RWC Week 1: France v All Blacks
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@frugby said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Of course to be fair to the ABs coaching staff, they didn't budget for this many injuries when they picked the squad... and nor should they have
while there is an element of truth here, the fact is they gave themselves very little wiggle room, especially going in with Retallick hurt
But there is no defense to picking Christie and Havili, two players shown not to be to standard repeatedly.
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@mariner4life said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@frugby said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
But there is no defense to picking Christie and Havili, two players shown not to be to standard repeatedly.
No arguments here.
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As much as I don't believe we will win, how can we win? Ball retention will be vital. Kicking the ball out if we're going for territory? What scares the shit out of me is France will attack from anywhere but it's better if they are forced to play from their own half. Don't play from our own half unkess there's somethings really on. No fancy shit from our 22. Need an 80min dominant tackling performance. D-Mac may play a viral role in this game of he's selected.
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@Stargazer said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@1kiwi said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Jordie Barrett didn't train yesterday. Has a calf issue
According to these French articles, it's his left knee. He did train, but not with the group.
Jordie Barrett incertain pour le match d'ouverture face aux Bleus
Touché au genou gauche, Jordie Barrett (26 ans ; 52 sélections) est incertain pour le match d'ouverture face aux Bleus. L'habituel premier centre de la Nouvelle-Zélande s'est entraîné hors du groupe ce lundi, comme...
Le All Black Jordie Barrett incertain pour le match de Coupe du monde face aux Bleus
En délicatesse avec un genou, le All Black Jordie Barrett a été préservé pour la deuxième journée consécutive. Le Néo-Zélandais est incertain pour le match contre les Bleus.
Oh Fuck.
Havili and ALB just can't get over the advantage line. Ive seen this movie before.
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@mariner4life said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@frugby said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Of course to be fair to the ABs coaching staff, they didn't budget for this many injuries when they picked the squad... and nor should they have
while there is an element of truth here, the fact is they gave themselves very little wiggle room, especially going in with Retallick hurt
But there is no defense to picking Christie and Havili, two players shown not to be to standard repeatedly.
Yeah, as green as McLeod and Roigard are, they wouldn't go any worse than those two who are just not test standard, and it's likely they would go a lot better. I get that throwing newbies into a RWC game is a risk, but I'd rather that risk then go with known quantities that we know will struggle.
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Considering all JB has really brought since his move to the midfield is a big frame running straight, if he is out they could do a lot worse than just sticking one of their 80 wingers at 12.
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Fainga'anuku has some experience in the mid and could be used as a crash ball merchant to free up some space for Rieko. Maybe that's part of the plan with all these outside backs? As I just haven't been able to get my head around the squad makeup thus far.
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@mariner4life said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
yeah its 5.15am here
tough time
perfect time for pre breakfast espresso martinis
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@JK said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
@mariner4life perfect time for pre breakfast espresso martinis
the morning after a day at the races, and leading in to a 2nd day at the races? you may be on to something
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@george33 said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Hearing Papalili will start at 6
I guess I at least should be fair and wait until the team is named before I howl in disappointment.
Still the best way to ensure that France don't make it to the final is to let them win in pool play - it's all part of Fozzie's masterplan.
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On thinking I'd prefer ALB at 12 over Havili and with instruction to run hard and straight.
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i just have this feeling Fozzie wont see Havili as anything other than a like for like JB replacement (the game plan is the game plan regardless of the players we have), and we'll get Havili trying to crash it up,everyone remember when they tried ot use Bridge as a power winger and do crash balls inside of the 10 from the blind side...and got smoked....time and time again....
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@Kiwiwomble But there have been a lot of 'learnings', surely?
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@taniwharugby said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
On thinking I'd prefer ALB at 12 over Havili and with instruction to run hard and straight.
Same
One thing that will count against the ALB/Ioane combo is that they've barely played together. I had a quick check I think they've only started one Test together and that was a loss to Ireland in Dublin 2021
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@KiwiMurph said in RWC: France v All Blacks:
Finlay - such a Fozzie decision.
To be fair it's not like Roigard did much when he came on against SA. Maybe if he'd scored a brilliant individual try completely against the run of play in which he beat several defenders he might have done his chances some good?
But no - he didn't, we need the "slow but steady" Finlay to close out the game with his laborious passing from ruck to ruck.
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@Windows97 it fucks me off how inflexible they seem to be, decisions seem to be all pre decided and players sticking their hand up demanding to be picked seems to have no effect
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@Windows97 tbf, the only thing slow about Finlays game is his decision making.
