All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1
-
The breakdown battle was always going to be crucial and the All Blacks dominated it. The speed at which they were entering rucks was phenomenal - they bullied the Lions.
For a team that has only played one game against a poor Samoan side, to have that level of cohesion and accuracy was seriously impressive. I thought they might be a bit rusty - wishful thinking!
I questioned whether Kieran Read would be up to Test match intensity after such a long period out injured but it just goes to show, he's not just a world class player, but a great captain and leader as well.
Read set the tempo from the off, and his side defended as if their lives depended on it. It was a big statement of their intent and the worrying thing for the Lions is that the All Blacks will be better again for the second Test this weekend.
The support lines that they run are excellent and it's probably something you may not fully appreciate unless you're at the game watching them closely. Every time a player in a black jersey gets the ball, there is someone running a brilliant line inside and outside them as well.
It's something that teams in the Northern Hemisphere don't do well enough. The anticipation and genuine belief that you will get an opportunity if you run hard with the ball-carrier is what separates New Zealand from the rest.
Alan Quinlan.
-
Interesting story at 12.30 ...
http://120.138.20.16/WeekOnDemand/radiosport/2017.06.27-10.15.00-S.mp3
-
Short of thumping the table laden with microphones, Jerome Kaino made his point. Six times, at least.
"No, it's never our intent to go out and injure someone," the All Blacks flanker said. And again. And again.
"I've seen it [replay] reviewing the game and it's popped up on my Twitter feed about a million times so it's a bit hard to avoid it. I guess people have their opinions on it and all I can say is, it wasn't my intention to go out there and target his planted foot," Kaino said.
"It's never nice when you have things done to you outside the laws. The way we do things is within the spirit of the game."
It almost appeared that Kaino volunteered for Tuesday media duties, such was his desire to clear his name.
-
Under fire? Jesus H Christ there was nothing in that. Gatland is really clutching at straws isn't he?
-
holy fuck!! Did Warren Gatland watch the documentary on the 2005 tour and think "you know what, Clive was on to something there"?
This is eerily reminiscent of a certain incident, and the ugly media driven witch hunt that followed. And look how that turned out in Wellington last time.
-
Is anyone asking what Faletau is doing and the impact it has on Kaino's ability to tackle/ charge down Murray's kick?
-
@antipodean said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
Is anyone asking what Faletau is doing and the impact it has on Kaino's ability to tackle/ charge down Murray's kick?
Couldn't be "blocking". That's what NZers do...
(BTW it'd been mentioned here).
Would love a journo to challenge Gatland on that point.
-
@mariner4life said in All Blacks vs. B&I Lions test #1:
holy fuck!! Did Warren Gatland watch the documentary on the 2005 tour and think "you know what, Clive was on to something there"?
This is eerily reminiscent of a certain incident, and the ugly media driven witch hunt that followed. And look how that turned out in Wellington last time.
Haha yea I thought the exact same thing when they had the news headlines with Kaino having to defend himself.
Yes Garland diverting from the fact you lost is understandable but this is probably not the best way to go about it.
-
I wrote a glowing review of Peyper way earlier in this thread. Been interesting reading some of the press (NH press) on the test.
It's become clear to me that I don't really care or notice ruck entry angles.
What's the consensus about policing of ruck entry. Not entering from through the gate favours team in possession? Allows them to seal off or to blow away any jackals?
-
Herald has video and photos of Mako Vunipola barging into Sonny Bill and/or ALB late. Sadly the Herald-viddie won't gd play on my pieceoshit and it's not uploaded yet to youtube so lemme know if it's any good.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11883536
-
@Salacious-Crumb the video won't play but the stills suggest this is much BS as the Kaino "incident"
Slow action down enough and you can make anything look late/intentional/dangerous or all three.
-
I could play it. Fuck off Ferald. It's rugby, the whole idea is people barge into each other. ALB was offside and SBW was part of the fucking ruck. Absolutely nothing in it. "Come to light?" No, it was seen during the game, and there was nothing in it, so nobody batted an eyelid.
I hate the media and anyone else pushing this kind of bullshit, taking away from what was a great test.
-
Oh herald.
Shakes head.
Worst. Trolling. Ever. You're doing it wrong.
Edit. No, not the worst trolling ever. That would be SMH last year on the Franks 'gouge' where they obtained reverse angle footage not shown in the live broadcast that looked really bad, yet to have obtained that footage they must also have had available, but not used, the end-on footage which exonerated him.
-
Im over the herald , not just sport , everything they seem to put out now is just click bait garbage ,
took them off my FB feed
