The Silver Fern

@kiwipie said in 2017-18 World Sevens Series:

@billy-tell said in 2017-18 World Sevens Series:

Don’t really follow 7s but are NZ becoming a 2nd tier nation these days? USA this time I see. Would be unthinkable in the 15s version.

Yes but the whole of the Sevens is flattening out it seems. It was USA v Argentina in the last final. All the teams are getting so much better at scoring when they have possession so games can turn on winning the kick-offs, the decisions of the ref etc.

It's not so much "is NZ becoming a second tier nation" at sevens...it already is. They are only a shadow of what they used to be. They make watching their games both embarrassing and absolutely fkn frustrating.

Re: Hurricanes vs Crusaders

Any news on his progress as the silence is deafening!

Why would anyone in NZ waste their time in watching the inept performances of this sub-par team. They are terribly coached by a 'Scotsman' of all people ...we need Gordon T back or at least another coach of his calibre.
This team does not hit the ball or line at speed, they are flatfooted in any attack, their handling skills are poor and blah de blah......I did watch their games but after spending the time squirming on the couch in sheer frustration over the last season or so watching these sloppy performances, I don't think I will bother again.

@bones .............Gatland has the best all-round game and should be #1 candidate.

@stargazer
Braydon Ennor might continue to catch the eye of more than just the Canterbury mob.
Outside centre is one position where we are a bit light at the highest level.

@kiwiinmelb said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:

@pukunui said in Pommie BaaBaa & Froggie XV:

ALB has been pretty rubbish this year. Not blaming it all on him but he is a contributing factor in the disjointed, stuttering backline. Hopefully Goodhue is an upgrade.

I have long term concerns for ALB , like his smarts and skills,

But concerned about his physical attributes ,

might end up a bit of a waddler before he is too old , but hope im wrong

I agree and the word 'waddler' sums up ALB performances so far this year...he has lost a yard or two of pace and we have not seen him reach the levels of last year.
C'mon Jack we need you to show us what you can do in Black!
Unfortunately I can't see him be given decent game time as Shag likes to drip feed the newbies initially, 5mins per game at a time .

Pleased to see Caleb Clark in the squad...looked really impressive in the U20 RWC and looked a stound out.
Hope he doesn't do a Tevita Li for the Blues after watching his similar standout games in U20s, only to have exceptionally average games in Super rugby for the Blues.

My only problem with Crotty is that while he has the goods, he seldom lasts more than a couple of tests before he is injured. He just doesn't seem durable .
Laumape/Goodhue is one I would like to see operate for a few games....maybe we may see that over the coming weeks or next year.
Whatever happens, my concern is that we need a settled combination pretty soon as time is running out before the RWC. There needs to be extended game time with the same combination ala Nonu/Smith, which is a given that it was quite unique to have their extended period as a settled combination in Super and at Test level.

@tim said in WHAT IS THE BEST AB MIDFIELD COMBINATION:

I really like the look of Goodhue, but he may face the second season blues next year, as ALB did this year. Goodhue looks like a more physically robust player though.

Yes but that doesn't solve the question of #12 which is where I feel the AB's have a problem of quick decisive distribution.
What I would really like to see is Laumape at 12 with Goodhue outside him.....would be interesting to see if it would work.
Both have had exceptional seasons, but untried at Test level.

OK...just as a left field one...why not slot Jordie in at 12 when he comes back???

...and replaced by who????

I haven't seen our midfield operate with clinical precision for some time and it appears they are not coping with 'rush' defence or close inspection of our 10-12-13 numbers.
There's plenty of support for SBW especially after the last Test, however, I just wonder if he is one of the major reasons why Crotty or ALB are contained effectively.
Maybe a combination of ALB at 12 and Crotty outside, or maybe after we see more of Goodhue it could well be ALB at 12 with Goodhue outside.

Hopefully the ABs turn up for this one in Brisbane as it could potentially be the proverbial 'banana skin'.
Australia appear to be gaining plenty of confidence again after their draw with the Boks and then their win against the Argies. Some of the skills coaching from Mick Byrne appear to be rubbing off as seen in their offloads, 'catch-pass' improvement, (especially in the forwards ), tactical field kicking running lines.
The Wallabies will be desperate for this win to end their RC campaign on a successful note.
Can the ABs get up with enough passion and enthusiasm to get a good win, seeing as they have already wrapped up the Championship and the Bledisloe.
Motivation will be their biggest obstacle.

@taniwharugby
Well they will be minus one of 'their' hotheads with Coleman out of the equation....makes for one less yellow card from their camp

@Billy-Tell

Anyone here believe in Ofa Tu'ungafasi potential or talent as much as Shag and his fellow selectors as I am struggling to see his worth off the bench or even in the AB environment.
Would welcome some enlightenment here.

@Bovidae

@nzzp said in Bledisloe I:

@jegga said in Bledisloe I:

How did we get to this? the bledisloe thread is halfway down the page on the day we play it.

complacency.

It's not like we drew and lost our last two games, eh.

I'm actually really looking forward to this. Woke up and thought 'Bledisloe day' - awesome.

Its easy to underestimate the guys in Yellow due to their recent and past history...but its going to be interesting to see the impact of them having Mick Byrnes up-skilling them over the last 6weeks. Will their be noticeable difference in their attack ability, positional field kicking, and ball handling skills?
They do have talent in their backline but as a complete unit have not had a lot of game time together.

Yep fair comment M4L, I agree there is less talk than usual coming out of their camp, and probably a direct result of the recent Super rugby performances by all the Aussie teams coming on the back of their Wallaby performances against Scotland and Italy.
These first two Tests are going to be very tense which is great and they should be crackers.

@taniwharugby

I can't see Cheika have a 'tough time in getting his team up"...its the Wallabies we are talking about and no matter how many times the ABs have bettered them, they always talk themselves up big time before any Bledisloe encounters.
This time its all about 'getting the hard edge, fitness, and physicality" into the team during a 6 week programme in Newcastle and Cessnock. Cheika has taken them out of their usual comfort zone of 'soft locations' such as Coogee bewach and thrown them into a pretty stark environment.
All the while the ex AB skills coach will be hard at work up-skilling their capabilities.
The 1st Bledisloe in Sydney will not be easy for the ABs and could be a potential banana skin one for them.