All Blacks vs Wales Test #2
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Gunner" data-cid="589370" data-time="1466242045"><p>30 minutes of decent rugby was enough to win this one, but god the other 50 minutes were awful.</p></blockquote>
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It's funny I thought the test was fine the whole way through. Lots of physicality from both sides. Great defence by Wales. Equally good defence by the ABs. Once the ABs were able to build momentum the pressure was on Wales to maintain the intensity. <br><br>
It was better than last week and we were forced to play a completely new 10-12-13 for most of the game. -
<p>Not sure Sopoaga will add enough as a player from the bench....certainly no one in world rugby brings anything near what BB does form the bench anyway.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mattasaurus" data-cid="589377" data-time="1466242221"><p>Yeah was real good on that the welsh try there, Lima's d far superior</p></blockquote>
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"Far". I wouldn't go that far -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="589234" data-time="1466239035">
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<p>Crotty has been great on defence thus far. I'd like to see a Crotty - Tamanivalu combo. Might work better than Fekitoa.</p>
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<p>And it did!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Fekitoa has been borderline rubbish in the 2 tests so far. Apart from suffering a faceplant and kicking the ball away, Tamanivalu looked much better. All of a sudden the backline clicked.</p>
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<p>Mass changes for the 3rd test I hope, get Sopoaga, McKenzie, Taylor, Squire, Dixon etc involved.</p>
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<p>MOTM by a mile: Read. Outstanding.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="589367" data-time="1466241929">
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<p>His covering defence is like Cullys, in that his pace gets him in the right place</p>
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<p>True, but like the kick over the top earlier that he caught in the 22 and claimed a fair catch you have to see what might be on to be close to the right place to then use your pace.</p>
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<p>I remember when BB couldn't hit a tackle bag so anything is a massive improvement.</p>
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<p>That last Welsh try though, I think you're a bit unfair, he made two tackles trying to stop it while playing first five and for most first fives,two tackles a match is written into the job description....</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="589381" data-time="1466242373"><p>
Not sure Sopoaga will add enough as a player from the bench....certainly no one in world rugby brings anything near what BB does form the bench anyway.</p></blockquote>
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Sopoaga will get the start I feel.<br><br>
Hard on Barrett but management have been preparing both him and the public for it by continually talking about what a great super sub he is. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="dingo" data-cid="589387" data-time="1466242548">
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<p>True, but like the kick over the top earlier that he caught in the 22 and claimed a fair catch you have to see what might be on to be close to the right place to then use your pace.</p>
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<p>That last Welsh try though, I think you're a bit unfair, he made two tackles trying to stop it while playing first five and for most first fives,two tackles a match is written into the job description....</p>
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<p>A bit unfair? Not being unfair to anyone</p>
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<p>His pace gets him into places other players cant, cos they arent as quick...he showed great smarts by not driving that tackle and staying on his feet.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="589295" data-time="1466240251">
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<p>Try Barrett! Are you Barrett haters still thinking he's so terrible?</p>
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<p>No-one hates Barrett settle down man!</p>
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<p>He is often a terrible goal-kicker though. I think that is about the only criticism he gets.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="589391" data-time="1466242689"><p>
No-one hates Barrett settle down man!<br><br>
He is often a terrible goal-kicker though. I think that is about the only criticism he gets.</p></blockquote>
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Game management... -
Some good rugby played by both sides but Wales fell apart a little in defence in that 2nd half.<br>
Turning point was around the 50 minute mark when Naholo got away with a blatant yellow, a then that Warburton interception & Faletau dropped pass with the tryline beckoning. NZ then broke down field to score - a real 14 point turnaround.<br>
NZ irresistible at times, BB is a wonderful footballer as is Ben Smith & Dagg - these guys create space out of nothing. Fabulous players. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="589348" data-time="1466241265">
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<p>Excellent second half performance from the All Blacks after a mediocre first half. <strong>I wonder what was said at half time</strong>?</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Sorry Malakai but we're sending out Tamnivalu.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="589376" data-time="1466242186"><p>Great come back from Wales at the end.<br><br>
Nice to win again. But..<br><br>
A mixed bad from the All Blacks tonight. Impressive for 30 minutes, but that that's a long way for the 80 minutes high-quality win we crave.</p></blockquote>
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We held a tier one side to no tries for 38 minutes in the first half. If say that was pretty damn good. <br><br>
Then the 2nd half we built pressure defensively and in attack for a good 25-30 minutes. So that's close to 70 minutes of good quality rugby IMO. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pooler fan" data-cid="589394" data-time="1466242797">
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<p>Some good rugby played by both sides but Wales fell apart a little in defence in that 2nd half.<br>
Turning point was around the 50 minute mark when Naholo got away with a blatant yellow, a then that Warburton interception & Faletau dropped pass with the tryline beckoning. NZ then broke down field to score - a real 14 point turnaround.<br>
NZ irresistible at times, BB is a wonderful footballer as is Ben Smith & Dagg - these guys create space out of nothing. Fabulous players.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>so the Welshman was lucky to stay on later on when he did the exact same thing with not even a penalty?</p>
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<p>Those mid-air collisions are such a lottery these days!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mattasaurus" data-cid="589377" data-time="1466242221">
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<p>Yeah was real good on that the welsh try there, Lima's d far superior</p>
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<p> </p>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mattasaurus" data-cid="589377" data-time="1466242221">
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<p>Yeah was real good on that the welsh try there, Lima's d far superior</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Fuck me. You clearly are blind. Go watch a replay. After the Welsh made a breakout, BB covered one player, and grabbed him so he then offloaded to a supporting player who BB tackled. That player offloaded in the tackle to someone who fended off another AB who made a weak tackle.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pooler fan" data-cid="589394" data-time="1466242797">
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<p>Some good rugby played by both sides but Wales fell apart a little in defence in that 2nd half.<br>
Turning point was around the 50 minute mark when Naholo got away with a blatant yellow, a then that Warburton interception & Faletau dropped pass with the tryline beckoning. NZ then broke down field to score - a real 14 point turnaround.<br>
NZ irresistible at times, BB is a wonderful footballer as is Ben Smith & Dagg - these guys create space out of nothing. Fabulous players.</p>
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<p>Yeah, that was a definite YC for mine.</p>
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<p>You guys would be world champions if rugby games were only 60 minutes.</p>
<p>Our bench at present is the greatest in the history of AB rugby: Fuamuina, Tuipolotu, Crockett, Barrett, Savea they all bring speed plus x factor. It's the ABs major point of difference from every other single team in world rugby.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="589380" data-time="1466242359"><p>
It's funny I thought the test was fine the whole way through.</p></blockquote>It probably was alright as a spectacle the whole way through. If I could manage to remove my 'I want the All Blacks to play fucking well for 80 minutes' glasses, I might have noticed. -
<p>That game is best watched as a highlight reel... Poor. Just hope Cruden comes out with a clean bill of health.</p>
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<p>Next week I think I'd like to see Sopoaga and Tamanivalu starting, with Dixon or Squire on the bench. Maybe Taylor on the bench too but I don't think it really matters. Sucks for Ofa, Franklin, Moala and McKenzie to not get a game but eh, Ofa and McKenzie are young and Franklin and Moala were only injury replacements.</p>
