RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy

I ended up seeing it. Had to go to work because there we had gusts of wind over 2 knots at home, so the power was off. Game was on at work so I watched it.

Yep, entertaining in a Harlem globetrotters sort of way.

Don't think it was a great game from Carley, he just decided to pick on Italy this time. He gets fixated on looking for penalties and if one side is on the receiving end of that, the match is over as a contest.

That is not taking anything away from a good AB performance, we made very few errors, and our set piece worked well, so with Carley leaving us alone for most of the match (a string of 5 penalties at one stage when he had that tunnel vision on us) we racked up the points.

Another positive was no cards for either side, but I'm not confident that will continue, or that TMOs won't be trying to find fault in every try scored, or tackle made, in the future.

Actually that is another positive - well done to the TMO, didn't notice that there was one.

Machpants

@chimoaus said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:

@Machpants said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:

@Billy-Tell said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:

Operation ¼ final now. Not sure how to prepare for Uruguay in a dead rubber.

Not a dead rubber, if Italy beat France

So it appears to me that as long as we get 5 points vs Uruguay we go through.

Thus my point Uruguay is not a dead rubber we must win it, and to guarantee we must win with a bonus point

dogmeat

@kiwiinmelb said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:

Beaver looking 20 kilos heavier than Richie

Partner thought it was Ritchies Dad

ACT Crusader

@mariner4life said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:

This is lots of fun, we're pumping them. Boys will be feeling good.

They looked pretty focused. Confidence does wonders for a team.

ACT Crusader

@Bovidae said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:

No cards and injuries was the big bonus.

Agree.

It’s a shame that we now expect cards and it’s a pleasant surprise when there’s not one!

His Bobness

Stuart Barnes in The Times the day before.

junior

@mariner4life said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:

@Dodge said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:

@antipodean said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:

Nice training park hit out against a tier 2 nation, but I'm not sure this is what we needed before a quarterfinal.

Where’s the upside at this point in a difficult game? You lost to France, let the boys build some confidence, let them have some fun, and let’s see what happens next

100%
And it was easy because we fucked their set piece and ruck up
Got run in the legs of returning players

I'm happy as shit. We're in good shape

Salutary lesson there for coaching and development in NZ - develop forwards who do those two things and then let natural flair and talents in the backs run wild

Dan54

@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:

Who'd have though six months ago Shannon Frizzell would be key to NZ's RWC progress?

We live in weird times.

Ahem, I think if we go back 6 months you will find Dan54 getting abused as an idiot for suggesting that I thought Frizzel was very much what we needed in ABs!:beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes:
And there's a few in this thread were telling me what an idiot I was.

taniwharugby

@Dan54 tbf...you are still an idiot

But Frizzel has barely even shown glimpses of what he has done this year for the ABs in his previous tests.

Dan54

@taniwharugby said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:

@Dan54 tbf...you are still an idiot

But Frizzel has barely even shown glimpses of what he has done this year for the ABs in his previous tests.

:beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes: Of course I'm an idiot, I post on here!

allblacksfan2

All Blacks v Italy game not appearing on the SMH website at all, not even in their sports section.

frugby

@Snowy said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:

@Machpants said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:

@Snowy you missed a great game!

@stodders said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:

@Machpants from Carley

I ended up seeing it. Had to go to work because there we had gusts of wind over 2 knots at home, so the power was off. Game was on at work so I watched it.

Yep, entertaining in a Harlem globetrotters sort of way.

Don't think it was a great game from Carley, he just decided to pick on Italy this time. He gets fixated on looking for penalties and if one side is on the receiving end of that, the match is over as a contest.

That is not taking anything away from a good AB performance, we made very few errors, and our set piece worked well, so with Carley leaving us alone for most of the match (a string of 5 penalties at one stage when he had that tunnel vision on us) we racked up the points.

Another positive was no cards for either side, but I'm not confident that will continue, or that TMOs won't be trying to find fault in every try scored, or tackle made, in the future.

Actually that is another positive - well done to the TMO, didn't notice that there was one.

In fairness, there should have been a stonewall yellow card to the Italian 10 for a professional foul for side entry when we eventually scored off that quick tap. He basically came in from our side to slow it down.

taniwharugby

https://fb.watch/nnnyL3y84F/?mibextid=Nif5oz

Frank

Irish commentators (and I think Ronan O'Gara as well) say our defense is too passive and we allow too much space.

Billy Tell

@chimoaus said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:

@Machpants said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:

@Billy-Tell said in RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy:

Operation ¼ final now. Not sure how to prepare for Uruguay in a dead rubber.

Not a dead rubber, if Italy beat France

I think we are into the 1/4 regardless of that result if we get 5 points from Uruguay and keep a big points differential.

If Italy beat France with a bonus point and keep France to a single BP the Table will be

NZ 15 Points (Qualify 1st because we beat Italy)
Italy 15 Points
France 14 Points

If Italy beat France with a BP and France get 2 BP the table will be

NZ 15 Points
Italy 15 Points
France 15 Points

In this scenario I assume its points differential and NZ will have the best PD if France lose to Italy so NZ go through Q1, then I think Italy go through as they beat France.

The other options would be If Italy beat France without a bonus point and France get 1 BP Italy go through. If Italy beat France without a bonus point but France get 2 BP then France Q1 and go through.

So it appears to me that as long as we get 5 points vs Uruguay we go through.

People looking at scenarios where Italy beat France are as deluded as people worrying about Italy beating NZ. They have been very poor this RWC and they will lose to France.

The Silver Fern

RWC Week 4: All Blacks v Italy