@reprobate said in All Blacks v France I:

@Duluth said in All Blacks v France I:

@Jet said in All Blacks v France I:

this Hokey Cokey act at 10 between DMAC and Beuady. Id rather he picked one and stuck with them even if it was the wrong choice. This chopping and changing serves neither of them

BB started at 10 on the EOYT apart from one game when he was unavailable. He was clearly the incumbent and he is starting again this week

I think McKenzie was preferred earlier in 2024 but it seems that the rankings changed during the RC

Yup, our best game.

It was a good win, but I can't really overstate just how poor Ireland were that night. That was the most error ridden performance I've ever seen from them, if they were even 10% more accurate they would have won.

Edit - just went and checked to confirm my memory was correct, as that game gets mentioned a lot. Some numbers:

Ireland's error-strewn performance
13 penalties conceded
30 missed tackles
21 handling errors
11 turnovers conceded
5 rucks lost
3 line-outs lost
1 scrum lost

So yeah, we need to take that win in context, most of the talk after the match was positive that the ABs managed to win, but acknowledging how bad Ireland were. They basically checked out in the final 10 when they were still in the game.

I'll finish my comments with: if it were up to me, I'd have started DMac and had Beauden on the bench. But there really isn't much between the two players, and I can see why the coaches prefer Beauden's more direct running style over DMac who still tends to crab across field which works in Super but you just cannot do in test footy.

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v France I:

@reprobate said in All Blacks v France I:

@Duluth said in All Blacks v France I:

@Jet said in All Blacks v France I:

this Hokey Cokey act at 10 between DMAC and Beuady. Id rather he picked one and stuck with them even if it was the wrong choice. This chopping and changing serves neither of them

BB started at 10 on the EOYT apart from one game when he was unavailable. He was clearly the incumbent and he is starting again this week

I think McKenzie was preferred earlier in 2024 but it seems that the rankings changed during the RC

Yup, our best game.

It was a good win, but I can't really overstate just how poor Ireland were that night. That was the most error ridden performance I've ever seen from them, if they were even 10% more accurate they would have won.

Edit - just went and checked to confirm my memory was correct, as that game gets mentioned a lot. Some numbers:

Ireland's error-strewn performance
13 penalties conceded
30 missed tackles
21 handling errors
11 turnovers conceded
5 rucks lost
3 line-outs lost
1 scrum lost

So yeah, we need to take that win in context, most of the talk after the match was positive that the ABs managed to win, but acknowledging how bad Ireland were. They basically checked out in the final 10 when they were still in the game.

You also need to take into account that the way we played defensively was quite different to what we had seen in some of the previous tests last year. We compressed and also attacked the first receiver forcing more rushed passing and errors. What that also allowed for was a more attacking play at the ruck to get bodies over the ball in behind their attack line.

Then our more direct attack was tiring out their pack which is where most of the missed tackles / jersey pulling occurred.

We pressured their lineout ball which was one of the more pleasing aspects given we really had seen that since 2022.

I’m happy for people to talk about that match because I think it showed quite a few things of what we are capable of when we play to a more attacking pattern on both sides of the ball.

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v France I:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France I:

Seems to me the Crusaders spent a lot of time and effort to quieten DMac, they seemed (in the final) to take his worth a lot more seriously than some posters on here.

I think it's more what @Canerbry was saying, they knew if they put some heat on him he'd wilt and not have much of an impact on the match, which is what happened.

Whereas they didn't even need to focus on BB to beat the Blues?

That says DMc is more potent just in itself.

@Chester-Draws

Yeah their main focus was shutting down Sotutu's time. He's the main playmaker for the Blues and even though it was less this year he still had the most try involvements.

@Chester-Draws said in All Blacks v France I:

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v France I:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France I:

Seems to me the Crusaders spent a lot of time and effort to quieten DMac, they seemed (in the final) to take his worth a lot more seriously than some posters on here.

I think it's more what @Canerbry was saying, they knew if they put some heat on him he'd wilt and not have much of an impact on the match, which is what happened.

Whereas they didn't even need to focus on BB to beat the Blues?

That says DMc is more potent just in itself.

Yeah you'd probably want BB to spend more time receiving the ball, without needing to pressure him - he's typically his own undoing.

@pakman said in All Blacks v France I:

@sparky or Yogi Beria?
Taco beria

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v France I:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France I:

Seems to me the Crusaders spent a lot of time and effort to quieten DMac, they seemed (in the final) to take his worth a lot more seriously than some posters on here.

I think it's more what @Canerbry was saying, they knew if they put some heat on him he'd wilt and not have much of an impact on the match, which is what happened.

Why are you actually listening to that guy?!

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v France I:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France I:

Seems to me the Crusaders spent a lot of time and effort to quieten DMac, they seemed (in the final) to take his worth a lot more seriously than some posters on here.

I think it's more what @Canerbry was saying, they knew if they put some heat on him he'd wilt and not have much of an impact on the match, which is what happened.

Wilt? Big call.

More they just shut him down. Blocked any space. He didn't give up. Just he couldn't operate under the lack of space.

Anyway...

Something popped up on tele about some French festival in Brissy which made me remember that Bastille Day is coming up and 14 July 1979 was the Bastille Day massacre.

Found the following highlights.

Team line ups as follows, https://stats.allblacks.com/match-centre/report/All-Blacks-France-14-July-1979

Not the worst AB team, especially the forwards.

And of the Frogs I recall X of the XV without effort.

@booboo said in All Blacks v France I:

Anyway...

Something popped up on tele about some French festival in Brissy which made me remember that Bastille Day is coming up and 14 July 1979 was the Bastille Day massacre.

Found the following highlights.

View embedded content

Love the French commentary.

Team line ups as follows, https://stats.allblacks.com/match-centre/report/All-Blacks-France-14-July-1979

Not the worst AB team, especially the forwards.

And of the Frogs I recall X of the XV without effort.

fantastic, thank you!

@booboo said in All Blacks v France I:

Anyway...

Something popped up on tele about some French festival in Brissy which made me remember that Bastille Day is coming up and 14 July 1979 was the Bastille Day massacre.

Found the following highlights.

View embedded content

Love the French commentary.

Team line ups as follows, https://stats.allblacks.com/match-centre/report/All-Blacks-France-14-July-1979

Not the worst AB team, especially the forwards.

And of the Frogs I recall X of the XV without effort.

I was there

Anyone know a good sports bar in Shenzhen? Preferably with Czech/German beer.

Where in Shenzhen are you?
Been a few years since I was last there but the George and Dragon in Shekou was popular for sport.
Might pay to check it out online before heading there especially if you're traveling from the other side of the city.

@Shekou-man Cheers! I'm staying in Nanshan, so not too far away.

The Rieko I want to see tomorrow:

@pakman said in All Blacks v France I:

The Rieko I want to see tomorrow:

View embedded content

We’re looking for 2015 Beauden, so 2017 Rieko doesn’t seem too much to ask for

@pakman said in All Blacks v France I:

The Rieko I want to see tomorrow:

View embedded content

Hopefully Crotty and Goodhue give him some good ball to work with

Savea @7, Ioane @wing. Finally.