Would be great to have some insight from the coaches as to the reluctance to try a 6-2 bench. We seem to have ideal cattle right now with our versatile backs to give it a go, but it seems off the table. Has anyone heard it being discussed by anyone in the setup?
@brodean said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@Wurzel said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Speaking of Dagg and ex players not being critical of current ABs, evidently he’s not a Rieko fan… and wasn’t when they played together
Finally someone says something. Thank heavens.
The fact in a decade Rieko hasn't developed the skills to take the high ball or develop a kicking game says a lot.
It also says a lot about these coaches.
They talk about both sides of the ball but throw Rieko on the wing when presumably they know he struggles under the high ball. If they don't know - and if their plan was to play Rieko on the wing - then why weren't they using the pre AB squad naming camp in BOP and the French series trainings to really test out Rieko under the high ball.
There are some things Rieko has improved on in his career - defensively he has gotten much better and his passing has improved compared to where it was when he first came on the scene.
But it screams of Razor not having the sack to drop a guy that the NZR signed to a deal through to the 2027 RWC.
He doesn't need a highball game at centre and he didn't need a kicking game with Havili and JB being his main two partners.
It is a bit mad that we are criticising a guy who played centre for the last 5 years for not developing strength under the high-ball while the guys who have been playing wing and fullback throughout that time and still do seem to be escaping criticism for also being complete numpties under the high ball.
@Frank said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@brodean said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@Wurzel said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Speaking of Dagg and ex players not being critical of current ABs, evidently he’s not a Rieko fan… and wasn’t when they played together
Finally someone says something. Thank heavens.
The fact in a decade Rieko hasn't developed the skills to take the high ball or develop a kicking game says a lot.
It also says a lot about these coaches.
They talk about both sides of the ball but throw Rieko on the wing when presumably they know he struggles under the high ball. If they don't know - and if their plan was to play Rieko on the wing - then why weren't they using the pre AB squad naming camp in BOP and the French series trainings to really test out Rieko under the high ball.
There are some things Rieko has improved on in his career - defensively he has gotten much better and his passing has improved compared to where it was when he first came on the scene.
But it screams of Razor not having the sack to drop a guy that the NZR signed to a deal through to the 2027 RWC.
He doesn't need a highball game at centre and he didn't need a kicking game with Havili and JB being his main two partners.
Does need to know how to pass well though doesn't he.
See it as a close call between him and Proctor however.
He passes just fine - not perfect, but fine. The issue he has is the same one that Proctor is facing now - a lack of time and space with which to use the ball. This is primarily the result of how this and the last regime structured their backline attack and also the two blokes inside him who can’t pass for shit either.
I don’t know if there is a centre in NZ who could, under those conditions, throw the kind of perfectly timed flat spiral passes to wide wingers and fullbacks that people seem to be expecting here - not Rieko and not Proctor either.
As for the comment earlier about Rieko tucking and ducking, that is totally fair and quite frustrating. But, I think it is also fair to suggest that this is something he has developed to get himself over the gain line and not get smashed by his opposing centres when playing so flat and flat footed as part of our backline structure.
Reluctantly adding to the Rieko bash here, because I like the guy as player and it saddens me the way things are at the moment, but there was one moment on the weekend that summed up where is at. It was when the Argies fucked up a pass and the ball was bouncing along the ground. Rieko was there, he bent over to pick it up and spilled the ball forward. Opportunity missed. Rieko of old, or someone else on top of their game, would have either scooped the ball up and accelerated at the gap, or instinctively toed the ball on creating a kick chase situation. I just knew as I watched it unfold, that the chance would be blown.
For what it's worth, I can't imagine any AB back would have made gold out of that situation on the weekend. That's how down on mojo they are as a unit.
@Crazy-Horse a good observation, it does feel like the backline do not have confidence that they can implement whatever gameplan they are being asked to do, and it's impacting their confidence across the board which can lead to missed opportunities like that.
@Bones said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Will Jordan passed the ball last week though. You pessimistic bunch.
we also look very staunch on the bus on the way in to the stadium.
@junior said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
This is primarily the result of how this and the last regime structured their backline attack and also the two blokes inside him who can’t pass for shit either.
Yeah, his lack of distribution skill is the fault of every coach and every player that has ever played inside him. Nothing to do with him at all............
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Anton Lienert-Brown is probably the best distributing centre in NZ - just saying...
When he's not in the bin?
@canefan said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Anton Lienert-Brown is probably the best distributing centre in NZ - just saying...
When he's not in the bin?
See, none of our contenders are perfect, ALB can't stay on the field, Rieko can't pass and Proctor can't walk on water defend. 
@Nepia said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@canefan said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Anton Lienert-Brown is probably the best distributing centre in NZ - just saying...
When he's not in the bin?
See, none of our contenders are perfect, ALB can't stay on the field, Rieko can't pass and Proctor can't
walk on waterdefend.
And Leicester is laughing
@junior said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@Frank said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@brodean said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@Wurzel said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
Speaking of Dagg and ex players not being critical of current ABs, evidently he’s not a Rieko fan… and wasn’t when they played together
Finally someone says something. Thank heavens.
The fact in a decade Rieko hasn't developed the skills to take the high ball or develop a kicking game says a lot.
It also says a lot about these coaches.
They talk about both sides of the ball but throw Rieko on the wing when presumably they know he struggles under the high ball. If they don't know - and if their plan was to play Rieko on the wing - then why weren't they using the pre AB squad naming camp in BOP and the French series trainings to really test out Rieko under the high ball.
There are some things Rieko has improved on in his career - defensively he has gotten much better and his passing has improved compared to where it was when he first came on the scene.
But it screams of Razor not having the sack to drop a guy that the NZR signed to a deal through to the 2027 RWC.
He doesn't need a highball game at centre and he didn't need a kicking game with Havili and JB being his main two partners.
Does need to know how to pass well though doesn't he.
See it as a close call between him and Proctor however.
He passes just fine - not perfect, but fine. The issue he has is the same one that Proctor is facing now - a lack of time and space with which to use the ball. This is primarily the result of how this and the last regime structured their backline attack and also the two blokes inside him who can’t pass for shit either.
I don’t know if there is a centre in NZ who could, under those conditions, throw the kind of perfectly timed flat spiral passes to wide wingers and fullbacks that people seem to be expecting here - not Rieko and not Proctor either.
As for the comment earlier about Rieko tucking and ducking, that is totally fair and quite frustrating. But, I think it is also fair to suggest that this is something he has developed to get himself over the gain line and not get smashed by his opposing centres when playing so flat and flat footed as part of our backline structure.
If it's a center who can pass well both ways, its ALB.
As a starter, the YC risk may go down?
Edit, I see these points have been covered.
I thought Ennor's big improvements in super this year was his heads up play and handling. Carry on in that manner and he could get up to half a dozen games before being discarded because he didn't look to the manor born.
@Bones said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
I thought Ennor's big improvements in super this year was his heads up play and handling. Carry on in that manner and he could get up to half a dozen games before being discarded because he didn't look to the manor born.
Yeah, if we have to pick a Crusader centre it would be Ennor for me. I once described him as a poor man's Rieko, but he has looked an improved player the last couple of years.
As for big LF, when he left he couldn't pass for shit. Has that changed?
@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
@Bones said in All Blacks v Springboks I:
I thought Ennor's big improvements in super this year was his heads up play and handling. Carry on in that manner and he could get up to half a dozen games before being discarded because he didn't look to the manor born.
Yeah, if we have to pick a Crusader centre it would be Ennor for me. I once described him as a poor man's Rieko, but he has looked an improved player the last couple of years.
As for big LF, when he left he couldn't pass for shit. Has that changed?
He'll fit right in then!
@Crazy-Horse thought he was looking quite rapid this year too.
