All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1
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Havent read everything so likely repeating stuff, but whats new around here.
That try by the Lions was as good as anything you could want to see, it was outstanding, and they created chances, but couldnt finish them, and outside that try, it panned out pretty much as I thought it might.
As to our team, plenty of players with question marks over them, Kaino, Read, Smith, Dagg, all stood up, even Cane who has his detractors, was outstanding for most of the game.
We lost alot of shape for about half an hour after we lost Ben and Crotty, but I guess when you hear about thier influence on those around them, that shouldnt surprise, as they both provide direction and stability.
Cruden took a long time to get into the game, but eventually did, and probably our best player under the high ball was Barrett when he was put back to FB.
Guess the question is where do we go now for our starting line up, highly likely Ben is out, Crotty is out, assume for the latter, ALB slots in, but with Dagg to FB, who goes to 14, Naholo, NMS, or move Ioane there and bring back Savea?
That match, lived up to the billing though, if you pay to watch a blockbuster, and got that, you'd be stoked. Peyper played his part, let both teams away with some little stuff, but was mostly consistent.
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Yea, you lose your 15 and your 13 at the same time it's massive, as they are two of your biggest organisers. Add in it also results in a change at 10 and your loudest voices all just changed. That can't be underestimated.
Changes will be interesting this week.
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For the Lions i thought their tight 5 were very disappointing. Loosies were excellent but shaded by us just. Murray's kicking was excellent in to the wind, but too long with it. Farrell ordinary (wonder how his ribs are today?) Maybe a better 12 now? 12-out were all very good.
Not the impact from the bench i expected.
In terms of changes, get Lawes in. Maybe start Itoje. But i think the personnel are right, just finish your opportunities!
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Sobriety returns with the morning... so I will try and make a semi sensible comment before delving back through the match thread.
Am not sure if the score flattered either team so it was probably about right.
My gutfeelometer had the ABs on top for 55-60 minutes the Lions the remainder.
Who'd have thought that broken field running would be their biggest threat and our biggest weakness.
I expect the team media and supporters to be blowing up at Knockongate. The team were heading back for a scrum ... forgetting a penalty had been awarded so it was a matter of whether the result was 7, 5 or 3 points.
Mind you there's no guarantee they'd have taken the shot given the moronacy (is that a word? It is now) at 23-8 with 3 points gagging for it from in front. That was annoying. 26-8 would have made it 3 tries not 2 plus a kick. Glad that didn't backfire too badly.
Re the refs didn't have any major whinges about Jaco and his team. Lions got away with being offside often from my admittedly biased vantage point but generally nothing too controversial.
Our handling of the high kicks was poor.
Comprehensive and well deserved.
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
What a try.
Cruden misses the tackle and we are exposed.
Read?
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@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
@Donsteppa said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
Can we play two halfbacks and hook Cruden?
BarrettDagg- Ioane
- A. Savea
- ALB
- SBW
DaggBarrett
🙂
FIFY
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@rotated said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
Ben Smith's health probably factors into Crotty's replacement. Could see Barrett on the bench if Smith is 100% and able to cover centre.
Yes. Was thinking the same.
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Not sure I would bring back NMS yet ,
Doesnt seem to have his attacking Mojo back yet,
And can be a weakness in the air ( competing ) , so without the attack , not sure I would bother yet,
I think Naholo starts right , Do they bring Julian back in , and have Reiko as wing / midfield cover ?
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@No-Quarter said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
Crocket and Charlie, take a motherfucking BOW!
Quoted as it bears repeating.
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@mariner4life said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
Cruden had to pass that? Open your eyes, given the positioning of both teams holding it was definitely the percentage option. He's been really good this half.
You would think barrett scores every time he touches the ball the way a couple of you are carrying on
He doesn't?
My (slightly impared) judgement during the registered Cruden as going OK.
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@Tim said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
What will the NH press complain about?
I'm sure they'll find something
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Wait...wreck diver is the one that lost it's marbles during the week right? Yeah Aso is way better...at letting the opportunity waltz through.
Like Booboo I was a bit perturbed at no yellow card for repeat infringements. Imagine the moan fest if that penalty tally was reversed.
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@Wreck-Diver said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
@Billy-Tell mate I'm sorry but the both Canes centres are better than Goodhue. He was pants against the Lions. In my option I think there are better centres in NZ. He's walking into the AB's on the back of a good Saders pack. So would you start him next week?
Goodhue was outstanding against the Lions. Crusaders best player. One of the very few franchise players to enhance their reputations (apart from some frontrowers) in the tour games.
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@Tim said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
@Tim Charlie Faumuina, baby. Most underrated player in NZ.
Dunno if he is under rated at all, most seem pretty gutted he is off overseas!
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@Bones said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
Haven't read the thread yet.
Williams had some good moments and credit to his defence, but hold onto the fucken ball you numbnuts. Put severe pressure on the ABs with turnovers at times.
Cruden was pretty lacklustre.
A Smith was there for his passing - really disappointing to see him completely wreck a couple of crucial opportunities with super shit passing.
ALB looked quite lost at times.
Locks and loosies were brilliant.
Taylor needs to sort his throwing, those were 2 big lineouts before he got yanked.
Peyper with some odd calls around the tackle. What the fuck was that when McGrath is crawling along the ground after being tackled twice and then the ABs get penalised? Otherwise well reffed.
I wonder if the NH media will stop with the rubbish around scrum dominance now?
Overall, thought the ABs played pretty ordinary, which is comforting - we can improve a lot.
Fuck. No wonder we lost ... oh hang on ...
BTW your glass is the half empty one over there ...
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A dedicated post on the ref.
I thought Peyper was outstanding.That's exactly the sort of game that doesn't get me reaching for the 'grind my gears/airport/flat' thread.
Policed the offside line. This is the cardinal rule of rugby, of all the minutiae that ref and rules can swamped under, just make sue this is policed.
I liked the lineout drive/maul defence interpretations. The catcher/ball carrier was allowed to be sacked. Yet both teams conceddd a penalty each if the sack was too late and we had morphed into collapsed maul territory. But, I'm not going to pretend I know the rules of the untouchable maul anymore, but I liked it.
I'm not one of those fans who see offences at every phase. Im generally watching the ball etc, not what angle a player I have a grudge against enters any breakdown etc ( liking at you Phil Kearns).
In my biased viewings. The times I was calling for pens .......
- there was a stage early in second half where he wasn't policing the offside line like he was in the first half, several phases with the Lions offside.
- there were a few times when Lions slowing down the halfback by a lazy roll away went unpunished. Sometimes standing at the back of our ruck. Eg the most blatant was the phase before Cruden's woeful kick for the Lions try from the end of the world. I would have whostled that advantage over as soon as Read got stepped
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Well done New Zealand, fantastic display of up-the guts rugby. Direct through the middle with some lovely smuggling of the ball to support runners to keep the momentum going. The Lions made so many tackles and never got the chance to get their line speed going.
For the men in red, they created some good chances but just failed to take them. The worrying thing is that I'm not sure where they can go selection-wise; most of the contentious calls were probably the correct ones, and most of the subs, particularly in the backs, weakened the side in the second half rather than providing impact.
For next week I'd probably keep the back line as it was, maybe add North to the bench in place of Halfpenny. The tight five needs to improve - I'd swap AWJ for Itoje. I'd also be really tempted to start Sinkler: Furlong looked like a force of nature back in November but he's been subdued on this tour. Sinkler by contrast seems to make metres with every carry, and more surprisingly the scrum has looked rock solid with him anchoring it. Give the boy a shot.
The back row went well although Faletau was a bit quiet compared to previous performances. O'Mahony looked injured coming off - if that's the case you'd assume it's Warburton into the starting XV and Stander to the bench, which might again add some more pop in the second half.
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Assuming Crotty and Smith are out, I'll go into the second test with
15 - Dagg
14 - Naholo (he was good under the bombs against the Lions)
13 - ALB
12 - SBW
11 - Ioane
10 - Barrett
9 - Smith
Same forwardsNathan Harris was very quiet when he came in and missed a LO throw. I wonder why Coltman was not selected : he is much more physical in the tight and his throwing has improved a lot lately.
