WARNING: This might take some time (I'm not joking, this is going to rival RedsHappy at his best
)
Overall, we played at a similar level to last week, but instead of wild passes and pop gun kicks, we managed to miss straight up tackles and make a few disastrous short kicks. The Kiwis, on the other hand, lifted their game to its usual high standard, and they added Ma Nonu to their team (looking forward to his retirement).
1. Sio - did the Kiwis work out an adjustment to unsettle him in the scrums? If they did, I hope Ledesma can work that one out. This is the issue with him being a bit green in terms of internationals - there are a lot of wily campaigners who might try it on with him. I hope Ledesma can help him get better at dealing with what is thrown at him. His work around the park was good.
Slipper - no problems with the scrum. Good work elsewhere (aside from one - ? - dropped ball)
I'm happy whichever of these guys starts.
2. Moore - Chieka should have replaced him much earlier. His throwing has not been great for the last two weeks, and he looked fatigued to me. TPN is at a similar level to Moore at any time, but a fresh TPN is way better than a tired Moore.
Start Moore, bring on TPN earlier.
3. Kepu - No fancy footwork for a try, but solid work in the set peice and around the ground.
Holmes - It is great to have a replacement at pretty much the same level as the starter, when it comes to the set piece especially. Another dropped ball just when we didn't need it, but still good.
Start Kepu. Give Holmes plenty of game time.
4. Skelton - a polarising prescence if ever there was. When he was replaced, the score was 13-6. The lineout was not yet a disaster, and he had been tackling, running, and clearing bodies very effectively. The question is, was his effectiveness in one area enough to justify our not being able to pressure the NZ lineout as we might have been able to with another jumper?
Looks like more of a "finisher" to me
Mumm - Played quite well again, but his miss on Milner-Skudder didn't look good (although there are a few locks who have been, and will be, skinned by that Kiwi flier).
Bench spot very likely, as he covers 4,5,6
5. Horwill - Got through a lot of work. Called the lineout pretty well. Big miss on Nonu (although, as with Mumm, Nonu in a bit of space vs a lock usually means the lock eats dust). Ideally, we don't allow these kinds of mismatches.
Douglas - he got 20 mins and didn't look out of place. A replacement lock isn't going to overturn a 30+ point defecit, but the scrums and lineout both went well with him on. He is a big unit and I expect him to make the squad.
If Simmons is fit, he starts. His partner is either Douglas or Horwill. The other fights it out with Skelton for a bench spot.
6. Fardy - another strong performance. Probably want him for 80 mins in the big matches.
7. Hooper - played quite well. Given what he has done over the last few weeks, we expect a lot from him. He didn't shine in the way he has previously, but that doesn't mean he was bad. Still one of our best, so start him in the big matches.
8. Palu - again, he played for 40 mins and did all you'd expect - ran, tackled, cleared out, all with power. Didn't manage a direct big hit - would have liked to see one of those on Nonu. Half time 13-6. We were not dominated at all in any aspect. we even had territorial superiority.
Pocock - not the imperious display of last week. Like everyone else, he even dropped some ball. Having said that, this guy must start any big match we want to win. Other teams may predict this, but that doesn't mean they can deal with it (we can all predict that Retallic, McCaw, Read, Smith, Smith, Smith, Nonu, Carter etc will start, because they are clearly the best. That is no reason for them not to start in case they are 'worked out'). Also, Hooper and Pocock are capable of playing whatever gameplan Chieka wants (well certainly have a better chance than any other candidate) as long as the lineout is well covered by 4, 5, 6.
9. White - a good game (also joins the 'burnt by Nonu' club). His accuracy is good. His speed is a little, um, hang on a second, slow. His boot is generally good if used at the right time.
Could we improve White's speed, or Phipps' accuracy please? I think having one of them on the bench is the safer option for the future. Who starts depends on gameplan. I'm not ruling Genia out at all, it is just a question of how his injury goes, and whether he gets back up to speed in time.
10. Cooper - another man who divides opinion. For me, he did just one very bad thing: high tackle - penalty try - yellow card. To be fair, at least he was there to have a crack (as opposed to Mumm jogging on the spot after the big miss on Skudder - hill sprints for you this week budddy!), and if he had not flung out an arm, there would be plenty lining up to have a pop at him. Next time, please stay on the field Quade. Until that moment, I thought Cooper played well - better than any other number 10 contender this year. Yes, he threw a pass out of touch, but I'd prefer he fight to free his arms in the tackle and try something rather than be missing in action. I agree with leaving him off after the yellow card, as it gave Chieka the chance to see what another candidate had to offer - by then the game was likely gone anyway.
To'omua - if Cooper did some of the shit To'omua did in this match, the carry on would crash the internet. It was one match, but based on that showing, he starts at 12 or rides the pine for me. Something for the post match review: when you are a man down, don't try to exploit the overlap with crap short kicks - it will only benefit the other team (as they are the ones with the man advantage).
I would start Cooper again if it was a question of his play up to the YC.
11. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) - pre print his name on the starters sheet. Not perfect. Not as awesome as he has been. There was lots of good work from him.
12. To'omua - mostly solid until he had to move in due to Cooper's YC. Kicking was very bad.
Giteau - did well again when he came on, thankfully not at 9. Both of these guys are in the 23 for me. One starts, he other on the bench.
13. Kuridrani - Didn't do much. Maybe didn't get much opportunity. I'd like to see AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) have a run at 13, just to see how he goes, and in case of an injury. Maybe it would bring out TK's best knowing he is not a lock in for the position. Deep down, I know he is our best option when he is at his best.
14. Speight - didn't do loads, but it was all pretty good. I'd like to see him getting the ball more as he is a dangerous runner. Possibly not a starter, but shades Tomane for a spot in the squad for my money.
15. Folau - Great in the air. Great running game. I hope Chieka has been saving the contestable attacking kicks, cross field kicks, and short restarts for the RWC. We've got to use all of Folau's skills as often as possible. Very nice of Perenara to show our playmakers how to do it.
Beale - seems to have the 23 jersey sewn up. Nothing from this match would suggest otherwise.
Things that shit me, beyond losing, Conrad Smith's dangerous and illegal play on the kick chase (on Cooper and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)), and stuff already mentioned:
- going for the lineout 3 times from the penalty at the end (also, no YC for the repeated infringements at that time - I've seen them given out for less, although admittedly, not to the Ritchie McCaw and the Kiwis at Eden Park). With the scrum dominating, why not try that? Or just tap and go?
- not enough bodies in motion being found with good passes out front
- not enough of Speight, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) etc running inside lines (at least make the opposition make a choice rather than telegraphing where the ball is going)
- kicking badly ie not out or contested. Please sort it out guys. I really think that with Simmons back, we could have a crack at opposition lineouts a bit.
- kick offs: either short for Folau or AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to contest, or make sure that when the ball lands, Hooper is on hand to smash someone
- Chieka's use of the bench. He made the ballsy call with the team sheet, but didn't roll the dice with his bench. I'd say play Palu, and even Skelton, for 30 mins then ring the changes. Replace the front row round half time. They can always come back if there is an injury.
I think I am done. Sorry about that.
As an aside, Ireland just scraped past Scotland - neither looked too impressive, but you never know. Ireland are apparently number 2 in the world...