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Mal

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Joined September 2019

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Thanks Terminator —- yes agree – I’d drop Clarke if Ian Foster calls and asks me. I was thinking that with 5 props – as you say, if HIA becomes an issue, then that would be sufficient to request a replacement from RWC. Maybe that’s not possible. I think the All Blacks will win or lose the big matches in the forwards, so there needs to be some big guys along with speed and versatility, with big motors – and a bench that will put pressure on the other forward packs when they come on. I think Roigard could also help out around the breakdowns big time too.

Is seven weeks enough time for the All Blacks to learn, reset and adapt before the World Cup quarter-finals?

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5d

I did. It was written by me about a week and a half b4 the match. Many comments to follow.

It might be a 'friendly' - but taking on the Boks at Twickenham is still oh so crucial for the All Blacks

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1w

Agree, and also interesting to see how the All Blacks bench front row do in the 2nd half. An absorbing match for sure.

It might be a 'friendly' - but taking on the Boks at Twickenham is still oh so crucial for the All Blacks

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1w

Will be fascinating seeing how the ABS bench do in the last 20 minutes—- could be valuable key insights for later on in the RWC matches.

It might be a 'friendly' - but taking on the Boks at Twickenham is still oh so crucial for the All Blacks

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1w

Hi everybody,

Thanks for all your comments and thoughts on the article, the team, and the match.

So, the team has been announced, and its pretty close to what everyone would have expected.

Some quick comments though on the surprises from my perspective.

First, I’m not Steve Hansen. He is vastly, significantly more informed on the players and strategy and tactics and the opposition than any of us. He is in the best position to put the best team on the field. That said, from my vantage point, two things surprise me.

Surprise #1 – The inclusion of Jack Goodhue, and in particular, in the starting 15. He is a great player and must be really showing top form in the past two weeks of training. My concern though is that this has led to ALB now starting at second five. I think ALB is far better suited to Centre where he has more space. He too is a great player, but if it means there is a shuffle in the backline to enable SBW to come on is that a good idea? Are we assuming he will only play part of the game (that’s a pity)? And is Jack Goodhue ready for a full 80 minutes at this point? The other related surprise is that there is no Ryan Crotty in the match 23.

Surprise #2 – I didn’t see Matt Todd in the match 23. The logic for my selection (Shannon Frizell) was versatility. I’m assuming Retallick will not play the full 80 minutes, in which case Scooter would come on in a planned substitution. But what if something happens to Read, Cane or Savea – i.e., injury. If this happens, I have to assume that Todd would come on and play open or blindside flanker. So I will also assume he would play openside and Cane would play the blind. Or, through the training runs, its clear that he can be a great fit with the approach now being used with the back three. In Steve Hansen we trust, however!

One final comment – Codie Taylor starting ahead of Dane Coles. They are for the most part fairly interchangeable. I had Coles starting in my line-up for his initial aggression in the early stages of the game against what will be a fired-up Irish forward pack (and hoping he wouldn’t give away penalties!). My concern is that he comes on later in the game with the same mental approach and then gives away critical penalties.

But all in all, this is for sure, a super strong All Black team. And, I think, with Ireland as the opposition, a perfect start for the knockout phase.

The All Blacks' quarter-final line-up will balance stability and flair

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Rugby
 
2019

Hi everybody,

Thanks Carlin, and thanks to you all for your comments and thoughts on the article, the team, and the match.

So, the team has been announced, and its pretty close to what everyone would have expected.

Some quick comments though on the surprises from my perspective.

First, I’m not Steve Hansen. He is vastly, significantly more informed on the players and strategy and tactics and the opposition than any of us. He is in the best position to put the best team on the field. That said, from my vantage point, two things surprise me.

Surprise #1 – The inclusion of Jack Goodhue, and in particular, in the starting 15. He is a great player and must be really showing top form in the past two weeks of training. My concern though is that this has led to ALB now starting at second five. I think ALB is far better suited to Centre where he has more space. He too is a great player, but if it means there is a shuffle in the backline to enable SBW to come on is that a good idea? Are we assuming he will only play part of the game (that’s a pity)? And is Jack Goodhue ready for a full 80 minutes at this point? The other related surprise is that there is no Ryan Crotty in the match 23.

Surprise #2 – I didn’t see Matt Todd in the match 23. The logic for my selection (Shannon Frizell) was versatility. I’m assuming Retallick will not play the full 80 minutes, in which case Scooter would come on in a planned substitution. But what if something happens to Read, Cane or Savea – i.e., injury. If this happens, I have to assume that Todd would come on and play open or blindside flanker. So I will also assume he would play openside and Cane would play the blind. Or, through the training runs, its clear that he can be a great fit with the approach now being used with the back three. In Steve Hansen we trust, however!

One final comment – Codie Taylor starting ahead of Dane Coles. They are for the most part fairly interchangeable. I had Coles starting in my line-up for his initial aggression in the early stages of the game against what will be a fired-up Irish forward pack (and hoping he wouldn’t give away penalties!). My concern is that he comes on later in the game with the same mental approach and then gives away critical penalties.

But all in all, this is for sure, a super strong All Black team. And, I think, with Ireland as the opposition, a perfect start for the knockout phase.

The All Blacks' quarter-final line-up will balance stability and flair

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Rugby
 
2019

That’s exactly it. The ABs have shown they can play at physical and mental pace for sustained periods. But it will suit them too at times to slow things down, and by so doing, avoid unnecessary passes or trying to do things simply ‘too fancy’. That’s the Balance in all of this. The ABs know they can ramp up and sustain the pace if necessary, and in the knockout phase that will be gold. Equally, they need to be patient with the slower game, then seize the opportunities when they come. Which they will, especially later in a game.

All Blacks march forward to get the right balance of pace and control

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Rugby
 
2019

Agree — Yes my gut feeling is that the AB coaches wanted the players to push themselves in the absorbing humidity, which it really was – even just sitting there. The players knew they had the game in the bag but pushed it nonetheless. A knowledge investment, if you like, for dealing with the conditions in the knockout phase, which could prove to be vital. With Brad Weber the coaches have 3 great options at half-back and it may well be that the 2 in the starting 23 of respective knockout games will depend on who the opposition is. As for the other teams, I would see England as the biggest threat right now.

All Blacks march forward to get the right balance of pace and control

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Rugby
 
2019
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