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Post by commond on Jul 6, 2024 16:01:00 GMT -5
New Zealand vs. England spoilers for berkley: {Spoiler: Click to show} Almost a disastrous start to the Scott Robertson era. They played like they'd only been together for 10 days. Don't like the new uniforms.
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Post by berkley on Jul 8, 2024 0:10:50 GMT -5
New Zealand vs. England spoilers for berkley: {Spoiler: Click to show} Almost a disastrous start to the Scott Robertson era. They played like they'd only been together for 10 days. Don't like the new uniforms.
I just finished watching it. Yes, hard to judge them too harshly when they've been together such a short time. There were times when they looked very good on attack. but as the game went on the English defence seemed to get the upper hand.
For the first time in a few years, this year I watched several games from the last couple rounds of the English Premiership and then the playoffs, so I got to see some of the younger players who have been making an impact and earned selection to the England side they brought to NZ. So I wasn't too surprised that it was such a close game. I think England will actually be a little disappointed that they didn't get their own attack going more effectively and will hope to do better next week, as will NZ, of course.
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Post by berkley on Jul 8, 2024 22:08:01 GMT -5
SA vs Ireland: similar to the NZ vs England game, very tight and relatively low scoring, though there was a flurry near the end that raised the scoreline a bit. And a surprising number of missed penalties and conversions from usually reliable guys like Pollard. Everybody seems to be trying out new players.
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Post by berkley on Jul 10, 2024 0:06:56 GMT -5
France-Argentina: not a total blow-out but still disappointingly one-sided for France. From another perspective, fascinating to see France look so good with almost none of this big names - this almost felt like a B-side , though you'd never know it by the way they played and I hope some of these guys get some time on the number-one French squad. And not just the young up-and-comers, either - one of the most impressive guys was their scrum-half, 29 year-old Baptiste Serin, who to be fair does have 45 caps but apparently this was the first in several years.
Unfortunately this atmosphere around this tour has been tarnished by charges of sexual assault against two of the French players. I haven't read the details, just skimmed an article in the Guardian that mostly talked about the reaction.
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Post by commond on Jul 11, 2024 15:52:45 GMT -5
Scott Robertson only made one change to the All Blacks and that was due to Perenara's injury in the first Test. Let's see if there's any improvement from the first Test.
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Post by berkley on Jul 11, 2024 16:40:29 GMT -5
Scott Robertson only made one change to the All Blacks and that was due to Perenara's injury in the first Test. Let's see if there's any improvement from the first Test. I think both teams should be better. England will certainly be disappointed if they don't get their offence going as they rarely looked threatening in the first game. And NZ will want to avoid being shut down by England's defence as they seemed to be at times, especially for a longish stretch in the 2nd half, if I remember.
I think NZ continue to be the most conservative of the top 4 or 5 ranked teams as far as bringing in new players goes, and I think the reason is simply that there's so much pressure on the ABs to win every single test that they feel they have to name their very best possible side every time they play. It seems to me that other teams, even SA, understand that the new caps have to get time in against the other top sides if they're to develop into first-rate international players, and they're more willing to risk a few missteps along the way to that end.
But since Christie is starting, I hope we'll at least get to see Cortez Ratima at some point, especially if Christie can't get the offence moving (and I don't think that's his strong point). I certainly hope they don't leave it until just the last 5 minutes or some token gesture of that sort.
The other positions, I can't criticise too much for not making changes as no-one really had a bad game. Perhaps Lomax struggled a bit in the scrums at first. I wouldn't mind seeing Ioane switched out for Leinert-Brown as I think the latter gives them a physicality they could use against England. MacKenzie was good at 10 but I suspect Perofeta might be even better - but then he had a good game at 15 so perhaps it makes sense to keep them where they are. Telea looked awesome, probably their most dangerous looking attacking player in the first match.
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Post by commond on Jul 11, 2024 17:21:36 GMT -5
Traditionally, it’s been the end of year tour where we’ve blooded players, typically after a full season of NPC (or whatever it’s called these days), but you’re right that there’s pressure on the All Blacks to win every test. I would assume that this is far from Robertson’s best side and merely him playing with the cards he’s been given. The side as presently constructed may struggle in The Rugby Championship.
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Post by berkley on Jul 11, 2024 18:54:38 GMT -5
Traditionally, it’s been the end of year tour where we’ve blooded players, typically after a full season of NPC (or whatever it’s called these days), but you’re right that there’s pressure on the All Blacks to win every test. I would assume that this is far from Robertson’s best side and merely him playing with the cards he’s been given. The side as presently constructed may struggle in The Rugby Championship. I forget which game I was watching but one of the announcers mentioned that there's talk of bringing back All Black tours of South Africa. Not sure which year it's supposed to start or when they would fit in something like that in the already busy schedule of internationals.
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Post by commond on Jul 13, 2024 18:57:13 GMT -5
England vs. New Zealand part two: {Spoiler: Click to show} New Zealand dodged another bullet. Among Foster's many firsts, losing at Eden Park wasn't one of them. I suppose one bright spot was that New Zealand got the job done (just barely) in the final quarter and that the bench made a difference for a change. Still, the pundits won't be happy. I wonder how long it will take for the Robertson honeymoon to end.
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Post by commond on Jul 13, 2024 19:06:57 GMT -5
Ireland vs. South Africa spoilers: {Spoiler: Click to show} HUGE win for Ireland over the world champs. Great for the world game that Ireland can get one over South Africa in Durban.
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Post by berkley on Jul 13, 2024 22:29:55 GMT -5
England vs. New Zealand part two: {Spoiler: Click to show} New Zealand dodged another bullet. Among Foster's many firsts, losing at Eden Park wasn't one of them. I suppose one bright spot was that New Zealand got the job done (just barely) in the final quarter and that the bench made a difference for a change. Still, the pundits won't be happy. I wonder how long it will take for the Robertson honeymoon to end.
Beauden Barrett was amazing off the bench. They were like two different teams with and without him out there. I think they should have changed front rows earlier as this was a grueling match up front and the English pack can really wear you down. Plus one of the NZ props, I think it was de Groot, seemed to pick up a slight injury near the end of the 1st half that hindered his mobility, so I have no idea why they didn't substitute him for the whole of the 2nd half. If it weren't for that last 20 minutes or so England would have deserved the win. They have a very good team that will give anyone trouble, as SA found in the WC.
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Post by berkley on Jul 14, 2024 21:14:06 GMT -5
Ireland vs. South Africa spoilers: {Spoiler: Click to show} HUGE win for Ireland over the world champs. Great for the world game that Ireland can get one over South Africa in Durban. Yes, huge drama at the end. These Ireland vs SA games are so fascinating because both teams are so determined to win the physical battle up front while there's still lots of skill on display from individuals.
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Post by commond on Jul 15, 2024 15:21:35 GMT -5
Unfortunately, the New Zealand U-20 side was absolutely hammered by France in the semis. NZ received a red card in the second half but they were already being thumped at that point. France won 55-31, which is New Zealand's biggest loss at this level. The French senior side may still be searching for its first World Cup but the talent pool isn't growing any thinner.
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Post by berkley on Jul 15, 2024 21:47:50 GMT -5
Unfortunately, the New Zealand U-20 side was absolutely hammered by France in the semis. NZ received a red card in the second half but they were already being thumped at that point. France won 55-31, which is New Zealand's biggest loss at this level. The French senior side may still be searching for its first World Cup but the talent pool isn't growing any thinner. Didn't see the game but yeah, I think France and Ireland have both made changes to their internal development system that will help keep them near the top, along with NZ and RSA. I don't think it was just a lucky circumstance of having an especially talented generation of players happening to come along at the same time by chance.
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Post by commond on Jul 19, 2024 16:30:48 GMT -5
The All Blacks named six uncapped players for their match against Fiji today.
All Blacks: Beauden Barrett, Sevu Reece, Billy Proctor*, Anton Lienert-Brown, Caleb Clarke, Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima, Ardie Savea, Ethan Blackadder, Luke Jacobson, Tupou Vaa'i, Scott Barrett (c), Fletcher Newell, Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williams. Reserves: George Bell*, Ethan de Groot, Pasilio Tosi*, Sam Darry*, Wallace Sititi*, Noah Hotham*, Jordie Barrett, Emoni Narawa.
* = uncapped
The match is being played in San Diego to appease the All Blacks' corporate overlords. Unfortunately, I have work.
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