The other element of improvement for Jordan this year is in his leadership and communication.
Probably easier to see whats going on from FB rather than wing.
Lancaster Park
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Our loosies issue is still the lack of a good big (mass and height) 6. We lack height and power in any of our loosies that play well enough to get picked. When we had both read and kaino we had height and enough mass/skill to do the tough stuff. For the last 3 seasons we had players playing well in a 6 role but either tall enough but not solid enough or a solid enforcer who wasnt tall enough.
I could be wrong as its just my perception.
Paps is the classic example. But heavy for a 7, too short for a 6 or 8. Great player for a role in the game for all sizes but ironically not quite the right size.
EB, broken a lot but brings a lot of energy. Too tall for 7, probably too light or is about more speed less power for 6 or 8. Offers things of real value to the collective group but not quite the right shape.
Hos, lots of talent and size. In the semi either was the focus of containment for the defence or just didnt have a great game in the game that mattered.
Jacobseon, great player at 6 and 8 but has the size of a 7. Not as good a 7 as he is 6 or 8. Great bench option for cover but impact.....not sure if hes the line busting 6/8 you might need in the last 20mins of a big international.
Finau. Really capable 6 with good size. Not quite there yet but could be another Kaino or just stays the same.
Satitti. Gives off the same mental aptitude and attitude of an early Mccaw. Next ABs captain if we can find a taller 6 or 8 to get the loosie balance better.
And here we are back at the big lineout option and ball carrier at 6 or 8 again that we dont seem to have. -
Chiefs have to go in as favourites for me. Saders defending well but attack isnt special.
Chiefs backs took us apart in the second half last time and without the reduction in table place from a game that didnt really matter in reality were still the top of the table team.
31-0 means nothing, its history not the present. And the present is chiefs are a (slightly) better team/squad.
You have no idea how much I hate having to say that but we aren't back to 2023 std yet let alone better. -
Big pressure game that points to who can be considered for ABs and who misses out.
Havent seen the game.
ABs winners and losers from each team? -
EB back on or still HIA checking?
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So who are the brumbies and saders most likely to play next week?
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Certainly hope they do although I wouldnt want to rush Jordan and risk further damage unless his knee is 100% .....true for everybody with a knee injury (other injuries are available)
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Thank you
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Quick scrum question, does having a short hooker compared to the props make it harder for the locks to generate power (as your shoulders would be angled?). No idea just genuinely curious if it reduces scrum power.
Would that be a downside for a hooker of moananu's height? -
numbers 1-3 is the clash of the match!
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If its in Afrikaans it may not get many hits from us
Love the insight you've given us so far though ..... the fern isnt used to actual evidence -
How did Reece go at 13?
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I think they are just playing the long game. Keeping TJ and Cane to instill ABs culture and slowly build from there.
For all the anti razor stuff around sotutu and akira not being picked but Wallace did they did show that they knew the qualities they were looking for (not just playing wise ...hes a future captain I suspect).
I would have liked to see Love get a run but given the 9 months to the next test I think they are drawing a lined under this seasons team and see who develops in super.Core team with a few changes, happy with that.
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Thought is was our players who ran out of gas around half time. We lost a few turnovers when we put someone through a gap (williams the best example) and left them 10-15m up the field with no one even trying to get there to support. That is attitude mixed with tiredness.
We had almost no variation in our attack all game. 10 never kicked for variation so no stress on the defence. (except BBs daft kick passes)
They knew what was coming every time and we just kept serving it up.Really liked that while we are playing a high risk late passing game there was no panic if someone got tackled and was pushed back 5m or so. The team got back promptly and calmly and started again.
Great game, nothing in it, we are improving all the time, not the finished article but good signs.
Just have to beat Italy ..... dont want to take them lightly. -
Also whats the new ruling about defending a high ball chase? The commentators seemed to suggest its a new tweak but could understand why we got pinged when no one obviously changed their line. Was I just blind?
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I dont recall the ref giving any penalties (maybe one but that was williams) for not rolling away, all the rest where for not releasing.
I thought Ratima played really well under the circumstances at the ruck but ne needed to learn how to communicate with ref when there are irishmen just lying about at the back of the ruck impeding his access to the ball. -
Were just in that gap when the old hands are at the end of their careers but there are no young bucks close enough to replace them yet. 2024 and 2025 are going to be a bit meh until we get a decent 10.
(see canes results for the first 15 years of super and blues results after spencer for where we are). -
We are at a funny place with 10. We've moved from DC to BB, RM and DM. The last three are full of x factor and have been raved about based on excellence at super rugby. In turn as a result every young 10 wants to be one of those but very few want to be DC.
At the same time the quality of Super rugby has dropped especially in the last 5 years meaning that a test match skill set is simply never required to win.Where does that leave us? Our best three 10s are flawed but can handle test match speed and pressure (maybe not always at 10 but certainly at 15).
We have no young 10s who have shown they are up to that level of pace and pressure at 10(see lower calibre of super rugby) and we wont really know who might for a year or two.
Better to bring them into a settled team and just change a 10 to try them than a team still getting used to new systems, structures and approach.
Until we get the loosies sorted then we will be well on the way.
(Probably worth giving plummer 30 mins in the third bledisloe all the same unless in training they recognised he wasnt quite ready yet). -
10 still a tricky one for me.
But it comes back to the fact the we shouldnt have to coach basic skills/tactics in the ABs.
Why dont we have a group of tens who can play test style rugby?
Maybe super is now so low grade you dont need to hone those skills because if you just keep throwing pases you can score.
I'm not sold on BB or Damian but seriously not sure who else can play at test match pressure. Maybe Plummer? They'll be testing him at training and maybe hes not quite there yet. -
Like the idea of giving proctor a run but only with JB at 12 as combinations will help him show his best.
Still worried about on field leadership. Its like all the experience guys who have left were the ones who naturally lead when it was tight and we been left with the followers who have a lot of games to them.
Plummer, dont see the point of a player who is described as a 'made for test' style (% plays, kick for territory etc) is player you want off the bench. Surely he should start.
But if we have learnt anything this AB season super form doesnt count. Its now such a step down it is not a good measure.
Trial one or two at most each game at most to see if they are up to test capability.
2025 All Blacks v France series
All Blacks 2025
Final - Crusaders v Chiefs
SF Crusaders v Blues
SF Crusaders v Blues
Brumbies v Crusaders
Waratahs v Crusaders
Hurricanes vs Crusaders
Hurricanes vs Crusaders
Hurricanes vs Crusaders
Drua v Crusaders
Drua v Crusaders
Italy v All Blacks
All Blacks v France
All Blacks vs Ireland
All Blacks vs Ireland
McKenzie, Mo'unga etc
McKenzie, Mo'unga etc
All Blacks vs Wallabies 2
All Blacks vs Wallabies 2