What is decline?
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@Mauss Great post.
Our main issue is our religious adherence to kicking the ball away.
We actually beat the defence numerous times last night (also many times where Dmacs superior passing produced the try/opportunity).
I actually believe our players still have the skillset (evidenced by the first try), but we have not been moving the ball this way for 5 years.
We have been afraid to, more content to play without the ball rather than risk an intercept or turnover.
I actually think the Kolbe intercept was a much bigger moment than people realize.
If the pass goes there, it's another try and the score is 14-0 NZ.
But instead, not only did SA score against the run of play.. but we completely shelved the passing plays in favor of box kicks once again, as if the intercept proved we cannot play that way, and just allowed SA to attack for the next 40-50 minutes with very little recourse.
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Great post. Conclusion? Our gameplan and tactics don't match the personnel. As pretty as it looks when it comes off, just like our ludicrous lineouts on Saturday night, it might just be overcomplicated. IMHO during the Razor era (and for that matter the Fozzie one too) we look best when the forwards take it up the guts, force the defence to squeeze in and we score with simple draw and pass. One of Reece's tries in the corner, and Tupaea under the sticks spring to mind.
Whoever is driving our current backline philosophy needs to stop talking.
When we kicked long for territory at EP and at the Tin, it often worked out well. And yet we seem very quick to abandon the tactic in favour of box kicks, dinky chips and grubbers, and those increasingly predictable cross field kicks. Even worse, we use the lower percentage plays in bad parts of the field, and the Boks were ruthless in punishing us for it on the weekend.
I find the whole situation exasperating, because Razor's Crusader teams were built on a foundation of strong fundamentals. And yet his team doesn't seem to value them now.
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Obsession with entertainment over winning. Blues under Vern showed a pragmatic, even dull style can be extremely effective.
Pick a big forward back, play territory, and brutalise teams up the middle before going wide.
Pick a smart, calm captain. Ideally not a fucking idiot that chip kicks from his 22.
The biggest change is the acceptance of losing. It used to to a big deal, but the last five years that has eroded away. Savea was smiling after that last game!
Looks like just a job now for some of the players, or in the case of the players like Leicester Faingaʻanuku/Richie Mounga, a stepping stone to earn cash overseas and swan back for a World Cup.
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@Kirwan said in What is decline?:
Obsession with entertainment over winning. Blues under Vern showed a pragmatic, even dull style can be extremely effective.
Pick a big forward back, play territory, and brutalise teams up the middle before going wide.
Pick a smart, calm captain. Ideally not a fucking idiot that chip kicks from his 22.
The biggest change is the acceptance of losing. It used to to a big deal, but the last five years that has eroded away. Savea was smiling after that last game!
Looks like just a job now for some of the players, or in the case of the players like Leicester Faingaʻanuku/Richie Mounga, a stepping stone to earn cash overseas and swan back for a World Cup.
The year the Blues won, the Canes and Chiefs also played forward dominated rugby, which I thought was great.
Is it any coincidence that the Blues win with Plummer, and don't with BB? I am sure it is far too simplistic. But even now I seem to be in the minority of people even on here that will wonder what might have been if Plummer had been given a go in the ABs 10 jersey. A guy with his skill set is what we need right now. But that only works if the coaches pull their heads out of their asses and get back to fundamentally sound rugby
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@stodders said in All Blacks vs Springboks II:
@sparky said in All Blacks vs Springboks II:
@Mauss One of the best posts I've read in 20+ years here. Thank you for sharing. I hope it makes it to the Fern front page.
I hope it makes the desk of the NZ rugby performance director!
Let's just nominate Mauss for the position!!
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Pick the best players even if they aren't the sort of blokes you'd see on a cover of a women's magazine or you'd want you daughter to be dating.
Akira Ioane, Bundee Aki, Hoskins Sotutu, James Lowe. All guys we turned our nose up at.
Stop trying to turn our Rugby Players into nice young men. Next time we play the Boks I want 23 absolute fluffybunnies out there wearing Black hell-bent on revenge.
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@canefan said in What is decline?:
@Kirwan said in What is decline?:
Obsession with entertainment over winning. Blues under Vern showed a pragmatic, even dull style can be extremely effective.
Pick a big forward back, play territory, and brutalise teams up the middle before going wide.
Pick a smart, calm captain. Ideally not a fucking idiot that chip kicks from his 22.
The biggest change is the acceptance of losing. It used to to a big deal, but the last five years that has eroded away. Savea was smiling after that last game!
Looks like just a job now for some of the players, or in the case of the players like Leicester Faingaʻanuku/Richie Mounga, a stepping stone to earn cash overseas and swan back for a World Cup.
The year the Blues won, the Canes and Chiefs also played forward dominated rugby, which I thought was great.
Is it any coincidence that the Blues win with Plummer, and don't with BB? I am sure it is far too simplistic. But even now I seem to be in the minority of people even on here that will wonder what might have been if Plummer had been given a go in the ABs 10 jersey. A guy with his skill set is what we need right now. But that only works if the coaches pull their heads out of their asses and get back to fundamentally sound rugby
Without getting into player specific comparisons, we definitely look for a magician instead of a conductor style 1st five.
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@Kirwan said in What is decline?:
@canefan said in What is decline?:
@Kirwan said in What is decline?:
Obsession with entertainment over winning. Blues under Vern showed a pragmatic, even dull style can be extremely effective.
Pick a big forward back, play territory, and brutalise teams up the middle before going wide.
Pick a smart, calm captain. Ideally not a fucking idiot that chip kicks from his 22.
The biggest change is the acceptance of losing. It used to to a big deal, but the last five years that has eroded away. Savea was smiling after that last game!
Looks like just a job now for some of the players, or in the case of the players like Leicester Faingaʻanuku/Richie Mounga, a stepping stone to earn cash overseas and swan back for a World Cup.
The year the Blues won, the Canes and Chiefs also played forward dominated rugby, which I thought was great.
Is it any coincidence that the Blues win with Plummer, and don't with BB? I am sure it is far too simplistic. But even now I seem to be in the minority of people even on here that will wonder what might have been if Plummer had been given a go in the ABs 10 jersey. A guy with his skill set is what we need right now. But that only works if the coaches pull their heads out of their asses and get back to fundamentally sound rugby
Without getting into player specific comparisons, we definitely look for a magician instead of a conductor style 1st five.
I blame Dan Carter
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@sparky said in What is decline?:
Pick the best players even if they aren't the sort of blokes you'd see on a cover of a women's magazine or you'd want you daughter to be dating.
Akira Ioane, Bundee Aki, Hoskins Sotutu, James Lowe. All guys we turned our nose up at.
Stop trying to turn our Rugby Players into nice young men. Next time we play the Boks I want 23 absolute fluffybunnies out there wearing Black hell-bent on revenge.
Cobus Reinach was pushing our boys around the place and feeling collars. Both this week and last week.
The fucking scrum half.
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@canefan said in What is decline?:
@Kirwan said in What is decline?:
@canefan said in What is decline?:
@Kirwan said in What is decline?:
Obsession with entertainment over winning. Blues under Vern showed a pragmatic, even dull style can be extremely effective.
Pick a big forward back, play territory, and brutalise teams up the middle before going wide.
Pick a smart, calm captain. Ideally not a fucking idiot that chip kicks from his 22.
The biggest change is the acceptance of losing. It used to to a big deal, but the last five years that has eroded away. Savea was smiling after that last game!
Looks like just a job now for some of the players, or in the case of the players like Leicester Faingaʻanuku/Richie Mounga, a stepping stone to earn cash overseas and swan back for a World Cup.
The year the Blues won, the Canes and Chiefs also played forward dominated rugby, which I thought was great.
Is it any coincidence that the Blues win with Plummer, and don't with BB? I am sure it is far too simplistic. But even now I seem to be in the minority of people even on here that will wonder what might have been if Plummer had been given a go in the ABs 10 jersey. A guy with his skill set is what we need right now. But that only works if the coaches pull their heads out of their asses and get back to fundamentally sound rugby
Without getting into player specific comparisons, we definitely look for a magician instead of a conductor style 1st five.
I blame Dan Carter
Yep, was going to add that as well. Could do it all.
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@sparky said in What is decline?:
Pick the best players even if they aren't the sort of blokes you'd see on a cover of a women's magazine or you'd want you daughter to be dating.
Akira Ioane, Bundee Aki, Hoskins Sotutu, James Lowe. All guys we turned our nose up at.
Stop trying to turn our Rugby Players into nice young men. Next time we play the Boks I want 23 absolute fluffybunnies out there wearing Black hell-bent on revenge.
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What do these guys actually watch when they have their post match film sessions? If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and getting the same result, then Razor is the Mad Hatter.
I would like to see us play a more direct, more combative game plan. This is not rocket science, this is how rugby has always been. But whoever is pulling Razor's strings (Is it the Professor?), he can't seem to let go of this globetrotters rugby. It's a sugar rush, but ultimately not satisfying when we finish games the way we do
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@Kirwan said in What is decline?:
@canefan said in What is decline?:
@Kirwan said in What is decline?:
@canefan said in What is decline?:
@Kirwan said in What is decline?:
Obsession with entertainment over winning. Blues under Vern showed a pragmatic, even dull style can be extremely effective.
Pick a big forward back, play territory, and brutalise teams up the middle before going wide.
Pick a smart, calm captain. Ideally not a fucking idiot that chip kicks from his 22.
The biggest change is the acceptance of losing. It used to to a big deal, but the last five years that has eroded away. Savea was smiling after that last game!
Looks like just a job now for some of the players, or in the case of the players like Leicester Faingaʻanuku/Richie Mounga, a stepping stone to earn cash overseas and swan back for a World Cup.
The year the Blues won, the Canes and Chiefs also played forward dominated rugby, which I thought was great.
Is it any coincidence that the Blues win with Plummer, and don't with BB? I am sure it is far too simplistic. But even now I seem to be in the minority of people even on here that will wonder what might have been if Plummer had been given a go in the ABs 10 jersey. A guy with his skill set is what we need right now. But that only works if the coaches pull their heads out of their asses and get back to fundamentally sound rugby
Without getting into player specific comparisons, we definitely look for a magician instead of a conductor style 1st five.
I blame Dan Carter
Yep, was going to add that as well. Could do it all.
When people look at DC, and by extension the 2015 team, they see the flowing rugby. Of course they forget how ruthless and hardnosed they were. And they forget DC was as fundamentally sound as anyone who has played the position. And he was a magician
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@sparky said in What is decline?:
Pick the best players even if they aren't the sort of blokes you'd see on a cover of a women's magazine or you'd want you daughter to be dating.
Akira Ioane, Bundee Aki, Hoskins Sotutu, James Lowe. All guys we turned our nose up at.
Stop trying to turn our Rugby Players into nice young men. Next time we play the Boks I want 23 absolute fluffybunnies out there wearing Black hell-bent on revenge.
Beaudy nearly put in a wheelchair and not one Allblack grabbed a collar.
Wiese mills Nugget out of it after the whistle. Knew what he was doing but had plausible deniability.
The only one to immediately take issue is Frizell.
Look from how far back De Allende and Mapimpi come to get involved.
Watch out current captain (hands on hips) walking to the schmozzle and not getting involved.
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@canefan said in What is decline?:
@Kirwan said in What is decline?:
@canefan said in What is decline?:
@Kirwan said in What is decline?:
@canefan said in What is decline?:
@Kirwan said in What is decline?:
Obsession with entertainment over winning. Blues under Vern showed a pragmatic, even dull style can be extremely effective.
Pick a big forward back, play territory, and brutalise teams up the middle before going wide.
Pick a smart, calm captain. Ideally not a fucking idiot that chip kicks from his 22.
The biggest change is the acceptance of losing. It used to to a big deal, but the last five years that has eroded away. Savea was smiling after that last game!
Looks like just a job now for some of the players, or in the case of the players like Leicester Faingaʻanuku/Richie Mounga, a stepping stone to earn cash overseas and swan back for a World Cup.
The year the Blues won, the Canes and Chiefs also played forward dominated rugby, which I thought was great.
Is it any coincidence that the Blues win with Plummer, and don't with BB? I am sure it is far too simplistic. But even now I seem to be in the minority of people even on here that will wonder what might have been if Plummer had been given a go in the ABs 10 jersey. A guy with his skill set is what we need right now. But that only works if the coaches pull their heads out of their asses and get back to fundamentally sound rugby
Without getting into player specific comparisons, we definitely look for a magician instead of a conductor style 1st five.
I blame Dan Carter
Yep, was going to add that as well. Could do it all.
When people look at DC, and by extension the 2015 team, they see the flowing rugby. Of course they forget how ruthless and hardnosed they were. And they forget DC was as fundamentally sound as anyone who has played the position. And he was a magician
He was plenty boring when he needed to be. And could truck it up in traffic.
And could put you on your arse and flog the ball off you.
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@sparky said in What is decline?:
Pick the best players even if they aren't the sort of blokes you'd see on a cover of a women's magazine or you'd want you daughter to be dating.
Akira Ioane, Bundee Aki, Hoskins Sotutu, James Lowe. All guys we turned our nose up at.
Stop trying to turn our Rugby Players into nice young men. Next time we play the Boks I want 23 absolute fluffybunnies out there wearing Black hell-bent on revenge.
There is so much truth to this.
I think it was Henry that introduced the idea of "good people make good All Blacks" which is to an extent true in that you need people that are honest, accountable, respectful in your team for it to function well and for the public to buy into.
But you also need pricks and I remember in Irelands win.v England this year James lowe acted like an asshole, getting into people's faces, being physical.and talking shit. You need that mentality if you want to win.
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2000 too many words to say any team picking their 7 and 8 to make wide passes on the end of a chain doesn't really understand rugby.
We're basically outflanking ourselves with this "innovation". When it works it's going to look beautiful. But an awful lot has to go right for it to work.
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Henry, Hansen and Smith worked well together because they challenged each other. I see similarities between how Wayne Smith’s ABs played and how Razor’s ABs play. It is one thing to back your skills, another to fundamentally forget that you need to lay a forward platform first. Henry got that, which is why he was the right person to lead that triumvirate.
