All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour
-
@mariner4life We are in trouble - but, it's stuff that might be repairable in a week. After all, we had two close games vs the World Champions and shared a series with them.
UK articles after the Italy match were sniffing blood in the water and reckoning we were jaded and ripe for the taking. I didn't give that much credence at the time, because that was our B team - and we brought plenty of defensive intensity and workrate vs Ireland - but, every time we had a chance to break the shackles we fucked it up - by dropping a kick-off or an untidy exit, or an aimless kick, or a wild pass, or shit handling, or losing our own lineout throw.
We need to be brighter. I've barely got the heart to ask who tapped and ran a penalty under our own posts when we'd been pinned down there? I guess if they were looking for an element of surprise it probably worked, because it fucking surprised me!
@chris-b said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
@mariner4life We are in trouble - but, it's stuff that might be repairable in a week. After all, we had two close games vs the World Champions and shared a series with them.
UK articles after the Italy match were sniffing blood in the water and reckoning we were jaded and ripe for the taking. I didn't give that much credence at the time, because that was our B team - and we brought plenty of defensive intensity and workrate vs Ireland - but, every time we had a chance to break the shackles we fucked it up - by dropping a kick-off or an untidy exit, or an aimless kick, or a wild pass, or shit handling, or losing our own lineout throw.
We need to be brighter. I've barely got the heart to ask who tapped and ran a penalty under our own posts when we'd been pinned down there? I guess if they were looking for an element of surprise it probably worked, because it fucking surprised me!
It also surprised everyone one else in our team which is why it ended up being such a fucked option. Had we all been in the same page and not completely rooted from the defensive effort leading up to it we’d have had a staunch defensive line approaching one or two isolated Irish attackers near halfway.
Ps: It was TJ!
-
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
Great Aaron is back, but gee if TJ doesn't get the hint from this and this coaching team don't realise at this moment the gap from Aaron to next cab is far too big and need to have developing players behind Webber is thier one of thier main jobs for 2022
We don't need flash, we us need 9's who can do the basics well and get to the ruck and clear quickly. TJP's shown he's too limited at that except in the final 20.
Christie may not be a world-class 9, but he hasn't looked out of his depth either.
@victor-meldrew true, but the basics for a good 9 is a good passing game, good kicking game, good defender, good organiser...Aaron is exceptional at 2 aspects of those skills, very good at another and pretty good at the other.
For me they would be ranked in this order:
1 Passing game
2 Organising
3 Kicking
4 defending -
@sparky said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
Why on earth has that clown Foster dropped Papali'i?
French by 10-14.
I love me some Dalton, but I can understand the switch. Paps has had a great year- Sam's coming back from injury, but is one hell of a solid player. Rest is a real consideration, particularly for people with a heavy workload. 5 tests in consecutive weeks means rotation.
@KiwiMurph I think the only reason they haven't figured it out is the presumption that Ardie has to be in there. That starts to drive other decisions - height, offense/defense, etc.
-
@junior said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
To be honest, I would completely understand if he came in now or very close to the RWC and basically went all Cantablacks (with a few key plug ins) in order to try and blag a RWC Rassie style.
Sounds like a Crusaders supporter's wet dream
@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
@junior said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
To be honest, I would completely understand if he came in now or very close to the RWC and basically went all Cantablacks (with a few key plug ins) in order to try and blag a RWC Rassie style.
Sounds like a Crusaders supporter's wet dream
-
@bovidae said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
@pakman said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
Against Cyril Baille you want your best scrummager starting. It isn’t Lomax.
I've been one of most vocal supporters of Laulala, mainly for his scrummaging ability. I am certainly not suggesting Lomax starts, but Tu'ungafasi if he is dropped. In reality I expect Laulala will be retained, but his time in black must be coming to an end because of his lack of impact around the field.
Much like Franks before him, I tend to query just how good a scrummager he is. Does he never, ever, ever get penalised or FK'd? Does he absolutely dominate, or is he just mostly reliable on our own ball, but like Franks, prone to giving away the occasional penalty? Because that just doesn't cut it for me - I'll take an extra 1 or 2 penalties at scrumtime for someone who can actually hurt the opposition in every other aspect of play (ball in hand, distribution, tackling, lineouts, rucks, mauls....).
@bones said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
@bovidae said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
@pakman said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
Against Cyril Baille you want your best scrummager starting. It isn’t Lomax.
I've been one of most vocal supporters of Laulala, mainly for his scrummaging ability. I am certainly not suggesting Lomax starts, but Tu'ungafasi if he is dropped. In reality I expect Laulala will be retained, but his time in black must be coming to an end because of his lack of impact around the field.
Much like Franks before him, I tend to query just how good a scrummager he is. Does he never, ever, ever get penalised or FK'd? Does he absolutely dominate, or is he just mostly reliable on our own ball, but like Franks, prone to giving away the occasional penalty?
I don't disagree with you, but my comment about Laulala's scrummaging is relative to the alternatives. Ofa gets penalised regularly, as a comparison.
None of the AB props offer much around the field, which starts at SR level.
-
At least with Bridge starting, he will set a target for the forwards. Likely only a few metres away after receiving the ball.

Reece was too frantic last week and made too many errors. If Ioane is to be used as a centre in the future then Clarke or Fainga'anuku need to be on the left wing.
-
At least with Bridge starting, he will set a target for the forwards. Likely only a few metres away after receiving the ball.

Reece was too frantic last week and made too many errors. If Ioane is to be used as a centre in the future then Clarke or Fainga'anuku need to be on the left wing.
@bovidae I dont think he looks as comfortable on the left wing.
-
@bones said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
@bovidae said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
@pakman said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
Against Cyril Baille you want your best scrummager starting. It isn’t Lomax.
I've been one of most vocal supporters of Laulala, mainly for his scrummaging ability. I am certainly not suggesting Lomax starts, but Tu'ungafasi if he is dropped. In reality I expect Laulala will be retained, but his time in black must be coming to an end because of his lack of impact around the field.
Much like Franks before him, I tend to query just how good a scrummager he is. Does he never, ever, ever get penalised or FK'd? Does he absolutely dominate, or is he just mostly reliable on our own ball, but like Franks, prone to giving away the occasional penalty?
I don't disagree with you, but my comment about Laulala's scrummaging is relative to the alternatives. Ofa gets penalised regularly, as a comparison.
None of the AB props offer much around the field, which starts at SR level.
@bovidae Tu'ungafasi has been a lot better than other AB props in terms of ball carrying, dominant tackling, and pace around the field - reasons why he has been the "super sub" for a long time. Still gives away at least one offside or ruck penalty each game though. We have missed his impact this year.
-
@bovidae Tu'ungafasi has been a lot better than other AB props in terms of ball carrying, dominant tackling, and pace around the field - reasons why he has been the "super sub" for a long time. Still gives away at least one offside or ruck penalty each game though. We have missed his impact this year.
-
@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
@junior said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
To be honest, I would completely understand if he came in now or very close to the RWC and basically went all Cantablacks (with a few key plug ins) in order to try and blag a RWC Rassie style.
Sounds like a Crusaders supporter's wet dream
@junior said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
@junior said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
To be honest, I would completely understand if he came in now or very close to the RWC and basically went all Cantablacks (with a few key plug ins) in order to try and blag a RWC Rassie style.
Sounds like a Crusaders supporter's wet dream
Sounds like success to me,But just a bitter comment really.
Bring on Razor and dump the little fat wombat . -
@sparky said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
Why on earth has that clown Foster dropped Papali'i?
French by 10-14.
I love me some Dalton, but I can understand the switch. Paps has had a great year- Sam's coming back from injury, but is one hell of a solid player. Rest is a real consideration, particularly for people with a heavy workload. 5 tests in consecutive weeks means rotation.
@KiwiMurph I think the only reason they haven't figured it out is the presumption that Ardie has to be in there. That starts to drive other decisions - height, offense/defense, etc.
@nzzp said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
@sparky said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
Why on earth has that clown Foster dropped Papali'i?
French by 10-14.
I love me some Dalton, but I can understand the switch. Paps has had a great year- Sam's coming back from injury, but is one hell of a solid player. Rest is a real consideration, particularly for people with a heavy workload. 5 tests in consecutive weeks means rotation.
@KiwiMurph I think the only reason they haven't figured it out is the presumption that Ardie has to be in there. That starts to drive other decisions - height, offense/defense, etc.
Would this be the first time our 8 is the smallest of the loose trio? (IMaybe Ardie is slightly taller than Sam C but it would be close).
The team must really rate Shannon and no brainer to see the pace and power of Bridge return on the wing. -
@bovidae I dont think he looks as comfortable on the left wing.
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
@bovidae I dont think he looks as comfortable on the left wing.
Bridge? me either, ive said before im not sure why we're playing a full back type wing on the left when we've had decades of success with either a power winger (lomu, savea, ioane) or a flyer (roko)...we've always tending to play the fullback type at 14
-
@tim said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
@bovidae That's what I meant. He's had almost no game time due to recovery time.
It's time for Ofa to be the starting AB TH but his role at the Blues will likely remain as the impact sub.
@bovidae said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
@tim said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
@bovidae That's what I meant. He's had almost no game time due to recovery time.
It's time for Ofa to be the starting AB TH but his role at the Blues will likely remain as the impact sub.
Bring on Ofa at half-time.
-
@sparky said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
Why on earth has that clown Foster dropped Papali'i?
French by 10-14.
I love me some Dalton, but I can understand the switch. Paps has had a great year- Sam's coming back from injury, but is one hell of a solid player. Rest is a real consideration, particularly for people with a heavy workload. 5 tests in consecutive weeks means rotation.
@KiwiMurph I think the only reason they haven't figured it out is the presumption that Ardie has to be in there. That starts to drive other decisions - height, offense/defense, etc.
@nzzp said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
@sparky said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
Why on earth has that clown Foster dropped Papali'i?
French by 10-14.
I love me some Dalton, but I can understand the switch. Paps has had a great year- Sam's coming back from injury, but is one hell of a solid player. Rest is a real consideration, particularly for people with a heavy workload. 5 tests in consecutive weeks means rotation.
@KiwiMurph I think the only reason they haven't figured it out is the presumption that Ardie has to be in there. That starts to drive other decisions - height, offense/defense, etc.
Ardie seemed mostly well contained against the Irish, I wonder if he suffered an injury or they buried him in the rucks?
-
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v France, 2021 NH Tour:
@bovidae I dont think he looks as comfortable on the left wing.
Bridge? me either, ive said before im not sure why we're playing a full back type wing on the left when we've had decades of success with either a power winger (lomu, savea, ioane) or a flyer (roko)...we've always tending to play the fullback type at 14
@kiwiwomble I was talking Reece.