As a long time critic, I reckon I'd have to say well done and thank you to Christie. Going overseas, qualified for Scotland, and resets that timer to answer an SOS for the ABs in rough circumstances. That is bad for him personally, and he plays pretty bloody well last week and this. Anybody blaming BB's incompetence on Christie must have sonehow missed BB's incompetence with all-comers at 9, including probably the best of all time in Smith.
All Blacks
Match thread
Springboks I
@canefan said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Seen enough of Preston at this level to tell me if he has promise?
Not enough. But his pass had some zip. Aside from Cam, HB is wide open IMHO
Hotham was looking pretty good before his injury. The perfect halfback to come on with 20 to go as he has a very strong running game. A bit like the way the Wallabies use Tate.
From the very few mins I’ve seen of Pledger down in Otago, I think he’ll likely end up being our third halfback as we head towards the WC. Just looks like a class player. 2027, may be too early for him though.
@sparky said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
My Dad was at Eden Park in 1956 when the All Blacks secured that famous series.
My father, who is still alive, was at that test too. He, his father and brother were also at the Waikato game on that tour.
RIP.
Is it just me or is that the most well balanced loosie trio we've put out in a long time?
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Is it just me or is that the most well balanced loosie trio we've put out in a long time?
Not just you. Very much liked what I saw tonight, Parker could be the find of the season for this team. Huge unit and isn’t afraid of the hard graft. Sititi was very good and Ardie, though quiet for a lot of the night came good at the end there.
Would prefer Lakai or Jacobsen over Kirifi on the bench.
@Canes4life said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Is it just me or is that the most well balanced loosie trio we've put out in a long time?
Not just you. Very much liked what I saw tonight, Parker could be the find of the season for this team. Huge unit and isn’t afraid of the hard graft. Sititi was very good and Ardie, though quiet for a lot of the night came good at the end there.
Would prefer Lakai or Jacobsen over Kirifi on the bench.
Lakai yes. Jacobsen has not proved he deserves it to me. He and Dalton feel like similar players
Well, winning ain't losing!
Let's be honest, despite the billing, that was never gonna be a good game.
Just watching the highlights
Le Roux was very unlucky for the first try
If he'd made contact with Narawa it would have been a YC and possible Penalty Try
Should Narawa have released the ball before running over to score?
Wasn't tackled, but wasn't allowed to be. A tough one to call.
Off your feet, out of the game?
@His-Bobness said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
The problem is still the paucity of ideas or punch from the backline and the conservative selections.
Highlighted by when Jordie came back on. He could have went back to fullback to finish the game, and DMac into 1st 5 by subbing BB. But no, the Barrett contract clause kicked in.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Is it just me or is that the most well balanced loosie trio we've put out in a long time?
And showed Parker is best at 6, not no.8.
Problem with the loose trio is that we were really happy at 6 and 8
And then happy when 7 moved to 8
@His-Bobness said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@canefan I’d give Rieko a rest
TBF, I though he was resting tonight.
@Bovidae said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Is it just me or is that the most well balanced loosie trio we've put out in a long time?
And showed Parker is best at 6, not no.8.
Yep. Thought the same in Super too.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@His-Bobness said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@canefan I’d give Rieko a rest
TBF, I though he was resting tonight.
Good trysaver he made on the line at least.
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@His-Bobness said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@canefan I’d give Rieko a rest
TBF, I though he was resting tonight.
Good trysaver he made on the line at least.
I wasn't making a big dig at Reiko.
I agree with @His-Bobness - he looks really cooked.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@His-Bobness said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@canefan I’d give Rieko a rest
TBF, I though he was resting tonight.
Good trysaver he made on the line at least.
I wasn't making a big dig at Reiko.
I agree with @His-Bobness - he looks really cooked.
Yeah, there's a reason why we tend to go with youth on the wings in this country traditionally.
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@His-Bobness said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@canefan I’d give Rieko a rest
TBF, I though he was resting tonight.
Good trysaver he made on the line at least.
I wasn't making a big dig at Reiko.
I agree with @His-Bobness - he looks really cooked.
Yeah, there's a reason why we tend to go with youth on the wings in this country traditionally.
Even the great wingers reach 27 and they're out
@frugby said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Personally think some of the critique of Christie is harsh. He is the fourth choice halfback, and he played like a fourth choice halfback - but you can’t knock his effort levels.
Considering the circumstances, I think criticising him for what he simply can’t do feels unfair.
I find it unfathomable that such a limited player is the fourth best option in New Zealand. He can't think quickly, can't execute decisively and he's fucking inaccurate.
@antipodean said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@frugby said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Personally think some of the critique of Christie is harsh. He is the fourth choice halfback, and he played like a fourth choice halfback - but you can’t knock his effort levels.
Considering the circumstances, I think criticising him for what he simply can’t do feels unfair.
I find it unfathomable that such a limited player is the fourth best option in New Zealand. He can't think quickly, can't execute decisively and he's fucking inaccurate.
And yet his kicking was better than our apparent second ranked 9. That is a concern
@antipodean said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@frugby said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Personally think some of the critique of Christie is harsh. He is the fourth choice halfback, and he played like a fourth choice halfback - but you can’t knock his effort levels.
Considering the circumstances, I think criticising him for what he simply can’t do feels unfair.
I find it unfathomable that such a limited player is the fourth best option in New Zealand. He can't think quickly, can't execute decisively and he's fucking inaccurate.
For a second there I thought you were talking about Beauden Barrett...
Ginga was the best available option - in an ideal world he wouldn't be in the 23. . Did some shit stuff as did other players, but also plenty of good stuff.
@canefan said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@antipodean said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@frugby said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Personally think some of the critique of Christie is harsh. He is the fourth choice halfback, and he played like a fourth choice halfback - but you can’t knock his effort levels.
Considering the circumstances, I think criticising him for what he simply can’t do feels unfair.
I find it unfathomable that such a limited player is the fourth best option in New Zealand. He can't think quickly, can't execute decisively and he's fucking inaccurate.
And yet his kicking was better than our apparent second ranked 9. That is a concern
There are major skill gaps in New Zealand rugby. And in a professional era it seems we don'[t have sufficient competition for them to be working on fixing them.
I mean how is it we had Nuggy for so long and yet we're now still suffering halfbacks who pass poorly when he showed you just have to work on core skills?
@antipodean said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
I mean how is it we had Nuggy for so long and yet we're now still suffering halfbacks who pass poorly when he showed you just have to work on core skills?
Because the guys who idolised and copied AS are now only in their late teens?
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@antipodean said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
I mean how is it we had Nuggy for so long and yet we're now still suffering halfbacks who pass poorly when he showed you just have to work on core skills?
Because the guys who idolised and copied AS are now only in their late teens?
Because the guys that wanted his job are professionals? Roigard, Ratima and Christie were in their late teens when Aaron was playing for the All Blacks.
Well, I'm not getting into a conversation defending Christie as anything more than 4th string, but his kicking was good, he dealt with the Boks around the ruck well and some of his passing in open play was spot on.
Certainly no worse than the AB scrum.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Well, I'm not getting into a conversation defending Christie as anything more than 4th string, but his kicking was good, he dealt with the Boks around the ruck well and some of his passing in open play was spot on.
Certainly no worse than the AB scrum.
Razor left him on about 15 minutes too long IMHO. We saw more bad Christie than good as the game went on
@MiketheSnow said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Just watching the highlights
Le Roux was very unlucky for the first try
If he'd made contact with Narawa it would have been a YC and possible Penalty Try
Should Narawa have released the ball before running over to score?
Wasn't tackled, but wasn't allowed to be. A tough one to call.
Off your feet, out of the game?
"not held"
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@hydro11 said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
South Africa played the better rugby. We were just lucky we got a few good tries early and could hold on.
Yeah I'm calling bullshit on that. We weren't great but I won't have that we got lucky and they played better rugby
They ran lateral way too much, and reverted to type with their own kick-a-thon. They had discipline issues also.
@Jet said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@kev said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@Frank Narawa should have started the season in the test team. Hope he is okay - great 4 mins or so.
Same thing happened to him last time. Scored on debut and then hurt his back.
Big fan of Narawa but is he our new Foodbill….
If Narawa is out, who is next caboff the rank? Please dont say Reece..
I'd rather Leicester F or Clarke if fit..
@Jailbreak7 said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
If Narawa is out, who is next caboff the rank? Please dont say Reece..
I'd rather Leicester F or Clarke if fit..
Just put Jordan at 14 and one of Love or DMac at 15.
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@Jailbreak7 said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
If Narawa is out, who is next caboff the rank? Please dont say Reece..
I'd rather Leicester F or Clarke if fit..Just put Jordan at 14 and one of Love or DMac at 15.
Interesting that WJ didn't feature as much from 14. Probably more to do with the fact we refused to hold onto the ball than anything else
@kev said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@sparky Billy Proctor hasn’t found his feet. Still looking to play super rugby at test level. Doesn’t drop the ball as much as Reiko which is a plus but needs to improve his decisions.
Reiko hasn't dropped the ball once.
Don't be surprised if you can't buy any salt tomorrow at any shop anywhere.
All the salt in the world is currently being used up on X by Springboks fans crying about the ref. 
Calmed down a bit
Anyone criticising Christie, Pi** off. He played his guts out.
DMac needs to start.
Jordan is fine on the wing. We need DMac/ Love at fullback.
Proctor let the shackles off and played well. The own half cross kick was a brain fade though.
Scott Barrett and Vaai were immense.
Sititi is a class act and thinks calmly under pressure.
We have depth in the forwards to bring on Holland with 20 minutes to play.
South Africa have plenty of upside , scarily good at times.
Roigard would add another dimension.
Haven't been that nervous since ABs v Ireland 2023