All Blacks vs Pumas I
-
Quick thoughts.
5 penalties for Laulala was it...or more? I saw at least 3 missed tackles also. Great he's got more dynamic but it seems to be a negative in this case. Lomax a huge improvement around the field, not sure on his scrum work.
Much better passing from Weber this week.
Solid shoulder from Tupaea on defence surprised me, good to see.
Bridge has got to be under clear instruction - apart from the grubber ahead, was there a carry where he didn't just tuck and go for the nearest tackler?
"Pass it to Rieko" isn't a game plan I want us to focus on, but it was the only one working for the first 50 or so minutes.
Not convinced on Va'ai, just seems a pretty ordinary presence on the field.
-
I think the forwards in general were very good, only the scum penalties and a couple lineouts being workons. I think it's the offensive defence which is improved on last year. We have some really big units out there from 1-8 and I think it shows. The big carries from both hookers tonight shows that a big powerful hooker is an advantage.
-
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
I want to like Bridge, sensible player, good work rate, just not what you need from a winger in terms of power, pace or evasiveness.
Sometimes that’s exactly what you want. Today he added a lot to our continuity. He received the ball on the touch line, with tacklers in front of him, made sure he didn’t go out and clean ball was set for next phase. He was direct and strong in everything he did. Part of a patient attack. Accuracy at test level is much underrated. But agreed he is not your power winger. Reiko, Reece, Jordon all ahead of him.
-
All in all a good performance.
Great shifts from Aumua, Ioane & Ioane, Jacobson, Rettalick, Papali’i, Perenara and the Barrett’s. Samisoni was strong off the bench aswell.
Creating some superb depth atm.
-
@canes4life said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
All in all a good performance.
Great shifts from Aumua, Ioane & Ioane, Jacobson, Rettalick, Papali’i, Perenara and the Barrett’s. Samisoni was strong off the bench aswell.
Creating some superb depth atm.
Can't help but feel the forwards as a unit are a step ahead of the backs. Guess it's better then the other way around.
-
@kev said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Today he added a lot to our continuity
You could easily argue the opposite. The phase died every time he touched the ball, apart from the time he kicked it away and the time he knocked it on. I don't recall seeing him do anything else other than tuck, but I can't see how he's doing that 100% of the time unless he's been instructed to. There were definitely times where linking would have been the better option though.
-
@bones said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Bridge has got to be under clear instruction - apart from the grubber ahead, was there a carry where he didn't just tuck and go for the nearest tackler?
He obviously offers something that Foster & co see and we don't, but I'm buggered if I can spot it
-
@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@bones said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Bridge has got to be under clear instruction - apart from the grubber ahead, was there a carry where he didn't just tuck and go for the nearest tackler?
He obviously offers something that Foster & co see and we don't, but I'm buggered if I can spot it
Like kev said, I guess the team at least know what's going to happen when he gets the ball and can set accordingly? He typically doesn't turn it over either.
It gets fucking frustrating to see so many opportunities scorned though.
-
@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@bones said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Bridge has got to be under clear instruction - apart from the grubber ahead, was there a carry where he didn't just tuck and go for the nearest tackler?
He obviously offers something that Foster & co see and we don't, but I'm buggered if I can spot it
Creates ample discussion for the Fern. Foster has you all covered...
-
-
@canes4life said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
All in all a good performance.
Great shifts from Aumua, Ioane & Ioane, Jacobson, Rettalick, Papali’i, Perenara and the Barrett’s. Samisoni was strong off the bench aswell.
Creating some superb depth atm.
Couldn't agree more. I enjoyed that, not a perfect performance (what test is) but one that had plenty of positives. Anything that creates a bit more depth is good, and didn't see any poor performances.
-
-
@frank said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@bones said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
Not convinced on Va'ai, just seems a pretty ordinary presence on the field.
Agreed.
We're in trouble if we lose either Retallick or Barrett.Yeah I think I would've preferred to see them take a punt on one of the other (bigger) young locks.
-
-
@chimoaus said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
So what do we think of general tactics etc, are Foster and co actually doing a good job or have the teams we have faced all been shit.
A lot of side to side, get the ball static and swing it on without fixing. Several times in the first 40-50 the guy getting the ball in the second man play was just smacked and stopped. But hey, 40 points later, maybe there's method to the madness? I think if Smith was there it mighta been 60 points.
-
@chimoaus said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
So what do we think of general tactics etc, are Foster and co actually doing a good job or have the teams we have faced all been shit.
@NTA pointed out above, not much cleverness on attack. We are superb from turn over, can do rugby basic maul and continuity tries. Obviously have got lots of X factor. But clever attacks as a team? Not much. That was my point at half time, didn't seem too be incisive, tactics/decision wise, on attack.
-
@machpants I think one of our weaknesses is our general play kicking, we put in some very average kicks down the middle of the field that gift possession. I'm curious what the tactical advantage of this strategy is, I guess you gain territory and hope to get turnover ball. I just wonder if against good teams this is a viable option.
-
@machpants said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
@chimoaus said in All Blacks vs Pumas I (yay we’re not playing the Aussies again):
So what do we think of general tactics etc, are Foster and co actually doing a good job or have the teams we have faced all been shit.
@NTA pointed out above, not much cleverness on attack. We are superb from turn over, can do rugby basic maul and continuity tries. Obviously have got lots of X factor. But clever attacks as a team? Not much. That was my point at half time, didn't seem too be incisive, tactics/decision wise, on attack.
Yeah I just wonder if there's an aspect of "only use it if we need it" when it comes to alternative attacking. Our attack is just so horribly basic, but hey if you show all your hands then everyone gets the video to look at. If you can get the result without giving anything away then why not?
Of course that also means you don't have "real world" testing of the secret attack.
