All Blacks v France
-
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. -
geez this coaching squad makes it hard to get on the razor bandwagon..
We’ve rewarded performance.
we rewarded form
It’s difficult not to play Ethan de Groot but the other two are playing great footy, as simple as that
“Cam’s been impressive hasn’t he? He’s taken his opportunities and we believe this is the match for himthen goes and sticks the two blokes that took their opportunities, played great footy and delivered probably their best test performances..
..on the bench
-
geez this coaching squad makes it hard to get on the razor bandwagon..
We’ve rewarded performance.
we rewarded form
It’s difficult not to play Ethan de Groot but the other two are playing great footy, as simple as that
“Cam’s been impressive hasn’t he? He’s taken his opportunities and we believe this is the match for himthen goes and sticks the two blokes that took their opportunities, played great footy and delivered probably their best test performances..
..on the bench
@WillieTheWaiter Perhaps he wants to finish strongly?
-
Jalibert spat out his dummy about being put on the bench so withdrew -
Matthieu reportedly told French coach Fabien Galthié not to pick him on the bench after missing out on a starting spot to face the All Blacks.
Thomas Ramos will start at first five-eighth from his usual position at 15, alongside halfback Antoine Dupont. Jalibert was on the bench against Japan was according to reports, didn’t want to face the All Blacks from the bench.
“Everyone has their own emotions and is free to share them,” Galthié said. “We need determination, strong players. Up until now he’s always given his best. He will continue with the national team, if he so chooses. It’s down to him to decide.”
@Daffy-Jaffy said in All Blacks v France:
Jalibert spat out his dummy about being put on the bench so withdrew -
Matthieu reportedly told French coach Fabien Galthié not to pick him on the bench after missing out on a starting spot to face the All Blacks.
Thomas Ramos will start at first five-eighth from his usual position at 15, alongside halfback Antoine Dupont. Jalibert was on the bench against Japan was according to reports, didn’t want to face the All Blacks from the bench.
“Everyone has their own emotions and is free to share them,” Galthié said. “We need determination, strong players. Up until now he’s always given his best. He will continue with the national team, if he so chooses. It’s down to him to decide.”
When coaches / management / politicians pull out those sort of lines about someone it usually means the beginning of the end.
-
I reckon NZ is going to win and going to win well. Not sure France has recovered from going out in the quarter finals of their home tournament and when you have players throwing toys out of the cot for making the bench that’s a bit of a signal. In saying that I haven’t followed the French team closely for form. Might be wrong in which case I’ll have to accept the shame…but nz by 15.
@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks v France:
I reckon NZ is going to win and going to win well. Not sure France has recovered from going out in the quarter finals of their home tournament and when you have players throwing toys out of the cot for making the bench that’s a bit of a signal. In saying that I haven’t followed the French team closely for form. Might be wrong in which case I’ll have to accept the shame…but nz by 15.
Yes but it's France, they have been known to play better on bad form and when kicking out their coach...
-
@WillieTheWaiter Perhaps he wants to finish strongly?
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks v France:
@WillieTheWaiter Perhaps he wants to finish strongly?
yeh I get that and that's defo a more explosive pack coming off hte bench.
it's just his shithouse contradicting messaging. And more against Beauds - not like he's done anything that makes him the natural selection at 10 with the 1.5 games he's played.. and more of a slap in the face for Dmac who finally delivered everything that we've wanted from him all year, and still gets dropped.
-
Interesting-are the coaches naturally conserative picking BB, or, conversely, can they not help wanting to tinker with the backline?
-
Am enjoying the consistency of selection. Hoping for another win.
Will be intriguing to see if there is more than meets the eye with this EDG thing, because I thought they may have brought him back this week. He is still by far and away our best scrummaging loosehead, and would be a better pick than Ofa.
-
I think the difference is that Barrett and Taylor 'lost' their places in the starting line-up due to injury whereas Ethan de Groot's was due to his own indiscipline.
Would still much rather see McKenzie at 10 (and Barrett left right out) and would probably opt for Aumua at 2 and Taylor on the bench (simply to keep allowing Aumua to grow as an international hooker), but I don't think Razor's messaging is necessarily inconsistent here.
-
Interesting-are the coaches naturally conserative picking BB, or, conversely, can they not help wanting to tinker with the backline?
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France:
Interesting-are the coaches naturally conserative picking BB, or, conversely, can they not help wanting to tinker with the backline?
Based on what we've seen this year, fair to say they are naturally conservative in their gameday 23 selections.
-
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France:
Interesting-are the coaches naturally conserative picking BB, or, conversely, can they not help wanting to tinker with the backline?
Based on what we've seen this year, fair to say they are naturally conservative in their gameday 23 selections.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v France:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France:
Interesting-are the coaches naturally conserative picking BB, or, conversely, can they not help wanting to tinker with the backline?
Based on what we've seen this year, fair to say they are naturally conservative in their gameday 23 selections.
Yes I am afraid so. I was hoping for fresher strategy this year.
-
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 said in All Blacks v France:
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. .
Or, he comes on and plays really well - and the other idiots pipe up with "see, I told you he is best used off the bench"
-
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.@ARHS said in All Blacks v France:
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.Yuck, I hope not. If I want to watch league, I can do that already.
-
@reprobate said in All Blacks v France:
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. .
Or, he comes on and plays really well - and the other idiots pipe up with "see, I told you he is best used off the bench"
@voodoo said in All Blacks v France:
@reprobate said in All Blacks v France:
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. .
Or, he comes on and plays really well - and the other idiots pipe up with "see, I told you he is best used off the bench"
Yep exactly. In fact I'd wager that's the thinking of the dimwit in charge: look at how our last 20 minutes have improved after all those mean things people were saying!
Yeah but your first halves have gone to shit dickhead. -
Am enjoying the consistency of selection. Hoping for another win.
Will be intriguing to see if there is more than meets the eye with this EDG thing, because I thought they may have brought him back this week. He is still by far and away our best scrummaging loosehead, and would be a better pick than Ofa.
@frugby said in All Blacks v France:
Am enjoying the consistency of selection. Hoping for another win.
Will be intriguing to see if there is more than meets the eye with this EDG thing, because I thought they may have brought him back this week. He is still by far and away our best scrummaging loosehead, and would be a better pick than Ofa.
Ofa gets himself into shape though at least. De Groot is a lazy slug and his specialty which is supposedly scrummaging, was crap against the Wallabies, the last time he was seen.
Yes Ofa is just passable as a scrimmages and his discipline can be very poor, but at least he can get himself into decent shape, unlike De Groot.
-
Just saw the team now, as I predicted Razor will swap around 10s creating uncertainty until he brings back Richie. (We need a tinfoil hat emoji).
Be interesting to see how Ardie goes at 7 (if he has a half decent game his team of Ardie at 7 fluffers are going to break the forum with I told you so's). I was actually looking forward to seeing how Lakai would go starting.
Not much of not outside of that.
-
Fair to say Ofa has been bloody good his last couple of games so zero surprises he's still there over a scrummage only bench loose head
-
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 -
I preferred the old days when the home team always wore their alternate jersey for clashes. Or even better when France had a jersey that didn't clash. Although I suspect that WR would have enforced alternate's by now.
-
@frugby said in All Blacks v France:
Am enjoying the consistency of selection. Hoping for another win.
Will be intriguing to see if there is more than meets the eye with this EDG thing, because I thought they may have brought him back this week. He is still by far and away our best scrummaging loosehead, and would be a better pick than Ofa.
Ofa gets himself into shape though at least. De Groot is a lazy slug and his specialty which is supposedly scrummaging, was crap against the Wallabies, the last time he was seen.
Yes Ofa is just passable as a scrimmages and his discipline can be very poor, but at least he can get himself into decent shape, unlike De Groot.
Think that is harsh. de Groot is one of those guys who naturally just is not fit at all, so as soon as he misses a few weeks he takes a couple to get back up to speed.
Missing these few tests could be a great kick up the backside and will benefit the ABs long-term, but if he wasn’t fit he wouldn’t be there. Think that is pretty clear.
-
@reprobate said in All Blacks v France:
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. .
Or, he comes on and plays really well - and the other idiots pipe up with "see, I told you he is best used off the bench"
@voodoo said in All Blacks v France:
@reprobate said in All Blacks v France:
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. .
Or, he comes on and plays really well - and the other idiots pipe up with "see, I told you he is best used off the bench"
I’ll happily put my hand up as an idiot because I still think that is where DMac has been at his best.
And yes, all until Mo’unga returns or FABRR makes the squad…..
