The All Blacks vs Samoa, what’s the point?
Roar Guru By ohtani\'s jacket, 26 Aug 2008 The Crowd is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- All Blacks, Argentina, Auckland, Northern Hemisphere, Pacific Nations Cup, Samoa
The All Blacks are set to play a midweek Test against Samoa on September 3rd, a ludicrous fixture to say the least. The reasoning was to give the All Blacks a match between the August 17th Cape Town Test and September 13th Brisbane Test.
And when a fixture against Argentina couldn’t be arranged, Samoa stepped in to fill their boots.
Needless to say, the Northern Hemisphere clubs refused to grant releases for a Wednesday night Test in New Plymouth. And who can blame them?
Samoan coach Niko Palamo has been forced to arrange a “trial” in Auckland this week in order to field a side.
It’s understood that Samoa will consist of players from the Islands, and a few Auckland-based Samoans. Palamo has warned that, “I probably will have just one player from the forward pack that played in the Pacific Nations Cup and the situation isn’t looking much better in the backs.”
Henry, on the other hand, is expected to play his full strength side.
Setting aside the obvious, such as this should be an All Blacks “match” played in Samoa not Taranaki, what more can be gained from the All Blacks playing Samoa instead of playing for their provinces?
The injury risks are the same, if not more considering how hard those Samoan players tackle when they wear the jersey. But the lack of structure and defensive organisation is the real killer.
The All Blacks will look to focus on the set pieces and the breakdown and try to continue their methodical, controlled approach.
But the pressure won’t be there.
The game will open up, New Zealand will score easily, and the backs will have a field day.
Will the All Blacks really plug the corners and challenge the lineout if there’s a midfield paradise on offer?
I will be cheering Samoa. A try is worth a gold medal in these lopsided affairs.
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- Explore:
- All Blacks, Argentina, Auckland, Northern Hemisphere, Pacific Nations Cup, Samoa
September 1st 2008 @ 8:49pm
ohtani's jacket said | September 1st 2008 @ 8:49pm | Report comment
No McCaw, he’s out with the bruised ribs he picked up in Cape Town. Afoa (shoulder), Sivivatu (ankle) and Thorn (hamstring) are all being rested too.
The All Blacks are going with 3 forwards in the reserves and 4 backs. Thomson is playing openside and Kaino will cover at lock. Lauaki is back on the bench. Apparently he had a big game for Waikato in their win against Auckland.
September 2nd 2008 @ 3:21am
Benjamin said | September 2nd 2008 @ 3:21am | Report comment
I just cannot cope with Thomson. He’s a penalty machine and he doesn’t even have good hands – which is what a lot of commentators seem to assume due to his 7s history.
September 2nd 2008 @ 7:57am
Jerry said | September 2nd 2008 @ 7:57am | Report comment
Thompson’s young and a decent prospect. He does tend to concede penalties, but that can change – for instance Rocky Elsom used to be worth 3 or 4 penalties a game in previous years. Thompson does actually have pretty good hands ( but may have let nerves get the better of him in test rugby thus far. He had some great touches for the Highlanders this year, including a spectacular no look reverse pass while getting up off the ground.
September 2nd 2008 @ 8:07am
Benjamin said | September 2nd 2008 @ 8:07am | Report comment
I understand that Braid isn’t playing because Thomspon will be the bench option but I am convinced that every team should have a substitute number 7 on the bench. To that extent I think Braid should be starting at 7.
September 2nd 2008 @ 8:16am
Jerry said | September 2nd 2008 @ 8:16am | Report comment
It’s not gonna matter against this Samoan squad who they play at 7.
I’d say Henry etc feel they’re better off developing Thompson as they feel he has more potential to develop and is a part of their future plans, unlike Braid who’s just an emergency backup if McCaw is injured this season. I’d say the plan is probably to develop Thompson into the backup 7 for the November tour & next season.
September 2nd 2008 @ 6:17pm
Benjamin said | September 2nd 2008 @ 6:17pm | Report comment
What was the point in dropping Masoe then?
September 3rd 2008 @ 5:36am
Jerry said | September 3rd 2008 @ 5:36am | Report comment
Can’t say for certain obviously, but from what I can tell Masoe was simply dropped due to loss of form. He wasn’t great for the Hurricanes in the S14 this year.
Despite the left/right experiment, I don’t really see Thompson as that much different to Masoe in terms of potential – neither really plays the 7 role as a McCaw/Smith type fetcher. Thompson is a bigger lineout threat, I suppose but Masoe has more physicality & confrontation to his game. Given the broad similarities in their play (both offer a good bench option due to versatility) it seems to me that the only reason to dump Masoe is that he simply wasn’t getting the job done. That and perhaps the selectors see a lot of potential in Thompson and 4 years out from 2011 was the right time to blood him.
September 3rd 2008 @ 7:07am
Benjamin said | September 3rd 2008 @ 7:07am | Report comment
That’s what I was getting at Jerry. He seems like Masoe, but only taller. Much of a muchness really. Perhaps they do see long term potential in Thompson. Henry still seems to be pursuing this dream of a utility back rower bench player. I would have thought the resurgence of genuine 7s under the ELVs would have changed that specific dream of his.
September 3rd 2008 @ 7:37am
Jerry said | September 3rd 2008 @ 7:37am | Report comment
Masoe’s getting on too, which probably counts against him. He’ll be 32 by the time the 2011 World Cup kicks off and while some players (especially forwards) can contribute well into their 30′s, it’s pretty unlikely than many AB’s will stick around that long without looking for a final payday up north.
Despite where he’s been played this year for the All Blacks Thompson is primarily a 7, though not an out and out fetcher obviously. There’s not really that many genuine fetchers on the horizon as backups. Braid isn’t gonna be round much longer, so it’s really only Tanerau Latimer of the Chiefs who’s a prospect at the moment (Serge Lilo is looking good in the Air NZ Cup for Wellington as a possible future prospect, but I’m not sure about his eligibility). Thompson had a better S14 than Latimer, especially when you consider he was playing in one of the weaker packs.
September 3rd 2008 @ 10:26pm
ohtani's jacket said | September 3rd 2008 @ 10:26pm | Report comment
101-14
I only watched the first 50 minutes but it was pretty much what I expected. No matter how structured they try and play, when you see all that space you just want to go for it. The set pieces were a mess. Nonu had a shocker from what I saw.