All Blacks vs Wales
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sabalom Glitz" data-cid="586868" data-time="1465681872">
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<p>a few people are saying drop Julian.</p>
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<p>If that happens, and they decide to promote BB. so backline is Smith, Cruden, Naholo, Crotty, Fekitoa, B Smith, Barrett.</p>
<p>Does Sopoaga and Dagg on the bench provide sufficient cover?? Or does Dagg start, with BB still the supersub?</p>
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<p>I would go with Sopoaga and Moala on the bench. This is why I think Moala is a valuable player but I suppose he technically isn't in the squad.</p> -
No reason for big changes.<br><br>
Sam Whitelock obviously gets back in if fit. Retallick will get better once the rust has worn off.<br>
Aaron Cruden looks comfortable at ten, needs time to work on goal-kicking.<br>
Kaino had a decent game I thought.<br>
Give Crotty-Fektitoa another go. SBW, Ngatai and Moala might all get a go later in the year. Don't expect a totally settled combo for a while<br>
Cane-Ardie Savea is now a debate worth having, but I understand the argument about Cane's experience giving him the edge at the moment.<br>
Read, Aaron Smith and Ben Smith all looked world class.<br>
Naholo will get better at passing and defending I think. His potential is worth the risk.<br>
How to get the best out of Julian Savea? Probably needs to go to fit camp again. It worked last year.<br>
BB is pushing hard for a test start. <br><br>
Nice to win well, actually by 8 points more than I predicted, and have a large number of work ons. The coaches will be busy. -
<p>Did anyone notice how much thinner J Savea looked in the face? I wonder if they may have been working him too hard to get him back in shape and that impacted his effectiveness. Felt we were missing some impact in the midfield but probably best not to change the combination now as they need more time to gel. I reckon Naholo will come right, the effort is there, he'll have a proper break-out game soon.</p>
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<p>Also how about that sneaky smile and wink at the camera by Barnes after disallowing the Perenara try! <span style="font-size:8px;">(ok that didn't happen but damn that would have been funny)</span></p> -
Naholo having a Toeava like start to his career. Seems like the selectors have rushed him in too soon (several times).<br><br>
But at least Naholo showed some really good stuff in this game as well, so hopefully his confidence doesn't go the Toeava self-doubting path -
I'm going to sound like a dinosaur here. But on the forward pass disallowed try; why push it so close to the line and support so flat? Why not run the supporting line a metre deeper? There were no welsh defenders Tracking back in this scenario.<br><br>
A flat inside pass on the angle will always look forward, so take it out of the refs power by not making it look forward. <br><br>
Inside supporting lines are TJPs bread and butter, he should have been better at it on this occasion and allowed Cruden more scope. -
I agree. My first thought after "fucking bullshit ref" was "why were you idiots so flat?"
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="586859" data-time="1465680807">
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<p>Cane is a favourite son for Chiefs fans. Some of them can't tolerate any criticism of him.<br><br>
It's a bit like the reaction you got from a few Canterbury folks a few years ago when you expressed doubt about Reuban Thorne being the greatest captain ever.</p>
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<p>Not really. The Thorne thing went on and on and on and on and on...for years....and on and on after that.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="586889" data-time="1465684689">
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<p>I'm going to sound like a dinosaur here. But on the forward pass disallowed try; why push it so close to the line and support so flat? Why not run the supporting line a metre deeper? There were no welsh defenders Tracking back in this scenario.<br><br>
A flat inside pass on the angle will always look forward, so take it out of the refs power by not making it look forward.<br><br>
Inside supporting lines are TJPs bread and butter, he should have been better at it on this occasion and allowed Cruden more scope.</p>
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<p>I don't think you're a dinosaur but I don't agree with you. For the players they were involved in a play at high pace, their job is to keep up with their teammates and trying to slow down to be further behind may have put them in a worse position. They did nothing "wrong".</p>
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<p>Meanwhile Barnes had the benefit of the laws of rugby, a big screen and a TMO who told him exactly what the correct call was and he bottled it.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="586905" data-time="1465687668">
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<p>It's funny, I actually thought to myself during the game that Cane reminds me of Thorne.<br><br>
And that's a complement coming from me </p>
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<p>I was thinking McCaw myself - when he did that big dive to secure the ball at least. ;)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="586904" data-time="1465687608">
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<p>He really was that bad.</p>
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<p>See...there's still fuckers who don't recognise Reuben's greatness.</p>
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<p>Next thing they'll be rolling out the old "Suitcase".</p>
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<p>Cane's had one match where a few have criticised him - he's miles away from being labelled "Basketcase". :)</p>
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<p>(Actually, Mark Reason's in the Sparky camp - "Cane was out of form, looking jaded, missing tackles and not worth a start.").</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="586908" data-time="1465688545">
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<p>See...there's still fuckers who don't recognise Reuben's greatness.</p>
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<p><strong>Next thing they'll be rolling out the old "Suitcase".</strong></p>
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<p>Cane's had one match where a few have criticised him - he's miles away from being labelled "Basketcase". :)</p>
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<p>(Actually, Mark Reason's in the Sparky camp - "Cane was out of form, looking jaded, missing tackles and not worth a start.").</p>
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<p>Invisible man time! ;)</p>
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<p>I recognised Reuben's greatness - it was against Queensland in the 2002 Super 12, he had the complete game, passing, running, tackling, hitting rucks and being seen doing it.</p>
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<p>Glad to see I'm aligning myself in the opposite camp to Reason.</p> -
There was an article on this site a few years ago when Thorne was playing called "what exactly do you do around here" or something similar<br><br>
It broke down a match he played for the ab's. Minute by minute and highlighted his contribution to the team<br><br>
Needless to say his impact was made through accuracy and physicality in the tackle and at the breakdown/maul. Cane is very similar in my opinion -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="586901" data-time="1465686618">
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<p>Forgot to add the thing I was most happy about last night<br><br>
Sky gave us the option of changing to alternative commentary. Much better to listen to the Welsh coverage than nisbett, Marshall etc</p>
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<p>This may have been mentioned earlier as I haven't read the whole thread yet. What was with Marshall's Phil Gould wannabe speech in the buildup? Cringeworthy.</p>
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<p>I only use the alternative commentary when TJ is commentating. :whistle:</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="586920" data-time="1465689734">
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<p>This may have been mentioned earlier as I haven't read the whole thread yet. What was with Marshall's Phil Gould wannabe speech in the buildup? Cringeworthy.</p>
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<p>Hahahaha that was truly awful.</p>
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<p>Great to see Reuben Thorne's name popping up again. A simply phenomenal player.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="586903" data-time="1465686886">
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<p>Not really. The Thorne thing went on and on and on and on and on...for years....and on and on after that.</p>
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<p>I didn't mind Reuben Thorne, especially when he responded honestly in post match interviews much like Anton Oliver's blunt comments before him.</p>
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<p>Australia was then in its squeaky clean John Eales say-absolutely-nothing-controversial phase, preceding the same meaningless guff from Tim Horan and Prince George. I used long for him to, just once, instead of his media manager inspired "Look, really, we played well at times as did our ever so worthy opponents who are lovely people and welcome guests in our lovely country. The lovely referee was very fair and it was a great night for rugby and the ARU is to be congratulated ..." simply release his inner bogan with something along the lines of:</p>
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<p style="margin-left:40px;">"What sort of <em>effin'</em> stupid question is that you <em>effin' </em>moron? Do you know anything at all about <em>effin' </em>rugby? Now Pierce off Jack and stop wasting my <em>effin' </em>time you <em>effin' deadship</em>! <em>Eff</em> me dead, a man's got to put up with some dead set drongos in this <em>effin' </em>game!"</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="586913" data-time="1465688946">
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<p>There was an article on this site a few years ago when Thorne was playing called "what exactly do you do around here" or something similar<br><br>
It broke down a match he played for the ab's. Minute by minute and highlighted his contribution to the team<br><br>
Needless to say his impact was made through accuracy and physicality in the tackle and at the breakdown/maul. Cane is very similar in my opinion</p>
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<p>The problem is a superficial read is that people who play tight aren't recognised. Olo Brown (aka one of the greatest props to ever play the game) was largely invisible around the ground, but by christ he was one of the first name on the team sheet. Reuben was a bit liek that, but played a tight 6 role that freed up others to shine.</p>
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<p>I gobbed off to some blokes behind me at a test match in the mid 2000's who were slagging him. Not just a keyboard warrior here - Reuben was unappreciated (and picked by multiple AB coaches, too).</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="586890" data-time="1465684857">
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<p>I agree. My first thought after "fucking bullshit ref" was "why were you idiots so flat?"</p>
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<p>Perenara was at least a yard behind Cruden. Wouldn't call that flat.</p> -
<p>yeah the pass was perfectly fine, better than flat, just the laws of physics meant it is always going to end up in front of where it was passed from</p>
