@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?

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

but also plenty of good stuff.

Plenty?

@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.

@antipodean

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:

@antipodean

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.

Clarke should good to go as well

@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

Brutal game

Amazing anthems

@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.

I have just seen it.
Fuck
Fuck
Fuck
That was awesome

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

Forwards are sorted apart from we need to work on our scrum. The backs as a whole are a liability !!! I cannot see us winning the next WC unless there are serious changes. Some of the personal and tactics are are just wrong. No expert but we used to have the best backs just about always. What the fuck happened. Too many stupid and inaccurate kicks.

There are players in the NPC that are in better form than our current All Black backs. pick on form not just because they played 50 odd test. Look at Holland and Parker. If you are good enough then you should be in. We need to get more new blood in the backs or a decent backs coach. Two years out and no more time to fuck about or have loyalty to player that are obviously past it.

@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

he played his guts out

I don't think anyone is criticising his endeavour.

The Proctor cross kick, was Jordan calling for it?

@Bones said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

The Proctor cross kick, was Jordan calling for it?

Dunno, but the risk on it was off the scale.

@mencey
The thing is they haven't been trialling new backs much.
Love could easily come on for the final 20 minutes. They don't even do that.
When did BB become the lock in 10?

@canefan said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@antipodean

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

Fair point

@mariner4life the good news is you were good enough… this week.

Enjoy it.

Hope to be delivering some bad news next week. Won’t need @Victor-Meldrew worst fears coming true, just a bit more accuracy from the team playing for light, truth and justice.

@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@Bones said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

The Proctor cross kick, was Jordan calling for it?

Dunno, but the risk on it was off the scale.

Best listen to your senior players though eh.

@sparky said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

My Dad was at Eden Park in 1956 when the All Blacks secured that famous series. I have listened to and watched hundreds of All Blacks games with him.

He died on Tuesday.

That one was for you, Dad.

Condolences Sparky. May he rest in peace.

@Bones said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Saffa defence is fucking terrible

ABs had analysed the Boks defence and mined the seam.

@Jet said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

A lot of cracks papered over here guys.

This was not a competent performance.

Really?

We just beat, and deservedly so, the two time world champion, first, second and third best team in the world. Competent enough.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Loving the balance of the loosies for once

Parker at 6 looks to the manor born.

Wally getting back to 100.

RD at 7 hitting rucks rather than the usual seagulling.

@Frank said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@Jet said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@kidcalder said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Christie is there because of injuries, hopefully 1 or 2 will be back soon enough -otherwise be nice to see what Preston can do starting.
We really need to move on from BB at 10 Give Dmac the reins and Love to the bench

We definitely need to start giving Love more game time. We could easily have an injury crisis at 10 like we have at 9. He needs experience and they need to start giving him some.

This is what Rassie is doing, for better or worse.

He has 3 or 4 players in every position with 30 caps each come World Cup time.

The dirty little secret of the Boks, and it will become apparent soon enough, is that the players coming through are nowhere near as good as the older guys

Sounds like us after 2015

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@Donsteppa said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Our scrum sucks.

They picked Vaai at lock for his scrummaging

Barrett is world class LH lock, so they play him on TH side. Vaa'i a tried and tested TH lock, so they play him on LH.

That'll learn them.

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

EdG is getting dealt to

To me problems more on TH side, and locks.

@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.

Clarke should replace him now he is ready to go

Clarke left Narawa right, is better than reiko sevu

@Bovidae said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Just as well Jordan caught Sititi's pass for his try as he has dropped every high ball.

Why have SB and Vaa'i swapped sides in the scrum? It isn't helping.

Exactly!

@canefan said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

If they were better they would have won

Yes ... but ... never mind ...

Morning after replay thoughts.

I am very happy with tight five - we have some good depth here now.
Regarding the scrum - we should remember , we're up against world class opposition here and more than held our own - we are very rarely going to get 100% dominance in scrums against the top teams in the world and inconsistent ref calls.

best starting loose trio in years -- just not sure Kirifi is the bench player I would choose.

as other have said Christie is 4th choice 9 for a reason - and considering that played well enough tonight.

we really have a depth problem at 10 -- we need to blood some talent here cos surely BB and Dmac can't be the plan for RWC27 - both are passed their best for sure.

12 13 better on D and Proctor hasn't done a lot wrong , but the combo is still very clunky on attack we need an effective combo-- I really want to see them put Jordie at 13 and Quin at 12. and see how that goes.

Happy enough with back 3 performance, however we lose very little by giving a few others ago over Rieko or Sevu.

@Mattasaurus said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Ardie showed some toe there!

Forward pass before Kolbe set off.

Great intensity in wet, both teams play was affected by the conditions and used the conditions.
The ref was ok, he does like to make his presence felt usually.
ABs were accurate in both the 22s.
Felt Taukei’aho went well thrown in there early. Vaa’i was huge, all over the boks and just enjoyed the game by the looks.
Parker is a great wall to have at 6 and had support from both Savea and Sititi who stayed tight often.
Sititi didn’t look too bad after limited rugby, good all round at tackles, carries, metres.
Christie did well I thought for where he’s at and at this level.
BB had some nice assists on the tries which were defining, couple good kicks, couple bad.
The kicking game is here to stay between the 22s, where just not gunna be the ball in hand multi phase team until inside our 22.
Proctor had a better game, quietly went about his work, Conrad like even.
Back three went alright together, dmac secured the high ball well. Jordan was better, still missed a few, more support around this time.
Good shift from Tupaea and great try.

Eden Park record secure…… but a wallaby could be hiding over the fence, ready to raid the lush green paddock