Both of those packs today were heavier than yesterday’s Bok’s pack.
Aus has the athletes, some of whom benefit from playing in strong NH competitions.
It was a big risk choosing league guys coaching both defence and attack and Eddie as pretty much a coaching manager should fall on his sword for that failure as should Mclennan for his misjudged hire. Out of mutual self interest and ambition neither will, unlike underperforming players dumped.
Super rugby being mostly only aus v nz rugby isn’t good for either of our Test games long term, NH comps are much deeper. and more strongly competed. We both are struggling against test teams more used to high intensity arm wrestles.
Aus will have to let more o /seas players come back into WB’s thus more will go o/seas for the money and both Aus NZ get weaker.
Easy in retrospect but Rennie seemed to be trying to build something more foundational, Eddie appeared to be a super coach but the emperor now appears to have no clothes.

That maul try really rankled AB’s and Ryan, won’t happen again.
WB’s have the players and the selection is good, it depends on how they gell. Unlike AB’s they haven’t yet settled their combos. Gordon will either be very good or exposed by NZ like Lolosia was, the former i think.
Eddie making lots of fun but he’s stressed.
The from league attack and defence coaches haven’t impressed, it’s a big ask for them to get up to speed in such a short time WC looming. AB’s find space and punish weakness and these test rugby rookie coaches are vulnerable until they get a true handle on the top level game.
It’s gonna be hard to justify confidence going forward to Dunedin and WC if WB’s lose poorly and get behind 8 ball like AB’s did last year, till they repaired it with better assistant coaches.
WB’s will definitely be up for it though, MCG and dogs on their backs and this will be a difficult game for AB’s. Aus isn’t the easiest place for them and WB’s should be inspired by the occasion and crowd, much more committed at collision and breakdown plus attitude can do a lot for defence.
Also AB’s consistency isn’t yet proven by just 2 good games running, however if WB’s aren’t at their potential best they’ll lose to AB’s confidence/momentum and this is their best chance against AB’s this year.

I think there was Schmidt influence in the intelligence of our attack structure which may result in Dmac unseating Mounga at 10 because Dmac operating flat like he does but passing to players running deeper or doubling around himself, stopped our midfield getting cramped and stifled by flat defense as so often was previously.
We arent just shovelling it out, allowing defense to drift across with us, our attack is less predictable and without defense in face the backs didn’t make the errors that even persisted for so much of last year, however Pumas lifted in second and our bench didn’t, we lost the second half.
We need a bench 9 who’s more of a change up than a lesser version of Smith, that could be Roigard but Fokatava is very unlucky imo not to be in the squad, he was coming back from injury and had shown he was back to his best impact at end of Landers season, without the chance to cement that in playoff games.
AB’s similar to Crusaders, tend to get a lead and then give away cheap penalties/ rely on defence, over maintaining momentum / doing the hard work or just maintaining possession over kicking it back to teams with scoreboard pressure to run it back. Switching to defensive mode let England back in for the draw in their previous test.
Frizzell proved he’s the man for 6 and me wrong for judging guys like him and Cane, who get affected by injuries and need a clear run of games for form and to stay injury free.
Pumas however were below par and as much as we took advantage as we always can, their half time attitude change and 2 point win of the second (albeit our big safe lead) was more telling, than what we can do given a latitude the Boks won’t allow because they are not a rusty first up scratch team reassembling from all over the world.
They have to play us in NZ and won’t be good enough to win though and we didn’t start rusty and should expect to build on this.

Even as an Aucklander i’m disappointed when i see a Blues front rower picked for AB’s
Going forward, our best starting front row imo is lomax tokeahio de groot and injuries willing, that would be replaced by the Crusaders front row, so we lose nothing.
I would have liked to see Scott Barrett at 6 for the last year or so but with Lord’s injuries we haven’t found a good enough lock to try that out. Lord could become an Ian Jones type imo.
Ardie and Cane pick themselves and we need a stand out go forward no 6, also a lineout option.
Barrett would be the biggest, mobile and go forward type and tallest no 6 option, whose lineout jumping is proven and he’s a ball player but doesn’t have the game time in the position pre WC.
It’s a pity Blackadder has missed the season so far, Frizzell is a lineout option without enough go forward/ creativity on the ball, Jacobsen is high work rate and skills but not quite there on other counts imo.
Finau has a real opportunity to grab 6 if he’s good enough, 6 position is still unclaimed since Squire, who unfortunately never got the chance to consistently show the dominant player he was.
If not Finau, then Ethan Blackadder if he has time to find form.
Interestingly, Dalton Papalii is taller and heavier than Ethan, Papalii is the same size as Finau and a Blues lineout target and has the test game time.
As for the backs (injuries aside) it’s Smith (Roigard will prove good enough and a change up, to be bench) Mounga, a much improved and more effective Havilli (Jordie not as effective as hoped) Reiko, Narawa, Talea or Fainganuku, Jordan – Dmac not Beaudy on bench (with ALB)
The talent is there but the coaching needs to be as good, esp. Scott Mcleod’s defence imo and they need to play best 23 from BOK’s onwards to get the fluidity, continuity and consistency of play lacking last year, from lack of build and momentum via the poor selection/coaching they started out with.

So we start the season with a rotation strategy, rather than playing our best players test on test to develop a continuity that’s been lacking.
Saving our best for the Boks may be justified, as Mendoza will probably be hard, tiring work but with so few games to WC, must play our top 23 from Bok’s on imo and that includes Stevenson at 15 V Bok’s – which won’t happen i’d say.
With Jordan out, Stevenson is our best 15 and has a much longer kick return than Beaudy.
Foster’s continual overlooking of Mounga in favour of Beaden Barrett last year, may have contributed to Mounga’s decision to go overseas. So we miss out on 3 years of his development and established work and improvement at 10. Mounga has been and is our best 10.
Beauden isn’t a top flight test 10 or 15, our no. 3 at 10 and no. 3 or 4 at 15 – and that based only on experience, more than game management savvy or kick execution and kick distance. He also comes across as a bit gun shy after his concussion imo, understandable for a Dad and player late in career but means he’s not the player he was and those guys have been dropped in the past by more hard edged coaches.
As much as i’d like to see Scott Barrett at 6, the ongoing injuries to the ‘old’ locks means Barrett has to be either bench or replacement starting lock ongoing, though i’d like to see Lord blooded against the Boks to see if he stands up, like Gary Whetton did on debut, in that cauldron.
Seen enough of Frizzell to remain unconvinced and i’d like Finau starting against Bok’s for the same reason plus he may be more durable because Frizzell is like another Liam Squire with injuries and doesn’t get the continuity in the jersey to be consistent, in the way that Cane has proven himself in top form being injury free for the season.
We have to take some selection risks because this team needs a change up going into WC, so how will Roigard develop? given his style is a change up to Arran Smith’s superb passing game.
Laulala will drop the ball cold at least once and not have much go forward.
Coles, if he can stay injury free, is still a top hooker who turns up in the right places, influential, and can also throw the ball in straight and stay calm under pressure, unlike those who might have challenged him for his spot.

I think it’s a very well selected squad and am surprised a conservative Foster allowed some of those. Mcleod is very accurate and makes good decisions and could be very good at test level but more likely in the centres, we have better wingers, though versatility helps him and he’d probably do a good job at 15 too, makes few mistakes, strong defender, good kick game, competes.
Stevenson is very unlucky, apart from his running game he showed the value of his big boot from the back but there’s lots of 15 cover for Jordan with those 10’s and Jordie. However, if Beaudy is the main 15 backup he’s not as good and influential player as Stevenson these days but i think they need 3 10’s in squad and same at WC.
I think Fokatava is unlucky, as much as he was slow getting back into form from injury, he did, and showed his strike value from the bench and i think Christie is lucky because he throws some bum passes and that’s his core role. Fokatava is a change up from the Aron smith game but Roigard probably more so i guess.
Akira played his way out being passive and Finau is totally deserving for being prepared to show up with the mongrel that Akira doesn’t. Give him as much opportunity as Akira had and you might get a Kaino/Collins type and consistency with it.
Got the players to win wc but my doubt is Scott Mcleod’s defence coaching because we’ve been shipping too many points and he isn’t proven, whereas Ryan is and Foster will heed a lot of Joe Schmidt’s input.

The Brumbies are a very efficient and accurate Rugby team in general. That’s why they beat the Canes in the end. But there’s no way they can beat both Chiefs and Crusaders (probably) in NZ to win the title. They just don’t have the fire power of the Chiefs nor the control of the Crusaders. One upset is possible but 2, is highly improbable, as well as undeserved. The end of season stats tell the story.
Brum’s just don’t bring enough to beat both of the top NZ teams at home.

If Ian Foster is really focussing on WC he better stop talking about ‘interesting vibe’ in the coaching group, coaching staff leaving and ‘some people’ who ‘wanted certainty early’.
The continuing digs are not focussing, it’s holding onto bitterness about an employment process which his employers decided to adopt, a process that isn’t and wasn’t ever gonna be his decision to make, regardless of whether he agrees with the process or not.
NZR could have come out earlier and outlined their timeline but it’s their prerogative to go about that in their own time and they had their own process to get to today’s announcement.
Harping on about certainty/ uncertainty, isn’t keeping his eye on the ball.
In fact, an early decision is being made (for those supposedly wanting certainty early), they’re gonna choose well before international season begins and pre WC, not post like last time when the best candidates had been taken by others or made themselves unavailable because of NZR … uncertainty.
The good thing for Foster, he’s got Joe Schmidt’s NH and Ireland experience to hopefully help dismantle them again in knockout phase and Jason Ryan’s coaching has taken the forwards to a much higher level than when Ireland won the series in NZ.
We’re much improved on back then because Foster’s selecting/coaching shortcomings have been shored up by his new assistants.
Schmidt is likely to be more astute on WC selection, if Foster will step back a bit there.
France at home may be a higher mountain to climb.
And for whoever is next AB coach, it’s time for that change because Foster’s record over a good number of test matches speaks for itself.

The Blues probably have it round the wrong way, Perofeta should be 10 and Beauden 15.
The game showed Mounga has much more to offer than Beaden at 10 and will be a big loss for AB’s when he goes to Japan.
Beauden isn’t the impact player he used to be and hasn’t developed a consistent smart kick game as a 10, nor improved his game management nous.
I’d really like to see rugby 10’s in general, model some of Joey Johns and other past league great standoffs, short kick games, in this era of flat efficiently structured defences.
I think Dmac is now a better backup to Ritchie than Beauden and Beauden should be dropped from AB’s.
Shaun Stevenson is the new Beaudy in terms of pace, incision and impact and is a better AB 15 choice than Beauden. I like him so much, I could even accept Jordan playing wing, though Talea is made for test rugby imo. Clarke should hold the other AB wing, though still seems uncertain where to put himself defensively, despite a lot of gesticulating, apparently to other players as if he’s the rugby brain, or maybe he just wants be seen as significant on the big screen!
I like RTS drive and determination to make a go of it in rugby but don’t see why so much is made of him as a player, Heem showed a much more effective game at 12 yet will never be regarded as an AB in the making.
RTS needs space, however being outpaced by Fainganuku revealed he doesn’t have the speed to displace other AB’s as a back 3 player either.
I get the feeling that Reiko doesn’t fully back himself on the break, as much as i can see he wants to link, be seen as the astute provider and cement the AB 13 jersey, he’s an offensive weapon and should go for it more often.

Beauden Barrett’s inability to develop a consistent and smart kicking game that’d make him a better game manger, is the reason he should not play 10 again for the AB’s and should in fact be dropped because he’s become a dimensional player with limited upside for improvement, experience not withstanding. Dmac has developed his 10 game more.
Perofeta won’t quite make it to the top as a 10 and has Jordan/Stevenson to contend with as AB 15’s, in fact RTS should have come to Rugby as a 15, was never gonna get step space at 12, now Jordie has a lock on that position, with RTS braveheart player though he is, not superior to or as good a rugby brain backup option as Anton LB or Havilli.

And the news today is Foster is out criticising NZR for uncertainty around next AB coach.
He put himself in this position via mediocre results.
He’s an employee.
It’s not for Foster (or anyone else) to complain about how the process is done because it’s not his process, his choice, or decision about AB coach. If he really doesn’t like how it’s done he can resign.
NZR should make a clear decision prior to WC and asap imo but Foster and others claiming it disrupts preparation is absolute bullshit.
If it’s a distraction, then he’s not focusing on doing his job, which is about the team, not himself and his post WC potential aspirations – which he hasn’t been up front about anyway.
No one can be surprised that his head is on the block and likely to be replaced and no one should care, least of all the players, who play for the coach they’re given, not get to choose their preference, because they’re playing for the jersey, or should be.
This shouldn’t be about loyalty to Foster, or anyone else’s post WC. Right now, it’s about being focussed on building up to a WC.
It’s Foster and others creating the talk of distraction, which will become a reality, if it’s talked about often, when all that’s relevant is to focus on this year, which is a WC campaign, and Foster will be coaching AB’s at WC, that’s locked in.
So he has his redemption opportunity and statement moment but seems to be eschewing it in favour of playing the victim, instead of committing to proving his coaching credentials if he’s up to it – and has a record of not being.
Razor was dumb to blab out his statement and now NZR need to come out asap and announce the next AB coach however not hurry the process of getting it right.
Razor has put them in a bind – if they care too much about media/message board clamour but don’t seem to, to their credit.
They should not have to have baby sat Razor into not making imprudent statements, which actually might end up putting his aspirations for the job at risk.

League has some great athletes but so does Rugby. What league guys really made a big difference? Even SBW was second fiddle to Nonu.
When has a league guy coming to Rugby a year prior to a WC worked out great? Or even well. Sam Burgess.
If Rugby was an easy game to learn and adapt to yes, but it isn’t. SBW’s take yer head off league style tackle cost AB’s a Lions series win.
It’s kind of an insult to Rugby, if league players just rocked up and it was easy and successful.
Not saying a winger isn’t more or less a winger in both codes but for another example and injuries aside, RTS has a long way to go at 12, great athlete and all. Cameron Murray v’s RTS?
And not saying some league players can’t develop into very good Rugby players but none have become greats.
I think it’s a mistake and a slight to Rugby to go looking for league players because a similar quality athlete, with the intellectual capital of playing the game for life is a much better bet and developing a deeper pool of better rugby players is where Aussie rugby needs to be, not expensive marquee marketing league poaches, the game has to speak for itself via results in the longer run.

Eddie is more of a Graham Lowe like, uber positive talking, man motivator. He’ll have an effect but WB’s won’t have enough game time to establish into a dominant force. All the injuries cost the team’s development as well as Rennie’s head.
The best WB 15 still won’t have the developed quality and cohesion to beat better teams in really big WC games, they have some excellent players but won’t be a superior team.
So, they’ll rely on upsets, might get one but won’t win a WC that way.
Eddie had more talent to work with in England. However, Eddie’s end with England, is a prime example of a team stopping listening.
Another 4 years of Ian Foster for AB’s would go nowhere.
Win or not, Foster is finished post WC, the idea that an announcement prior to WC will affect Foster is b/s. He handled pressure as a player and last year as a coach, it’ll just make him determined to achieve the biggest hurrah. I hope they lock his successor in soon.
The really unfair thing for Scott Robertson, is his long time right hand man making the biggest difference in the AB’s improvement last year and that saved Foster’s bacon.
I still find it extraordinary that so many All Blacks, including Crusader players! had Foster’s back, maybe that spoke more against Razor than for Foster?
So, I think Jamie Joseph is a big chance for next AB coach and also think a lot will depend on the coaching team those 2 guys propose.

Whilst Schmidt is more tactically astute than Foster, the big difference for AB’s has been from Ryan’s coaching plus the selection of more skilled and mobile props, who’ve also muscled up at set piece.
If we were to somehow win a WC, there’s still no future to retaining Foster, and Schmidt’s NH style coaching bent isn’t the way to go post WC.
The way to go is what we saw from Black Ferns, obviously men’s game can’t be quite so loose but the 15 player game is our DNA.
What’s been lacking is astute coaching nous in how we implement that style against flat defensive structures – and our work at breakdowns which I think requires a specialist coach there.
AB’s aren’t playing with a lot of freedom because they’re always looking out to fix the problem areas from their last sub standard performance. They’re kind of behind the ball rather than trusting their game and ability to impose it.
Playing to save Foster’s skin doesn’t cut it, nor will Schmidt’s control freak tendencies going forward.
When looking at innovative forward thinking coaches it’s Razor, Jamie Joseph and Tony Brown.
Those 3 along with Ryan is the dream team, which NZR should have, but won’t have, been working to lock in post WC.
NZR seem to have Leon Mcdonald as their rising star, even though he’s unproven and outcoached by Razor/Ryan in SR final.
This year the selectors did work out our WC team, albeit great SR play might displace one or two guys. Hopefully Moody comes back and displaces Laulala.
We’ve sorted No.6 position.
Foster should but won’t replace Cane with Papali’i at 7.
One of the main reasons for underperformance this year was lack of direction from 10, poor kick game and tactical options and most of all, below par game management.
Our best option to improve there, is lots of game time for Mounga pre WC, he should be told he’s our starting test 10 for the whole season.
9 kicking from base is not our DNA, a negative tactic with overall nett negative outcomes – just stop it!
Talea is probably the only back you might call a complete player across a full range of skills – he starts along with Clarke whose strengths outweigh his weaknesses.
It means Jordan can play 15, since Jordie must play 12.
There’s a lot of pace and power across what you could call a back 4 when including Reiko. Beauden is best used as bench impact.
What we need to find pre WC next year is:
A quality second half back
One of Blackadder, Grace, Mikaele-tu’u or Jacobsen to stand out as back row bench cover
Vaii growing his game and given more test starts
Moody fit and back to his best.
That’s not too much to hope for.
However, as much as we’re a WC chance, realistically it’s unlikely we can win a string of knockout games against teams that have been more consistent than us and also consistently beaten us.
The loss of invincibility doesn’t just roll one way as in them losing the fear factor, it affects AB confidence to the downside as well.
There’s not enough up and coming talent and maybe a little too much old age in this AB’s team and hard to see them as a team that’s building to a WC winning peak or that this will be their time.
And regrettably, angry recriminations at NZR for being left with the coaching dregs to choose from post WC will most likely happen all over again.

Razor says he’s in contact with NZR yet he’s reported to be meeting with English RU, which I can only deduce means NZR has promised him nothing.
In fact I think the NZR thinking is, Scott Robertson isn’t the right man for the job as in for whatever reason, they don’t like/rate him, as was the case with Graham Henry, when they took away his Eden Park car park as punishment for coaching in Wales! after he probably correctly deduced there was no way they’d choose another Aucklander as AB coach after John Hart. But who did they end up going back to?
Certainly, if Joe Schmidt is available as a potential candidate to take over head coach from Ian Foster, then I fear they’ll prefer him but there’s also the potential for this AB’s team to win WC which could mean Foster actually chooses to stay on, given there’s precedent for it.
Wayne’ Smith’s Black Ferns showed what the AB’s have lost over time, in terms of not playing with freedom – and Schmidt is a control freak, Foster a poor strategist.
We need Robertson’s influence in terms of enabling and encouraging players’ freedom of expression, within the win a platform structure his teams have always had – but from Robertson’s point of view, why take the risk of being left out in the cold again, waiting for NZR to make up its mind?
Happened last time when a lot of potential other candidates had already signed elsewhere and I don’t have much confidence that under Mark Robertson and board the decision making is or will be, decisive and forward thinking.
Razor seems to be firming as England favourite, ironically the poms experience of him coaching BaBa’s v AB’s B has only enhanced his standing in their eyes, vis a vis his ability to relate and get best from players plus and he’s perhaps more proven than other options like Borthwick/O’Gara at this stage.
To me NZR should consider, do you want Razor coaching against AB’s which could end up a double whammy to the downside, given what AB’s lose and Razor identifying and getting the best of the talent base potential in England plus the fact he could potentially take Jason Ryan with him – triple whammy!
I fear the NZR will be too slow to act to lock Razor in.
Their past choice to stick with Foster was wrong, hence we’re still ‘improving and growing’ as a team, despite all the experience locked in there i.e. we didn’t choose the guy that would’ve done the growing by taking our coaching game itself forward, hence the in season need to change up coaching staff – the impact of Ryan, Razor’s right hand man.
They should have locked Robertson in already because if so, Ryan will stay with AB’s and even if Schmidt leaves in misguided ‘loyalty’ to Foster, there are plenty of others to replace Schmidt and the consistency of Scott Mcleod’s defense is questionable, so I think coaching change is the way to go, regardless of WC outcome – which to me means Robertson should be locked in now, or we lose him and settle for something less – as in who’s left that’s available – and haven’t learnt anything from last time.

It’s a disappointing season yet we won the all SH silverware and went undefeated in NH.
For a guy with TJ’s experience that kick was inexplicable and shows yet again, why our 9’s should not be kicking from the base because there’s nothing in it for us.
Don’t necessarily blame Ian Foster for it either, it could be a Joe Schmidt from NH thing, that worked fine coaching Conner Murray types but our 9’s aren’t that and that play isn’t our DNA.
In fact AB’s could take a lead from the Black Ferns in respect of playing to our DNA with courage and conviction.
Either both or one of Jordie and Havilli was on at the time and the other side of the field was open and yet we don’t play to 12 for the long kick (that Ritchie doesn’t really have) or as exit plays either.
Season highlight was far and away the Black Ferns win, that whole campaign and their joyous approach to playing the game, Ellis Park also very satisfying. One more point against Poms and AB’s season was OK as I do believe we’re improving but am personally glad I don’t have to watch any more frustration till next year.

Beauden’s erratic game management showed again why he’s not suited at 10, kicks with no purpose to them, too often too long to be contested (yet again) not spreading it wide often enough and why not go wide?
Defending teams are more at risk of conceding penalties, the keep it in hand wide game can be a strength for us with Clarke so hard to stop and Mark Talea complete and classy (whose stronger aerial work and over the tackled ball will usurp Sevu)
When penalties cost so much position and give away possession, it’s better to have the ball in hand more, especially when winning the breakdown like in this game.
The big focus of this team should be on exceptional accuracy over the ball on the ground, forget about pretending we have an effective or astute kicking game, that’s NH strength not ours.
We need to focus on retaining possession and avoiding turnovers/winning turnovers on the ground, which seems to be where the ball spends most of its time, an area where ball is slowed or lost and which most stunts the fluency of the game we’d like to play.
To risk playing wider, players have to have confidence they won’t be turned over ie. forward mobility, strength and skill over the ball and consistently getting the numbers right, more committing to protect it or win it/counter ruck and less forwards, in and slowing the attacking line.
Our kicks in the air become either knock ons or straight out possession giveaways, such as kicks from 9 base, or 9 kicks that don’t make much ground up the line. It’s not our DNA.
Kicks straight down the middle to hand are straight out pointless.
ONTOH, fielding kicks, you want Ritchie (who needs more test 10 time to grow his game management) Jordie, Beauden and Talea on field and Caleb Clarke is committing and improving a lot there.
Our kick game should be basic, kick exits dead to our 10 metre line or better (eg. from ruck base to Jordie’s boot) league style short kicks thru flat defence and Ritchie’s wide kicks to wing, sometimes.
A simple plan that doesn’t rely on ad lib kicks for variety’s sake, which we aren’t that good at. In fact, as often as not those kicks don’t even find ground or space, are easily swept up.
We kick too much (from 9 also) and whilst Beaudy at 10 isn’t an astute or particularly accurate tactical kicker, at 15 he gets more running space, has speed to the cover tackle and is great in the air, that’s his position.
As it should have been RTS position coming into Rugby, who by now could have become 15 backup to Beauden, since Jordie will be playing 12, as Havilli again made a poor bad judgement call and the good he’s capable of, doesn’t negate the odd costly clanger.
ALB is smart, accurate, great defender and creative for his outsides and is midfield WC bench cover for me.
This team performance again showed why we need to be starting our best 23 every game. NH part of this tour was a chance to replicate potential WC knockout phase ie. we’ll be needing our best 23 playing 3 weeks consecutive.
Obviously those combinations and cohesion get ever more embedded via as much game time as they can get and it’s the chopping/changing, lack of combinations behind a lot of AB underperformance this year, albeit injury/unavailability issues and not always down to selection.
However Foster can be blamed for his misplaced loyalty to underperforming Coaches that cost the Ireland series and I’m pretty sure we’ll see that weakness in hard call making repeated in him sticking with Sam Cane, though Papali’i’s greater mobility and strength and consequent breakdown impact, will be far more impactful to the game we could play, than Cane’s defensive work rate that’s more like a second 6 – and is why Michael Jones moved to 6 late in his career but he was Michael Jones and Sam is a good international 7, now past his best

At last an article about the Women’s game, which is superior to the men’s in so many ways.
I’m sorry for the Red Roses players who put so much into building an extraordinary team and 30 test winning streak and would’ve cemented a unique and special legacy with a WC, neither team deserved to lose as Kitson wrote.
The game was exciting because of the fantastic commitment of both teams, the closeness of score and the Ferns playing a risky open style but am not bothered to watch that game’s ‘highlights’ when having to see 6? Tries from mauls, including some Ferns tries too.
Rolling mauls are an ugly mess and a skill less blight on the game.
Just because some teams train to do that tactic well as in – ‘we do it because it works for us’ – the game is better than a resort to negative tactics and boring style and a rule change is needed regarding rolling mauls inside the 22 imo.
The contest is Lineout, scrum and breakdown, players actually running to beat another and (hopefully) astute kicking and mauling for front foot ball – not a heap of bodies collapsing over the goal line.
Next women’s final at a packed Twickers could turn out different, though plenty of growth, youth and depth in Blacks Ferns and they aren’t where they will be with a lot more tests – Sarah Hunter alone, had more caps than the entire Ferns forward pack.
The difference for Ferns has been the five 7’s players coming in, Fluhler and Fitzpatrick in particular outstanding at 12 and 13, probably the best in women’s or men’s game, created so much from exceptional skill sets.
It’s better for Rugby that the Black Ferns won because women’s rugby (at least as the Ferns play it) is so much more joyfully and expansively played than the men’s game and more entertaining – a better watch imo and long may that style last.
The Black ferns are an extraordinary and inspiring team in terms of culture and the way they approach playing the game and the AB’s can learn from them.
I’d like to compliment all the Refs at this WC I think they’ve been very good and not sure why some women refs aren’t doing men’s internationals.

It’s been a problem that for any number of reasons too many players have been unavailable this year. The team V Japan was a rusty B side.
AB’s haven’t found greater continuity, cohesion and consistency because selections either haven’t been justified (Props v Ireland/ Assistant coaches V Ireland etc.) or team selections haven’t been settled – is more the reason to why they aren’t playing like AB’s.
But it’s become clear who the best 23 are and it’s time to play them every test to WC – injuries and otherwise unavailables will give backups enough game time.
With ALB the backline is settled it’s either him or Havilli at 12 – one exception, after looking great there Jordie should be tested again at 12 against a tough England he has the kick game also and Beauden is best at 15 where he gets the space he plays better with and isn’t as good a play maker as Ritchie at 10.
The calm, composed and accurate RTS could’ve maybe been a hit at 15, playing him at 12 with no stepping space doesn’t make sense.
The new front rowers have been a generation improvement on the plodders we started the season with and hopefully Aumua shows he’s up there now as no. 2 or 3 hooker since Coles won’t make it to WC and Taylor isn’t consistent anymore it seems.
Tupou Vaii is is the only guy they should be playing more often for experience sake and testing against the NH best because come WC it’s uncertain Retallick will be injury free or consistent in form which seems to be dropping off. Also, Scott B is the best 6 backup if injury prone Frizzell is out.
Papali’i now has an open field to show he’s better and more consistent than Sam Cane but Foster is a loyal guy and would find it very hard to drop Cane anyway however Papali’i seems to have a similar work rate and tackle efficiency but greater mobility and ball skill and Sam Whitelock is a very good leader and astute decision maker and may prove in the next few tests to be a bit of a change up over Cane, who hasn’t been able to change things on field which you’d like to see a captain be able to do like Ritchie McCaw was able to effect.

There were about 10 ‘A team’ AB guys not playing plus more not starting. B team predictably lacked combination and continuity. They must now pick a best 23 and stick with that till WC to build connection, combinations and develop better continuity.
No more rotation or experiments – RTS is reliable and plays strongly but is not as effective as ALB, Havilli or even Jordie at 12, Perofeta didn’t take his chance and won’t get game time to develop, Hoskins won’t bring 80 minutes work rate, Laulala is a plodder and place holder until Moody gets back, Coles won’t last to WC and they should’ve been developing a younger hooker. Also should’ve been giving Tupou Vaii more game time.
The A team needs a lot of game time together, there’ll be injuries and the backups are good enough.
Big disappointment is the ‘tactical’ kicking with no purpose. What does a kick down the middle straight to hand ever achieve? Ritchie is a slightly better director than Beaudy but not much more so.
High contestable kicks and kicks from the scrum base aren’t out DNA and we shouldn’t go there.
We’re not great competing aerial and seemingly not that interested in the chase.
It’d help if Caleb Clarke focused totally on the game, rather than on himself in replay after every touch.
Not that we shouldn’t kick at all but the kicking is formulaic, not situationally aware and astute. I think rugby could learn from League’s short kicking game.
AB’s need to play more like Wayne Smith has the Black Ferns going, who play a much more exciting and enthusiastic game, in fact watching them makes me realise how joyless AB’s are playing the game by comparison. The woman’s game has ball in play much more, with equal physical commitment and they love playing – like the men’s game used to be before it got so serious.
Also have to put up with Justin Marshall’s constant refereeing AB’s games and getting far more calls wrong than the refs ever do, he bought some real insight when he first became comments man, so capable of much better.

They don’t seem to be playing for Rennie but there have also been a lot of injuries, so for me the jury is out.
More importantly, regarding the All Blacks!
There was no silverware on the line v Ireland nor Pumas.
But Pumas got caned after their AB win and now AB’s still own Freedom Cup, Bledisloe and Rugby championship.
As much as they’ve flattered to deceive, AB’s still own all the silverware.
Am not sure why the Freedom Cup isn’t seen, as more significant then Bledisloe? – since Bok’s are our natural long term rivals – but ontoh, NZ V AUS in anything, is little brother v’s big and a win matters a lot – to little brother at least!
Regardless, Foster can right fully claim season success, though I’m pleased he’s not doing that – given inconsistency and consequent need to prove performance consistency over time and more games. But we have retained all the silverware and that is a success and congrats to Foster and team.
What will matter most, is that same consistency of performance, plus intent, going forward because that’s what will win a World Cup.
You could argue at this point (which is largely irrelevant)
That:
WB‘s have quite an easy WC draw and won’t be tested until semi’s (they’ll be better with injured and overseas players on deck)
France will find it hard to be rated favourites and at home
AB’s as of now, are a much better team than the team that lost to Ireland
Bok’s are limited but their style is suited to WC pressure knockout games
Ireland come in with the pressure of high expectations, that they’ve not had before – and will find hard to deal with imo
England ‘listened and believed’ in Eddie up until recently – his voice is getting old
AB’s will go into WC rated lower than usual and ‘relatively’ underestimated – which they like and respond great to
The losses of this year have washed away any tendency towards AB complacency, rather imposed a determination for an AB team to prove itself.
The new assistant coaches have established clear performance markers and ways of playing – ie. strategies and a way of play that we’re good at.
These guys have made up for Ian Foster’s deficiencies as a coach, he’s more of a ‘football manager’ – and credit to him for stepping back to that extent, he’s not stupid.
Regardless of AB’s beating England at Twickers – which they probably will do – they’ll go into WC underestimated (ie.‘Ireland beat us and France are even better’) – which is the best situation for AB’s and a kiwi Rugby mentality that prefers underdog status.

Up to this year had wondered what they saw in Lomax but with game time he’s really stepped it up and looking very good with more confidence. Man of the match.
This team would’ve beaten Ireland and will beat England at Twickers, if they bring last nights intent and focus and honest 80 minutes.
Was surprised Jordie didn’t make a better fist of 12 for Canes and wasn’t expecting that good of a performance last night but has the skillset wherewithal – physical, defence, kick game, could develop a strong off loading game there too.
Sam Whitelock is always very impressive and astute as Captain.
Ritchie makes occasional poor mistakes but so does Beaudy who showed his best position is 15.
Papalii’s time is post WC with more starting game time, in other words Cane is our best 7 (a primarily defensive position these days) and a good balance with Ardie’s mobility from 8 and Frizzell or Scott B hard running contact /high work rates.
Caleb Clarke surprisingly good in air, very good work rate too, he can be more than a one trick offensive threat.
Reiko is a smart guy, grown a lot at 13 this year, more to go with distribution, has to stay there the midfield breaks are devastating.
Have to credit the selectors plus more growth apparent – via Ryan and Schmidt influence imo.
Aussies seem kinda offside with NH refs (nick white reactions) whilst AB’s bending over backwards ie. keeping them on side for WC

However you shuffle around the players you get a team with similar strengths and weaknesses, there’s international level depth but few outstanding players.
Ireland lifted to shut us out knowing AB’s had to attack 2nd half Test 3.
31 -13 down, WB’s had to attack and we slipped off tackles, made dumb errors and gave away needless penalties – even when attacking!
Last week was another step back, with all the experience on the park this shouldn’t be happening, ill discipline, dumb errors and lousy decision making, falling off tackles, lacking commitment at times.
I don’t think 80 minute effort and energy levels are where they should be – and they always should be there. That’s the excellence of AB rugby, as in playing close to error free, showing composure and discipline and being up for the game, all of it.
This team buttons off, loses focus and lacks the punch of finishing opponents off – mentally soft compared to the killer instinct of previous AB teams.
It’s not that we don’t have the playing talent, we lack nous and composure and confidence.
That’s what Robertson’s coaching would bring and he better already be locked in to taking the reins after WC.
Foster could stop talking about growing and developing, that’s bs for a side with so much experience and it’s the new caps standing up, like, all those young front rowers. Growing is his excuse for sub standard application and poor adaptability.
End result is, AB’s can’t have confidence they can be dominant because they haven’t earnt it, rather they blew the chance to soundly put WB’s away and have a less confident and determined team come to Eden Park and now can’t even expect Eden Park will do it because as much as they’ll claim no complacency, it’s hit and miss as to whether they bring the required attitude on the day – if not, they get sat on backside and look inept and ineffectual and another negative record goes tumbling to Foster.
You have to ask if the players don’t like Foster too much – as in no edgy fear like with Hansen or Ted.
However, the coaching issues have been largely addressed with Ryan and Schmidt, spotlight is on the players, they’re still sloppy, mistake prone and drop intensity level. It’s down to them on field.
This constant inconsistency is galling, there’s no growing to be done, they need an honest appraisal of what’s being put in, the lack of intent, focus, inability to concentrate?! – whatever it is – to nail the basics, be disciplined and play for 80 minutes.

Swains tackle remined me of SBW’s red card T2 v Lions, both looked like intentionally malicious tackles but you can’t be sure. Swain was lucky not to get red though.

Basically WB’s got reversed for offending the referee and deserved it. He couldn’t have been more clear and yet Foley didn’t act, which was just dumb and some teammates were remonstrating with him to kick it and then filthy with him for not – it’s there on screen. Talk about being 20 metres away, didn’t hear, absolute bs, Foley f’d up big time.
Its inexplicable to me why so much complaining about this, never been seen before etc. it’s in the rule book plus the guy insulted ref (like never before – since any other player seems to know this can happen if you don’t comply with a ref) by pointedly not following the guy with the whistle’s instructions – just dumb.