Bledisloe I (All Blacks team room bugged)
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<p>i've been thinking a bit more about what i would do if i were cheika.</p>
<p>aussie depth right now isn't great. hooper and pocock, while obviously limited in some ways, are both much better players than the other options - and when your depth is shit, i think you've got to get the best guys on the field and find a way to make it work. all this 'get a proper 8 who can run with the ball' - well, there just isn't one.</p>
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<p>there is no australian lineout forward that is going to consistently steal our ball, so i would give up on that as a realistic tactic - sure throw someone up, niggle and disrupt, but if you select height to try and do that then i think you lose more than you gain, and you're trying to fight a battle you're not going to win.</p>
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<p>there is absolutely no reason that you can't win your own lineout ball with a small lineout and with limited options, you just need to be clever about it and execute well - do that, and you can keep the midgets.</p> -
<p>I wonder how far away Jed Holloway is from being fit? Or just get Jake Schatz - he can't be any worse than the other donkeys.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="607970" data-time="1471829927">
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<p>I wonder how far away Jed Holloway is from being fit? Or just get Jake Schatz - he can't be any worse than the other donkeys.</p>
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<p>Holloway had a full shoulder reco scheduled once he wasn't going to be picked I believe. Questions exist over his fitness and abrasiveness and Cheika never really put him on the field at the Tahs.</p>
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<p>But he's only 23 so if he turns in a good season next year, he surely becomes an option.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="reprobate" data-cid="607965" data-time="1471829423">
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<p><strong>there is absolutely no reason that you can't win your own lineout </strong>ball with a small lineout and with limited options, you just need to be clever about it and execute well - do that, and you can keep the midgets.</p>
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<p>Samuel Whitelock and Brodie Retallick choose to disagree with this.</p> -
<p>It must be tempting to change not much to give the guys a shot at redemption.</p>
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<p>I'd change up front the mongrel. Fardy, Palu and Skelton in. Try and get a few cheap shots on Read, Barrett, Brodie.</p>
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<p>In the backline, I'd be tempted to give Quade a shot, but there is a risk of complete meltdown there. Foley is an excellent player, seen it before, so is worth sticking with. Defo start Phipps, drop Kuridrani and put AAC at centre. If Drew is available, get him in the wing. So, bearing in mind I've no idea about injuries/availability, I'd go</p>
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<p>same front row, Douglas, Skelton, Fardy, Palu, Pocock, Phipps, Foley, Whoever, AAC, DHP, Mitchell, Folau</p> -
They were probably just short of a gallop. Drop Hooper and stick a proper 8 at 8 (McCalman) and it's actually a pretty rugged pack (ok, with the exception of Simmons). A lot of these guys just aren't playing to their potential - Moore, Sio, Fardy are good players, they need to start playing like it.
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<p>Nepia, I sent you a PM about this. I will try and help.</p>
<p>Crucial, I couldn't PM you. Send me a message.</p>
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<p>About the game-Great first 60, enjoyable to watch when they steadily accumulate points. I wasn't very impressed with the last 20 minutes or so, the reserves didn't have the same edge for us to finish well, and Australia did well - and I hope Hansen will reinforce to the team that if they play like that, they might lose the next game. Not that they will, but they need to keep a better focus. </p> -
<p>Interesting some of the daft headlines about the bugging thing...</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/83415486/are-the-all-blacks-just-being-paranoid-about-sydney-bugging'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/83415486/are-the-all-blacks-just-being-paranoid-about-sydney-bugging</a></p>
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<p>Surely they are only being paranoid if they think they are being bugged, and either aren't or have no proof, whereas they have found a bug, meaning it isnt paranoia, just fact?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="607988" data-time="1471831500"><p>
Interesting some of the daft headlines about the bugging thing...<br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/83415486/are-the-all-blacks-just-being-paranoid-about-sydney-bugging">http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/83415486/are-the-all-blacks-just-being-paranoid-about-sydney-bugging</a><br><br>
Surely they are only being paranoid if they think they are being bugged, and either aren't or have no proof, whereas they have found a bug, meaning it isnt paranoia, just fact?</p></blockquote>
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Ha! Hardly paranoia when they found one! -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="607886" data-time="1471819140">
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<p>Is Michael Hoopah actually a good test match player? He's quick, but he's not very effective, and he fucks their lineout. Pocock is good for a couple of defending turnovers a game to save points, but what does he create? And he fucks their lineout. Fardy gives away too many penalties, and is an ordinary carrier, but at least he can win a lineout. McCalman was very disappointing. </p>
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<p>Simmons can run a lineout, can apparently push in a scrum, but is effective as wet tissue around the track. Douglas is well under done.</p>
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<p>The biggest problem for Aus is, even if they make the same observations as me, what do they do about it? They've got nothing to come in. </p>
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<p>I've watched that WC final from last year a few times and I thought in the first half Hooper was superb. Far more prominent at the breakdown than Pocock and IMO caused the ABs more problems when he was in there.</p>
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<p>Agree the biggest issue is replacing whoever the masses want to drop. OZ have historically had a superb starting lineup plus 3-4 others. However once there are injuries and a coupled of out of form players, there is a lot of head scratching about who's next in line.</p>
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<p>Development of skills to move with the times has also been an issue. Our tight forwards across Super and test rugby have ball playing skills without it being a detriment to their core duties.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="607930" data-time="1471825780">
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<p> You put some big munters at 6 & 8 and you've got far more balance.</p>
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<p>Agree but I think the problem also comes from further into the pack than that. </p>
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<p>Because the Wallaby locks have no impact going forward with the ball and aren't knocking people over behind the advantage line on defence, the momentum and space isn't there for those smaller loosies to play havoc. Thinking Nathan Sharpe, Dan Vickerman types. </p>
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<p>So, yeah, perhaps Will Skelton is part of the solution but past form suggests he's only really good for 20 minutes, if that.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tordah" data-cid="608052" data-time="1471843949"><p>
Never seen an All Blacks match thread on here where more than half the posts are about the makeup and the problems of the opposition team. It's a great time to be an ABs supporter</p></blockquote>
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Ha yeah noticed that too, quite a few posters getting stuck in with ideas to make the aussies more competitive too. Surely thats never happened before! Take note Cheika, NZ fans are feeling sorry for your guys and want to help -
<p>also it isnt good for us, Super rugby and TRC to have a shitty Aussie team</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/08/22/giteaus-law-must-go-destroys-wallabies-culture/'>http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/08/22/giteaus-law-must-go-destroys-wallabies-culture/</a></p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pakman" data-cid="608081" data-time="1471853078">
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/08/22/giteaus-law-must-go-destroys-wallabies-culture/'>http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/08/22/giteaus-law-must-go-destroys-wallabies-culture/</a></p>
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<p>That's a serious smack-down by Spiro.</p>
<p>I agree with his basic sentiment.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="608085" data-time="1471854351">
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<p>Oh yeah. <strong>Kiwi Spiro having a go at Aussie rugby?</strong> That's a shock.<br><br>
Not saying he's wrong, but I'm not sure how The Giteau Rule affects Rory Arnold or Sam Carter.</p>
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<p>GFY, you have a Giteau rule, we have a Crowe rule. Spurious Salvoes is all yours mate.</p>
