So what did we learn from Bled2?

@Paekakboyz said in So what did we learn from Bled2?:

@KiwiMurph biggest boot in the squad, tallest back and good under the high ball, great defender, decent pace, creates space and not afraid to have a crack. It's the first two that pin him as a 1st pick FB imo. But I want him at 12 personally and like that he can drop into the pocket if needed.

Just about jizzed myself with some of those awesome flat passes. RI's weaker passing game gets offset by jordie throwing skip passes

I agree with your first points but we need a Fullback who breaks the line. Teams need to be afraid to boot the ball down to us.

To me that’s Will Jordan. I love the idea of him getting the ball with time and space, picking a gap and then running at fatties. We will have teams on the back foot all day.

The upside of Jordie at 12 eclipses the downside of not having him at 15.

@Steve said in So what did we learn from Bled2?:

@Paekakboyz said in So what did we learn from Bled2?:

@KiwiMurph biggest boot in the squad, tallest back and good under the high ball, great defender, decent pace, creates space and not afraid to have a crack. It's the first two that pin him as a 1st pick FB imo. But I want him at 12 personally and like that he can drop into the pocket if needed.

Just about jizzed myself with some of those awesome flat passes. RI's weaker passing game gets offset by jordie throwing skip passes

I agree with your first points but we need a Fullback who breaks the line. Teams need to be afraid to boot the ball down to us.

To me that’s Will Jordan. I love the idea of him getting the ball with time and space, picking a gap and then running at fatties. We will have teams on the back foot all day.

Teams won't be afraid to run at us with his current defence.

@Tim said in So what did we learn from Bled2?:

@BartMan Yet another excellent performance from Rieko Ioane, made huge metres, excellent decision making, rushed up on defence when needed, and got a turn over - he's not a centre! Don't you get tired of pushing premeditated takes? He was excellent, and I challenge anyone to name a better centre since 2015.

He’s is our best Centre by far, who else would we select there? Plus he’s getting better and better. Is he the finished product? Of course not but he will get better with more time in the saddle.

Even Foster isn’t stupid enough to move him back to wing.

• Jordie is our best 12. He’s the missing piece at 12. Helps Richie with a running options and holds the defence creating more space for Rieko. Run, kick pass threat who can hit hard on defence. That said Fozzie will prob play him on wing now.

• We now have enormous depth in the front row to the point Ta’avao can’t even get a look in.

• Papali’i makes Cane redundant especially when Whitelock, Savea and Smith are available as captains.

• Akira Ioane needs to be persevered at 6. He showed he can play tight and defend well when the physicality stakes were high. Basically can do what Frizell, Barrett can do with much more upside.

• BB is the best option at FB giving us a triple pivot capability. That means Jordan is at 14. He’d make a great test FB but in the current setup he’s a 14.

@TheMojoman said in So what did we learn from Bled2?:

• Jordie is our best 12. He’s the missing piece at 12. Helps Richie with a running options and holds the defence creating more space for Rieko. Run, kick pass threat who can hit hard on defence. That said Fozzie will prob play him on wing now.

• We now have enormous depth in the front row to the point Ta’avao can’t even get a look in.

• Papali’i makes Cane redundant especially when Whitelock, Savea and Smith are available as captains.

• Akira Ioane needs to be persevered at 6. He showed he can play tight and defend well when the physicality stakes were high. Basically can do what Frizell, Barrett can do with much more upside.

• BB is the best option at FB giving us a triple pivot capability. That means Jordan is at 14. He’d make a great test FB but in the current setup he’s a 14.

agree with this

@Nepia Heard a rumour on another forum that RTS has been tabled an offer from the Roosters for the latter half of 2023. Wonder if he gets on EOYT with ALB and Goodhue returning.

@Tim said in So what did we learn from Bled2?:

@BartMan Yet another excellent performance from Rieko Ioane, made huge metres, excellent decision making, rushed up on defence when needed, and got a turn over - he's not a centre! Don't you get tired of pushing premeditated takes? He was excellent, and I challenge anyone to name a better centre since 2015.

Even if he wasn't a centre's arsehole, the fact is that everyone else who could possible play there instead is injured - he's easily the best we have fit and available and is performing well.

@Victor-Meldrew said in So what did we learn from Bled2?:

@Tim said in So what did we learn from Bled2?:

@mariner4life He's had four blinders in the last five tests. Yet dickheads will just assume that because we aren't making spectacular wide moves, while scoring 40 points, it must because we have a defective centre. Moronic.

I think he's the best option at 13 and has come on in spades, but has some work-on's - e. g. he needs to give his support players/wingers more space. There have been times when he's made a blistering break but edged towards the touchline which cramps his attack options.

This is very true but he has come on leaps and bounds in the relatively short time he has been a test match centre. If he continues on his current trajectory, he could be an absolute phenomenon at the RWC next year. Why give up that possibility, and the significant time that has been invested in his development to date, just because there remain a few rough edges

@SBW1 These results yet again prove that the problem we have had for a very long period of time has been organization, leadership and coaching. We have good players
If Razor was at the helm another dimension would reveal itself, 100%

I think if we are going to persist with both Clarke and Ioane in the starting backline them we need to find a few inventive ways to better use them because I don’t think either of them are natural ball players. I think part of our fluency issues is because we want the ball in their hands to run but more often than not our attack is breaking down because they are either unwilling passers or they’re not confident doing it. To me it’s both a mental and skill thing.

This is not a criticism but if we are wanting to improve our efficiency we are going to have see a rapid improvement quickly or a change needs to occur.

Awesome knowing we have a stable scrum. Unreal . A decent scrum was becoming a hazy memory

Has Sami become number 1 hooker passing Fitz and Coles in the GOAT AB team of recent living memory?
Peak Coles was my number 1 but it's getting close

@BerniesCorner said in So what did we learn from Bled2?:

Has Sami become number 1 hooker passing Fitz and Coles in the GOAT AB team of recent living memory?
Peak Coles was my number 1 but it's getting close

I know he’s playing well, but it’s pretty early days. He hasn’t even reached Mealamu level let alone the lofty heights of Fitzy.

So what did we learn from Bled2?

That the two camps will never meet halfway on Akira Ioane.

@ACT-Crusader Yet peak Coles redefined the position especially on the wing!

@junior said in So what did we learn from Bled2?:

@Victor-Meldrew said in So what did we learn from Bled2?:

@Tim said in So what did we learn from Bled2?:

@mariner4life He's had four blinders in the last five tests. Yet dickheads will just assume that because we aren't making spectacular wide moves, while scoring 40 points, it must because we have a defective centre. Moronic.

I think he's the best option at 13 and has come on in spades, but has some work-on's - e. g. he needs to give his support players/wingers more space. There have been times when he's made a blistering break but edged towards the touchline which cramps his attack options.

This is very true but he has come on leaps and bounds in the relatively short time he has been a test match centre. If he continues on his current trajectory, he could be an absolute phenomenon at the RWC next year. Why give up that possibility, and the significant time that has been invested in his development to date, just because there remain a few rough edges

I liked the way he combined with a new centre yesterday from what little I saw. If he can keep his support runners with him and learn to hold the ball better, a la Conrad, rather than swap it from hand-hand, he'll be almost there.

That may sound like basic stuff, but his other play inc. his scramble defence, makes up for it IMHO.

I think the obvious thing to me is we have 3 test level fullbacks in JB, BB and WJ and really there is not that much between them.

At 12 we have no options as good as those three fullbacks. So JB to 12 has to be a no brainer as you still have two good options at 15. If we use JB at 15 we have no really good options at 12. Simples.

@SBW1 is Goodhue returning.? We have been waiting for years and although obviously one of Fozzies faves he really needs to earn his spot back. Goodhue is the new Kahui but not as good.

@TheMojoman said in So what did we learn from Bled2?:

• Jordie is our best 12. He’s the missing piece at 12. Helps Richie with a running options and holds the defence creating more space for Rieko. Run, kick pass threat who can hit hard on defence. That said Fozzie will prob play him on wing now.

• We now have enormous depth in the front row to the point Ta’avao can’t even get a look in.

• Papali’i makes Cane redundant especially when Whitelock, Savea and Smith are available as captains.

• Akira Ioane needs to be persevered at 6. He showed he can play tight and defend well when the physicality stakes were high. Basically can do what Frizell, Barrett can do with much more upside.

• BB is the best option at FB giving us a triple pivot capability. That means Jordan is at 14. He’d make a great test FB but in the current setup he’s a 14.

They want Jordan at 14 to play a roving role and go looking for the ball , not be stuck out on the wing , it looks like to me he is starting to get the hang of that , starting to bob up more in the middle of the field ,

Hopefully just because he wears 14 on his back it doesn’t matter , we can still utilise all the good stuff that he brings

@kiwiinmelb doesn't hurt that Reece came on and made an immediate impact. It was great to see Jordan playing well and looking more confident. But having all 3 of our main wing options playing well adds that extra spice.