Japan vs All Blacks
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@sparky said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@mimic Thorne was never a journeyman, just not as spectacular in the backrow as his partners McCaw or Collins. Blackadder captained a team to victory in Super Rugby three years in a row.
He was so fucking invisible even his supporters used to endlessly chant his name hoping he'd put his hand up so they could see him.
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@sparky said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Eight of those guys will make the RWC squad, seven or so will probably be involved in the ABs in 2020. For the others this is the highlight of their All Blacks career.
And a bottle top quiz in the years to come...
Another set of AB brothers to join the club too (the Evans).
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@mimic said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@sparky said in Japan vs All Blacks:
There are a few dodgy sections though. I can't think of a more mediocre player to have been All Black captain than Luke Whitelock. Tough seeing such a journeyman as All Black skipper.
Blackadder? Thorne?
Those two led their teams to Super Rugby glory numerous times though. Thorne also got selected by 4 different AB coaches.
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@mn5 thats cos he turned up to all the trainings, sat in the corner and no one saw him to tell him he shouldnt be there!
Seriously though, I liked what Thorne bought to the team.
As to this game, I am most keen to see how Papali'i, Coles, TTT & RM go.
Papali'i as he comes with huge expectations, but seems like he will deliver
Coles, cos, well, fucking Dane Coles is back, hopefully the real Dane Coles stands up!
TTT, with a similar game to Smith, hopefully he can push on and become his own man and push for a start in a RWC year if AS doesnt up his game.
RM, live up to the Super hype, given he has always been behind a Rolls Royce pack, now he has to settle for a Holden V8 pack, am sure he will be sweet. -
@taniwharugby said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@mn5 thats cos he turned up to all the trainings, sat in the corner and no one saw him to tell him he shouldnt be there!
Seriously though, I liked what Thorne bought to the team.
As to this game, I am most keen to see how Papali'i, Coles, TTT & RM go.
Papali'i as he comes with huge expectations, but seems like he will deliver
Coles, cos, well, fucking Dane Coles is back, hopefully the real Dane Coles stands up!
TTT, with a similar game to Smith, hopefully he can push on and become his own man and push for a start in a RWC year if AS doesnt up his game.
RM, live up to the Super hype, given he has always been behind a Rolls Royce pack, now he has to settle for a Holden V8 pack, am sure he will be sweet.Justin Marshall compared Thorne to a bass player in a band. As a former bass player in a band I'm not sure if this is a compliment or insult.
He's a fucken big 7, bigger than @Bones boy Hemopo according to the stats.
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@akan004 said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Only against 5 foot Japanese players.
Oh good. At least there's a chance that if Jordie throws another idiotic pass infield, it will sail over the Japanese players heads...
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@mn5 said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Justin Marshall compared Thorne to a bass player in a band. As a former bass player in a band I'm not sure if this is a compliment or insult.
Depends if you're Paul McCartney or Derek Smalls, I suppose.
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@victor-meldrew I thought you were going to suggest putting Jordie in the lineout. You know it would work...
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@victor-meldrew said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@mn5 said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Justin Marshall compared Thorne to a bass player in a band. As a former bass player in a band I'm not sure if this is a compliment or insult.
Depends if you're Paul McCartney or Derek Spalls, I suppose.
I think Cliff Burton/Jason Newstead is more apt considering they were in the same band.
One ripped out solos and died young, the other couldn't even be heard on one album ( all Lars fault )
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@mn5 said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Thorne also got selected by 4 different AB coaches.
That's an awfully charitable way of saying Wayne Smith, Graham Henry and John Hart thought he was a fringe All Black at best while John Mitchell thought he was All Black captain material*.
Lost three World Cups too.
edit: And I will put my hand up and say I forgot Ted gave Thorne a test against Canada in '07 as captain, but still he was virtually replaceable for Ted's tenure.
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@rotated said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@mn5 said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Thorne also got selected by 4 different AB coaches.
That's an awfully charitable way of saying Wayne Smith, Graham Henry and John Hart thought he was a fringe All Black at best while John Mitchell thought he was All Black captain material*.
Lost three World Cups too.
edit: And I will put my hand up and say I forgot Ted gave Thorne a test against Canada in '07 as captain, but still he was virtually replaceable for Ted's tenure.
It's more a dig at Luke Whitelock than a gauge on Thorne to be fair.
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@mimic said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@sparky said in Japan vs All Blacks:
There are a few dodgy sections though. I can't think of a more mediocre player to have been All Black captain than Luke Whitelock. Tough seeing such a journeyman as All Black skipper.
Blackadder? Thorne?
Maybe not even the worst AB captain vs Japan.
I didn't watch enough of his (brief) AB career to properly gauge his talent but how Paul Henderson skippered the 95 World Cup massacre with Zinny and others in the side. Perhaps Super League/WRC rumours at the time?
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@nepia said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@rotated Henderson was class. He kept Duane Monkley out of the ABs.
TBF, Zinny could have been given the captaincy then and should have been given in 1997 when Marshall was given it.
Ginge was an excellent AB.
I'm not bothering to look it up I doubt zinny played v Japan in 95? He was carrying an injury that tournament. Or was that his first game back after missing the 2 openers.
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@rapido said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@nepia said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@rotated Henderson was class. He kept Duane Monkley out of the ABs.
TBF, Zinny could have been given the captaincy then and should have been given in 1997 when Marshall was given it.
Ginge was an excellent AB.
I'm not bothering to look it up I doubt zinny played v Japan in 95? He was carrying an injury that tournament. Or was that his first game back after missing the 2 openers.
He played that match, him and Robin, as they were both getting playing as much as possible after overcoming their injuries.
Still annoyed with Mains and God that MJ wasn't there. Arseholes.
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Pot and kettle? How many times do NH teams send understrength teams down here, particularly for the 1st game, that I know is a scheduling issue, but looking at our schedule, this is the right way to do it.
If we had Aus. Japan, England, Ireland in a RWC, the Japanese test would see a much more inexperienced side trotted out, admittedly with a smaller squad size.
I'll admit to not knowing F.A about the Japanese side and it's strength (as in is it full strength) but ultimately, even this AB side should be able to account for any side the Japanese can send out, if they cant, then that will be rather embarrassing, but I think it will be ABs >20
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@taniwharugby said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Pot and kettle? How many times do NH teams send understrength teams down here, particularly for the 1st game, that I know is a scheduling issue, but looking at our schedule, this is the right way to do it.
They did exactly the same thing last year. Scheduled a two test tour to Argentina while the Lions were in NZ FFS. 17 debutantes including Pommy Piers.
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@rotated said in Japan vs All Blacks:
@taniwharugby said in Japan vs All Blacks:
Pot and kettle? How many times do NH teams send understrength teams down here, particularly for the 1st game, that I know is a scheduling issue, but looking at our schedule, this is the right way to do it.
They did exactly the same thing last year. Scheduled a two test tour to Argentina while the Lions were in NZ FFS. 17 debutantes including Pommy Piers.
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@rotated totally different situation, cos, well, cos it just is.
