@Bones said in All Blacks v France I:

@pakman said in All Blacks v France I:

@reprobate said in All Blacks v France I:

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v France I:

I guess the issue with BB and his kicking, is he either is 'allowed' to kick or told he shouldn't...I doubt any coach will do that.

I think he has had free reign for so long, he sees space then poorly executes...

It was notable when we put our kicking boots away, we were all over them and looking like breaking loose, but didn't, then re went back to the kicking duel, which kept putting ourselves under pressure.

Kicking asid, BB went pretty well, so how do you get your hugely experienced 10 to kick less?

His passing was really pretty good, best we've seen from him this year, and he kicked his goals well. But fuck me, he kicks so much attacking ball away it does my head in. Each one of those should be treated as a turnover, because that's what they are - if someone knocked the ball on multiple times every game while hot on attack, they would be crucified.
I'm sure there'll be some game where it all comes off and we look amazing and put 50 on some team, but most of the time it means not converting opportunities or applying pressure. that's how you get France C staying close enough to potentially snatch victory - and there are several teams out there better than France C.

And he can't exit with distance. And missed touch from a penalty. And a defensive bomb. And we still don't chase and contest - TBH that's the bit that really confuses me - because if it's a plan, sack the chasers. if it's not a plan, sack the kicker.

It was noticeable that France had two or three effective chasers, whereas we often had no one getting near the ball.

What was most frustrating, was when we do have chasers, they seem coached to wait for the ball to either hit the turf or be caught by the opposition. Really substandard.

It was like watching the Warriors were everyone just stops. Where is Ben Smith when you need him.

The Silver Fern

kev