waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
Isaia Walker-Leawere covering for PatT this week.
Agree totally, its basically a copout from a new coach who has surmised "ok, lost RWC final by one point, good enough for me, you don't have to play your way in, all you can do is play your way out."The squad was mostly selected in January with just a few squad positions up for grabs, as per a Scott Hansen interview after the first team was named. Super Rugby basically had no importance except for those fringe positions. Even then, they typically went for theoretical potential over demonstrated form (for e.g., George Bell over Ricky Riccitelli, and Wallace Sititi over Hoskins Sotutu).
There's a lot of conservative selections, which I absolutely did not expect from surfer dude McSuper-coach. Hopefully this is just a 2004 Henry situation and the changes (selection + tactics) will become more evident on the EOYT and 2025.
Ok. I'm curious about the All-Black fans honest thoughts about this team. Some of these selections and who is dropped just seem a tad odd to me. Don't get me wrong, lots of individually great players in this team, but lots of playing out of preferred, usual position, players who arguably weren't the best this Super season.
Ok. I'm curious about the All-Black fans honest thoughts about this team. Some of these selections and who is dropped just seem a tad odd to me. Don't get me wrong, lots of individually great players in this team, but lots of playing out of preferred, usual position, players who arguably weren't the best this Super season.
Agree, re: the game plan, attacking structures. I think you could accept the personnel changes and selections if it was clear what they were working towards and that what you were seeing made sense should they execute, but like you, I'm just not sure that it does. Especially at test level. The high number of passes and desire to shift the ball without seemingly earning it upfront isn't going to work at test level where defences are so much quicker and generally well organised. Some of the set piece like the lineout has been less than impressive and the compounding errors have hurt them. Those wayward passes from Ardie and then Damian in the last game were so not usual All Blacks brand play. I know attacking structures generally take longer to imbed than defensive and other elements. I mean look and England, it's only really now that they're starting to show some genuine attacking flair with the injection of some Saints players and Smith being given the reins so maybe there is a long plan I'm just not seeing.I think it's a coaching staff with a heap of coaches/selectors without a huge amount of text experience that are finding their way.
They are stuck between trying what has worked for Crusaders in Super Rugby (hybrid loosies, Reece etc) and defaulting to experience (Perenara at 9, Beauden at 15 etc). The issue is, in the meantime they don't seem to have an obvious plan as they don't have like for like replacements (Finau is a totally different 6 to Blackadder, Perenara is a totally different 9 to Hotham and Ratima, Jordan and Love are much different 15s to Beauden and Perofeta etc).
The question will be - can they make the adjustments needed. Henry, Hansen and Smith did in 2004 in their first year - initially trying guys like X Rush, J Gibbes etc before on the end of year tour settling on their team (So'oialo 8, Collins 6, Carter 10 etc).
My almost bigger worry is the game plan - their attack frankly.... sucks. It's ripped straight out of Super Rugby and honestly I don't actually think it suits the players at all (or test rugby) - the game is built on moving the ball quickly to space but the skills or smarts in this AB team aren't actually very high - I think they'd better suited to Vern Cotter Killdozer Ball.
Who would you have swapped out if you'd been on the seleciton panel?Late to the convo so possibly already mentioned but the problems last week were first & foremost the forwards not providing quick, quality ball; A dreadful performance from our 9; and (Edit: at least in part causing) DMac reverting to blowfly-in-a-bottle mode.
So we swap out the centre & both wings, none of whom had a great night but I'd argue we didn't lose because of them: very much a case of needing to identify & address the root rather than proximate causes IMO.
Do you have thoughts on why Razor has gone this route? Is there some balance of experience and age that he's going for?The squad was mostly selected in January with just a few squad positions up for grabs, as per a Scott Hansen interview after the first team was named. Super Rugby basically had no importance except for those fringe positions. Even then, they typically went for theoretical potential over demonstrated form (for e.g., George Bell over Ricky Riccitelli, and Wallace Sititi over Hoskins Sotutu).
There's a lot of conservative selections, which I absolutely did not expect from surfer dude McSuper-coach. Hopefully this is just a 2004 Henry situation and the changes (selection + tactics) will become more evident on the EOYT and 2025.
Perenara is the obvious one.Who would you have swapped out if you'd been on the seleciton panel?
Who would you have swapped out if you'd been on the seleciton panel?
Ardie hasn't entirely impressed me upon his return this year. I agree that the loosies don't seem to have it worked out yet. Also agree re: Finau. Physically the boy had so much promise but he's got to get his top inches sorted so he's more accurate on when to pull the trigger or not. I felt that they did a disservice to him not pinning him for some of those obvious late hits this Super season.We're pretty much stuck with the current tight-five until ScoBar is healthy again so no changes in personnel there but they obviously need to up the physicality. The HT comment from Ryan (?) wrt the clean & carry not being good enough said it all, really.
Similarly there's not too many alternatives in the loose, Sotutu aside (which won't happen as long as ASav is captain). As with the tighties it's more an attitude & work-rate issue: ASav is standing off too much, suggesting he maybe doesn't trust his 6 & 7 to get the job done so feels he needs to be second man in. EB isn't the long-term answer at 6 but Finau is a walking Red Card so I'd keep him until someone better presents (so a bit like his old man in that regard)
I'd definitely have Cane in my 23 & probably starting with DPap or Jorgensen coming on later.
TJP shouldn't have been picked IMO but he's probably worth keeping around in a mentoring-type role & as the "break glass" option.
One of Tele’a or Reece had to make way for CC, they're just too same/ same & that's something that I can't really recall ever working for us plus MT just looks uncomfortable at 11.
Beaugan should only be an impact player these days, whether at 15 or 10. It's insane that a guy who's basically another Cullen is stuck on the wing waiting for a kick-pass or contestable box kick to come his way.
I assume your Cullen comment is re: Jordan?
To be fair he is just returning from injury and after Beauden's impact in that English game you can see their thinking, but yes, I agree.You'd be correct in that assumption.
Who would you have swapped out if you'd been on the seleciton panel?
Since when had Christie been No 3 halfback at the Blues. He is clearly their No 1, . I do agree maybe he shouldn't be in ABs though, Funaki either, not in the same class as Ratima, Hotham and Roigard (or TJ)Ricky Ricattelli should absolutely be in for Stormtrooper Bell and probably on the bench behind Aumua. Papali'i, Cane, Jacobson, and Blackadder are all samey, but the first two are clearly the best of them. Break them up with Peter Lakai and maybe even Brayden Iose (Savea at flanker) who provide more carrying power (Lakai may even force more turnovers). Akira Ioane for Finau; he won't get RC for stupid + needless late hits and forces a lot of tackles into maul turnovers (i.e., scrums).
Longer term, hopefully Suafoa returns to his 2022/23 form after his health issues this seaon as he could be an ideal blindside. With Ioane leaving he should be at the top of the Blues depth chart. Fabian Holland is available from next season IIRC, and the Blues locks will have another season under Stern Vern.
For the backs, Christie is the #3 HB at the Blues and shouldn't be anywhere near the squad, so get Taufa Funaki in. Proctor at centre. Speaking of centres, AJ Lam is a better centre than Rieko and should be starting there for the Blues next season. I'm not really sure what Rieko offers these days tbh unless he wants to shift back into a power wing role. Even then, he'd have to carry in tight as Clarke does because I can't see him replicating Jordan's ability to make breaks one or two spaces out. Beauden on the bench.