All Blacks 2025
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@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2025:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
From what I've seen the Saffas are basically using heavy rotation of their starting line up to keep players fresh. Their players often get rotated at the 35 to 50 mark compared to ours at 60 - 70. The use of our bench was often poor last year. The mindset is completely different.
This nullifies completly the whole "run them off their feet" gameplan which we still persist with and we haven't got a plan B in the back pocket to counter this. It's tactically brilliant (albiet with calculated risk should 2 backs get injured) that we haven't got an answer for.
In short the AB's need to find a way to make space on the field that doesn't rely on players being out of position due to fatigue because when you can basically sub on a whole new forward pack no-one is fatigued.
This isn't the thread for it but I really dislike the rules around the use of the bench in modern footy, allowing teams to substitute an almost entirely new forward pack on for the second 40. It's largely removed one of the most challenging parts of the game - executing your skills in the final 10 minutes when the lungs are burning and the legs feel like jelly to get the win.
I agree with the sentiment and I think we can all tell that the rules weren't designed with the "swap the entire forward pack" in mind, we are witnessing an unintended consquence of rules arond player welfare and safety being exploited.
However by the same token I do admire the tactical nous and am miffed that the AB's weren't smart enough to comeup with this tactic - especially when we employ a run-them-off-their-feet style of game plan which this would suit ideally.
TBH, I think if we were using this method successfully the NH would already have been making moves to adjust the laws.
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@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2025:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks 2025:
@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2025:
@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:
From what I've seen the Saffas are basically using heavy rotation of their starting line up to keep players fresh. Their players often get rotated at the 35 to 50 mark compared to ours at 60 - 70. The use of our bench was often poor last year. The mindset is completely different.
This nullifies completly the whole "run them off their feet" gameplan which we still persist with and we haven't got a plan B in the back pocket to counter this. It's tactically brilliant (albiet with calculated risk should 2 backs get injured) that we haven't got an answer for.
In short the AB's need to find a way to make space on the field that doesn't rely on players being out of position due to fatigue because when you can basically sub on a whole new forward pack no-one is fatigued.
This isn't the thread for it but I really dislike the rules around the use of the bench in modern footy, allowing teams to substitute an almost entirely new forward pack on for the second 40. It's largely removed one of the most challenging parts of the game - executing your skills in the final 10 minutes when the lungs are burning and the legs feel like jelly to get the win.
I agree with the sentiment and I think we can all tell that the rules weren't designed with the "swap the entire forward pack" in mind, we are witnessing an unintended consquence of rules arond player welfare and safety being exploited.
Every time a prop plays more than 65 minutes nowadays everyone is all 'woah big shift' like it's some amazing achievement. The Saffas would probably say that if they hit 55 minutes. They've made the game more dangerous by making it played by bigger stronger guys with less need for aerobic fitness.
Maybe someone could take the old Otago NPC approach to them - just keep the ball alive at all costs cause everyone else's forwards are bigger and stronger. It was good to watch, but far too high risk for the ABs. -
The addition of more substitutions hasn’t necessarily made the game any better in my view.
But why we haven’t utilised a 6/2 bench - I’m more for the specialist forwards and getting all the benefits of that. Some versatility in the backs I’m less concerned with - they are smarter and better anyway.
It’s not about copying anyone but to play a more confrontational style for longer periods in the 80 minutes.
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Thoughts on Fusitua in the squad. Heard he might be a Smokey.
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@chchfanatic said in All Blacks 2025:
Thoughts on Fusitua in the squad. Heard he might be a Smokey.
Think there's a better option in Ollie Norris, but the third-choice loosehead isn't exactly going to be picking up much game time so not too bothered if Fusitu'a does get the call up. Would rather him than an older guy like George Bower when you've got two props in Tamaiti Williams and Ethan de Groot who are both more than capable of footing it with the best.
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@chchfanatic Not bad, but I'd prefer Ollie Norris as the third loosehead.
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@chchfanatic said in All Blacks 2025:
Thoughts on Fusitua in the squad. Heard he might be a Smokey.
Interesting. I thought he may be a year or two off being considered despite having a massive breakout season. Real workhorse prop around the park and there hasn't been an issue with his scrummaging but yeah, wasn't expecting him to be in the frame this quickly.
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@reprobate and sub SP on at the 79 minute mark
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@chchfanatic said in All Blacks 2025:
Thoughts on Fusitua in the squad. Heard he might be a Smokey.
He got named Blues player of the year. Whilst that might say more about the Blues season than anything else he has really come on the last couple of years.
He only just turned 24 so plenty of rugby ahead for him.
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@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks 2025:
@reprobate and sub SP on at the 79 minute mark
So stupid. If there's a chance you don't use a player on the bench depending on the game situation, just communicate it to them in advance with the reasons. Don't leave them hanging and then bring them on in some shit token gesture to pretend they're part of the game.
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@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
@chchfanatic said in All Blacks 2025:
Thoughts on Fusitua in the squad. Heard he might be a Smokey.
Interesting. I thought he may be a year or two off being considered despite having a massive breakout season. Real workhorse prop around the park and there hasn't been an issue with his scrummaging but yeah, wasn't expecting him to be in the frame this quickly.
Solid in the scrum and improving, decent carrier & very high work rate. More active at cleaning out rucks than other NZ props.
For what its worth, George predicted this
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@Duluth said in All Blacks 2025:
@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:
@chchfanatic said in All Blacks 2025:
Thoughts on Fusitua in the squad. Heard he might be a Smokey.
Interesting. I thought he may be a year or two off being considered despite having a massive breakout season. Real workhorse prop around the park and there hasn't been an issue with his scrummaging but yeah, wasn't expecting him to be in the frame this quickly.
Solid in the scrum and improving, decent carrier & very high work rate. More active at cleaning out rucks than other NZ props.
For what its worth, George predicted this
Yes he did.
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He's always had a good workrate. His scrum upside wouldn't appear to be as high as the other options but he has become more solid in this area.
I think he's become more accurate overall. As a bench prop I think Ollie Norris is better suited and he has the extra size.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Duluth said in All Blacks 2025:
predicted
I'm not sure that's the word?
He said the AB coaches were interested in him when no one else was saying anything of the sort. Now, several weeks later, we have others hearing the same thing.
Why not give him some credit?
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Chchfantic is a dick but he has good links to Robertson etc. If he says Fusitua might be a bolter, that's decent confirmation of what George said. George has also got a lot of things right around Blues/Auckland.. I don't think its fair to call him a liar.
His success rate is just in the 40-50% range. I hope he keeps posting what he hears
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@Duluth the 50% that were wrong were "done deal", "you will see", etc. So I don't know what that should be called.
Tangitau is as clear an example you'll get of why eggs like me might scoff and disregard, I don't know why you're so invested, but hey surely you giving him credit is enough?
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Duluth the 50% that were wrong were "done deal", "you will see", etc. So I don't know what that should be called.
Yeah he was clearly incorrect and he got criticism for it
I think the pile was getting a bit over the top though. The worst shit has been removed
