great game.
it must be hard on the players when some refs have different rules to other refs. According to Garces, hands are allowed in rucks, but you are allowed to hold onto the ball. It went both ways, didn't favour either team. Credit to Savea in the second half realising how the game was being reffed. he got 3 or 4 turnovers, maybe 2 of which he wouldn't under a different ref, but then there were another 2-3 he should have got if the tackled player wasn't allowed to hold on (actually there was inconsistency here, because he did win 1 penalty for them holding on). it must be hard on everyone when refs are inconsistent.
it was actually the worst game I've seen Ardie play in recent memory, but gettign turnovers is massive and he did that readily when at 7 in the second half (all of his turnovers were when he was at 7, so a pretty crazy rate for 40 mins. but he didn't do much else, except a few missed tackles, and was ineffective at 6 in the first half.
Cane was very good.
I'll have to taek back seom comments about who the best front row is for the boks, because Kitschoff was immense. feel bad for trev.
interesting game. Brutal and fairly even encounter fit for a bok v AB game.
Both sides will be a bit frustrated by the ref, the Boks will complain about the penalty count but the Ref also let them get away with a lot there was the first AB penalty which was clearly a cynical professional foul hard on defense after a breakout. That's a yellow card every day, deliberate foul and prevented a try on desperate defense right under the sticks. The other or me was in the 46th minute just before the only Bok try the AB's recovered from that amazing bok breakout and Richie tackle, ALB took the ball well up past the bok defense then after that ruck 3-4 Bok were way offside in the AB back-line and PSDT effected the turnover from a clear offside position. And it was a Ruck, #5 made the tackle assisted by #1 who remained on his feet over the ball was then cleaned out by AB#8 & #12 making it clearly a ruck. PSDT wasn't just flat he came from behind the AB line, given that the AB's had a HUGE overlap (4-5 on 2) that was a professional foul as well. Also one thing the bok were doing was getting up from a tackle and running again without releasing and regathering the ball. When a player is tackled the tackler has to release the carrier and the carrier has to release the ball. He can get to his feet and pick it up again but he still has to release it.
Anyway... The game kinda went how I expected, I thought the AB's would get more tries though, they did leave a few out there. The box kicking from both sides was a bit frustrating it seems that may be a theme of this world cup with most of the top teams employing flat rushing defenses.
For the AB's
Front row
Laulala was excellent. Moody was great around the park but the scrum wasn't as solid on his side. Ofa was huge on defense late making some big tackles but the scrum did suffer late. It was overall good enough but for sure needs some work. Coles was fairly quiet I thought his main job would be to use his speed to get in the face of the bok 9-10, looked like he tried too but not with much impact. Taylor was really good, lineout was better when he was on as well.
locks
typical whitelock game, very good into everything for 80min. Scott had a huge game, on defense, taking the ball up, scored a try played lock and 6 maybe our best forward along with Savea. Tuipulotu had a huge game, driving players back in tackles, that can't be underestimated. The boks were forced to box kick flat footed because of the defense from players like Paddy.
back row
Cane was great before he went off. Seemed like a mistake from the officials prevented him getting back on after the HIA at half time. He was involved a lot, seemed a plan for him to work the left with Bridge and Savea worked the right with Reece. They were all great, Savea was huge again.
at 9 Smith was very good again his passing was very good I just wish again he would speed the clearance up. I cant help but feel like despite his passe, kicks, defense and decisions being good the critical seconds he is wasting at rucks is preventing the attack from unlocking defenses. Things improved when Perenara got a roll on. I also thought TJ's box kicking was far more effective, mostly in combination with Bridge.
Barrett and Richie were class, it seems like the the two of them moving between 10-15 is starting to work more smoothly. Both making critical plays on attack and defense.
in the midfield ALB was outstanding. So far this year if we have a nominee for IRB player of the year its ALB, before this game he had made 54 tackled and missed just 1 in tests, Again brilliant on defense, on the spot when ever something needs to be done and a handful on attack brilliantly putting Scott Barrett in for a try.
Crotty was solid without having a big impact before subbed. SBW was very good, there was a small passage when he had a kick charged but it was under an advantage, could have been nasty otherwise. But he carried well got over the advantage line and secured the ball. very good busy defense and one great pass which should have resulted in more if not for a poor transfer later in the movement.
Reecce and Bridge were great again in another big test. I think this effort confirms them for the playoffs. Bridge in particular has been amazing the way these guys performed under the high ball really set the tone for the result in many ways. Kolbe aside The boks didn't really offer much on attack with their box kicks nullified. Would have liked to have seen the ball in Sevu's hands more later in the game.
One thing that interested me was how effective Ben Smith was when he came on. He attacked down the short side and created space with short passes and his trademark running style. It was unlucky not to result in more points. Towards the end when the AB's seemed to regain the momentum again I think it was in part due to Benders impact.
good analysis, as always.
re-b.smith, I actually like him in this role. I've been saying for a while now that in wolrd cups you should pick your finishing 15 first. bender has to be in that, probably few would argue. the question then becomes, should he also be in the starting 15? I like the idea that he will be fresh; he is a leader in the team, and I like the idea that he can really lead form the front when coming on fresh, spotting opportunities and just being everywhere, taking control.
regarding ALB I'm glad he is a first choice now (at least I think he is, could just be that others have ****les). He's been my favourite player since before he could make the starting lineup at the chiefs, because I've always liked the way he plays, and saw great potential. He is now consistently living up to that potential.
Yeah I thought that, but then that's one of the few ways you can make ground now that being 30m offside is fine.
aha,
the assistant refs certainly don't seem to do much assisting. the main ref can't look at everything ( I accidentally wrote "anything", then had to correct it. Freudian slip perhaps)
Had to hide offline coz I was in the cheap seats and the game has only just finished for me...
Game wasn't even really close tbh. That second half try for SA started from the most glaringly obvious offside play at the ball. Can we get a "lazy running" yellow card for that? Think I counted about 8 high tackles in the first half, some definite plays at the neck in the clear outs... Are we now being super loose on high tackles again? That first incident with killing the ball, which is a professional foul, was a yellow if it was the All Blacks that did it. I would definitely say going forward these two teams are the ones to beat.
i thought he released the player. which subjective judgement takes priority, 'clearly release' or 'place the ball immediately'? But yeah, i wondered about the PSDT one. Rucks are so ambiguously, contradictorily, reffed.
Favouritism to who or what?
himself
All blacks getting all the decisions
Suprise suprise
not even close to true. just very poor reffing all around and most people only able to see one side of it.
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