All Blacks vs Springboks I

@l_n_p Get ready for more triggering when I start pointing out some very good AB wingers that our newest guys are approaching or already gone past.

Against the newer guys is that they're probably playing less minutes per test than the older guys.

There was an article going into last weekend's test that said Will Jordan was scoring at a rate of one try every 27 minutes - which is 3 per test if he was playing the full match.

@No-Quarter Eat your heart out Cully! (I'm pretty surprised that you didn't trigger Nepia's bat signal with the implication that Mitch might have done the right thing in axing a waning player after his knee injuries.....). There - that should brighten the skies of Gotham City!

Shouldn't Kitsoff and Marx be starting?

@frank said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@daffy-jaffy said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

7 Albertus Smith, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi

Kwagga Smith + Kolisi = Boks trying to speed the game up, or perhaps Mostert has just been shit at blindside.

Three backs on the bench.

Looks like they're reacting to the speed that we play at.

@chris-b said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@l_n_p Get ready for more triggering when I start pointing out some very good AB wingers that our newest guys are approaching or already gone past.

Against the newer guys is that they're probably playing less minutes per test than the older guys.

There was an article going into last weekend's test that said Will Jordan was scoring at a rate of one try every 27 minutes - which is 3 per test if he was playing the full match.

English WUM mode on

The problem is that all your flashy fast-boys with their nice hairdos outside back talent now aim to play anywhere else but wing, like 10/15 or 13, meaning bog-standard average excellent, reliable, hard-working wingers like George Bridge have to play there.

Obviously there is a need in NZ to look at raiding the South Seas Islands again internal talent development channels for future stars at wing.

:winking_face: :winking_face:

... Wing is never the problem area for the AB's.

Shag changing wingers for the RWC 2019 just seemed like he'd run out of ideas and was rolling the dice a bit.

@pakman said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@frank said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@daffy-jaffy said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

7 Albertus Smith, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi

Kwagga Smith + Kolisi = Boks trying to speed the game up, or perhaps Mostert has just been shit at blindside.

Siya isn’t up to speed, but not the done thing to bench him.

I think the game has already sped up worldwide from the new refereeing interpretations at the ruck.

My take, the Boks just found this out big-time with two losses to Australia and are having to adapt on the fly. 7 for the Boks is blindside too isn't it? Kwagga at blindside?? ... wow.

@chris-b said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@l_n_p Get ready for more triggering when I start pointing out some very good AB wingers that our newest guys are approaching or already gone past.

Against the newer guys is that they're probably playing less minutes per test than the older guys.

There was an article going into last weekend's test that said Will Jordan was scoring at a rate of one try every 27 minutes - which is 3 per test if he was playing the full match.

@No-Quarter Eat your heart out Cully! (I'm pretty surprised that you didn't trigger Nepia's bat signal with the implication that Mitch might have done the right thing in axing a waning player after his knee injuries.....). There - that should brighten the skies of Gotham City!

yeah, my comment earlier was definitely not an attempt to say the current wingers weren't good, they in general are world class by most standards

I think its just a different approach now days. Where as i feel previously we'd see more tries built on several smaller breaks joined together and so you needed a couple of finishes and several "creators"

now we see finishes looking to score from a long way out and from almost any situation and so several finishes works well

none of that probably made sense and was also probably wrong

@mn5 looks like a wrestlers neck except he has small shoulders.

@booboo said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

and Gert Bezuidenhout

I remember watching those games with my dad and he was beside himself at the referee. At 13 I think I was old enough to know that the ref had no credibility.

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

yeah, my comment earlier was definitely not an attempt to say the current wingers weren't good, they in general are world class by most standards

No sorry, I can't let that pass. Rieko aside, they're good international class with future upside, no more.

World class for me means you'd make a world #1 23 or world #2 23 squad so six top wingers maximum.

Top six wings off the top of my head ... Anthony Watson, Louis Rees-Zammit, Rieko Ioane, Cheslin Kolbe, maybe Marika Koroibete, + 1 more (I would have said Jonny May a year ago).

Go on, give me your top 6 wings worldwide then ... :winking_face:

@l_n_p said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

yeah, my comment earlier was definitely not an attempt to say the current wingers weren't good, they in general are world class by most standards

No sorry, I can't let that pass. Rieko aside, they're good international class with future upside, no more.

World class for me means you'd make a world #1 23 or world #2 23 squad so six top wingers maximum.

Top six wings off the top of my head ... Anthony Watson, Louis Rees-Zammit, Rieko Ioane, Cheslin Kolbe, maybe Marika Koroibete, + 1 more (I would have said Jonny May a year ago).

Go on, give me your top 6 wings worldwide then ... :winking_face:

thats semantics on how you use the term world class...so you could have let it pass

my post was a reply to the comment our current wingers are scoring at a fantastic rate, Marika Koroibete for example has scored 14 in 35 according to google, so less than ours, i think even bridge would probably comfortably be in the conversations for several international teams, just because we have very high expectations doesnt mean theyre not good on a more global scale

The danger is there is plenty of quality in that Boks side, if they can somehow sort their shit out in 7 days we could be up for quite a challenge. I'm hoping our form, confidence and fitness will give us an edge.

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@l_n_p said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

yeah, my comment earlier was definitely not an attempt to say the current wingers weren't good, they in general are world class by most standards

No sorry, I can't let that pass. Rieko aside, they're good international class with future upside, no more.

World class for me means you'd make a world #1 23 or world #2 23 squad so six top wingers maximum.

Top six wings off the top of my head ... Anthony Watson, Louis Rees-Zammit, Rieko Ioane, Cheslin Kolbe, maybe Marika Koroibete, + 1 more (I would have said Jonny May a year ago).

Go on, give me your top 6 wings worldwide then ... :winking_face:

thats semantics on how you use the term world class...so you could have let it pass

my post was a reply to the comment our current wingers are scoring at a fantastic rate, Marika Koroibete for example has scored 14 in 35 according to google, so less than ours, i think even bridge would probably comfortably be in the conversations for several international teams, just because we have very high expectations doesnt mean theyre not good on a more global scale

I know, I said sorry in advance ...

If you listen to Australian fans after any win, at least 50% of their side is world class

I'm harsh on how I view world-class but at least I define it, because the term gets thrown around like confetti.

Almost any AB who's good enough to get even 10-20 caps would probably start in at least half the top tier sides, that's pretty much a given for me at all times.

Does that make (say) Victor Vito or Steven Luatua or Adam Thompson world class? Not for me ...

@l_n_p said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@l_n_p said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

yeah, my comment earlier was definitely not an attempt to say the current wingers weren't good, they in general are world class by most standards

No sorry, I can't let that pass. Rieko aside, they're good international class with future upside, no more.

World class for me means you'd make a world #1 23 or world #2 23 squad so six top wingers maximum.

Top six wings off the top of my head ... Anthony Watson, Louis Rees-Zammit, Rieko Ioane, Cheslin Kolbe, maybe Marika Koroibete, + 1 more (I would have said Jonny May a year ago).

Go on, give me your top 6 wings worldwide then ... :winking_face:

thats semantics on how you use the term world class...so you could have let it pass

my post was a reply to the comment our current wingers are scoring at a fantastic rate, Marika Koroibete for example has scored 14 in 35 according to google, so less than ours, i think even bridge would probably comfortably be in the conversations for several international teams, just because we have very high expectations doesnt mean theyre not good on a more global scale

I know, I said sorry in advance ...

If you listen to Australian fans after any win, at least 50% of their side is world class

I'm harsh on how I view world-class but at least I define it, because the term gets thrown around like confetti.

Almost any AB who's good enough to get even 10-20 caps would probably start in at least half the top tier sides, that's pretty much a given for me at all times.

Does that make (say) Victor Vito or Steven Luatua or Adam Thompson world class? Not for me ...

fair enough, im just the other side of the coin, we've been bless with several players that would walk into the GOAT category, i try not to judge the current guys too much just because theyre not stacking up to those GOATs

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

fair enough, im just the other side of the coin, we've been bless with several players that would walk into the GOAT category, i try not to judge the guys too much just because theyre not stacking up to those GOATs

I think we're aligned on how good a player even a ... relative to other ABs ... "average" AB is, in US corporate speak :thumbs_up:

Totally. In Europe, step back a bit and think how many goodish SR players (who were never even really close to AB selection) have carved out international careers. Wales, Ireland, Scotland especially. England less so, only Brad Shields for brief period comes to mind.

@l_n_p said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Anthony Watson, Louis Rees-Zammit

Are these the guys that weren't even considered the best wingers in the British isles?

@l_n_p said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

yeah, my comment earlier was definitely not an attempt to say the current wingers weren't good, they in general are world class by most standards

No sorry, I can't let that pass. Rieko aside, they're good international class with future upside, no more.

World class for me means you'd make a world #1 23 or world #2 23 squad so six top wingers maximum.

Top six wings off the top of my head ... Anthony Watson, Louis Rees-Zammit, Rieko Ioane, Cheslin Kolbe, maybe Marika Koroibete, + 1 more (I would have said Jonny May a year ago).

Go on, give me your top 6 wings worldwide then ... :winking_face:

Rees-Zammit is potential only and has less of a test match body of work than Jordan.

Watson is terrible and the Boks proved that demoattably.

Cheslin, Rieko and probably Josh Adams in the order

When I predicted the Boks will lose to the Wallabies, everybody had a laugh. Well I predict the Boks have a very good chance on Saturday. All the signs are there for an upset. Never write them off. They got nothing to lose.

@bones I won't argue it ... pick your 6, I did say mine were "top of the head".

But my point was more that if you take a view that "world class" is really the cream of the crop internationally (which I do), I'm not sure currently a NZ winger makes it, apart from Rieko.

For clarity, I'd say Retallick, Whitelock, Smith are undoubtably world class. Probably BB, certainly he has been, and on form like Pumas 2 he is worldclass ...

Akira and Paps look like they have potential to be world class pretty soon.

@l_n_p i actually thought of a better way to word my thoughts, world class being those good enough to play on the world stage, ie international rugby

Those standing head and shoulders above other international players i would refer to as world beaters or something similar

@kiwiwomble We need formal rules on this, standardized across rugby forums and boards.

A citing panel for misuse of terms ...

The aussies will ask for exemptions so more of their players can be "world beaters" ... :face_with_tears_of_joy: :face_with_tears_of_joy:

@l_n_p ...im sure getting agreement across the whole forum shouldn't be too hard.....

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@l_n_p ...im sure getting agreement across the whole forum shouldn't be too hard.....

Well there are a whole lot of beaters on here.

@l_n_p said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

fair enough, im just the other side of the coin, we've been bless with several players that would walk into the GOAT category, i try not to judge the guys too much just because theyre not stacking up to those GOATs

I think we're aligned on how good a player even a ... relative to other ABs ... "average" AB is, in US corporate speak :thumbs_up:

Totally. In Europe, step back a bit and think how many goodish SR players (who were never even really close to AB selection) have carved out international careers. Wales, Ireland, Scotland especially. England less so, only Brad Shields for brief period comes to mind.

Willie Heinz ? Riki Flutey ?

@cgrant said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@l_n_p said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

fair enough, im just the other side of the coin, we've been bless with several players that would walk into the GOAT category, i try not to judge the guys too much just because theyre not stacking up to those GOATs

I think we're aligned on how good a player even a ... relative to other ABs ... "average" AB is, in US corporate speak :thumbs_up:

Totally. In Europe, step back a bit and think how many goodish SR players (who were never even really close to AB selection) have carved out international careers. Wales, Ireland, Scotland especially. England less so, only Brad Shields for brief period comes to mind.

Willie Heinz ? Riki Flutey ?

Let's not forget Henry Paul, Thomas Waldrom.

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@l_n_p ...im sure getting agreement across the whole forum shouldn't be too hard.....

Tbh I actually did a serious terminology-agreement exercise like this with a huge and very passionate international community on Twitter (not rugby related).

1 slide, with 20 definitions and supporting examples.

F*ck it was SO hard going at first because so many can take it personally ... understandably in the area I was doing it ... until they really see you're open and trying to improve communication and establish common understandings, then you'd start to get so much really thoughtful feedback.

Took months, god knows how many iterations ... retweet, get more inputs, repeat.

In short, thanks but not again. Don't let me stop you though ... :winking_face:

@l_n_p im not doing it! it was your idea!

@bones said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@cgrant said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@l_n_p said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

fair enough, im just the other side of the coin, we've been bless with several players that would walk into the GOAT category, i try not to judge the guys too much just because theyre not stacking up to those GOATs

I think we're aligned on how good a player even a ... relative to other ABs ... "average" AB is, in US corporate speak :thumbs_up:

Totally. In Europe, step back a bit and think how many goodish SR players (who were never even really close to AB selection) have carved out international careers. Wales, Ireland, Scotland especially. England less so, only Brad Shields for brief period comes to mind.

Willie Heinz ? Riki Flutey ?

Let's not forget Henry Paul, Thomas Waldrom.

I think you're re-inforcing @Kiwiwomble's point George Bridge could just walk into a lot of Tier 1 international sides. I mean think about it, Ireland have James Lowe playing for them now ...?

Jesus there some clueless comments here, not all of them, but these leapt out. More stuff to be up on the changing room walls

This is not the same team that won the World Cup. Let's be very clear on that. They've lost a number of their players who have headed off overseas

SA freely pick from anywhere

And two years ago, they were playing a lot more open and expansive rugby than this team is showing us this year."

Obviously didn't watch the semi versus Wales

The fullback is fine; Willie le Roux is a very good player

Was

Why does Jesse Kriel not get a run? Lovely swerve and good player!

@machpants said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Jesus there some clueless comments here, not all of them, but these leapt out. More stuff to be up on the changing room walls

This is not the same team that won the World Cup. Let's be very clear on that. They've lost a number of their players who have headed off overseas

SA freely pick from anywhere

And two years ago, they were playing a lot more open and expansive rugby than this team is showing us this year."

Obviously didn't watch the semi versus Wales

The fullback is fine; Willie le Roux is a very good player

Was

View embedded content

Is.

Very detailed analysis from Nick Bishop on The Roar, focussing on the breakdown, refereeing and Rassie. https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/09/22/how-the-springboks-hit-an-english-speed-bump-at-suncorp/

"Carley ... religiously applied the credo of the English Premiership; first, clear the tackler away; second, ensure that the first arriving defender is fully supporting their own bodyweight; third, show zero tolerance for cynical play. The outcome in the second half of the 2020 English Premiership season was a glut of ‘LQB’ (lightning-quick ball) for the attack, and ‘LQT’ (lightning-quick turnovers) for the defence. Both sides at Suncorp Stadium looked surprised to find themselves playing under a new set of rules, but it was Australia who adapted far more quickly and easily to them."

I'm pleasantly surprised to see English refs leading the charge on this and pushing it. I thought the Kiwi refs started strong on this then backed off (a little) during SRA and SRTT.

Plays massively into the strengths of the ABs who expect everyone from 1-15 to be able to win turnover ball at the breakdown. Aussies started seeing it in in SR TT and have adapted fast.

For England I expect Eddie may play a few combinations at 6-7-8 and lock with Itoje and Tom Curry the only given starters.

No law change that I know of, just referring existing laws in a better way :thumbs_up:

@l_n_p I liked the article, read it last night. Interesting insights

The Lions really didn't try to play much rugby against the Boks. Australia did, and it showed. Fitness the big issue for the Boks this weekend I suspect

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@l_n_p I liked the article, read it last night. Interesting insights

The Lions really didn't try to play much rugby against the Boks. Australia did, and it showed. Fitness the big issue for the Boks this weekend I suspect

That article was a cut above, with actually relevant clips! Impressed.

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@l_n_p I liked the article, read it last night. Interesting insights

The Lions really didn't try to play much rugby against the Boks. Australia did, and it showed. Fitness the big issue for the Boks this weekend I suspect

It's going to be very tactical with the AB's wanting the ball in play, the Boks quite the opposite! Probably a fast but conservative game for the first 50 at least to wear out the Boks - a lot of kicking deep for space from the AB playmakers. Down the middle if needed.

I always remember that RWC2015 semi-final where it could easily have gone both ways but logically I can't imagine how the Boks can make such huge adjustments in a week, plus AB coaches can build from watching Australia's victory.

Referee is English again.

@oompb said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

When I predicted the Boks will lose to the Wallabies, everybody had a laugh. Well I predict the Boks have a very good chance on Saturday. All the signs are there for an upset. Never write them off. They got nothing to lose.

I laughed at your first prediction but acknowledge thus week's.

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@l_n_p I liked the article, read it last night. Interesting insights

The Lions really didn't try to play much rugby against the Boks. Australia did, and it showed. Fitness the big issue for the Boks this weekend I suspect

That article was a cut above, with actually relevant clips! Impressed.

Given his background as a pro analyst, Nick Bishop is head-and-shoulders better than any current rugby writer that I know. He does the same level and tbh even better on "TheXV.Rugby" which is a paysite.

Seems a lovely good-natured bloke too ... engages really positively in the Comments section and is not afraid to (very) politely educate people!

@l_n_p said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Referee is English again.

Same two refs for the next two weeks vs Bokke. Clear Bok advantage - they know how they whistle the game All Blacks clear underdogs, playing away from home against world champions...

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@l_n_p said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Referee is English again.

Same two refs for the next two weeks vs Bokke. Clear Bok advantage - they know how they whistle the game All Blacks clear underdogs, playing away from home against world champions...

:face_with_tears_of_joy: It's quite a turnaround when English refereeing style actually suits the ABs :face_with_tears_of_joy:

Players like Papilli will need to mind their manners in defensive breakdowns, they may not get the half-second where they accidentally-on-purpose slow down the ball post-tackle.

When is the team named?

@l_n_p said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@l_n_p I liked the article, read it last night. Interesting insights

The Lions really didn't try to play much rugby against the Boks. Australia did, and it showed. Fitness the big issue for the Boks this weekend I suspect

It's going to be very tactical with the AB's wanting the ball in play, the Boks quite the opposite! Probably a fast but conservative game for the first 50 at least to wear out the Boks - a lot of kicking deep for space from the AB playmakers. Down the middle if needed.

I always remember that RWC2015 semi-final where it could easily have gone both ways but logically I can't imagine how the Boks can make such huge adjustments in a week, plus AB coaches can build from watching Australia's victory.

Referee is English again.

The article addresses how the Boks seemingly don't know what to do with the quick ball and don't have players set to take advantage. I think the other aspect is that they simply don't have the time to be boring. They can't slow things down to organise a kick or even look for the space to kick to.
No doubt much of the same analysis is being done by them and I think we may see quick ball trucked up close to the breakdown without too much effort to gain ground so that they can revert to type on the next phase. i.e. take two goes to get set.