All Blacks vs. Ireland: RTS named for debut, Havili to No.12, Scott Barrett back to flanker, Irish make one change

Razor is good, but Jamie Jo - recruited, selected and stuck with Te_Nug. Te_Nug has many posts of praise for JJ and, interestingly, Mick the kick. Does NZ have a kick/skills coach, let alone Enoka replacement; Enoka might have got Fozz to be "sel-enlightened"

Yeah probably fair. Hansen ran out of ideas & relied on talent. Fozzies never had any ideas.

West, One of those rare moments in life you never forget. He scared the hell out of me!

Exactly! Great story :happy: :thumbup: The Black Panther, Legend :silly:

As an aside, when I was a kid selling tickets at the gate to a local club game, an older man shuffled through the gate without paying. Being the dedicated collector of money I chased after him and asked why he did not pay. His response "I am Waka Nathan and I don't need to pay" Somewhat taken aback because this was a legend, I asked "ummm okay, but why come to watch a local game like this?" His reply "because one day one of these men may wear the black jersey and I need to support that" No I didn't get paid and nor did I care. Waka Nathan. Wow. Forgive the spelling if I have done so correctly True story.

I wonder if the coaches are talking about the significance of what’s actually happened in Dunedin. That is a significant blow to the All Blacks, similar to the loss to Argentina. All those years.. Gone! In one weekend. Looks to me like the team needs education of what they’re wearing. Do these guys know who Colin Meads is? Or what the series win in South Africa meant? It’s a concern if they’re not being educated on the history of the team and the exceptional players who have played in it. The Haka, is a vital ingredient within the ABs, noticed that they haven’t rolled out the ABs own Haka Kapa O Pango? That because They don’t feel like they’ve earned the right to perform that special Haka? See if they have the guts to roll it out, then back it up.

West, Yes I agree with you. Contrary to references made re the past, wearing an AB jersey actually meant something, that lack of passion is indicative of a lack of culture, perhaps. As is espoused by many and in some respects correctly, it is a job. The haka I believed was a warriors challenge. Has it lost its significance because as you suggest, players have lost contact with what it represents. I do not have the answers, only the players, coaches and administration can answer that.

2017

Ooh apparently Scott Barrett could be crocked… https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/all-blacks-v-ireland-scott-barrett-in-doubt-for-deciding-test-in-wellington/ZVWCROWCY3WZARTVKVUIK3QXF4/ If it were true, I actually hope they give Vai’i the start at #6, to try and emulate the larger presence and lineout strength in the role!

Taukei’aho is a game changer. Starting him would have upped the ante. He’s so big and moves forward. Foster would never do it…but putting Taukei’aho in space would be cool. He is the future so start the fker!! Coles on the bench. Taukei’aho shines and he stays to the end if what is playing in front of you feels right. But probably Coles for the last 20. That’s the difference between Foster and an awesome coach. Hansen picked and backed his players. They always delivered. Hansen has strength and faith in his decisions and he applied that to his players. The likeness came together. The leader, coach has to have faith in their decisions, that is then implemented into the player. The coach sees the talent more then the player sometimes and the coach then reveals what is truely there. Foster makes errors. Swaps and changes and they become muddled. I look at Jordon. Immediately he was the one, a starter but Foster ummed and ahed. Even dumped him when Jordon came on as a sub once and dropped the ball twice. Razor or Hansen would have picked him early. Made it clear to Jordon it wasn’t early because he is so good. Razor would have backed himself and fed that to Jordon. And away they go. Jordon is finally in but in the wrong position. What I’m saying is an awesome coach like Razor makes their decision and faith in a player blossom into reality. Foster is emotionally weaker than his players; that’s a problem .

What a bad call

I can agree with that. It’s coming to be difficult to find our 8, Savea has covered the position and we’ve needed his experience. Maybe Grace is the man. Nice discussion.

The All Blacks have done it in the past. I’ve seen them win ugly. They’ve dominated Ireland before and they can do it again. But there is always some magic that opens it up. Foster is not very innovative and a simple game plan will work. Of course there has to be other innovative, intricate plans as well. Foster gave nothing in test 2. He seemed to apply test 1 again. Ireland moved forward. Surely Fosters assistants and players will find a plan that dominates Ireland. Test 2 was a shocking display for players and coach. Foster stating he was proud of his players for trying so hard, doesn’t cut it. Yes the All Blacks were relentless and stoic in defence but they applied the same stiffness in attack. France RWC ‘2007 comes to mind. A winning disposition under pressure is also opening up and being free. The All Blacks became enclosed and everything tightened. Bash and smash, I think it’ll happen tomorrow. Smash the lineout, the scrum and the job is half done. Havili should be kicking a lot. It won’t rain tomorrow. I drove past the All Black bus and felt the power. I truely felt the energy. Be at one with the source and the game is won for the magic, black, da machine !! All Blacks need to hit the core of Ireland. Make them vulnerable in the lineout and scrum and it will ripple through their team. They did it in test 1 they need to do it again. If the All Blacks play like the true All Blacks they will win by 20. Foster is the weakness but I’m hoping the bigger team moves above and forward and drags Foster along.

Grind the Irish down in the wet? That's counter-intuitive.

I've been thinking along similar lines. I think BB is an outstanding player just not an outstanding 5/8 - probably best suited at 15 but not over Jordan. So where can you play him to have him on the field the maximum amount of time ? I think wing is probably the answer - which releases both WJ and JB to play their preferred (and better) positions. I doubt this is a Foster idea (or his selection crew btl) - I can dis-abuse you of that.

ABs have to go back to basics. Forwards first. With players who are the best at the basics of those positions. The first way in which this coaching teams shows its mediocrity is being unable to do this and build there and working with shortcuts by thinking if they have the most talented 23 on the field in terms of other skills they will make a team. Just some lazy s*$!. Just learn from their opposition. Look at how Irish forwards play. So admirable. And then compare their backs with ours. Lowe and Gibson Park would even struggle to play for the Maoris but in the Irish system they have 1-2 jobs and they do that well. Do you think any of the ABs have any idea about what is the 1-2 things they must get right. Its just an effing muddle.

Frizell is a worker and battler. Has to now lead at 6 with SB. Horses for courses. Cane and Savea must share 7 and they must find a proper 8. Midfield. 12 has to be Tupaea/Havili. Horses for courses. Rieko must go back to the wing. Goodhue at 13.

Okay Faith who would you move around ? Are you thinking of Scott at 6 and Jordan at 14. If ALB was available I would have Reiko at 11 .

I do like Grace, but is a test match 8 in the sense of balance for the AB's. Cane is my 7 he hits a lot of rucks. Great defender, good post contact meters and all that allows our 8 to be a bit wider. I feel Papalli for the AB's needs to play tighter.

Haha, Neutral View, I bet you had fun writing the first line ????