I prefer Todd over Savea myself. I still haven't seen what Savea offers apart from fresh legs off the bench, seems highly visible but generally ineffective but maybe I have missed his work in tight..
I think I also prefer Todd for a bench position now.

@MiketheSnow said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:

NZ have the personnel and motivation to double single digit their detractors

Something about this sentence sounds rather rude and unsettling. Just can't put my finger on it.

@milk said in All Blacks Squad for France:

McKenzie at 22-years-old is already the most-rounded attacking 10 in New Zealand. His passing is superior to Barrett and his running game is more dangerous than Mo’unga.

And his mistakes are more spectacular than Quade Cooper's.

Given the above, I'll rephrase my question: what is missing from RM-BB (10:15) that requires JB at 14? To my eyes he is playing like a slow wing not a fb/wing, not fending correctly, not using his cannon that much and not having to take many high balls (which other wings are good at too). He really looks like he is taking the place of a winger and I have not seen what he brings to the table to offset that? Long-range penalties and conversions? I have not got the figures here but I suspect his kicking success has not been 80% perhaps not even over 70%.

This number 6 looks handy, Mr Foster. Where'd you find him?

Overtakers when you are doing the speed limit then they settle in and drive slower than the speed you were driving..

@pakman - A bit concerned that Owen Franks will have lost his pace when he returns.

Yes he may not score so many tries for the ABs from now on..

Frizell is big enough, fast enough, but does he seize his opportunities or does he wait for the opposition? Over the last few years I've found the ABs to be too reactive and passive, wait, absorb, then run away once their superior fitness (and handling) starts to shine. Only problem is the other teams can now go 80, are just as skilled and drilled, and if they are more aggressive (Wallabies, Poms), they can overrun the ABs who have no plan B (unless you count bring on BB and hope he gets lucky).
To Foster's credit, I don't see him as relying on Plan B because I did not see Plan A on the weekend.
They need to change 6 to a cunning, hardnosed bastard. And it was clear as daylight when Sotuto charged onto the field that they chose the wrong 8. They need midfielders who are good in their position (Reiko could be, Goodhue was slow but good at 13 so they moved him to 12 where he can be slow and not so good).
They need to choose the best 15. DM is a great sub because no one has a clue what he is going to do (but the unpredictability is more of a liability when he starts). And perhaps they could consider wingers as wingers. Sure they got away with 15 at 11 or 14 in the past but those fullbacks were rather special. Jordie might be faster than he looks (long strides, but, frankly, looks like about as speedy and elusive as an overweight goose) but he didn't seem comfy and hungry at wing. Bridge, Bridge was our Jonah Lomu? In times of trouble, when you need someone to get us over troubled water, well he isn't that Bridge. The opposition must like him though because they kept running at him. At least he is popular. Wonder why.
So I'd count 6, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15 as clearly the wrong selections.
6/15. 40%. What team can paper over those cracks?

I don't remember Cane carrying this well at int level for some time.

@salacious-crumb said in Scotland v Australia:

I did n't see this test. How did Tongan Thor go?

He lost his hammer.

@Machpants
Clarke's finishing-he was inches from a try and pretty good in the midfield!

it is almost like tactics have some bearing on winning games! Who would a thought?!

I'd be tempted to show images and videos of Uyghurs rounded up and sterilized..then say, since you brought it up.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/thousands-of-batons-cattle-prods-and-handcuffs-ordered-for-china-s-education-camps
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-30/china-forces-birth-control-on-uyghurs-to-suppress-population/12404912
Would destroy a lot of fat incomes, mind. That % of Chinese dominance on Aussie exports is a bit of a strong testicle grip.

hang on, don't tell me this is partially because the ABs went one better? Los Pumas were upstaged?
I don't agree with racism, via twitter or whatever, but someone must have a bitter dose of revenge to go after Matera now.

@canefan said in Argentina Two: Newcastle, 28 November:

@No-Quarter JB has suffered from playing out of position, simple as that. Same as Goodhue

and BB but Richie?

@Yeetyaah said in 2021 Crusaders:

Cirikidaveta

Unless for the Canes..1.94m 110kg (but looks a little heavier to me)..good number 8 body stats! (copyright Blackdragon)

I blame the Hurricanes! But this is surely where the AB coaching team earn their money?!

@Bones said in What’s out there at Second Five?:

I get a funny feeling he was given a tight game plan for the ABs and did as he was told.

hang on, then you are implying the tactics were crap! Say it ain't so!

someone off American big brother?

@reprobate yes our tactics were close to dogshit, but what I really don't like is our inability to choose other tactics in a timely and suitable fashion.
I did notice the Argies weren't shooting up from the line with their smothering tactics like they were a few weeks ago despite having 2/3 of the same loose forwards and Facundo Isa (who is supposed to be a quality player)..