Japan v All Blacks
-
I'm nowhere near as despondent as others after that, and still very much looking forward to the EOYT. Japan are pretty decent at home these days, and we had a lot of disruption in the lead up so had a pretty makeshift team really. We also clearly don't have the depth of players that we used to, so I was never expecting us to stuff them by 50.
The team that ran out tonight is a far cry from the team that smacked the Wallabies at Eden Park. If we get our first choice 15 on the field then we're a formidable team. Obviously a couple of injuries to key players would put us in a bit of trouble, but that's true of any of the top sides at the moment.
I think we just need to give our top 15 plenty of gametime going into the RWC and hope we don't get any major injuries, which is basically what every other side is doing as well.
@No-Quarter Yeah like you, take the win and move on. Japan's up tempo style and their ability to move the ball gave us fits, as well as their speed at the breakdown. No team in the world play at the speed the Japanese do, and although I expected us to win by more, I wasn't expecting a blowout at the same time.
-
I'm nowhere near as despondent as others after that, and still very much looking forward to the EOYT. Japan are pretty decent at home these days, and we had a lot of disruption in the lead up so had a pretty makeshift team really. We also clearly don't have the depth of players that we used to, so I was never expecting us to stuff them by 50.
The team that ran out tonight is a far cry from the team that smacked the Wallabies at Eden Park. If we get our first choice 15 on the field then we're a formidable team. Obviously a couple of injuries to key players would put us in a bit of trouble, but that's true of any of the top sides at the moment.
I think we just need to give our top 15 plenty of gametime going into the RWC and hope we don't get any major injuries, which is basically what every other side is doing as well.
@No-Quarter I’d say we have about 17 or 18 guys that could be in our top XV and we don’t necessarily lose anything. Beyond that we are still in unknown territory with a number of players.
On Japan, they are a pretty disciplined side in terms of how they maintain their defensive pattern. They played really well tonight and they had a couple of standout performers. Well done to them and their coaches.
-
The Ioane/Papalii/Savea trio wasn't perfect, but the defence was a hell of a lot better than that. Start them every big game until the world cup.
-
@Tim said in Japan v All Blacks:
The Ioane/Papalii/Savea trio wasn't perfect, but the defence was a hell of a lot better than that. Start them every big game until the world cup.
You're not a Blue supporter by any chance?
-
@Frank Have you seen a better defensive performance than that from us in recent times? No tries until Mounga was charged down in the 2nd half, then not another until almost full time when the subs were on.
@Tim said in Japan v All Blacks:
@Frank Have you seen a better defensive performance than that from us in recent times? No tries until Mounga was charged down in the 2nd half, then not another until almost full time when the subs were on.
And against the might of Japan no less!
-
@Tim said in Japan v All Blacks:
@Frank Have you seen a better defensive performance than that from us in recent times? No tries until Mounga was charged down in the 2nd half, then not another until almost full time when the subs were on.
And against the might of Japan no less!
-
Anyway, can't see us going far next year while handicapped by MacLeod's terrible, and terribly antiquated, defensive plans.
-
What's the best team available for the next game?
1 de Groot
2 Taukei'aho
3 Lomax
4 Barrett
5 Whitelock
6 Ioane
7 Papalii
8 Savea
9 Smith
10 Mo'unga
11 Clarke
12 Barrett
13 Ioane
14 Jordan
15 Barrett16 Coles
17 Tu'ungufasi
18 Laulala
19 Tuipulotu
20 Sotutu
21 Christie
22 ALB
23 PerofetaIt would be great to have Tu'ungufasi as the bench tight head (Laulala is set piece only), but loose head reserves are chop too. Newall has been poor so far. Too young.
-
@Tim said in Japan v All Blacks:
Lomax and Tu'ungufasi looked good when they came on. We have three good props now (de Groot).
Would be good if we could say the same about 9's. I think we'd be stuffed if Nugget gets injured. Christie is good off the bench but looked slow today. Fakatava's injury could really hurt us.
-
Scanning this thread I'm glad I didn't watch...
-
Biggest take away was how much I enjoy watching Japan play, they just seem to love playing
-
@Tim said in Japan v All Blacks:
Lomax and Tu'ungufasi looked good when they came on. We have three good props now (de Groot).
Would be good if we could say the same about 9's. I think we'd be stuffed if Nugget gets injured. Christie is good off the bench but looked slow today. Fakatava's injury could really hurt us.
