All Blacks v Argentina I
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Overall this 23 is a bit meh. The tight five remains a strength.
Apart from Savea, JB and Jordan there are question marks over the rest of the players outside the tight five.
Vaai shows much promise at 6 and now we will seem tested against tougher opponents than France B/C.
Jury is still out over the rest apart from Reece who shouldn't be there.
BBs passing has improved but his kicking still runs hot and cold.
@brodean said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
Overall this 23 is a bit meh. The tight five remains a strength. Apart from Savea, JB and Jordan there are question marks over the rest of the players outside the tight five.
Vaai shows much promise at 6 and now we will seem tested against tougher opponents than France B/C
I actually like that Robertson is giving players like Proctor, Vaa'i & Kirirfi plenty of opportunity. Taking a bit of a risk - which maybe should have done it last year - is positive.
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I pretty happy with team. Kirifi will be fine, he was bloody good in 3rd test against French, not a little better etc. His stats were off the charts, and alongside Holland was most effective forward on field at ruck time etc. I have no probs with ALB on bench either, we all like Jim the Dif, bur reaslistcally he was a little overwhelmed in French series, I not convinced he as good coming off bench as when he starts.
@Dan54 said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
I have no probs with ALB on bench either, we all like Jim the Dif, bur reaslistcally he was a little overwhelmed in French series, I not convinced he as good coming off bench as when he starts.
Interesting it took you 2 tests to come to this conclusion yet you are happy with ALB on the bench following many more average bench displays.
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@brodean said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
Overall this 23 is a bit meh. The tight five remains a strength. Apart from Savea, JB and Jordan there are question marks over the rest of the players outside the tight five.
Vaai shows much promise at 6 and now we will seem tested against tougher opponents than France B/C
I actually like that Robertson is giving players like Proctor, Vaa'i & Kirirfi plenty of opportunity. Taking a bit of a risk - which maybe should have done it last year - is positive.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
@brodean said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
Overall this 23 is a bit meh. The tight five remains a strength. Apart from Savea, JB and Jordan there are question marks over the rest of the players outside the tight five.
Vaai shows much promise at 6 and now we will seem tested against tougher opponents than France B/C
I actually like that Robertson is giving players like Proctor, Vaa'i & Kirirfi plenty of opportunity. Taking a bit of a risk - which maybe should have done it last year - is positive.
Taking risks is appropriate when there are potential high rewards. I can see that with Vaa'i. Don't really see it with Kirifi or Proctor.
I'd rather see the risks taken with players like Love and Carter.
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
I have no probs with ALB on bench either, we all like Jim the Dif, bur reaslistcally he was a little overwhelmed in French series, I not convinced he as good coming off bench as when he starts.
Interesting it took you 2 tests to come to this conclusion yet you are happy with ALB on the bench following many more average bench displays.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
@Dan54 said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
I have no probs with ALB on bench either, we all like Jim the Dif, bur reaslistcally he was a little overwhelmed in French series, I not convinced he as good coming off bench as when he starts.
Interesting it took you 2 tests to come to this conclusion yet you are happy with ALB on the bench following many more average bench displays.
He's been anonymous starting.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
@brodean said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
Overall this 23 is a bit meh. The tight five remains a strength. Apart from Savea, JB and Jordan there are question marks over the rest of the players outside the tight five.
Vaai shows much promise at 6 and now we will seem tested against tougher opponents than France B/C
I actually like that Robertson is giving players like Proctor, Vaa'i & Kirirfi plenty of opportunity. Taking a bit of a risk - which maybe should have done it last year - is positive.
Taking risks is appropriate when there are potential high rewards. I can see that with Vaa'i. Don't really see it with Kirifi or Proctor.
I'd rather see the risks taken with players like Love and Carter.
@brodean And that for me is the key issue.
Robertson was an outstanding coach at provincial and Super Rugby level where he was able to build a squad of fierce battlers around his big personality.
I am not sure he has successfully transitioned yet to international coaching where the risks and rewards are much bigger.
Potentially world class players are being overlooked for solid, but unexciting and unexceptional, battlers.
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@Jet well yes considering half the players you named are washed.
They’d absolutely bang the doors down for the likes of Savea, Sititi, Jordie, Jordan.
@hikastags said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
@Jet well yes considering half the players you named are washed.
They’d absolutely bang the doors down for the likes of Savea, Sititi, Jordie, Jordan.
Funnily enough none of those names were mentioned in the original opinion
Well done
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This team is so underwhelming, at least on paper as the game has not been played yet. The return of Williams and Sititi should add more muscle up front when they are available but I don't see too many adjustments in the backline which would make it less meh as Love did not get enough minutes to show what he is capable of, while Carter is totally untried at this level. Roigard will be welcome when he is back as Ratima and Christie would not even be considered for selection if they were Australian or South African players.
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I desperately hope I'm wrong, but this game has banana skin written all over it.
Argentina by 3-5.
@sparky said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
I desperately hope I'm wrong, but this game has banana skin written all over it.
Argentina by 3-5.
Can't see it meself.
We lose when we don't take them seriously. Am expecting that we're taking them seriously.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
@brodean said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
Overall this 23 is a bit meh. The tight five remains a strength. Apart from Savea, JB and Jordan there are question marks over the rest of the players outside the tight five.
Vaai shows much promise at 6 and now we will seem tested against tougher opponents than France B/C
I actually like that Robertson is giving players like Proctor, Vaa'i & Kirirfi plenty of opportunity. Taking a bit of a risk - which maybe should have done it last year - is positive.
Taking risks is appropriate when there are potential high rewards. I can see that with Vaa'i. Don't really see it with Kirifi or Proctor.
I'd rather see the risks taken with players like Love and Carter.
@brodean said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
I'd rather see the risks taken with players like Love and Carter.
The issue is how many Tests would you give Love and Carter before the same is said of them?
I see sense in what he's doing for this Test - two new-ish players feeling more settled being given the chance to kick on.
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They see Holland as a lock they want developed and starting, he’s getting every chance with everyone available.
The loose trio looks injury enforced, is Lakai available??@BorderJB said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
They see Holland as a lock they want developed and starting, he’s getting every chance with everyone available.
The loose trio looks injury enforced, is Lakai available??Lakai and Parker arrived late, unavailable for game 1
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@BorderJB said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
They see Holland as a lock they want developed and starting, he’s getting every chance with everyone available.
The loose trio looks injury enforced, is Lakai available??Lakai and Parker arrived late, unavailable for game 1
@canefan said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
@BorderJB said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
They see Holland as a lock they want developed and starting, he’s getting every chance with everyone available.
The loose trio looks injury enforced, is Lakai available??Lakai and Parker arrived late, unavailable for game 1
Robertson said earlier in the week they were in consideration for game 1.
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@brodean And that for me is the key issue.
Robertson was an outstanding coach at provincial and Super Rugby level where he was able to build a squad of fierce battlers around his big personality.
I am not sure he has successfully transitioned yet to international coaching where the risks and rewards are much bigger.
Potentially world class players are being overlooked for solid, but unexciting and unexceptional, battlers.
@sparky said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
@brodean And that for me is the key issue.
Robertson was an outstanding coach at provincial and Super Rugby level where he was able to build a squad of fierce battlers around his big personality.
I am not sure he has successfully transitioned yet to international coaching where the risks and rewards are much bigger.
Potentially world class players are being overlooked for solid, but unexciting and unexceptional, battlers.
Who are the potentially world class players being over looked?
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If we are going to look to the future, I wouldn't have ALB or Christie full stop. Both past there sell by date IMHO. Always pick form players FFS. Jim or Quinn Tupaea. in for ALB and give Kyle Preston a go. Would have also like to have seen Parker at 8 and Du’Plessis Kirifi on the bench instead of Samipeni Finau. Not sure about him at this level. Everyone else pick themselves.
Cannot wait.
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@sparky said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
@brodean And that for me is the key issue.
Robertson was an outstanding coach at provincial and Super Rugby level where he was able to build a squad of fierce battlers around his big personality.
I am not sure he has successfully transitioned yet to international coaching where the risks and rewards are much bigger.
Potentially world class players are being overlooked for solid, but unexciting and unexceptional, battlers.
Who are the potentially world class players being over looked?
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This team is so underwhelming, at least on paper as the game has not been played yet. The return of Williams and Sititi should add more muscle up front when they are available but I don't see too many adjustments in the backline which would make it less meh as Love did not get enough minutes to show what he is capable of, while Carter is totally untried at this level. Roigard will be welcome when he is back as Ratima and Christie would not even be considered for selection if they were Australian or South African players.
@cgrant said in All Blacks v Argentina I:
This team is so underwhelming, at least on paper as the game has not been played yet. The return of Williams and Sititi should add more muscle up front when they are available but I don't see too many adjustments in the backline which would make it less meh as Love did not get enough minutes to show what he is capable of, while Carter is totally untried at this level. Roigard will be welcome when he is back as Ratima and Christie would not even be considered for selection if they were Australian or South African players.
This is my issue with Robertson’s thinking. Player X, may have a huge amount of potential but hasn’t played any/enough test rugby and therefore we need to select the experienced player who is getting worse and worse all the time.
It means the emerging talent only ever gets an opportunity when Robertson’s hand is forced by injury and they’ll get to the Wordl Cup with those players still too inexperienced to be selected in his view and the experienced players having declined in ability even further.
It’s time to find replacements for Reece, Barrett (yes, I know it’s Mo’unga), Lienert-Brown etc. Worst case scenario is the new players will only have enough time to get to the level the players they’re replacing would be at in 2027 anyway.
