All Blacks to use Brisbane loss as motivation

The other thing is that 3-4 years ago the All Blacks had multiple players that could lay serious claims to being some of the best in their positions ever to play the game, if not arguably the best in some cases: having Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Nonu, Conrad Smith and Ben Smith at the same time isn't something that I can see repeated for a long, long time. The fact is that they were keeping out players who could lay claim to starting in their positions for any almost other international team. It is the equivalent of having the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era all at once. I count myself as being blessed to have been able to watch this era of All Blacks dominance just as I count myself as blessed to having been able to watch the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era. However, I just cannot believe the All Blacks will be able to maintain the level of dominance they had when they had those true greats. I think that they will suffer a decline from those lofty heights, despite the fact I nevertheless expect they will remain the best team in rugby.

The arrogance was shown in Brisbane, when the wallabies were jumping around like they won more than a game.

They can certainly lose matches when their motivation levels are not on par with the opposition and not that you would know with the teams you support reds... just guessing mind you... but winning every game is hard to be more motivated for after a series of wins, particularly when every other side is playing their 'game to win of the year' every time they play.

France: 15 Nans Ducuing, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12 Mathieu Bastareaud, 11 Yoann Huget, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Antoine Dupont, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Kevin Gourdon, 6 Judicael Cancoriet, 5 Paul Gabrillagues, 4 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Guilhem Guirado (c), 1 Jefferson Poirot Replacements: 16 Clement Maynadier, 17 Raphael Chaume, 18 Daniel Kotze, 19 Paul Jedrasiak, 20 Anthony Jelonch, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Francois Trinh-Duc, 23 Damian Penaud

If the collective WB 3-player cap experience was similar to these 3 ABs, then there's no excuse. Perspective in this instance, is how much experience is unavailable rather than how many players, are missing.

ABs by 10, but FR keeps it close for 55:00 because AB loosehead is pinged 2-3 times.

Piru, the other thing that has changed for the ABs is depth in every position. A few years ago there would have been 3-4 players capable of ABs standard for every position. Im not sure thats the case now. Of course injuries play a role, but its the same for every team.

Piru that arrogance is astounding. So you're saying the All Blacks can win every game at will?! They lose because the stakes aren't high.. Yeah ok...

Let's put things in perspective. Teams have injuries all the time. Wallabies were missing players too, has that ever been a good enough excuse?

MAORI ABs to play FRENCH Babarians. Maori All Blacks: 15 Charlie Ngatai, 14 Sean Wainui, 13 Tim Bateman, 12 Rob Thompson, 11 Shaun Stevenson, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Sam Henwood, 6 Tom Franklin, 5 Keepa Mewett, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ash Dixon (c), 1 Chris Eves Replacements: 16 Liam Polwart, 17 Ross Wright, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Jordan Manihera, 20 Dan Pryor, 21 Jonathan Ruru, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Teihorangi Walden Date: Friday, November 10 Venue: Stade Chaban Delmas Kick-Off: 20:45 local (19:45 GMT) Referee: Shuhei Kubo

sorry this is not the France team :(

in other news , Kaino is going home injured. All Blacks team: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Kane Hames. Reserves: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Matt Todd, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown France team: 15-Brice Dulin, 14-Noa Nakaitaci, 13-Remi Lamerat, 12-Wesley Fofana, 11-Virimi Vakatawa, 10-Camille Lopez, 9-Maxime Machenaud, 8-Louis Picamoles, 7-Kevin Gourdon, 6-Charles Ollivon, 5-Yoann Maestri, 4-Sebastien Vahaamahina, 3-Uini Atonio, 2-Guilhem Guirado (captain), 1-Xavier Chiocci Replacements: 16-Camille Chat, 17-Cyril Baille, 18-Rabah Slimani, 19-Julien Le Devedec, 20-Damien Chouly, 21-Baptiste Serin, 22-Jean-Marc Doussain, 23-Gael Fickou

point accepted in a logical sense - BUT - we are talking about France. :) there is something in the water ( or the wine) that affects their ability to play cohesively over a period of time. it happens with their footy team and basketball team ( dont watch handball so no idea ) and certainly the rugger team. from the little I have watched of Top 14 , i dont think there are any other 3rd rowers out there who can match the quality they have lost. maybe Wenceslas Lauret , but am not sure if he is fit or not. becoz apart from those that are injured most of the rest are foreigners . same with wingers.

cuw/tman It seems, when you have nothing to lose and everything to gain, the chips just begin to fall your way because it means your opponent, has everything to lose and nothing, to gain. In 1986, France were favoured to win in NZ because the AB side, was full of "baby blacks". Funny how the youngsters, pulled a rabbit out of the hat, against all predictions. There are subtle but similar reminders, in this coming match albeit, the roles are now reversed.

pformagg I think when Fozzie is talking about quality, he is actually referring to the test experience or lack of. Admittedly, those 3 players were unavailable but, what had more impact IMO, was the collective experience of the three of them, that was also unavailable. If you recall, a WB try in each test was the result of intercepting passes thrown by two of the least experienced AB players, being Macca and Sopa who between them, have a combined total of a dozen or so caps. As the saying goes, your chain is only as strong as your weakest link and if that link is a lack of experience, perhaps the question could be would Ben Smith, have thrown Macca's pass and would BB, have thrown Sopa's pass?? Fozzie talked about the quality of the ABs match or more importantly, the lack of quality. The replacements must be skilled and smart enough to fill their position - in these couple of instances, both skill and smarts appeared to be awol. Hopefully, both players will learn to be more visualised, when attempting to make an extraordinary pass. These aren't 50:50 call options - these are calls based upon reading the play, visualising the opposition line and executing or not, a pass. If the options are not available, the pass isn't played. If the pass doesn't happen, the intercept doesn't either and, the try is not scored. This decision falls back to experience versus exuberance. In both games, it seems the latter, entered into these respective decision processes.

i think the present situation may have a direct correlation with the movement of a certain coach from one side to the other. lets say an analogy is a germ and its antidote. :)

" Not sure how much it counts but also SA smashed the French in 3 tests this June, although I have read that the French didn’t send their full strength side. " simply becoz the TOP 14 finals was going on at the time tests were played. basically the best clubs were still playing. that is the stupid .... system rugger scheduling is. and as u have correctly said they have lost a lot of good players - again in the TOP 14 and Champions league matches. the only available regular 3rd rower is Piccamoles - all others are gone like 3 fold. both Fiji wings are gone and the best playmaker Lopez broke his leg !!! i expect carnage - unless the French step up in adversity .... hope so.

@ Taylorman am sure NZ will win , easily. France have lost so many to injuries , they are like the team NZ put out against the Babaas. lot of 3rd rowers missing ; i think only Picamoles is available. center Remy Lamerat , prop Antoine Guillamon , wing Virimi Vakatawa, lock Felix Lambey , loose forwards Bernard Le Roux, Fulgence Ouedraogo , Kelian Galletier , wing Noa Nakaitaci, fly-half Camille Lopez, lock Arthur Iturria, props Cyril Baille and Eddy Ben Arous, loose forwards Yacouba Camara, Damien Chouly, Charles Ollivon and Loann Goujon all unavailable.

True Fathom but was it a committed and inspired ABs team in that game??? I think we saw the committed and inspired ABs 2 weeks later in Dublin It is amazing how the ABs win around 90% of matches yet we hear far more about the 10%.....

You do make a good point though, when the All Blacks don't take an opponent seriously they can be vulnerable - you'll no doubt remember the week after Chicago when Ireland were defeated in Dublin - despite the ABs having copped two yellows.