All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test

Bit late to the party, but I'm on board with the "let's not get too carried away" side. Scores were very close at about 30 minutes when we got an intercept try and their long-term 10 and captain went off injured, and they still went on to score a lot of points - and could have scored quite a few more on another day with the several tries they blew / we saved. Scoreline looks great, but our defense was generally pretty shit until they got to our line.
A lot of aimless kicking the ball away (and one absolute gem for the try). We keep doing this, and luck had it that in this game we weren't punished for it because the Irish kept making mistakes. We continue to lose possession and territory stats, and we will be punished for it again.

Good things:
Tupaea's hands and options
Smith is a national treasure
Ioane's defence was unreal
Whitelock just keeps going
Savea late in the game
Bower and Ofa looked alright
Competing in lineouts

Bad things / jury still out:
Christie was a big drop in passing accuracy, not sure he can play the same style effectively
Jordie looked a bit scratchy
Samisoni should be starting
Ardie should be a bench player
I know we've been spoiled at 7 forever, but Cane - while a genuinely excellent defender - doesn't offer a lot else
Retallick was okay, but is he going to get back to his best?
Not convinced by Ioane's passing and options still

Bones

@reprobate said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

Christie was a big drop in passing accuracy, not sure he can play the same style effectively

I'd say really similar in style to JGP actually. Which has certainly been an effective style for Ireland, but almost the opposite of Smith in terms of distribution.

reprobate

@Bones said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@reprobate said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

Christie was a big drop in passing accuracy, not sure he can play the same style effectively

I'd say really similar in style to JGP actually. Which has certainly been an effective style for Ireland, but almost the opposite of Smith in terms of distribution.

Yeah Christie's a good player: urgent, good motor, into everything - and decision-making is improving. But he can't pass like Aaron Smith, and that speed and width of delivery is what our game is based on. Especially now we are subbing Smith earlier, I think we need to give Fakatava a crack as soon as possible, because I feel like his speed of delivery from the base of the ruck is potentially the closest and can keep us playing a similar style rather than having to change halfway through a game.
Fakatava doesn't have the accuracy or length of pass of Smith, or the clarity in choosing who to hit - but then nobody does, and hopefully that can be worked on.

Daffy Jaffy

Interesting analysis from Squidge -

Machpants

@Daffy-Jaffy said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

Interesting analysis from Squidge -

Need a VPN, sky has blocked it in NZ

Highlander's take from the roar

https://www.theroar.com.au/2022/07/07/time-to-give-the-all-blacks-coaching-team-some-credit-after-innovative-solutions-overcame-ireland/

voodoo

@Machpants said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Daffy-Jaffy said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

Interesting analysis from Squidge -

Need a VPN, sky has blocked it in NZ

Highlander's take from the roar

https://www.theroar.com.au/2022/07/07/time-to-give-the-all-blacks-coaching-team-some-credit-after-innovative-solutions-overcame-ireland/

That was pretty good, but also completely terrifying in that it shows our total reliance on Aaron Smith.

Let's hope Fakatava is the 2nd coming!

Crucial

@Machpants said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Daffy-Jaffy said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

Interesting analysis from Squidge -

Need a VPN, sky has blocked it in NZ

Highlander's take from the roar

https://www.theroar.com.au/2022/07/07/time-to-give-the-all-blacks-coaching-team-some-credit-after-innovative-solutions-overcame-ireland/

Good analysis. Some very good points about the type of defending that goes unnoticed and the role that Cane is playing (being first to the attacking breakdown) which is something that goes unnoticed and unmentioned by commentators and stats.

I do wonder if that gameplan will now be shelved until needed and a different picture will be painted with the different loosie mix.

dogmeat

@Crucial also despite two try savers on the line Rieko's ongoing defensive issues in the line

Machpants

@dogmeat said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Crucial also despite two try savers on the line Rieko's ongoing defensive issues in the line

No one doubts his one on one skils, it is just applying those correctly that is the problem

Crucial

@dogmeat said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Crucial also despite two try savers on the line Rieko's ongoing defensive issues in the line

Which probably adds to the reluctance to put RTS into the mix. An RTS/Goodhue combo is probably the best option if going in that direction but at the moment it is best to keep Rieko in play so those lessons can be learned and he can develop better decision making.

taniwharugby

@voodoo sadly that's been evident for a while now.

IMO only one other player in NZ has a pass close to Smith, and that is Nock, but he is so far away with other aspects of his game.

Fakatava looks like he could be the real deal, while his pass isn't as good (duh) his all round game looks very good, an attacking threat with ball, strong defender and good over the ball...very exciting prospect.

Crucial

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@voodoo sadly that's been evident for a while now.

IMO only one other player in NZ has a pass close to Smith, and that is Nock, but he is so far away with other aspects of his game.

Fakatava looks like he could be the real deal, while his pass isn't as good (duh) his all round game looks very good, an attacking threat with ball, strong defender and good over the ball...very exciting prospect.

Don't discount the possible kicking on of Ratima. He may get the second season (or more) blues but he looked a very good prospect from what we saw this year. He isn't a little fast 9 like Smith/Christie/Weber but has a good pass and an eye for a gap. In particular his running lines are well above the level you'd expect at this point in his development and getting to the ball can save more time than fast hands at times.
I have my fingers crossed.

The Silver Fern

All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test