Happy for Ioane starting and also looks as if he will lead the haka too. Great occasion for him and his parents.
Given their relative experience in the ABs, it’s a little surprising that ALB and Ioane have only started 4 tests as a 12/13 combo
They have started 10 other tests together with ALB at centre and Ioane at left wing and 1 more with ALB at 2nd 5 and Ioane on the wing.
@ACT-Crusader said in Wales v All Blacks:
Should’ve picked Darry for the bench and if only Hotham were fit for that 21 jersey.
No Preston? He didn't look out of place in his cameos earlier in the year
Bit of parity up front. Early cards for NZ. Someone key gets injured. Welsh crowd going nuts anytime LRZ gets on the ball. Lack of cohesion in the ABs to dig deep when the temperature gets cranked up. It can happen boys and girls, it can happen.
@game_film yes anything can happen in a two horse race. And that’s why we love sport because the seemingly impossible can become possible.
Just in terms of the cohesion, the starting front row have played a bit together in recent times and train a fair bit as a unit. Locks okay. Loosies a bit unknown really. The Chiefs 8/9/10/12 might bring something.
I expect us to use the lineout advantage more this week if the pressure amps up.
@African-Monkey said in Wales v All Blacks:
@stodders said in Wales v All Blacks:
Missed opportunity to run Savea off the bench as 7/12 cover.
He plays 12 anyway doesn't he?
Except in the scrums.
@Catogrande said in Wales v All Blacks:
@pooler-fan We're light years ahead of you. Just accept it.
Saved for posterity
@Victor-Meldrew said in Wales v All Blacks:
@canefan said in Wales v All Blacks:
@reprobate said in Wales v All Blacks:
@stodders said in Wales v All Blacks:
Ardie Savea and Beauden Barrett aren’t playing. Now we get to see how things go without them.
Except we don't, because everything else has changed too.
Page out of Fozzie's playbook. Empty the bench and learn zero
Like Foster, he now has his back against the wall every bloody game.
And yet he's had 2 seasons to avoid being in this position
Yup and dont forget he had 15 months to prepare from the time of his appointment to the 1st test match of 2024.
@MiketheSnow Saving it is one thing. Finding it again is another.
@Catogrande said in Wales v All Blacks:
@MiketheSnow Saving it is one thing. Finding it again is another.
@DaGrubster said in Wales v All Blacks:
@Victor-Meldrew said in Wales v All Blacks:
@canefan said in Wales v All Blacks:
@reprobate said in Wales v All Blacks:
@stodders said in Wales v All Blacks:
Ardie Savea and Beauden Barrett aren’t playing. Now we get to see how things go without them.
Except we don't, because everything else has changed too.
Page out of Fozzie's playbook. Empty the bench and learn zero
Like Foster, he now has his back against the wall every bloody game.
And yet he's had 2 seasons to avoid being in this position
Yup and dont forget he had 15 months to prepare from the time of his appointment to the 1st test match of 2024.
Looks to have been spent it working on the "Together We Walk" PR campaign.
@DaGrubster he was still coaching the Saders when it was announced. So the whole 15 months to prepare is a furphy. Also he didn’t have access to the all the AB data, resources etc. I’m sure there was other stuff he did in prep but it wasn’t until after the World Cup and Fozzie finishing up that things really started.
@ACT-Crusader said in Wales v All Blacks:
@DaGrubster he was still coaching the Saders when it was announced. So the whole 15 months to prepare is a furphy. Also he didn’t have access to the all the AB data, resources etc. I’m sure there was other stuff he did in prep but it wasn’t until after the World Cup and Fozzie finishing up that things really started.
Do you think, (if it were possible) that Razor should be shown the door?
@ACT-Crusader said in Wales v All Blacks:
@DaGrubster he was still coaching the Saders when it was announced. So the whole 15 months to prepare is a furphy. Also he didn’t have access to the all the AB data, resources etc. I’m sure there was other stuff he did in prep but it wasn’t until after the World Cup and Fozzie finishing up that things really started.
He was announced so far ahead and had an unprecedented amount of time to prepare only to turn up on the 1st test of the yesr and look like he was given the job the week before
@antipodean said in Wales v All Blacks:
@Number-10 said in Wales v All Blacks:
Kirifi, ALB, Reece, Christie. It's like a fucking nightmare.
The only bright aspect is no Savea wasting a position on the field and Damien has to make a turd sandwich palatable.
Way too many Blues Players.
And yet they pick Christie.
Reece looked so slow for the XVs. I look at that team and I despair. They could have played Leicester at 12 to see if he is less of a turnstile closer in. Sigh. It is criminal to pick Christie over Fakatava. Double sigh. Must be some sort of Celtic pact.
@Frank said in Wales v All Blacks:
@ACT-Crusader said in Wales v All Blacks:
@DaGrubster he was still coaching the Saders when it was announced. So the whole 15 months to prepare is a furphy. Also he didn’t have access to the all the AB data, resources etc. I’m sure there was other stuff he did in prep but it wasn’t until after the World Cup and Fozzie finishing up that things really started.
Do you think, (if it were possible) that Razor should be shown the door?
Anything is possible when it comes to pro sports. But in reality there’s probably a few factors at play before we get to that stage - contract situation/financials of it all,, end of year review (although those things never really say much, but there’s the optics of it), what the plans for next year are (players, assistants etc).
@DaGrubster and again it was just announcement. He still had a day job of coaching the Crusaders. So not much going on during March to June on an AB front.
Then the ABs are playing mid-year games and then prepping for the RWC. He’s watching those.
So after the dust settles of the RWC and player exoduses, retirements, he’s watching Super rugby and getting an idea of who might be in the frame etc. no different from other newly appointed coaches such as Henry who were appointed post a RWC.
I’m all for critiquing the actual performance of that first test but just because there was some early announcement didn’t afford him all this additional time to do what was needed especially with the RWC.
@pakman said in Wales v All Blacks:
That backline is a wasted opportunity for me.
Story of Razors tenure to date, so many tests wasted on some players who offer little.
IMO, it also shows how poorly planned out the squad use has been for this tour and highlights they haven't got test rugby sorted, fielding pretty much full strength for 3 games and then wholesale changes against Wales.
@Landers92 you can say a lot of things about Razors tenure as AB coach so far, but Crusaders bias ain’t one of them…
