All Blacks v France
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Harsh on Aumua but this might go to Henry's stated belief that you can't play three hard games in a row.
Big fan of Finau and Sititi in their best position. Baffled by the choice of Savea at 7. A lot resting on Finau's shoulders here.
On face value it's harsh on DMac but they probably feel Beaudy's varied kicking sets up conditions for DMac to better exploit.
@antipodean said in All Blacks v France:
Harsh on Aumua but this might go to Henry's stated belief that you can't play three hard games in a row.
Big fan of Finau and Sititi in their best position. Baffled by the choice of Savea at 7. A lot resting on Finau's shoulders here.
On face value it's harsh on DMac but they probably feel Beaudy's varied kicking sets up conditions for DMac to better exploit.
Dmac is a game changer when he comes on, if necessary to ignite. Makes sene to me, despite the accolades I don't think he was MotM last match. Indeed I remember a comment someones saying 'surely no one can advocate for DMac now?' in the match thread. But he can change the way the game is played, BB not so much anymore, and if we are after a more conservative ten style, whch seems to be the case, this is the way around to play them. We will miss his goal kickig though, that's exceptional.
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Wasn't that your comment?
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@canefan said in All Blacks v France:
After they sent their B team down here earlier in the year it's only fair we go into their house and fuck them up
What? Are you posting from 2018 or the future?
@Frye said in All Blacks v France:
@canefan said in All Blacks v France:
After they sent their B team down here earlier in the year it's only fair we go into their house and fuck them up
What? Are you posting from 2018 or the future?
Haha, no tour since 2018. Did they play the B team last time we were there in early 2023 perhaps? Either way, we've been on tour for many weeks, the players should be used to the untidiness of rucks and the importance of cleaning out. So let's fuck them up!
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All Blacks sadly in their away strip this week -
@Daffy-Jaffy said in All Blacks v France:
All Blacks sadly in their away strip this week -
At least it's not grey
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All Blacks sadly in their away strip this week -
@Daffy-Jaffy said in All Blacks v France:
All Blacks sadly in their away strip this week -
Isn’t that the official tennis jersey?
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@antipodean said in All Blacks v France:
Harsh on Aumua but this might go to Henry's stated belief that you can't play three hard games in a row.
Big fan of Finau and Sititi in their best position. Baffled by the choice of Savea at 7. A lot resting on Finau's shoulders here.
On face value it's harsh on DMac but they probably feel Beaudy's varied kicking sets up conditions for DMac to better exploit.
Dmac is a game changer when he comes on, if necessary to ignite. Makes sene to me, despite the accolades I don't think he was MotM last match. Indeed I remember a comment someones saying 'surely no one can advocate for DMac now?' in the match thread. But he can change the way the game is played, BB not so much anymore, and if we are after a more conservative ten style, whch seems to be the case, this is the way around to play them. We will miss his goal kickig though, that's exceptional.
@Machpants said in All Blacks v France:
@antipodean said in All Blacks v France:
Harsh on Aumua but this might go to Henry's stated belief that you can't play three hard games in a row.
Big fan of Finau and Sititi in their best position. Baffled by the choice of Savea at 7. A lot resting on Finau's shoulders here.
On face value it's harsh on DMac but they probably feel Beaudy's varied kicking sets up conditions for DMac to better exploit.
Dmac is a game changer when he comes on, if necessary to ignite. Makes sene to me, despite the accolades I don't think he was MotM last match. Indeed I remember a comment someones saying 'surely no one can advocate for DMac now?' in the match thread. But he can change the way the game is played, BB not so much anymore, and if we are after a more conservative ten style, whch seems to be the case, this is the way around to play them. We will miss his goal kickig though, that's exceptional.
In the clutch that goal kicking is deadly.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in All Blacks v France:
All Blacks sadly in their away strip this week -
At least it's not grey
@canefan said in All Blacks v France:
@Daffy-Jaffy said in All Blacks v France:
All Blacks sadly in their away strip this week -
At least it's not grey
Until the second wash.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks v France:
Harsh on Aumua but this might go to Henry's stated belief that you can't play three hard games in a row.
Big fan of Finau and Sititi in their best position. Baffled by the choice of Savea at 7. A lot resting on Finau's shoulders here.
On face value it's harsh on DMac but they probably feel Beaudy's varied kicking sets up conditions for DMac to better exploit.
Dmac is a game changer when he comes on, if necessary to ignite. Makes sene to me, despite the accolades I don't think he was MotM last match. Indeed I remember a comment someones saying 'surely no one can advocate for DMac now?' in the match thread. But he can change the way the game is played, BB not so much anymore, and if we are after a more conservative ten style, whch seems to be the case, this is the way around to play them. We will miss his goal kickig though, that's exceptional.
@Machpants said in All Blacks v France:
conservative ten style
I'd never thought of shovelling it in any random direction if you're unable to get a misplaced kick away as conservative.
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Wasn't that your comment?
@mariner4life said in All Blacks v France:
Wasn't that your comment?
Nope, but I did reply 'just you wait'
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Not a fan of this selection. McKenzie is far and away the better ten, and Robertson is putting him in a position where he is likely to come on late and have to chase the game - then he's going to have to try things, mistakes will happen, and he will get rubbished as erratic. Once you've made the poor decision to start BB, then starting Roigard becomes a no-brainer. At least then we have someone who can kick accurately on the field.
I would have started Aumua, and just given him 40 minutes. He's earned it, and despite the big efforts last couple of weeks should have 40 minutes in him. Give the man some reward, we've seen how his performance grows with confidence.
Would have picked De Groot to start for this one too, although the props have been going well.
Finally they move Savea. About time, looking forward to seeing what he can do. Assume they will sub Finau for Lakai, and Sititi goes back to 6, Ardie back to 8.Everyone else picks themselves. Haven't seen much of the French lately, but don't have the same confidence I did vs the Irish - largely because of the 10 selection.
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Not a fan of this selection. McKenzie is far and away the better ten, and Robertson is putting him in a position where he is likely to come on late and have to chase the game - then he's going to have to try things, mistakes will happen, and he will get rubbished as erratic. Once you've made the poor decision to start BB, then starting Roigard becomes a no-brainer. At least then we have someone who can kick accurately on the field.
I would have started Aumua, and just given him 40 minutes. He's earned it, and despite the big efforts last couple of weeks should have 40 minutes in him. Give the man some reward, we've seen how his performance grows with confidence.
Would have picked De Groot to start for this one too, although the props have been going well.
Finally they move Savea. About time, looking forward to seeing what he can do. Assume they will sub Finau for Lakai, and Sititi goes back to 6, Ardie back to 8.Everyone else picks themselves. Haven't seen much of the French lately, but don't have the same confidence I did vs the Irish - largely because of the 10 selection.
@reprobate I think BB would be fine if they gave him strict directives about how he was to play, but seems he has free licence to do what he wants (obviously needs a better balance between the game plan and playing what he sees in front of him) which is when the poor options and decision making come to the fore.
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Yeah I was pulling my hair out with the starting first five vs England.
Then DMac plays a blinder against Ireland.
The other thing that should be given a heavy weighting is the goal kicking.
I don't get it. -
Rather disappointed with the selection at 10, but happy elsewhere. We are playing in white against a team that needs early passion to fire up. Just not sure we can generate enough early threats to take the wind out of their sails.
I do hope they will use Finau on the sideline to challenge for some crosskicks.
Personally I see high level rugby using more attacking plays from league next year. E. G. High wide crosskicks to tall aerial specialists, pressuring defenders into error, grubbers into the in goal for a chaser, and 10 running crossfield to confuse defenders to cover both a switch and a long pass. Defences at test level are acting like league teams, so why not use league tactics to beat them. I do wonder if Ray is testing the waters in this area. -
Harsh on Aumua but this might go to Henry's stated belief that you can't play three hard games in a row.
Big fan of Finau and Sititi in their best position. Baffled by the choice of Savea at 7. A lot resting on Finau's shoulders here.
On face value it's harsh on DMac but they probably feel Beaudy's varied kicking sets up conditions for DMac to better exploit.
@antipodean said in All Blacks v France:
Harsh on Aumua but this might go to Henry's stated belief that you can't play three hard games in a row.
Big fan of Finau and Sititi in their best position. Baffled by the choice of Savea at 7. A lot resting on Finau's shoulders here.
On face value it's harsh on DMac but they probably feel Beaudy's varied kicking sets up conditions for DMac to better exploit.
Hmmm yeah don't like Savea at 7 either. He hasn't played there in years and a big difference between packing at 8 where he's scanning behind the defensive line looking to jackle, and at 7 where he's chasing ball and expected to be the first tackler.
Finau's gonna have to do a lot of extra dirty work and as much as I like Sititi playing as an 8 (his proper position), does he play more as a 6?
I'm very confused about the balance of the loose trio as I don't see Ardie Savea playing as a 7 the way Cane does.
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@antipodean said in All Blacks v France:
Harsh on Aumua but this might go to Henry's stated belief that you can't play three hard games in a row.
Big fan of Finau and Sititi in their best position. Baffled by the choice of Savea at 7. A lot resting on Finau's shoulders here.
On face value it's harsh on DMac but they probably feel Beaudy's varied kicking sets up conditions for DMac to better exploit.
Hmmm yeah don't like Savea at 7 either. He hasn't played there in years and a big difference between packing at 8 where he's scanning behind the defensive line looking to jackle, and at 7 where he's chasing ball and expected to be the first tackler.
Finau's gonna have to do a lot of extra dirty work and as much as I like Sititi playing as an 8 (his proper position), does he play more as a 6?
I'm very confused about the balance of the loose trio as I don't see Ardie Savea playing as a 7 the way Cane does.
@African-Monkey I think some people are finally going to notice the work Cane does by his absence. Because Ardie doesn't play anything like it.
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Apart from the injury enforced Reece for Telea that has to be our best backline, not superstars at the top of their game in all positions but the best backline we currently have. Aumua could rightly feel aggrieved to not be rewarded for his performance the last two games with the starting jersey but really isn't this a position where we are talking about two players who have both been playing outstandingly this season, unlike first five where we are not as strong as we sometimes have been and it seems everyone on here has their pet. With the cantabs still rooting for Mo'unga less than half the fern is ever happy.
Loose forward combo maybe not quite the best we could come up with but so hard to balance a trio with Savea in it, he has to be selected as one of the best we currently have but he's still not a 7 or an 8, Cane has been utilised superbly to balance this. Could be a glimpse of the future if Savea is subbed for Lakai... unlikely to be the plan though.
I thought it was hard to complain with the team from the available players the last two weeks and I would say the same this week.
