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Rugby World Cup 2015
[2015 RWC] Pool C: New Zealand vs. Namibia (24/09/2015)
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<blockquote data-quote="Larksea" data-source="post: 751056" data-attributes="member: 43875"><p>this was such a meaningless game. I was thinking the only thing we can take from it is that we didn't pick up any injuries though I hear now that Barrett & Slade have both sat out training with ****les.</p><p></p><p>then there are the negative aspects of the game, you can't blame Namibia, but they dont play to win they play to disrupt. That 2nd half was one of the worst halves of rugby I've ever watched. Part of the blame goes on the ref for allowing countless minutes of the game to drain away in scrums going nowhere or constantly resetting. There seemed like a period of about 20min where basically nothing happened, it was filled with scrums, stoppages, players down, water drinking and other folly.</p><p></p><p>The game was basically toilet filler.</p><p></p><p>#1 concern</p><p></p><p>The all blacks are facing the same tricky situation as they did in 2007. Weak pool games with no challenge leading into do or die knockout footy against tier 1 nations. Argentina offered a 60min challenge the rest of the pool games will be teams doing what Namibia tried to do. Disrupt the All Blacks and slow the game down with set pieces so they dont get blown away in the last 20min.</p><p></p><p>#2 concern</p><p></p><p>Savea scored a couple but still looks like crap. Making use of him in pick & go play around the ruck is a smart idea because he still has some power but out on the wing his pace has gone. He's either getting stopped or being put into touch. Its crazy watching a guy who for the last few years went over or around a defender pretty much every single time he got the ball to struggling to make the gain line against 2nd tier nations. The problems Savea has are simply not going to come right overnight. Best option right now would be to bring piutau onto that left wing but he's not even in the squad. The squad was picked in the thinking that Savea owns the 11 jersey but the signs have been there for a long time that Savea is well off his best. I hope he doesn't go down as another player who was absolutely epic between world cups. Best winger in the world for the last 2-3 years, WC comes along and hes an also ran...</p><p></p><p>Another key cog that's under performing is Kaino, its a bit more of a mystery. He's still toiling hard at times but really struggling to have that trademark physical impact he's known for. However unlike Savea who I think is shot for now. Kaino still has the potential to turn it on come the more important games he's worth persevering with.</p><p></p><p>At this stage... we really aren't going to have a clue where the AB's are at till the quarter finals roll around.... Its sad but true. Its going to be really hard to do but somehow the players need to click and string together 3 great games. and bring that "calmly score more points than the other guys over 80 minutes" attitude that's become a trademark of the side. Staying in touch for 60min and winning the last 20.</p><p></p><p>we also need some guys to step up and play big games. IMO the guys most likely to do that are: </p><p></p><p>McCaw - the big games will come, his game will lift, he will top the tackle count and be at almost every ruck, he will carry the ball with everything he's got. Hopefully he's got that one brain explosion (trip) out of his system.</p><p>Sam Whitelock - Retalick has been struggling a bit, basically playing between injuries. We know how good Sam is I really want to see him have a few huge games.</p><p> Dane Coles - we know when defenders eyes are on guys like Nonu & SBW they sleep on Coles and he can nail 40m trys. We need more of the same.</p><p> Kieran Read - seems to be building nicely. Has had some flack but he has some big games in him I think.</p><p>Aaron Smith - we desperately need this kid to find that spark of his for the knockout games. Hes a proven match winner.</p><p>Nonu - with his best super rugby season ever behind him hes been a little underwhelming so far in the WC. He is a guy that can have a big game against a team like Australia, which we may need.</p><p>SBW - has shown with the injury issues behind him now hes pure class and a match winner when the players around him are good enough to take his super offloads. I can see him having a big impact against teams like england, ireland & the welsh </p><p>Ben Smith - he's been good but he has another gear to his game. I'm almost certian he will find that gear when needed.</p><p>Barrett - always has the potential to rule the last 20min of a game.</p><p>charlie faumuina - hes actually looking pretty good again and like Barrett he can play a really important roll in the last 20-30min.</p><p></p><p>But two most of all</p><p></p><p>Dan Carter - its all about getting dan carter to the finals and hoping against hope that he makes it through and does what we know he can do. He's held back his running game but IMO it's there waiting to be unleashed when the time is right. He actually looks very fast and dangerous to me he's just been keeping it back and avoiding unnecessary contact and focusing on controlling the game.</p><p></p><p>Naholo - will he or wont he? that's THE question. What sort of condition is he in and what impact can he make after so long confined to the sidelines & training field? Best scenario we see some of the magical and deadly combination work with his highlanders team mates Ben & Aaron Smith. Secret weapon or failure to launch....? The papers will tell you we left Dagg & Jane at home for this guy, but IMO we really left Piutau & Moala at home for this guy. They are the form players, Moala has been running in trys in ITM cup and destroying defensive lines everywhere all season. Puitau was our best and most consistent back over the first three tests this season. IMO if either Piutau or Moala had been included in this squad they would right now be one of the players we would be talking about as the best performers in the squad. Nehe's performance have been ok, probably overstated a bit. It still seems like despite Nehe going "ok" we REALLY need Naholo to come in fully loaded and set to destroy.</p><p></p><p>Players I dont see having a big impact... Or not as much as we expect.</p><p></p><p>Savea - as ive gone over...</p><p>Woodcock - he seems below his best. He really just needs to focus on holding his own at the scrums and showing his experience around the field. Work his arse off.</p><p>Conrad Smith - he maybe our best 13 ever but right now he seems a little off the boil. Known as an epic defender but all he has to do is miss a couple and the questions get asked. That's kinda where he is right now, though he's fully capable of coming good.</p><p>Retalick - best lock in the world without a doubt but he's going from injury to ****le at the moment. It's holding him back a bit.</p><p></p><p>yeah short list, our players are pretty dam good....</p><p></p><p>Lastly, our bench is fantastic, best in the world. Cane/Messam/Vito, barrett, SBW, Faumuina, Crockett, Fekitoa, Perenara are all class. Cane, SBW & Barrett being the star performers. These guys are as important as the starting 15 & the All Blacks are the one true 23 man team in the world. We are going to need that to keep paying off.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Larksea, post: 751056, member: 43875"] this was such a meaningless game. I was thinking the only thing we can take from it is that we didn't pick up any injuries though I hear now that Barrett & Slade have both sat out training with ****les. then there are the negative aspects of the game, you can't blame Namibia, but they dont play to win they play to disrupt. That 2nd half was one of the worst halves of rugby I've ever watched. Part of the blame goes on the ref for allowing countless minutes of the game to drain away in scrums going nowhere or constantly resetting. There seemed like a period of about 20min where basically nothing happened, it was filled with scrums, stoppages, players down, water drinking and other folly. The game was basically toilet filler. #1 concern The all blacks are facing the same tricky situation as they did in 2007. Weak pool games with no challenge leading into do or die knockout footy against tier 1 nations. Argentina offered a 60min challenge the rest of the pool games will be teams doing what Namibia tried to do. Disrupt the All Blacks and slow the game down with set pieces so they dont get blown away in the last 20min. #2 concern Savea scored a couple but still looks like crap. Making use of him in pick & go play around the ruck is a smart idea because he still has some power but out on the wing his pace has gone. He's either getting stopped or being put into touch. Its crazy watching a guy who for the last few years went over or around a defender pretty much every single time he got the ball to struggling to make the gain line against 2nd tier nations. The problems Savea has are simply not going to come right overnight. Best option right now would be to bring piutau onto that left wing but he's not even in the squad. The squad was picked in the thinking that Savea owns the 11 jersey but the signs have been there for a long time that Savea is well off his best. I hope he doesn't go down as another player who was absolutely epic between world cups. Best winger in the world for the last 2-3 years, WC comes along and hes an also ran... Another key cog that's under performing is Kaino, its a bit more of a mystery. He's still toiling hard at times but really struggling to have that trademark physical impact he's known for. However unlike Savea who I think is shot for now. Kaino still has the potential to turn it on come the more important games he's worth persevering with. At this stage... we really aren't going to have a clue where the AB's are at till the quarter finals roll around.... Its sad but true. Its going to be really hard to do but somehow the players need to click and string together 3 great games. and bring that "calmly score more points than the other guys over 80 minutes" attitude that's become a trademark of the side. Staying in touch for 60min and winning the last 20. we also need some guys to step up and play big games. IMO the guys most likely to do that are: McCaw - the big games will come, his game will lift, he will top the tackle count and be at almost every ruck, he will carry the ball with everything he's got. Hopefully he's got that one brain explosion (trip) out of his system. Sam Whitelock - Retalick has been struggling a bit, basically playing between injuries. We know how good Sam is I really want to see him have a few huge games. Dane Coles - we know when defenders eyes are on guys like Nonu & SBW they sleep on Coles and he can nail 40m trys. We need more of the same. Kieran Read - seems to be building nicely. Has had some flack but he has some big games in him I think. Aaron Smith - we desperately need this kid to find that spark of his for the knockout games. Hes a proven match winner. Nonu - with his best super rugby season ever behind him hes been a little underwhelming so far in the WC. He is a guy that can have a big game against a team like Australia, which we may need. SBW - has shown with the injury issues behind him now hes pure class and a match winner when the players around him are good enough to take his super offloads. I can see him having a big impact against teams like england, ireland & the welsh Ben Smith - he's been good but he has another gear to his game. I'm almost certian he will find that gear when needed. Barrett - always has the potential to rule the last 20min of a game. charlie faumuina - hes actually looking pretty good again and like Barrett he can play a really important roll in the last 20-30min. But two most of all Dan Carter - its all about getting dan carter to the finals and hoping against hope that he makes it through and does what we know he can do. He's held back his running game but IMO it's there waiting to be unleashed when the time is right. He actually looks very fast and dangerous to me he's just been keeping it back and avoiding unnecessary contact and focusing on controlling the game. Naholo - will he or wont he? that's THE question. What sort of condition is he in and what impact can he make after so long confined to the sidelines & training field? Best scenario we see some of the magical and deadly combination work with his highlanders team mates Ben & Aaron Smith. Secret weapon or failure to launch....? The papers will tell you we left Dagg & Jane at home for this guy, but IMO we really left Piutau & Moala at home for this guy. They are the form players, Moala has been running in trys in ITM cup and destroying defensive lines everywhere all season. Puitau was our best and most consistent back over the first three tests this season. IMO if either Piutau or Moala had been included in this squad they would right now be one of the players we would be talking about as the best performers in the squad. Nehe's performance have been ok, probably overstated a bit. It still seems like despite Nehe going "ok" we REALLY need Naholo to come in fully loaded and set to destroy. Players I dont see having a big impact... Or not as much as we expect. Savea - as ive gone over... Woodcock - he seems below his best. He really just needs to focus on holding his own at the scrums and showing his experience around the field. Work his arse off. Conrad Smith - he maybe our best 13 ever but right now he seems a little off the boil. Known as an epic defender but all he has to do is miss a couple and the questions get asked. That's kinda where he is right now, though he's fully capable of coming good. Retalick - best lock in the world without a doubt but he's going from injury to ****le at the moment. It's holding him back a bit. yeah short list, our players are pretty dam good.... Lastly, our bench is fantastic, best in the world. Cane/Messam/Vito, barrett, SBW, Faumuina, Crockett, Fekitoa, Perenara are all class. Cane, SBW & Barrett being the star performers. These guys are as important as the starting 15 & the All Blacks are the one true 23 man team in the world. We are going to need that to keep paying off. [/QUOTE]
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Rugby World Cup 2015
[2015 RWC] Pool C: New Zealand vs. Namibia (24/09/2015)
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