"Friendlies"

@Bones said in Bledisoe #1:

Geez I know it was only a friendly but the Argentina game really wasn't that long ago.

Keep shoehorning Friendlies into your comments
You just can't help yourself....

As someone below correctly stated: ABs had a scrum on their own 5m line

Ardie took the ball from #8, attracted attention & shifted ball to Laumape who took ball just past 22 Nice 20m gain which lead to a comfortable exit play from BB

TBH ABs were too often guilty of over elaborate play and getting hammered by Pumas defence

@Jaguares4real said in Bledisoe #1:

@Bones said in Bledisoe #1:

Geez I know it was only a friendly but the Argentina game really wasn't that long ago.

Keep shoehorning Friendlies into your comments
You just can't help yourself....

As someone below correctly stated: ABs had a scrum on their own 5m line

Ardie took the ball from #8, attracted attention & shifted ball to Laumape who took ball just past 22 Nice 20m gain which lead to a comfortable exit play from BB

TBH ABs were too often guilty of over elaborate play and getting hammered by Pumas defence

@Jaguares4real said in Bledisoe #1:

@Bones said in Bledisoe #1:

Geez I know it was only a friendly but the Argentina game really wasn't that long ago.

Keep shoehorning Friendlies into your comments
You just can't help yourself....

Mate, here at the fern we have memories like elephants and not much imagination. That one is still fresh. There are repeated lines on this board that are older than your pubes.

@Crucial said in Bledisoe #1:

Mate, here at the fern we have memories like elephants and not much imagination.

I blame Deans.

@Crucial haha! Is the troll still here belting out bollocks? How many bans for a full set?

@Bones said in Bledisoe #1:

haha! Is the troll still here belting out bollocks?

Imagine what it would be like when Argentina play a real game and not a friendly.

@Victor-Meldrew said in Bledisoe #1:

@Bones said in Bledisoe #1:

haha! Is the troll still here belting out bollocks?

Imagine what it would be like when Argentina play a real game and not a friendly.

Pretty sure they'd have to actually win for it not to be a friendly. Although I think it's just plastic Argies that think like that.

@Victor-Meldrew

I've got some bad news for you

England vs Wales & Ireland vs Italy today

You think the coaches consider these games "Test Matches"

Hint: The answer is looking at English & Irish sides.....

I understand groupthink is overwhelming on TSF Rugby
but try to escape the herd mentality

@Bones is a lost cause re. this matter

@Jaguares4real they aren't "Friendlies" they're warm up matches for the World Cup.

@booboo Yep. Not "friendlies". Fcking stupid word.

Have they been awarded test status? Do players get caps? I genuinely don't know.

@Snowy This is the football term coming into use from the UK

@DrivingMaul said in Bledisoe #1:

@Snowy This is the football term coming into use from the UK

Well aware of that, thanks, and still a f'ing stupid word for representing your country at an international event.

@booboo said in Bledisoe #1:

@Jaguares4real they aren't "Friendlies" they're warm up matches for the World Cup.

Serious question:

What's the difference between "Warm Up Matches" and "Friendlies"

When the main objectives of these game are to test out new combinations, perform well & avoid any injuries

Especially as players are at the start of their upcoming season in Europe

@Jaguares4real said in Bledisoe #1:

When the main objectives of these game are to test out new combinations, perform well & avoid any injuries

The main objective for an All Black is to win. At all cost. Always.

@Jaguares4real test matches have status. They go into the record books and have meaning. If a coach wants to take a calculated shot at blooding players or combos while still having the serious aim of winning the game then that is an excepted part of the big picture plan.
Calling a game a friendly implies that the result isn’t important.

It’s a dumb wendyball term for when managers don’t want their experiments on their record or to provide a ready excuse.

@Snowy said in Bledisoe #1:

@booboo Yep. Not "friendlies". Fcking stupid word.

Have they been awarded test status? Do players get caps? I genuinely don't know.

I'm looking at the bigger picture It might be controversial & counter intutive but I like to provoke debate In return I'm labelled a "Troll"....

Whether we like it or not Int'l Rugby is run on 4 year RWC cycles

With the exception of Boks ABs & England who're under immense pressure to win very game - FAO of @Snowy

Why not build up squad depth & quality Especially with high attrition rates for players, terrible travel itineraries of certain nations etc

Few fans give a fuck who won a game on EOYT or Summer tour in 2016-17 if you deliver the goods come RWC time

@Jaguares4real What is FAO? If you know the words please use them.

@Jaguares4real said in Bledisoe #1:

Few fans give a fuck who won a game on EOYT or Summer tour in 2016-17 if you deliver the goods come RWC time

Bullshit. Pretty much every Kiwi on here cares, as well as RWC.

@Jaguares4real said in Bledisoe #1:

I like to provoke

Yeah. Hence the "troll" tag.

For Attention Of @Snowy

My statement above does not apply to AB, England & Boks fans as I outlined above

You demean yourself by omitting the word after "provoke" in a poor attempt to change the meaning of my point

@Jaguares4real said in Bledisoe #1:

@Snowy said in Bledisoe #1:

@booboo Yep. Not "friendlies". Fcking stupid word.

I'm labelled a "Troll"....

@Jaguares4real said in Bledisoe #1:

You demean yourself by omitting the word after "provoke"

Why shouldn't he? You added a word after "I'm"

The "Friendlies" gag is one of the better ones of recent times. The fact that you're deadly earnest about it makes it funnier. The fact that you arc up makes it even funnier.

@Jaguares4real said in Bledisoe #1:

For Attention Of @Snowy

My statement above does not apply to AB, England & Boks fans as I outlined above

You demean yourself by omitting the word after "provoke" in a poor attempt to change the meaning of my point

Your argument would hold if supporters of the underdog team didn't crow about winning...

@ACT-Crusader said in Bledisoe #1:

@kiwiinmelb said in Bledisoe #1:

@Siam said in Bledisoe #1:

@Crucial I guess all of us remember where we were for that game. The emotional rollercoaster was immense.

In the cold light of day though, jeez our defence to let them back in was a black mark.

But, a win's a win

I was pissed off we let them back in that easily , I didnt enjoy that game the way most did for that reason..... but Im probably a grumpy bastard .

If we are being honest with ourselves, the Aussies had a better side than ours and I know even when we were up that OZ would make some sort of run.

That's most of the reason it's called what it is by the Australian media. It reflects that they were the best team for the vast majority of the game, played in front if a record crowd and offers an opportunity fir them to display some magnanimity in defeat.