All Blacks 2023

taniwharugby

@mariner4life wonder what they were 3 weeks ago...

mariner4life

some quick googling says the hosts generally win their opener.

Only England in 91 and France in 2007 have not won their opener.

Of course, going on to win as host is much much harder

Windows97

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:

Of course, going on to win as host is much much harder

We have a 100% record there!! Mind you so does SA.

taniwharugby

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:

some quick googling says the hosts generally win their opener.

well the last one held in France, the French didnt win the opener...

KiwiMurph

All Blacks have never lost a pool game.

That will be put to the test.

Bones

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:

The social media.post the ABs put up today asking the squad if they would rather run it straight at Kaino or tackle Jonah in full flight was pretty good

Question should have been running it straight at Jerry

240K views · 4.2K reactions | Tough Choice 👀 What would you do? | All...

Tough Choice 👀 What would you do?.

nostrildamus

@frugby said in All Blacks 2023:

BuT WhAt AbOuT sTeVeNsOn??

I appreciate you taking time out from your daytime ransom note-writing job to ask this important question.

sparky

9-10-12 axis is vital.

If any of Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga or Jordie Barrett go down we’re fucked. It’s a big drop down to their deputies.

nostrildamus

The Mighty Quinn. He wasn't that bad.

taniwharugby

@sparky maybe, but lets not forget, today, all 3 of them didnt start today.

I think the loss of one of them, isnt the end, although if it is Smith, that is a bigger deal IMO

Chester Draws

But the most important two finshed and we were not winning before that.

If Smith and Mo'unga go down we will be finishing either with worse players or with tired ones.

Chris B.

@sparky said in All Blacks 2023:

9-10-12 axis is vital.

If any of Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga or Jordie Barrett go down we’re fucked. It’s a big drop down to their deputies.

On the other hand, who would've thought we would get home with Andy Ellis, Beaver and SBW in 2011.

We've got enough if the cards fall our way.

sparky

@Chris-B This is a stronger squad than 2019 and we are not going there with the pressure of being World Champs, hosts or favourites.

Really excited to see how far this side can go in France.

Bones

@sparky said in All Blacks 2023:

This is a stronger squad than 2019

Not sure I'm sold on that. Maybe more settled? I guess we're doing better out wide than Bridge, but to counter that we don't have anything like that Beauden.

mariner4life

Today was a close one but I reckon we're in a good spot

Barring a catastrophic injury toll we've got options everywhere. We've got a few ways to play.

We are as good a shot as anyone to win it. Yes it's a tough draw, but no tougher than any other top 4 side.

Bring it

Chris B.

@mariner4life Yeah - I'm pretty happy with where we are. We've probably got a stronger team than the 2011 squad - and before Danny, Colin and Azza went down.

For France and Ireland - remember how much pressure we were under in 2011, having not won for 24 years.

Those guys are at 36 and never.

That has impacts!

canefan

@Chris-B said in All Blacks 2023:

@mariner4life Yeah - I'm pretty happy with where we are. We've probably got a stronger team than the 2011 squad - and before Danny, Colin and Azza went down.

For France and Ireland - remember how much pressure we were under in 2011, having not won for 24 years.

Those guys are at 36 and never.

That has impacts!

"Uneasy is the head that wears a crown". Shakespeare. Neither team has had to carry the burden of the favourite tag before. I look forward to seeing them buckle under it