All Blacks vs Fiji
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I really hope Ratima isn’t out for long, he really looks the goods
Hard to take too much from a game like this. Annoying to see all the handling errors, and some sloppy breakdown work too. But some good stuff amongst all that too.
Clarke clearly takes the 11 spot, Sevu holds 14 for now despite falling asleep to gift Fiji their first try
Keen to see Darry more at this level to see what he can grow into.
@voodoo said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
I really hope Ratima isn’t out for long, he really looks the goods
I think he'll be fine for the Arg test as it looked like concussion not an injury. The big question is whether TJP is fit, as then they have a selection decision to make.
The playing surface (Bermuda grass) definitely played a part in some of the handling errors when the players hit the ground, and it was mentioned was a really hard surface.
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His hometown
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@MN5 said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
> I still can't work out what the best position for LJ is. He kind of looks like an 8 without the impact, does well at 6 and LOs against lower tier teams, and can play a patched up 7. But is he really a 6?Also not convinced against top sides he would have the same lineout factor.
Niggles isn't really a 7, he doesn't seem to know what to do with the ball once he gets it.So basically a perfect 6.5 that the ABs seem to insist on selecting year after year ?
Yes could be a good utility with quite a bit more finetuning.
Didn’t someone say he was the biggest hitter in the AB squad or did I imagine that ?
@MN5 said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@MN5 said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
> I still can't work out what the best position for LJ is. He kind of looks like an 8 without the impact, does well at 6 and LOs against lower tier teams, and can play a patched up 7. But is he really a 6?Also not convinced against top sides he would have the same lineout factor.
Niggles isn't really a 7, he doesn't seem to know what to do with the ball once he gets it.So basically a perfect 6.5 that the ABs seem to insist on selecting year after year ?
Yes could be a good utility with quite a bit more finetuning.
Didn’t someone say he was the biggest hitter in the AB squad or did I imagine that ?
Used to be known for his concrete shoulders. Like a young Read in that regard.
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Read the previous comments...shouldn't have. People are going to see what they are going to see. You can predict the people who are going to say something less than positive about Niggles and it is always "he does this but ...(slide in some abstract shite)". Watch Niggles be a pest at the breakdown, support the ball carrier, etc. Actually should have been penalized for playing on the wrong side of the ruck a few times but ...
LJ needs a mention as well. I think you get Cane's defense game plus a bit more. Here is a controversial comment. Maybe a Niggles, LJ, and Sotutu backrow with Savea as impact might be our best combo.
As did Clarke. I have been his biggest critic but his positional play, high ball ability, etc is really an obvious improvement compared to Telea.
And Proctor! A real center's game. Really impressed both on defense and attack.
I wonder how much you can read on this game though. Time will tell I suppose. -
Read the previous comments...shouldn't have. People are going to see what they are going to see. You can predict the people who are going to say something less than positive about Niggles and it is always "he does this but ...(slide in some abstract shite)". Watch Niggles be a pest at the breakdown, support the ball carrier, etc. Actually should have been penalized for playing on the wrong side of the ruck a few times but ...
LJ needs a mention as well. I think you get Cane's defense game plus a bit more. Here is a controversial comment. Maybe a Niggles, LJ, and Sotutu backrow with Savea as impact might be our best combo.
As did Clarke. I have been his biggest critic but his positional play, high ball ability, etc is really an obvious improvement compared to Telea.
And Proctor! A real center's game. Really impressed both on defense and attack.
I wonder how much you can read on this game though. Time will tell I suppose.@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Read the previous comments...shouldn't have. People are going to see what they are going to see. You can predict the people who are going to say something less than positive about Niggles and it is always "he does this but ...(slide in some abstract shite)". Watch Niggles be a pest at the breakdown, support the ball carrier, etc. Actually should have been penalized for playing on the wrong side of the ruck a few times but ...
LJ needs a mention as well. I think you get Cane's defense game plus a bit more. Here is a controversial comment. Maybe a Niggles, LJ, and Sotutu backrow with Savea as impact might be our best combo.
As did Clarke. I have been his biggest critic but his positional play, high ball ability, etc is really an obvious improvement compared to Telea.
And Proctor! A real center's game. Really impressed both on defense and attack.
I wonder how much you can read on this game though. Time will tell I suppose.He needs to make the squad first
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I'm really happy for ALB, thought he was a bit on the slide before.
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I'm really happy for ALB, thought he was a bit on the slide before.
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
I'm really happy for ALB, thought he was a bit on the slide before.
Yeah, forgot to mention ALB. Great game. When fit, he is a diamond. His "rugby smarts" is probably superior to JB's at the moment.
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If DMac is injured we have a problem
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
If DMac is injured we have a problem
I'd rather see them give Plummer a crack, than sub in BB or Perofeta
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Razor knockers can surely see there is less headless chicken stuff over the last 3 games
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Razor knockers can surely see there is less headless chicken stuff over the last 3 games
Prolly gonna just wait to see how we go against something better than Borthwick England or not even the drua, but yeah for a second side it was a much tidier affair than the past few years.
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@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Razor knockers can surely see there is less headless chicken stuff over the last 3 games
Prolly gonna just wait to see how we go against something better than Borthwick England or not even the drua, but yeah for a second side it was a much tidier affair than the past few years.
@Bones said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Razor knockers can surely see there is less headless chicken stuff over the last 3 games
Prolly gonna just wait to see how we go against something better than Borthwick England or not even the drua, but yeah for a second side it was a much tidier affair than the past few years.
:beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes: :beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes: :beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes:
Only SA will be equal to or better than Borthwick's England
If you don't thrash both Argentina and Australia then you have problems
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@Bones said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Razor knockers can surely see there is less headless chicken stuff over the last 3 games
Prolly gonna just wait to see how we go against something better than Borthwick England or not even the drua, but yeah for a second side it was a much tidier affair than the past few years.
:beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes: :beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes: :beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes:
Only SA will be equal to or better than Borthwick's England
If you don't thrash both Argentina and Australia then you have problems
@MiketheSnow The lineout remains the worry for me, then the lack of depth in the backrow, then the lack of depth at ten, then the run of tough away games we have in November.
But overall, I am pleased with the results so far and to see the squad moving forward.
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RI to the wing please and a centre at centre. ALB had a great game. BP was decent too. Thought Ratima and then Hotham very good too. And CC looks so much better with less body weight.
3/3 so far. Ah, I’d forgotten what it was like for the ABs to string together victories.
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Read the previous comments...shouldn't have. People are going to see what they are going to see. You can predict the people who are going to say something less than positive about Niggles and it is always "he does this but ...(slide in some abstract shite)". Watch Niggles be a pest at the breakdown, support the ball carrier, etc. Actually should have been penalized for playing on the wrong side of the ruck a few times but ...
LJ needs a mention as well. I think you get Cane's defense game plus a bit more. Here is a controversial comment. Maybe a Niggles, LJ, and Sotutu backrow with Savea as impact might be our best combo.
As did Clarke. I have been his biggest critic but his positional play, high ball ability, etc is really an obvious improvement compared to Telea.
And Proctor! A real center's game. Really impressed both on defense and attack.
I wonder how much you can read on this game though. Time will tell I suppose.@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Maybe a Niggles, LJ, and Sotutu backrow with Savea as impact might be our best combo.
Not that controversial.
I think you could swap in/out about 8 names in any number of combinations and it would be a defendable opinion.
Edit: defendable, not dependable
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RI to the wing please and a centre at centre. ALB had a great game. BP was decent too. Thought Ratima and then Hotham very good too. And CC looks so much better with less body weight.
3/3 so far. Ah, I’d forgotten what it was like for the ABs to string together victories.
@Billy-Tell Oh come on lol, we strung many victories together under the last management too haha.
Lets not act like we barely strung 2 victories in a row from 2020-2023.
