@taniwharugby said in MotM vs Lions, Test Two:

@hydro11 doesnt go unnoticed when he off his game

.....or when he's walking out of an airport toilet

I wanted to watch a replay before voting to confirm if my impressions at the game were the same.

It was hard to only choose 3 players but BBBR, Read and Cane for me. The outcome in this test was always about the work done up front.

@ACT-Crusader said in MotM vs Samoa:

Cane, Ardie and Moody

Ardie was good at 8, I think that position may suit him better in the long run.

Ardie Savea with one vote, I must have missed something that someone obviously saw ahead of 20 other blokes wearing the AB jersey.

Whitelock, Perenara, Dagg.

B. Barrett, Todd and J. Savea next best 3.

@infidel said in MotM vs Ireland II:

Beaudy 1st for me, major part of all three tries, two try saving tackles, especially the one on one tackle in second half was huge, nailed 3/3

BBBR next, massive hits and hit ups
Ardie third, I was at the ground and he was in everything defensively, didn't see Sam Whitelock as active as Ardie

Worst 3

Aza Smith although perhaps unlucky to be carded maybe the ball was out?
J Savea
Maybe Fekitoa, think he should have been red-carded and whilst his defence is v good, he is like a headless chook on attack by and large, hard marking for a guy who scored two tries.

Ok so there were 2 sets of Irish commentators, because the guys in that clip even with that small sample were streets ahead of the twats I listened to on BeIn channel.

Another ref may have red carded Feki, but also yellow carded and possible penalty try the defender who knocked down that pass.

I went for Crockett, Faumuina and Lienert-Brown. Barrett and Dagg deserve a mention too.

@taniwharugby said in MotM vs Ireland, Chicago:

if they didn't have the numerical advantage would they have gone for the 3 points instead of the drive and the subsequent try?

Can sit here with if's and but's all day.

Yes - Sexton was carrying an injury into the game with his hamstring - that's why he eventually went off. And definite decision to not try and win by threes.

@taniwharugby said in MotM vs Australia III:

4 misses by Moody is a worry!

In a game where we missed 24 I think Moody's stats are an aberration on what was a poor tackling night overall by the team.

The thing with our props is that the strategy is to shoot out of the line hard so they are more prone to slipping off tackles (counts as a miss) but still stopping some of the ball carriers momentum.

Retallick - workrate
Barrett - despite the woeful goal kicking
Squire - great impact off the bench

@Nepia said in MotM vs Argentina, II:

@Mick-Gold-Coast-QLD said in MotM vs Argentina, II:

Retallick, Perenara, Crotty

You know that ALB is the brown midfielder and Crotty is the white one right?

As Lady Mick, who is from a beautiful Pacific Island on the edge of SE Asia and has an especially dark "tan" and glorious long black hair, is wont to say "All you white fellas look the same to me."

This Lienert-Brown chappie is good alright but he's only about 16 years old and I am horribly prejudiced, Nepia, in favour of blokes who are old and past it, like Ryan Crotty, Snakey, Cory Jane ... and Mick.

Anyway - where have they hidden the MOTM leader board? I would like to see who else other than me made the correct selections. 🕺🏽

Barrett was very good but I did not vote for him as he was not decisive as he usually is.
Coles was outstanding and is my MoTM with Aaron Smith not far behind. I had intended to vote for Perenara too as he was perfect in everything he did. But he did not have sufficient time on the paddock to be competitive for a MoTM performance.

@No-Quarter said in MotM vs Argentina I:

He's not let us down in Black.

True and well spotted

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="BartMan" data-cid="610793" data-time="1472544793"><p>
Kaino is also always excellent. Another case of when he's not playing we will notice the huge gap he leaves.</p></blockquote>
<br>
So why has he dtill only got my single vote?

<p>After Kaino's 2nd(?) shoulder surgery and then move overseas I thought he was done. Unbelievable that he managed to come back and reach the same levels as 2011. Like Nepia I've always had a massive man-crush on him, one of the all time AB greats.</p>

<p>Aaron of the Smiths, BB and Dagg for me and a few others right on thier heels.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Aaron Smith has really taken 9 play to a new level the past few years, yes he has a few off days, but when he is on, and I just love that pass! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>BB showed us what he can be like at 10, not 22...good of Lima to lend him his boots! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dagg, reckon up there as one of his best in black. </p>

Thought Kaino was superb. Really upped his workrate from test 1. He and Read physically dominant. <br><br>
The next tier Bender, Dagg, A. Smith, Barrett and Franks<br><br>
3. Read<br>
2. Kaino<br>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="RoninWC" data-cid="587703" data-time="1465872422"><p>WOW, all the love for Cruden.<br><br>
I thought he had a pretty average game myself. One good crossfield kick to J. Savea but other than that, didn't really "steer the cutter" with any great aplomb and I think some of his decisions were just outright poor. He certainly over-egged the crossfield kick.<br><br>
I hope in the next match that they start Sopoanga as I think he is a better team 1st 5/8 than Cruden who is more reactive/instinctive in the game (minus that crazy back over the head kick from Sopoanga). I think he controls the game better and has a better kicking game, both from hand and from the tee.<br><br>
In fact, I'd rate Sopoanga's tactical kicking the best in the SR comp as he showed last year in their championship run.<br><br>
I went for Captain Read and then two from the bench who's presence really made a difference and turned the tide... Tuipulotu and Barrett</p></blockquote>
<br>
I think a whole host of starters didn't cover themselves in glory or played consistently well.