear him as a leader - fans are going to say something when you play like shit and lose). We do pay the wages...He'll learn. Thought Foster was good covering for him.
Can't help but wonder if they are just completely underwhelmed by the off field leadership and performance ends up on the field.
@Hooroo said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
Whitelock also doing well. He's Crusaders Captain?
Barrett this year.
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@Hooroo said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
@Donsteppa said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
@Crucial perhaps I was putting it mildly then
One thing is for sure, for the issues that there are with Cane's captaincy, he's not getting great support from his fellow official Super Rugby captains in the All Blacks:
Tuipolutu is sheer under-performing
S Barrett is a middling international performer, and is starting to make a habit of getting sent off (and losing) against Australia for dumb plays.
TJP could spend more time clearing the ball quickly, and less time; telegraphing his intentions, shouting at the ref & opposition players, and snarking at fans who aren't cheerleaders enough for him on Facebook.
Coles is becoming "aggressive" at silly stuff, and isn't stepping up the way his seniority suggests he can. He seems to show up on the wing more than Taylor does.
Aaron Smith is about the only one stepping up his game.
Whitelock also doing well. He's Crusaders Captain?
I was conveniently using the official captaincy list, but even then:
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I had no idea. I was certain he was captain.
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@pakman said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
Pakman 15:
Moody/Taylor/Laulala/Whitelock/Patty T (if 100%, otherwise Barrett (S))/Cane/Aoane/Sotutu/Smith/Mo'unga/ALB(12)/Goodhue/Clarke/Jordan (if 100%, otherwise Reece)/Barrett(B)
That's my team, except Patty T. goes to the bench and Scott Barrett starts.
Time to see what Ioane, Sotutu and Jordan can bring.
To be honest, I'm not particularly bothered if we don't win the Tri-Nations, because it will be a bit of a limp victory, regardless - so, in my mind this test should be much more about looking to the future.
I daresay Fozzie will be much more desperate to collect the silverware, but so far his selection strategy (which I might even have followed myself) has dug him into a hole, so let's see if he's willing to be bold.
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@Hooroo said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
I had no idea. I was certain he was captain.
Sam was supposed to be in Japan. Covid stuffed it up and he ended up back here.
So Barrett until injury, then Taylor.
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@Snowy said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
@Donsteppa Yeah. The on field leadership group hasn't been exactly "follow me" in their performance. Cane does need some help (although having a go at fans doesn't endear him as a leader - fans are going to say something when you play like shit and lose). We do pay the wages...He'll learn. Thought Foster was good covering for him.
Yep, Cane forgot one thing. We can't see what's going on behind the scenes. But we can see the scoreboard.
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@NTA said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
What's Romano up to these days? Seems to me your scrum could use a bit more beef.
He's probably checking out retirement villas in his Nelson home town!
Discarded by the ABs too early, I think. He's been like a pig in shit in the latter part of the NPC. Handed Quinten Strange (who would have been with the ABs) an absolute lesson when the Mako played Canterbury.
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@Chris-B said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
@NTA said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
What's Romano up to these days? Seems to me your scrum could use a bit more beef.
He's probably checking out retirement villas in his Nelson home town!
Discarded by the ABs too early, I think. He's been like a pig in shit in the latter part of the NPC. Handed Quinten Strange (who would have been with the ABs) an absolute lesson when the Mako played Canterbury.
I saw this before. He's good at Mitre10, but a bit slow to be playing Internationals. Good, but limited player - I think made to look even better by the quality that's been around him during his career.
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@Donsteppa said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
Initial thinking:
- Moody
- Taylor
- Laulala
- Vaa'i
- Whitelock
- A Ioane
- Cane
- Sotutu
- Smith
- Mo'unga
- Clarke
- ALB
- Goodhue
- R Ioane
- B Barrett
Haven't thought through the reserves yet, but S. Barrett and TJP aren't in them. Tuipulotu needs to bring some more physicality back to his game off the bench. For a big unit with a lot of potential, he sometimes plays under his weight at the top level.
that's the side i would pick as well
Zero chance that Savea, J Barrett, S Barrett, and probably Frizzle Fry aren't in the starting XV though
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@Chris-B said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
@nzzp Now might be a bit too late for Luke, but I think he could have played a sort of Brad Thorn power role.
We didn't often lose when he did play.
ah yes, the mythical Romano power. He showed less physicality than Patty T is doing now when he was in his prime FFS. Now that he's 40 years old i doubt it's suddenly got better.
Why the fuck can we not produce locks in this country?
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@mariner4life said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
Why the fuck can we not produce locks in this country
cos you live in Aus
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@taniwharugby said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
@mariner4life said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
Why the fuck can we not produce locks in this country
cos you live in Aus
fuck up smart ass!
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@mariner4life said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
@Chris-B said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
@nzzp Now might be a bit too late for Luke, but I think he could have played a sort of Brad Thorn power role.
We didn't often lose when he did play.
ah yes, the mythical Romano power. He showed less physicality than Patty T is doing now when he was in his prime FFS. Now that he's 40 years old i doubt it's suddenly got better.
Why the fuck can we not produce locks in this country?
I think we can, we can produce two, we just struggle with the 3rd one.
The Romano hype is interesting, he's carving up the NPC, but then again so is Tom Parsons and he can't even get Super spot.
@Chris-B said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
We didn't often lose when he did play.
That is probably more of a reflection of the era he played in than evidence of his superstardom.
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@Nepia "Hype" is probably a reasonably strong term for "Discarded too early, I think".
Luke was only 31 going on 32 when he played his last test.
Was he injured in 2018 for the France series? Otherwise looks like he was discarded for Fifita and Hemopo.
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@Chris-B said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
@Nepia "Hype" is probably a reasonably strong term for "Discarded too early, I think".
Luke was only 31 going on 32 when he played his last test.
Was he injured in 2018 for the France series? Otherwise looks like he was discarded for Fifita and Hemopo.
I'm talking about this years hype.
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When McCawâs leadership came under the spotlight in 2007 there wasnât much talk about ânot getting support on field from othersâ. And thatâs despite the fact there were leaders in that group like Rodders, Mils, Woodcock, Oliver, Rangi, Kelleher.
Letâs say a Whitelock, Beaudie or Tuipoluto got all rah rah out on the field after an Oz or Argies try, thatâs not a great look either. I think there is a bit of leadership going on from a few different players. We simply havenât played well despite that.
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@Nepia said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
@Chris-B said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:
@Nepia "Hype" is probably a reasonably strong term for "Discarded too early, I think".
Luke was only 31 going on 32 when he played his last test.
Was he injured in 2018 for the France series? Otherwise looks like he was discarded for Fifita and Hemopo.
I'm talking about this years hype.
It's a sad period for NZ Rugby when people even joke about Luke Romano and "Hype"
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Feel that the ABs need to play Laumape just to find out what theyâve got in a do or die game. His contract is up next year as I recall and at 27 years of age everyone involved needs to know whatâs on the table.
Argentina defence is begging for someone to straighten instead of Petaiaâs constant drifting. Maybe play him wide with Akira against the weaker defenders and let the wingers run some inside lines.
