Bledisloe 2
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@Bones grab tackling and holding back from impact Point. Got really frustrated watching him in first half.
Had a spell as a match analyst many years ago. We used to record the actions and also their quality then. The stats quoted on this forum completely overlook the latter. E. G. Scrag tackles that lose momentum get points but huge efforts in effective covering that don't stop the player themself are shown as missed tackles. Defensive errors and laziness that means no tackle is attempted are not shown. The ratings on our wingers suggest many look at pure stats only and not impact.
Same with loosies. One lazy poorly executed clean out by a loosie ultimately allowed Australia to get in front. Won't have been highlighted in the stats either. Execution errors like kicking on a break with players alongside in a scoring position get missed too.
I value energy agility and positional urgency very highly in players and value the glossy things far less. Give me a Cane or Sami constantly in the face of the opposition in the biggest contact areas, every time over someone who has a big run after being put into space by their work. Cam Roigard in npc shows the same set of qualities. Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith and ALB show it too. These are the guys who the players value for doing the hardest work on their behalf.
What do others think on the value of the stats being presented after matches? -
@ARHS said in Bledisloe 2:
@Bones grab tackling and holding back from impact Point. Got really frustrated watching him in first half.
Guy has talent but the question is how long until in sinks in that what works at lower levels doesn't always at the top? I get sick of seeing talented players reach the ABs then try to grab tackle and swot their way through defences. I will forgive not seeing them steam onto the ball like we saw with the Aussies only because the gameplan hasn't been set up that way.
We see so many players like that in NZ that it makes you wonder if there needs to be a special coaching unit to transition them properly (and quickly). Otherwise NH clubs pay for the raw talent and back themselves to do so.
There's a bit of this still left with Akira, Clarke etc.
It's funny because watching CM play last night I was noticing just how quickly Sam Slade has knuckled down and I guess it was work done at Moana Pasifika.
A good parallel could be Luatua. He was just coming around when he left then Lam got a great player at Bristol. Luatua in his early Bristol seasons would have been a walk in with the ABs.
I hope Sotutu doesn't get lost to us and someone else gets the best of him. -
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@FakatavaAllBlack I know how much you love Fakatava, but don't think he's been putting out the same quality as Christie in black so far.
He's got huge upside, but doesn't seem to have kicked on yet ... but there is time. Christie's pace and defensive work is really good, he's really stepped up the last few years
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I am assuming that SF and SC aren't available.
Do they stick with SB at 6 and Ardie 8 with DP getting a chance to improve or will it be Sotutu that gets that chance with Ardie at 7?
I don't like the balance of Ardie and Hoskins together at all.
As a one off I do like the idea of our back three playing more traditional roles. Let's keep the 6 and 8 close. Jacobsen the better option for stopping the Oz loosies rampaging from deep and Ardie the better option to range out and make Jordan's tackles for him. -
@nzzp hasn't had the chance to show his wears over the last two months, as I've said before those Irish tests where we were on a hiding to nothing was a tough introduction for Folau, Fakatava & Sevu Reece are just two guys i would like to see in our final rugby championship Test
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I would like to see Jacobson given a start at 8, ardie 7 and give AI another go at 6... Just for learnings...
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@voodoo said in Bledisloe 2:
Sotutu to stay at 8 is my preference. He's been in the squad all year, he deserves a shot to step up. I'd be challenging him to play a little tighter with Ardie there. I also expect SBH at 6. Pretty awesome lineout options in that trio too
Yup, fair enough point. They have used SB, SF a lot in the line out in recent matches. And Sotutu is another great target...
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@ARHS said in Bledisloe 2:
What do others think on the value of the stats being presented after matches?
They're a very blunt instrument for analysis.
Catch a long kick in the 22 and run back fast, you'll get 40 easy running metres - compared to some guy who repeatedly hits the ball up one off the ruck.
Missed tackles - as you note - work hard to get one hand to a guy and slow him, gets a black mark compared to the guy who doesn't get there.
Lineouts won accrue to the thrower not the jumper - that's completely uninteresting! Who thought up that dumb idea!
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Assuming Cane is out, I reckon the loosies will be Frizell, Papalià and Ardie.
Akira on the bench.
Not sure which lock starts on the bench.
I'd be inclined to rest Newell - I don't think his general play is test standard yet.
I'd keep Jordie at fullback and start RTS, but it doesn't sound like what's going to happen.
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