Bledisloe I (All Blacks team room bugged)
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<p>Re: 1 and 2 above, I think the question is one of change up. ABs have been exceptional at bringing bench on at 60 and annihilating opposition with 10 minutes of rugby at a pace their tiring limbs can't live with. Thinking of for example Wales 2014 minutes 68 - 76.</p>
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<p>The Bus strikes me as a slow starter. If BB starts then I can't see Cruden exploding on impact (pardon the expression!) so it would have to be a BB/Sopoaga combo. Which might be extraordinary, but I can't see Shag trying for the first time this weekend?</p>
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<p>Starting to look forward to it!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nzzp" data-cid="605863" data-time="1471375015">
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<p>Serious question - is the team named early tomorrow morning NZ time?</p>
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<p>Just before kickoff, between the anthem and the Haka isn't it?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="605801" data-time="1471338662"><p>
I still think a Crotty 12 and Fekitoa 13 combo , is about as sound defensively as we can get with everyone available, other options may have offered more in attack though <br><br>
Was interested to read somewhere in Aussie press that the wallabies will target our midfield believing that to be our weakness in the absence of Nonu Smith</p></blockquote>
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See. Told ya Cheika's a genius. Genius I tells ya. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Gunner" data-cid="605865" data-time="1471376353"><p>Just before kickoff, between the anthem and the Haka isn't it?</p></blockquote>
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I thought it had already been named....<br><br>- Crockett<br>
- Taylor<br>
- Franks<br>
- Romano<br>
- Whitelock <br>
- Whatshisname<br>
- Todd<br>
- Read <br>
- Youknowhim<br>
- Thingo<br>
- Bro<br>
- Crotty<br>
- Cuzzie<br>
- Tokenblue<br>
- Dagg
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="605872" data-time="1471381267">
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<p>I thought it had already been named....<br><br>- Crockett<br>
- Taylor<br>
- Franks<br>
- Romano<br>
- Whitelock<br>
- Whatshisname<br>
- Todd<br>
- Read<br>
- Youknowhim<br>
- Thingo<br>
- Bro<br>
- Crotty<br>
- Cuzzie<br>
- Tokenblue<br>
- Dagg</p>
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<p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/1N0UjV3.jpg" alt="1N0UjV3.jpg"></p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="605933" data-time="1471395612"><p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/1N0UjV3.jpg" alt="1N0UjV3.jpg"></p></blockquote>
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That team is what Hansen really wants to put out, but he fears Winger will call him one eyed and biased. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="605870" data-time="1471379865">
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<p>Are the Wallabies still banned from using the term "All Blacks"? Still haven't seen one mention it in an interview or article? Worked well last time.</p>
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<p>I have it on good authority that the ABs are banned from calling Australia 'The Wallabies' in case complacency sets in.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="605786" data-time="1471332961">
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<p>Some Ferners may not see Crotty as a first choice midfielder, but I'm reasonably convinced that he is for the selectors. Hansen said that he sees Crotty as a Conrad Smith type of player; a good communicator, solid on defence and making good decisions. The selectors don't expect Crotty to do the flashy stuff, unlike some of Ferners seem to expect from BOTH midfielders. I think we have only lost our first choice players for one of the midfield positions and, possibly, the midfield cover on the bench.</p>
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<p>Conrad could expose defenses with his running though too. He was a very elusive runner and not so one dimensional. The reason Crotty does not get much love from the fern is because there is a reason we are hoping for better and think there is better out there with some nurturing. Heck I ready for BB to play 1st five and Cruden might soon be an after thought and I have no dislike for Cruden. I just think BB has become the man.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="broughie" data-cid="605998" data-time="1471407588">
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<p>Conrad could expose defenses with his running though too. He was a very elusive runner and not so one dimensional. The reason Crotty does not get much love from the fern is because there is a reason we are hoping for better and think there is better out there with some nurturing. Heck I ready for BB to play 1st five and Cruden might soon be an after thought and I have no dislike for Cruden. I just think BB has become the man.</p>
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<p>The thing about Snakey was that from what I recall of him in 2004 when he first made the ABs was that he solid defensively and ran well off the shoulder of Umaga. These are both attributes Crotty has IMO. Snakey was in and out of the side throughout 2004-07 (only played 12 tests in 4 season) but then took on a more prominent role with ball in hand and as a distributor from 2008 and beyond. So for the next 7 seasons he was the main man and developed into a world class all round player. </p>
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<p>From my perspective the early signs from Crotty is that he can build to be that sort of player.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="broughie" data-cid="605998" data-time="1471407588">
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<p>Conrad could expose defenses with his running though too. He was a very elusive runner and not so one dimensional. The reason Crotty does not get much love from the fern is because there is a reason we are hoping for better and think there is better out there with some nurturing. Heck I ready for BB to play 1st five and Cruden might soon be an after thought and I have no dislike for Cruden. I just think BB has become the man.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="606015" data-time="1471412559">
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<p>The thing about Snakey was that from what I recall of him in 2004 when he first made the ABs was that he solid defensively and ran well off the shoulder of Umaga. These are both attributes Crotty has IMO. Snakey was in and out of the side throughout 2004-07 (only played 12 tests in 4 season) but then took on a more prominent role with ball in hand and as a distributor from 2008 and beyond. So for the next 7 seasons he was the main man and developed into a world class all round player. </p>
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<p>From my perspective the early signs from Crotty is that he can build to be that sort of player.</p>
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<p>I think Conrad has a bit over Crotty at this stage from what I have seen with ball in hand , I can see why the comparisons , but I think Conrad never really got the full credit for his slick hands , the perfectly timed pass to put a runner into the clear after drawing in defenders , he did it so regularly , I think we too it for granted </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="606015" data-time="1471412559"><p>The thing about Snakey was that from what I recall of him in 2004 when he first made the ABs was that he solid defensively and ran well off the shoulder of Umaga. These are both attributes Crotty has IMO. Snakey was in and out of the side throughout 2004-07 (only played 12 tests in 4 season) but then took on a more prominent role with ball in hand and as a distributor from 2008 and beyond. So for the next 7 seasons he was the main man and developed into a world class all round player. <br>
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From my perspective the early signs from Crotty is that he can build to be that sort of player.</p></blockquote>
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Over that period I think we had something like 25 or so tests without fielding the same pairing in consecutive tests. -
<p>But in saying that , although conrad was a noted defender , I think crotty may end up being a better defensive player , with similar accuracy but a bit more robust </p>
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<p>Conrad was an awesome player, one of my favourites because he was fearless in defence and was a key man in helping to ignite our wingers and fullback with soft deft passing. But we really only saw that consistently from 2008 onwards IMO which coincided with him getting regular test playing time.</p>
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<p>All the rotating that saw Mils, Toeava, McAllister, Nonu, Umaga also play centre in that period suggests that the cartel weren't ready to settle on Conrad. Who knows why, but part of the reason could be is that he needed more time to develop his game (just like Nonu)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="606021" data-time="1471413781">
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<p>Conrad was an awesome player, one of my favourites because he was fearless in defence and was a key man in helping to ignite our wingers and fullback with soft deft passing. But we really only saw that consistently from 2008 onwards IMO which coincided with him getting regular test playing time.</p>
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<p>All the rotating that saw Mils, Toeava, McAllister, Nonu, Umaga also play centre in that period suggests that the cartel weren't ready to settle on Conrad. <strong>Who knows why,</strong> but part of the reason could be is that he needed more time to develop his game (just like Nonu)</p>
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<p>Because he kept getting injured so he never had a chance to settle into the role. His injury troubles subsided and he became a regular from then on. Mils and McAlister only really played centre in matches where Smith was injured or they felt he was too underdone fitnesswise (RWC 2007).</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="606019" data-time="1471413472">
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<p>But in saying that , although conrad was a noted defender , I think crotty may end up being a better defensive player , with similar accuracy but a bit more robust </p>
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<p>I was with you up until this statement. You just blew your wad on that one. I'm hoping that Crotty is not around in a year.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="606019" data-time="1471413472"><p>But in saying that , although conrad was a noted defender , I think crotty may end up being a better defensive player , with similar accuracy but a bit more robust</p></blockquote>
See although Smith gets his dues on here I often think he's underrated in areas of his game due to perception. He wasn't small and was actually very robust IMO. Great at fronting up and making dominant, smothering tackles as well as hitting a weak shoulder on a straight line.
