All Blacks 2022

Stargazer

Duluth

I think most of them are picking Reece? He is playing well.

I think you're right though, that back three is the most likely. Jordie was probably the best AB last year and he played at fullback (he even topped the super scientific TSF aggregate of MOTM polls)

I think they'll be reluctant to move or demote Jordie

kiwiinmelb

@Duluth said in All Blacks 2022:

@kiwiinmelb

I think most of them are picking Reece? He is playing well.

I think you're right though, that back three is the most likely. Jordie was probably the best AB last year and played at fullback (he even topped the super scientific TSF aggregate of MOTM polls)

I think they'll be reluctant to move or demote Jordie

End of the day, I think how well our pack goes will determine how well we go overall more so than who wears what number in the backline IMO

taniwharugby

@kiwiinmelb and TBF, I dont think we are a million miles away from where we need to be, and maybe the involvement if Schmidt will see the tweaks needed to get us back to where we need to be with our current crop...cos you gotta say alot underperformed to what we know and expected.

kiwiinmelb

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2022:

@kiwiinmelb and TBF, I dont think we are a million miles away from where we need to be, and maybe the involvement if Schmidt will see the tweaks needed to get us back to where we need to be with our current crop...cos you gotta say alot underperformed to what we know and expected.

I dont believe we are short of talent , particularly in the backs

Machpants

@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2022:

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2022:

@kiwiinmelb and TBF, I dont think we are a million miles away from where we need to be, and maybe the involvement if Schmidt will see the tweaks needed to get us back to where we need to be with our current crop...cos you gotta say alot underperformed to what we know and expected.

I dont believe we are short of talent , particularly in the backs

Yeah it is the fact our forwards are dominated and don't have the skills (or can't employ them) of the best teams now, and our game plan/structure hasn't really changed since 2016

taniwharugby

@Machpants said in All Blacks 2022:

or can't employ them

I think that is more the issue...there were periods when our forwards have done well, then reverted to this passive style...so IMO it is more game plan or execution than skills or ability.

Machpants

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2022:

@Machpants said in All Blacks 2022:

or can't employ them

I think that is more the issue...there were periods when our forwards have done well, then reverted to this passive style...so IMO it is more game plan or execution than skills or ability.

Coached tactics issue, I've written the ABs off until post this RWC. A Foster doesn't change it's spots, he might talk about doing so (and has, before and after selction) but the Hansen style is still there

Crucial

I think that the approach is fair enough (ducks) in that you don't be the best by doing things the same way as everyone else and you must also play the way that comes naturally to make the most of instinctive brilliance.
What hasn't been shown is an indication that the current tactical approach will work. You still have to stop the opposition playing to their strengths as well. Currently we are almost encouraging other teams to play the way they want which means that if they have an 'on song' day with few mistakes it makes life very tough for us.
We know that NZ teams are the best (and thrive off) turnover ball. You dont get much turnover ball with rush defence. You just get endless phases and tackling until you get a scrum or the ball is kicked and the process starts over again.
What that means though is that teams that play that way are very well drilled in endless recycling then kicking and if you let them get a roll on moving forward they can eat metres and you are more likely to give away a penalty for offside or for desperately attacking the ball at a breakdown.
So it's a hard balance to find. You want turnover opportunities but the risk/reward in trying to isolate a ball carrier is high.
I don't want us to play like England/Ireland/France/SA which is stalemate rugby in a sense, waiting for a chance to pull the trigger. However trying to create those chances is also fraught with danger.
If I got to set a 'way of playing' with our resources and instincts I would probably look back to move forward and look to disrupt these very robotic defensive systems with slick plays, angled running from backs and forwards, direction switches (god I hate it when we continually hammer one side) etc. Basically smart rugby that forces defenses to make decisions
When on defence we need to set traps rather than just be passive. Mix things up.

Now where do I collect my big salary?

Machpants

@Crucial I don't think you've watched France enough recently, they are by far the most innvative and attacking team out there. And rather than waiting for opposition mistakes, they actually create attacking opportunites

ZOMFG that's possible? Yes it is, so Galthie has your salary already, because what you suggest is play like France

Also Ireland are not the robots of old, even England are trying to play unstructured rugby

Boks, nah dull as shit

Crucial

@Machpants said in All Blacks 2022:

@Crucial I don't think you've watched France enough recently, they are by far the most innvative and attacking team out there. And rather than waiting for opposition mistakes, they actually create attacking opportunites

ZOMFG that's possible? Yes it is, so Galthie has your salary already

ALso Irealnd are not the robots of old, even England are trying to play unstructured rugby

Boks, nah dull as shit

They aren't complete robots (and I did hesitate to mention France) but if you can negate their attack they will resort to 10/11 man rugby for periods to control possession.
Any discussion like this is by nature a lot of generlisation but its also very fair to say that a lot of the way AB play and coaching is descibed here is generalisation as well. eg we don't always use a passive defence, we sometimes try a full court press and we've even seen the innovative trial of using an unexpected defensive shooter (TJP from behind the defensive line) to disrupt.
I think my overall point is that I don't think Foster and co are just using an old pattern and crossing their fingers. They are trying things. It's just that they don't appear to have latched onto the goose that lays the golden egg yet.

Kiwiwomble

@Duluth said in All Blacks 2022:

@kiwiinmelb

I think most of them are picking Reece? He is playing well.

I think you're right though, that back three is the most likely. Jordie was probably the best AB last year and he played at fullback (he even topped the super scientific TSF aggregate of MOTM polls)

I think they'll be reluctant to move or demote Jordie

100% agree this makes sense....my only "concern" and reason i'd like to see jordie given a go at 12, is we've had some world class outside backs in reece, jordan and jordie for the last couple of years...but i feel we havent even seen their full capabilities because theyre being hampered by a misfiring midfield

too often when we've seen jordie play well is returning the ball from deep...and thats come after we've lost it in midfield and theyve booted it back

Crucial

@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2022:

@Duluth said in All Blacks 2022:

@kiwiinmelb

I think most of them are picking Reece? He is playing well.

I think you're right though, that back three is the most likely. Jordie was probably the best AB last year and he played at fullback (he even topped the super scientific TSF aggregate of MOTM polls)

I think they'll be reluctant to move or demote Jordie

100% agree this makes sense....my only "concern" and reason i'd like to see jordie given a go at 12, is we've had some world class outside backs in reece, jordan and jordie for the last couple of years...but i feel we havent even seen their full capabilities because theyre being hampered by a misfiring midfield

too often when we've seen jordie play well is returning the ball from deep...and thats come after we've lost it in midfield and theyve booted it back

So Jordie can play in both the midfield and back three at the same time?
Our midfield problem last year was that because RI was still coming on we had to use ALB at 13 rather than 12 and DH filled the gap. QT was also very raw.
Both RI and QT have come on well this super season plus we have Goodhue back, Ennor looking to be dropped and a new weapon in RTS.
Lets settle on a midfield without DH first before moving Jordie.

Kiwiwomble

@Crucial obviously not, but jordan can be as good at 15, in my opinion and we have reece 14 and clarke 11.....seem likes a way to actually get the best players on the field

nzzp

Will Jordan is a superb attacking player, but I think is competing with Reece for the right wing spot.

Jordie has to be a lock for 15, unless he's shoehorned into 12. Jordan is awesome going forward, but the reality is that there is a lot more space at Super than in Tests, and kicking and defence is far more important at 15. I love him in the side at 14, but not convinced about him as a front line 15 yet. If he's going to be there at the RWC (and I suspect Jordie has that slot right now), then he needs to be playing there, to a high level, right now.

chimoaus

I think Jordie at 15 makes the most sense and QT or Goodhue at 12. In saying that if RTS keeps performing a BB, RTS, RI combo would work well considering they already play together.

Grooter

@chimoaus who would be the 5th and final midfielder in your squad? Sullivan, TUJ or the incumbent David Havili

Crucial

@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2022:

@Crucial obviously not, but jordan can be as good at 15, in my opinion and we have reece 14 and clarke 11.....seem likes a way to actually get the best players on the field

and who is your impact reserve?

chimoaus

@FakatavaFuture said in All Blacks 2022:

@chimoaus who would be the 5th and final midfielder in your squad? Sullivan, TUJ or the incumbent David Havili

I think we need to be working on another 13 as 12 is a little congested with Goodhue, RTS, ALB, HAV, T(P)UJ. Sullivan strikes me as a Conrad Smith type player who could develop as a quality 13.

Goodhue is the unknown really, can he go back to 13, does he have the speed anymore or is he a 12.

I think Nonu/Smith was the blueprint and we have lacked a bit of directness and size at 12 meaning when RM and HAVS were 10/12 they were just too small. I guess we did try NL at 12 for awhile but for whatever reason they werent that keen on him there.

mariner4life

@chimoaus said in All Blacks 2022:

I think Nonu/Smith was the blueprint

it was A blueprint yes

but we are in for a world of hurt if we keep trying to replicate that

C Smith had great vision and good distribution, and a slightly underrated running game. Always took good options. Great defensive communicator

But was made to look amazing because the guy at 12 was a deadset freak. Physical unit who could run through you if he wanted, but had a great wide pass, a surprisingly solid kicking game, and the vision to know when to use it. Defenses were in two minds the whole time.

We're unlikely to ever find another Nonu. Which means we need more than a Smith.

What we have is a freakishly quick centre. Find a 12 who can hold up defenses from sliding on to him, and get the ball in to his hands. That's your new blueprint

The Silver Fern

All Blacks 2022