MOTM v Italy
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Fifita. Never saw that coming.
The Barrett backline bros -
Hard to go past Fifita in a game made for him. We had 60% of the ball, ran over 800 metres, and held them to less than 150 - only having to attempt 80 tackles. We weren't that accurate either, at 79% but he was, with 12 tackles (leading the team) and no misses,. He also ran for 50 odd metres, with 2 clean breaks and 3 defenders beaten. There were also a couple of turnovers in there as well, of course, and I don't think we learned anything we didn't already know about him. Why he was brought along to play Italy is a bit of a mystery to me, but nevertheless, for a job well done, I gave him a vote.
I also voted for JB and Dmac, both of whom did well gaining plenty of metres. With four tries, 126 metres, and 6 clean breaks (including 6 defenders beaten), I thought it was hard to go past JB.
For my third vote, I thought it was very hard - Coles (36 metres, one clean break, two defenders beaten, two offloads) played very well; Tuipolotu got his drop out of the way early, then went on to make 6 tackles with only one miss, and 49 metres, 5 defenders beaten, 1 clean break, 1 try assist, 10 passes and 11 runs, playing well in the ruck side pod as the ball handling big man; and B. Barrett doing a good job of making more accurate kicks against a weaker team, getting a well-taken try, two assists, 1 clean break, two defenders beaten, and 79 metres.
Laumape was also good, and provided a nice straight ball running option in midfield (10 passes, 9 runs, 63 metres, 2 clean breaks, 4 defenders beaten, plus 1 try, plus 1 try assist), although missed one tackle (of 3, for 67% success rate). I think ALB is unlucky to not have any votes, as he was quietly very good (3 turnovers aside) with four tackles and no misses, and 82 metres with 35 touches (14 passes, 21 runs), 3 clean breaks, and 6 defenders beaten.
Anyway, I gave my final vote to Dmac, despite him missing a tackle (apparently he only had to make one, which he missed, indicating the type of game it was). I gave him a vote because I thought he did really well in the second playmaker role they see for him - injecting himself outside Barrett or as the first receiver and making things happen. Of course, it's only Italy - and they were poor - but he did well to score 3, get one assist, and run for 126 metres off 33 touches (17 pass, 16 run).
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Tuipulotu, Fifita and Jordie for me. Read, Coles and Laumape also had strong games. It's probably been said elsewhere but Italy were a big disappointment
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Pick 3 out of Jordie, Fifita, Patty T, and Laumape.
Good training run
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@mn5 said in MOTM v Italy:
@bones said in MOTM v Italy:
Coles, BMac and Laumape. Those Canes love a flat track eh.
I dunno, I wish he never gave up keeping but he said it was tough on his knees.
Whoosh. Hint - the B is short for Big.
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@bones said in MOTM v Italy:
@mn5 said in MOTM v Italy:
@bones said in MOTM v Italy:
Coles, BMac and Laumape. Those Canes love a flat track eh.
I dunno, I wish he never gave up keeping but he said it was tough on his knees.
Whoosh. Hint - the B is short for Big.
Whatevs. You Lebs lack the subtlety for such irony.
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One thing that was hugely noticeable at the game is DMacs workrate. I know everyone realises he is like some ADHD kid on raspberry fizzy drink but fuck that kid does not stop moving. You try to keep half an eye on him and suddenly realise he has appeared from nowhere to continue a movement. You can really see why the 2 playmakers thing is desired by the coaches. It gives either a licence to create without a move being in danger of breaking down because the other guy slots in for the next phase.
Also, watch that try he scored off the PT pass early on. If that wasn't a planned move from a ruck then it was brilliant awareness and instinct from all. The end on view is best. PT runs what looks for all purposes like a dummy run in front of DMac's line. The defender decides not to buy the dummy line until too late as PT receives the pass from Read very late. Meanwhile DMac changes direction twice with Cully like steps at speed to go around the other side of the defender and take PTs pass.
It all looked very simple (which the best moves are) but it was a beautiful piece of precision. -
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@bovidae said in MOTM v Italy:
@crucial said in MOTM v Italy:
One thing that was hugely noticeable at the game is DMacs workrate.
Watch him in the buildup to JB's second try. You need to watch the full game not highlights.
I'm not quite sure what that comment is meant to mean. Are you talking about when he and JB stayed back away from the maul attempts as security from a turnover? Once the possession was clear they both gave BB options. DMac on the timed run and JB the kick pass.
I did watch the full game, from the stands and on TV. My comment was about the work rate off the camera as well as on. -
Tuipulotu, Barret J & Coles
Pat T got thru a shed load of work - one of his best games in Black.
Honourable mention to Nathan Harris for an inch-perfect grubber kick while running at pace.
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DMac seems to have it all - great defence, vision, pace, great boot, passes to players in space, an unselfish attitude and he certainly doesn't lack balls.
My concern is that at times his thinking is a bit ahead or isn't quite on a wavelength with the rest of the team. I think he'll sort that out in a year or two and become one of the key players in the ABs. In the meantime he's got to be in the 23, either at 15 or (for me) as a super-sub
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@victor-meldrew said in MOTM v Italy:
Tuipulotu, Barret J & Coles
Pat T got thru a shed load of work - one of his best games in Black.
Honourable mention to Nathan Harris for an inch-perfect grubber kick while running at pace.
Off the left foot too.
But in saying that, I'm not sure if he is a natural lefty. Still, was farking impressive.
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@crucial said in MOTM v Italy:
I'm not quite sure what that comment is meant to mean.
I was referring to the passage of play when DMac has the ball nearest the camera sideline (from the TV footage) and then ends up on the opposite flank soon after. Looking at some full game footage on YT I was confusing myself as it wasn't related to JB's try, it's late in the 1st half. Mils made a comment at HT about this very thing, i.e., the ground he covers without the ball. Backs up what you saw at the game.
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swapped out Fafita for Coles. Love that cuddly teddy bear. So stoked he is back
