The Silver Fern

Sam Cane, I was wrong. Savea and him next level! blew away vaunted Irish backrow

@chchfanatic 20s if far more accurate as a number do not make 20s from school. example from this years rugby championship if played schools, 20s both or none. only 12 have played both schools and 20s I think

Hookers
Dane Coles 21s only
Nathan Harris 20s only
Codie Taylor both

Props
Owen Franks both
Joe Moody none
Tim Perry none
Karl Tu'inukuafe none
Ofa Tuungafasi both

Locks
Scott Barrett 20s only
Brodie Retallick 20s only
Samuel Whitelock both

Loose Forwards
Sam Cane both
Shannon Frizell neither
Jackson Hemopo 20s
Kieran Read both
Ardie Savea both
Liam Squire neither
Luke Whitelock both

Backs:
Halfbacks
TJ Perenara both
Aaron Smith 20s only
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi 20s only

First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett 20s only
Damian McKenzie both
Richie Mo'unga 20s only

Midfielders
Ryan Crotty both
Jack Goodhue 20s only
Anton Lienert-Brown 20s only (but wld have rep schools if not inj prob.)
Sonny Bill Williams none

Outside backs
Jordie Barrett 20s only
Rieko Ioane both (never played 20s though)
Nehe Milner-Skudder none
Waisake Naholo 20s only
Ben Smith none

also from 2014-2016 nz schools squads 38/72 have gone onto NZ 20s WC squad, a number of others have been involved in lead up but not made final squad or been inj.

83-28. That stat is the Aussie vs ABs starting forwards no. of carries. I know stats of possession are heavily in favour of Aussies but I have been harking into this for a while. Modern defences can handle us a little better. We struggle to make in-roads because we no threats! Moody and Franks 1 combined carry!!!!

So disappointed Joseph (and Brown) are not going to be in running. They are both the most innovative and ready to take ABs into next direction but such is life.
Foster and Robertson..........meh, neither fills me with ABs head coach confidence but will prob go with Foster due to continuity however I just don't believe he is one.
Robertson I do not want running an ABs team, the guy is a tool! I have been at a few games in which he is watching his son is playing and he spends the whole game abusing the ref and other team! his personality is not one I think is suited to the ABs job.

We need to think about how we play the game vs Ireland, SA, England and Scotland (Not Wales). These teams have figured out a plan to beat us although Ireland/SA have the cattle to do it. We cannot play with 35% of the ball against these well organised teams! I have mentioned it before but I dont think our defence is the biggest issue considering how little ball we have (Same against SA, England) but we do not look like scoring points let alone tries against these structures.
Our attack has issues. Except first test against BIL when we hit hard flat runners off 9 we have really struggled and have been physically dominated- as we were today.
I do not even want to say I know the answers but I feel we are being to predictable in our structure. What is glaring is we hardly ever get quick go forward ball when teams play us like this.
my two cents- I think we need to simplify our launch plays as when we go more than one pass we are inevitably hit behind the gain line and never recover. When we used Reiko once of the lineout move he almost scored. We have powerful dangerous wingers and they (Ireland) game plan is to denying them the ball. Straight from set phase let them get go forward and play off that. This is why I like Naholo as with him and Reiko they will always go forward. (Maybe Laumape is option?). I know these seem simple but I get frustrated watching our attack game, when we play other teams ok, but when we play these teams we need to think different.
add this to the millions of other opinions

I was sooo bored today and am now stuck on the number of carries our forwards are doing on attack I have developed a new metric, Carries vs Possession %. I have no idea why I have done this other than my obsessive brain.
No idea if it is says anything about us on attack have included past ABs games and the recent weekend games of others for comparison.
what is evident is overall we maybe are not that bad as our bench carries more than other nations however our starters get mauled by the opposition. This i guess back up we often finish strong.

Just watched Chris Grinter from RBHS on TV and had to laugh. I'm not against kids changing schools but he comes across as the moral police is classic! The only reason they are upset is that it is now happening to them! They have spent the last 20 years recruiting players from 'lesser' schools and have been stated that it is the opportunity their schools provide and then get upset when it happens to them?

Left Crusader Knights vs Hurricanes Development with 10 to go. Was 33 all.
A lot of players looked uncertain out there for me but guess not much riding on game.
Aumua and Uluilakepa carried very strongly for Hurricanes and Judd looked sharpe. Rayasi was an interesting watch. The kid looks like he can do anything with the ball but does not look like a super rugby winger as he would just either be on or off. Seemed really lost on D, I was next to Cory Jane who was telling were to stand the whole game!
For Knights They looked to have a lot more structure but the standout of the game for me was Dallas McLeod at 12, a really big strong kid who made Toala, Tiatia etc life tough. Just strong and hard to put down. Made 3-4 massive runs where nobody could stop him!. Will Tucker scored a good 60 meter try outrunning Hurricane backs. (edit it could have been Frost actually who has really good pace, not Tucker)

Ofa out of tour, Newell in

A good thing? See what he has got.

I think for many of us it’s déjà vu which makes us angry. I’m sure I wrote similar post last time we lost to Ireland and nothing has changed.
All Blacks pride ourselves on playing the game a certain way (ball in hand) etc and it hasn’t worked against these teams who feed off defence and don’t fear our style. Maybe we need to change our mindset? Just a thought I mean when we had ball we looked like teenage boys fumbling with a bra for the first time!!
Change of tack needed because France in Paris isn’t gonna be easier if we get THAT French team who are up for it.

I have trust in Hansen (I think), his track record speaks for itself. I however am praying this is all part of his game plan for next year. Reminds me of pool play st 2015 WC, playing fatigued?
Our attack is almost non-excistent so is he storing it away? Ireland have 1 game plan, it hasn't changed at all under Joe, just executed to perfection but I think they have shown all their cards before the big dance.
What has he got up his sleeve?

Thought The much critiqued Frizell also had good impact tonight, really noticeable involvements that shifted momentum

After watching game with a lot of u20 prospects thought it would be good to get a new topic going.

Players at Crusaders vs Hurricanes D on show.

Tamati Williams - Started and was part of a very strong scrum/Lineout unit. Didnt see in tight but should be part of team.
Cullen Grace - Was starting and has got a lot bigger since school. Very physical and showed he is up to the level. Impressed
Dallas McLeod - As mentioned in other post was the most impressive player on the park incl. ABs!! Big kid and very strong but may not have express pace. One to watch!
Leicester Faingaanuku - Was the player they wanted to get the ball. Big Kid who looked to have x-factor
Shilo Klein - Didnt really show out at this level
Fletcher Newell- played tough up front, good technically
Fergus Burke - Composed and good kicker, will be in mix
Sam Gilbert - Like Burke could be in mix.
Chay Fihaki - Athletic kid who looked to mix it with the big boys. is a prospect
Isaiah Punivai - I know they like him, and he is good but some others shone brighter today.
Kaliopasi Uluilakepa - Monster in loose but at times Hurricanes struggled as a pack. Will be in team!
Stewart Cruden- started but general kicking was very weak today.
Danny Toala - Had moments on attack but was destroyed by McLeod on D. was not up to standard defensively.
Billy Proctor -Inj early
Josiah Tavita Metcalfe - Came on and made impact, ran strongly and earned scrum penalty in game.
Devan Flanders - Looks about 30 but when he came on just has something about him that I like. Does little things well.
Kienan Higgins - Big kid as well, didnt realise he is u20. took on the line a couple of times. physical.

Ttt has impressed with speed

@Duluth Thankgod Gregory is with the 7s! watching him run away from high balls tonight just gives me nightmares. well at least we have the dynamic Collins to take his place!

@machpants watch again the one tackle the whole game Bridge had to make in space he got stood up badly and the guy ran 40 metres, but that doesn't matter I guess cause he is sooo good??

I dislike Itoje as a player! I reckon he is let away with so much at the breakdown, always putting hands in the ruck to slow it down, but I guess good on him, he gets away with it.

One of these ones where you could say ABs played shit and where luck but actually in reflection did pretty good. Hard place to win, pooring rain and down 15 after 20min Eng played as well as they could, but still stayed calm and tightened the screws. One thing you can guarantee this week and next is how hard teams will come out but absolutely shocking start from us.
England for me this was your chance and you blew it, too predictable and ABs adjusted and they didnt.

A Smith and bench won game just as Chiefs bench maybe cost them? Smith just brought direction and attitude missing with Hammington n Ioane together

Looking at both these teams and all NZ teams outside Crusaders you see a trend. Those four teams are going to rely heavily on first choice players and could beat anyone on day. Take a few out and looks a bit thin. Your seasoned ABs like A Smith, ALB looked in a different class to others tonight.
Maybe I'm being a bit critical.

Harris has been playing really well tonight, scrum, lineout in loose and d. impressed!