Very difficult to learn from these games but QT is a legit second five, he goes straight, gets metres, and links well, DH just doesn't have the same punch for me. Ball from ruck to RM seemed quick and fluid with Finlay, looked like a dogs breakfast when TJ came on. Lots to like about Ennor as well, has to be an option at wing over Bridge you would think. Starting forwards all played well and set a great platform. Overall, a good training run for the boys.
Why are there so many Sam Cane haters on social media? Like man he comes back from injury and plays a minimal role for sure but the man's not put a foot wrong as AB's captain. People see last year and think he's a shit captain when in reality, you can only deal the hand you're dealt. Foster continues his selection of average fringe players and people blame Cane. Casual rugby watchers at their finest.
Eh now someone's telling me Papali'i is better than peak Cane. No hate for Paps as I really like him but that's a molten take. Recency bias I suppose.
@akan004 said in All Blacks vs USA:
@yeetyaah The casual fan sees Ardie making a good run and automatically thinks he's better than Cane as a 7 while ignoring all other facets of the position. Many fail to recognise that Cane was probably the best AB last year.
It's the number of turnovers Savea makes with the opposition 10m away from the try line, for me.
Well, I hope the sponsor money was worth it; a 90-point flogging and 2 tries conceded by an AB team that looked like it could care less about structure, and more about entertaining themselves. It was loose when the USA were still waking up in the first half, then The Dickhead Brigade came on in Coles and TJP and it just got stupid.
Feel a bit for the USA - the fitness and cohesion was clearly second-rate, and tho they stuck at it, and a couple of their guys were impressive (7, 9 and 13 particularly) there just wasn't enough across the board to hold the opposition. Include their Euro stars and maybe they hold the ABs to 80. Doubt it tho.
That kid playing 12 for the ABs is impressive. One of the few out there who looked like he gave a shit about doing his job rather than just constantly trying to offload and make some fancy bullshit up on the spot.
Got to be concerned at the USA's intention to host RWC when their biggest game of the year isn't even played in a regulation stadium. That field was marked 5m outside the NFL paint, which makes it only about 60m wide. How are they going to provide the preferred 70m width and 100m length with 6m ingoals - and a 5m margin around all that - by the time 2027 rolls around?
Towards the end there Ennor had a gallop down the edge and looked very strong in his carry. He has the size and power to bash across the advantage line if necessary when given a wind up run.
From a jog or static he is fairly average.
@crucial said in All Blacks vs USA:
Towards the end there Ennor had a gallop down the edge and looked very strong in his carry. He has the size and power to bash across the advantage line if necessary when given a wind up run.
From a jog or static he is fairly average.
Still better than Bridge...
@akan004 said in All Blacks vs USA:
@yeetyaah The casual fan sees Ardie making a good run and automatically thinks he's better than Cane as a 7 while ignoring all other facets of the position. Many fail to recognise that Cane was probably the best AB last year.
They are both totally different 7s, equally as good in my opinion and have strengths in different areas.
You’re also being a little ignorant in saying all Ardie does is a make a couple of good runs. If you’ve watched him over the last three years he’s done a lot more than that. He was hands down NZs best player in 2019.
Cane has to show some form for me before being selected in the big games, but for anyone writing him off that seems a little stupid aswell.
@canes4life said in All Blacks vs USA:
@akan004 said in All Blacks vs USA:
@yeetyaah The casual fan sees Ardie making a good run and automatically thinks he's better than Cane as a 7 while ignoring all other facets of the position. Many fail to recognise that Cane was probably the best AB last year.
Cane has to show some form for me before being selected in the big games, but for anyone writing him off that seems a little stupid aswell.
100% agree, he's just come back from injury. The whole argument stemmed from someone saying "I speak for everyone when I say Whitelock should be our permanent captain." I was like nah bro you don't speak for me. Then it went from there. Kinda hilarious, I told him it was recency bias and he said I was "Making up phrases." Bruh, Google is your friend.
OK, can someone explain the hairstyle atrocity adopted by so many of the All Blacks - Mo’unga and Tupea and Havili among them? They’re all sporting this curly perm at the back of their heads. Like an ‘80s mullet but teased into tight curls. My avatar Earle Kirton is spinning in his grave.
@canes4life I rate Ardie highly. Was simply trying to make a point as to why the casual fans don't rate Cane, it's because they don't see him making the flashy runs that a player like Ardie does.
You misunderstood my post.
@taniwharugby said in All Blacks vs USA:
@yeetyaah ha, I've come to the realise many of those people on SM are casual fans with a very superficial knowledge of the game.
yeah I ditched that shit years ago , unfortunately some of our casual NZ fans that troll those pages are as bad as any other in world rugby too , its embarrissing
Cane hasn’t done much wrong as a player but he has put plenty of feet wrong as a Captain.
Exibit A, losing to Argentina.
@mrdenmore said in All Blacks vs USA:
OK, can someone explain the hairstyle atrocity adopted by so many of the All Blacks - Mo’unga and Tupea and Havili among them? They’re all sporting this curly perm at the back of their heads. Like an ‘80s mullet but teased into tight curls. My avatar Earle Kirton is spinning in his grave.
They don’t have Nugget on tour to do their hair?
ABs would have been better off if Perenara had signed with the Roosters. ABs looked better when Christie was on.
Didn't look like any injuries which is good.
Hard to read too much into much else. Could have been an even bigger scoreline if the ABs had picked a left wing who is an actual attacking threat.
Not much to learn from a game like that, but I liked Vaaii's workrate and passing game, and thought Christie was very accurate with his passing.
Young De Groot did well with some ball carries, and that is something we need from our front rowers. QT was also pretty effective on the carry.
Looking forward it will be interesting to see if those guys can bring that accuracy and physicality against much better teams.
Ennor looked quite at home on the wing, he was pretty up and down at center, throwing too many passes that didn't need to go.
That try to Jordan off the line-out looks like something they'll put back in the bag and I bet we see it tried in a tight game against a much better opponent.
@nepia said in All Blacks vs USA:
Just finished watching, I'm both annoyed and happy that we didn't crack the ton.
I think you missed the last try.
@akan004 said in All Blacks vs USA:
@nepia said in All Blacks vs USA:
Just finished watching, I'm both annoyed and happy that we didn't crack the ton.
I think you missed the last try.
Yep, wrote that 30 seconds before the last try. 
@kiwimurph and sill plenty of back up in Hall & Drummond, with other good young half backs coming through to.
@stag said in All Blacks vs USA:
@kiwimurph and sill plenty of back up in Hall & Drummond, with other good young half backs coming through to.
Bro, no and no.
It's pretty obvious why the NZRU are fighting hard on Fakatava's eligibility. TJ is well on the way out and the young guys either aren't ready or aren't big enough for the big boy tests.
Haven't read the thread but udging by the post above others are thinking along the same lines - the biggest take from the game for me is that it is well and truly time to put TJ out to pasture.
A real shame. I thought he was going to be something special when he first came on the scene but I reckon he has never been the same since his leg injury a few years ago.
@crazy-horse said in All Blacks vs USA:
Haven't read the thread but udging by the post above others are thinking along the same lines - the biggest take from the game for me is that it is well and truly time to put TJ out to pasture.
A real shame. I thought he was going to be something special when he first came on the scene but I reckon he has never been the same since his leg injury a few years ago.
He doesn't pass with his legs!
His support play is still top notch it's the distribution that is crap.
@crucial said in All Blacks vs USA:
@crazy-horse said in All Blacks vs USA:
Haven't read the thread but udging by the post above others are thinking along the same lines - the biggest take from the game for me is that it is well and truly time to put TJ out to pasture.
A real shame. I thought he was going to be something special when he first came on the scene but I reckon he has never been the same since his leg injury a few years ago.
He doesn't pass with his legs!
His support play is still top notch it's the distribution that is crap.
Maybe it stuffed him mentally?
So for the players that aren't inked into a top XV the question is whether they enhanced their chances.
I think the the starting props showed that they are good backups, Aumua probably didn't show that much, Vaa'i will have to start but the selectors will feel more confident after that.
Sotutu and Paps didn't really take their chance to shine. Jacobsen is fast proving that he has to be shoehorned in.
Christie stepped up. Tupaea looks a better option than Havili to me. The attack has more room outside him.
Bridge should be carrying the bags from now. Ennor worth a try off the bench.
DMac won't surpass JB and has to come back for the RWC once his payday is over. He has matured.
TJP and Bridge didn't do themselves any favours. Everyone else didn't harm their chances, but it's not the type of fixture you can make good judgements of when players who stick to their patterns don't get the opportunity to do their jobs because the opposition are so bad.
That training run and really that’s all it was, Will not make any impact on selections for Wales,Foster and the selectors will have already have their 23 locked in for The Wales game.
You can’t judge anyone on that game except TJ because if you pass that shit against that opposition then there is not much hope with pressure on from better teams,the opposition were worse than a club team .
@mn5 said in All Blacks vs USA:
@bones said in All Blacks vs USA:
@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs USA:
@bones said in All Blacks vs USA:
@crucial said in All Blacks vs USA:
@bones said in All Blacks vs USA:
@crucial said in All Blacks vs USA:
I know we have a bit of a laugh giving Bridge stick but seriously if he can’t make any ground in a game like this it is time that the selectors took note.
He's not even on the field?
Not that you’d notice anyway
What if you can't defend your wing against a team of this calibre and a winger who's a nobody?
You're a Scotland supporter?
In another dimension I might be understanding this.
There’s no way Bridge would make the mighty Scottish team
You don't have a single Bridge in Scotland? Well, I guess that explains the kilts.
@kiwimurph said in All Blacks vs USA:
ABs would have been better off if Perenara had signed with the Roosters. ABs looked better when Christie was on.
Didn't look like any injuries which is good.
Hard to read too much into much else. Could have been an even bigger scoreline if the ABs had picked a left wing who is an actual attacking threat.
That’s not saying much because Christie is not that good. But if a gulf because Smith and what we have.
@crazy-horse I agree. Probably reading the social media and press and mentally screwed. When he was at his peak he offered something that Smith did not. Different type of player. The top 4 inches is important. Ask Tiger.
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs USA:
@mn5 said in All Blacks vs USA:
@bones said in All Blacks vs USA:
@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs USA:
@bones said in All Blacks vs USA:
@crucial said in All Blacks vs USA:
@bones said in All Blacks vs USA:
@crucial said in All Blacks vs USA:
I know we have a bit of a laugh giving Bridge stick but seriously if he can’t make any ground in a game like this it is time that the selectors took note.
He's not even on the field?
Not that you’d notice anyway
What if you can't defend your wing against a team of this calibre and a winger who's a nobody?
You're a Scotland supporter?
In another dimension I might be understanding this.
There’s no way Bridge would make the mighty Scottish team
You don't have a single Bridge in Scotland? Well, I guess that explains the kilts.
Lots of Bridges in Scotland. Difference is that they all go somewhere.
@crucial said in All Blacks vs USA:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs USA:
@mn5 said in All Blacks vs USA:
@bones said in All Blacks vs USA:
@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs USA:
@bones said in All Blacks vs USA:
@crucial said in All Blacks vs USA:
@bones said in All Blacks vs USA:
@crucial said in All Blacks vs USA:
I know we have a bit of a laugh giving Bridge stick but seriously if he can’t make any ground in a game like this it is time that the selectors took note.
He's not even on the field?
Not that you’d notice anyway
What if you can't defend your wing against a team of this calibre and a winger who's a nobody?
You're a Scotland supporter?
In another dimension I might be understanding this.
There’s no way Bridge would make the mighty Scottish team
You don't have a single Bridge in Scotland? Well, I guess that explains the kilts.
Lots of Bridges in Scotland. Difference is that they all go somewhere.
May I present the George Belhaven Memorial Bridge.
Hiding out on the wing for Southern Scotland, it can link on the odd occasion but is often stranded and isolated, especially when the pressure is on.
Depending on your browser, the bridge might be a tad invisible, or show (here) the wrong Bridge, one that gets you places .
Rest assured, on its day, (or tide), it's a playmaker.
Better photos here: https://unusualplaces.org/the-bridge-to-nowhere-belhaven-bridge/
@antipodean said in All Blacks vs USA:
TJP and Bridge didn't do themselves any favours. Everyone else didn't harm their chances, but it's not the type of fixture you can make good judgements of when players who stick to their patterns don't get the opportunity to do their jobs because the opposition are so bad.
Vai'i was pretty average I thought, he was the worst at stupid offloads and gave away a few stupid penalties. Busy, yes, but not accurate enough
