@Stargazer said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

@Kiwiwomble The ABs XV are used as the back-up pool for the ABs, in case an AB gets injured. It's a 2nd XV, not a development team.

The games are used to keep them match fit, and - I suppose - to determine a pecking order if there isn't one already.

but in the case where 1st - 3rd choice in each position are off with the AB's...these guys have to be at best 3rd choice (some overlap im sure) but mostly 4th - 6th...that sounds perfect for development, feeling like saying we'd rather spend money on guys we know are leaving purely to avoid something 2011 RWC 1st 5 situation is what will piss of young guys coming through

@Bones said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

@Duluth said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

Don't really see the point of playing PGS. Would've like to have seen Lio-Willie again.. or if they wanted size in the trio try Suafoa at 8

You've got to think they're really looking hard at PGS for a world cup surprise ticket, have involved him in plans last year but don't want too much material available for opposition?

Kudos if so, because they've clearly also been up front with him about his role.

If there is any input from the AB coaches, the PGS at #8 for two straight games and yet Jacobsen in the main squad won’t have seen any playing time.

Whilst I recognise that the ABs is not some glorified ‘give every one a go’ team, PGS being persisted with does make one think.

@ACT-Crusader yeah some players you do wonder how we can view them so differently to them.

PGS wasn't in the 23 that played the Japan XV. Nareki, Proctor and Lam are others who didn't play in game 1. I'd say they had decided on who was playing the "test" from the original traveling squad before leaving NZ.

@taniwharugby if you’ve ever been on a stats or analysis team and reviewed games just focussing in on one player, it’s quite a different what you notice, especially when your focus is on specific things the players does (or doesn’t do).

I did a little bit of basketball player analysis (all post game) and I was amazed at what I was able to pick up that I didn’t when just watching the game live. Couple that with other data and it can paint a different picture.

@ACT-Crusader yeah appreciate all that, but the glaring issues some players seem to have, how the stats paper over them...

But even with glaring issues you can sometimes live with them if there are other things that they are doing and the other option has issues too.

Or you throw all of that out the window and just select the guy that plays in red n black….

The NZ XV side almost looks more settled than the ABs!

I think that Japanese team looks very similar to last week's team, but with last week's bench players starting and some starters moving to the bench.

No Dearns.

Bell is one funny looking mofo.

Nareki almost fucked that try up

@Duluth said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

Nareki almost fucked that try up

Yeah, Weber saved that for him.

Love sets up Proctor for the first try.

Perofeta in after easily slicing through the Japanese backline.

Perofeta nice step. AJ Lam with a good chase at kickoff to setup the turnover

There was no advantage from that scrum pen

Shit from Nareki again

How many errors from Nareki?

Lovely from Proctor again. Try no 2 for him tonight. The Goodhue and Proctor centre combo looks classy.

@Canes4life

Proctor has been defending well too. Some good work just before Strange got isolated and Japan scored

That’s better Nareki

Great from Nareki and Proctor

@FakatavaABXV said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

Great from Nareki and Proctor

Even better from Goodhue

Fantastic 40 20 and try set up from nareki. Yes he screwed up a couple of times. But, it is all about pumping the positive.

Proctor for a first half hat trick. Can he replicate Marc Ellis and score 5

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

Fantastic 40 20

A what?

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

Fantastic 40 20

A what?

The rugby version. What he nailed.

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

Fantastic 40 20

A what?

The rugby version. What he nailed.

I got nothing. Rugby version? They're playing rugby?

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

Fantastic 40 20

A what?

The rugby version. What he nailed.

I got nothing. Rugby version? They're playing rugby?

32nd minute kicked a 50/22.

Yeah Zarn Sullivan ain’t better than Love. How good was that.

Quick decision from Love, good hands AJ

@Canes4life said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

Yeah Zarn Sullivan ain’t better than Love. How good was that.

Zarn is better

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

@Machpants said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

Fantastic 40 20

A what?

The rugby version. What he nailed.

I got nothing. Rugby version? They're playing rugby?

32nd minute kicked a 50/22.

Oh. What is a 40-20?

Edit. Ah, Google says League

@Machpants dude let it go. I have come home after a few beers to watch this. I got the terminology incorrect. Fixed it in a later post. Stop getting on a spectrum buzz.

@Duluth Love is the one playing tonight so that suggests he’s better / rated higher.

He’s been classy tonight setting up two tries.

@SouthernMann said in All Blacks XV v Japan:

@Machpants dude let it go. I have come home after a few beers to watch this. I got the terminology incorrect. Fixed it in a later post. Stop getting on a spectrum buzz.

It was a genuine question which Google answered, apologies for my denseness

Proctor in for 4. Showing why he was the Canes player of the year.

Weber asleep there