Roar Rookie
Joined November 2017
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Amongst the dread of New Zealand rugby media following the All Blacks’ latest calamity in the Republic - I thought I’d take a look…
From the mind of a truly unqualified couch-coach, I’ve used the small hiatus in international rugby, to ponder aloud what I’ve thought to be…
Saving the best for last, Tony 😂
I’ve always thought the football method would be best actually. Announce the playing squad mid-week, and leave the opposition/media/fans to guess the starters & positions – until revealed before kickoff.
Add a bit more intrigue to the build up!
'They were bloody good last time': Blues braced for new Brumbies battle, make three changes
He’s not going to be selected with ‘first choice 23’ in mind. But we need more playmakers with test experience – even in a limited capacity.
Otherwise, we may end up in an important game without B.Barrett, Mo’unga or McKenzie (see 2011 RWC) – and it would be poor planning to throw a rookie into that furnace!
Rugby News: Aussie's US rugby teams LA and Austin banned from playoffs as crisis hits MLR, RTS' big leap forward
Exactly, they can’t – and it also has further implications regarding the balance of skills/roles for the trio as a whole (to piggy-back off plentiful comments/articles made by Highlander on this topic).
In my mind, if they are insistent on Ardie at 8 – then we can’t afford to have another ‘offense-minded’ player like Akira. Otherwise our #7 ends up buried under every ruck, without the support needed.
We need line-out capability and work-rate: Jacobson & Robinson appeal for mine!
Yes we Canberra! How the Brumbies stopped a New Zealand Super Rugby domination
It seems the bigger the game, the smaller Ardie Savea looks as the primary ‘ball-carrying’ loose forward… No matter how many times the commentators say ‘leg drive!’ 😂
Yes we Canberra! How the Brumbies stopped a New Zealand Super Rugby domination
They had Josh Ioane, and proceeded to play him anywhere but #10. He had to make way for the prodigious talent of Mitch Hunt & Marty Banks. So… ‘bed made’ it seems! 😂
Rugby News: Mo'unga reveals he's leaving NZ after RWC, Tane's Tahs contract boost, Phipps on the move
Fair enough Richie, get some money – and have some fun in that limited career!
I hope it does at least make our coaches look at communicating with some of the ‘next tier’ of players, advising ways they are excelling and offer some hints for want of improvement… who knows when we’ll need them!
McKenzie is an obvious candidate when he returns – but hope J.Ioane, Perofeta & Z.Sullivan are also considered!
Rugby News: Mo'unga reveals he's leaving NZ after RWC, Tane's Tahs contract boost, Phipps on the move
Laulala and RTS are perfect examples of young Aucklanders that were poached straight out of high school – while Tu’inukuafe left North Harbour for France… And yet you complain when they willingly decide to come home? 😂
The Wrap: Super Rugby's final eight confirmed after crazy, topsy-turvy weekend
There was no point trying to ‘keep’ Tupou – when he clearly stated his desires to play in/for Australia. That would have been a fool’s errand.
And why wouldn’t a team make an offer to an elite player, whose wife was openly courting a move away from Wellington – to better suit their young family and lifestyles?
If her job was in Hamilton, I bet you’d have been more than happy for the Chiefs to throw their name in the hat!
The Wrap: Super Rugby's final eight confirmed after crazy, topsy-turvy weekend
No, the other Kiwi teams (along with the entire NRL) just send scouts to poach high-school kids in Auckland – much more ethical 👍
They arrive at earlier & earlier age grades, drive up price demands, and force premature choices for any wider-training or development squads – which has resulted in the Blues to lose out on plenty of talent over the years.
And aside from a limited pool of private sponsors, willing to invest in a super star or two – the Blues are not ‘cashed up’ any more than any NZ Super side. They’re all under the NZR contract system.
The Wrap: Super Rugby's final eight confirmed after crazy, topsy-turvy weekend
Spot on Geoff – the Blues have been ridiculed for years on end about all the guys they let ‘slip away’ – which only fuelled the movements of young players that saw them as a dysfunctional outfit, that were ill-equipped to provide a successful, winning environment!
Perhaps the recent struggles of some teams just shows how much ‘value’ they were getting from their opportunistic recruitment, in years gone by?
The Wrap: Super Rugby's final eight confirmed after crazy, topsy-turvy weekend
In conclusion, everyone needs to just go back and watch some vintage Morne Steyn kick-offs for the Bulls/Boks, where nearly every kick dropped wide-left on the 22, with Bryan Habana arriving at the same time!!! 😂
Great article idea though; so many kick-offs look lethargic/uninspired – especially considering how much momentum can be generated/changed from those situations.
Super Rugby teams need better kick-off strategies
So Blues remain top of the table, with a game in hand! I can imagine a few Crusaders fans will be cheering on some Aussies, this weekend & next 😂
REACTION: 'Like All Blacks against Wallabies'- Clinical Crusaders simply too strong for error-riddled Brumbies
I don’t believe so, but it’s always struck me as odd that – as your article highlights – the crucial defensive ‘linchpin’ position is treated with a lack of regard…
Especially compared to the #12 role, which globally appears to be the more simple directive of being the primary ‘ball-into-contact’. Surely Reiko would love it! 😂
Explain to me why the All Blacks' 13 jersey is a done deal?
Has anyone considered using Reiko as the #12 – and pairing him with either ALB or Goodhue in their preferred outside centre role?
Explain to me why the All Blacks' 13 jersey is a done deal?
Because they all keep sleeping on Aidan Ross! Born in Aussie too – so if he keeps getting overlooked here, Dave Rennie might make a call about a shift over the Tasman! 😂
Super Rugby Pacific Round 12 teams: Reds get big boost, Tahs prop makes debut, Slipper back for Brumbies
All it took was watching a few more results for a stodgy 4-point win to become a pretty decent one this week! 😂
REACTION: 'We turned a real corner'- Brave Force fall agonisingly short of stunning 'half-cocked' Blues
Exactly – bring back the art of the well-timed draw & pass!
Get your questions in for Issue 40 of Coach's Corner
That would be my one critique too, shared by a few, during or after the game: the kicking tactic was shown to be faulty very quickly, but it wasn’t changed, and nearly cost the match.
If MacDonald did try to adjust, it wasn’t taken on-board. Or if he was leaving it for the players to work out themselves… unfortunately, they didn’t.
Hopefully the lesson was learned, at least, for future scenarios.
'Truly special': Blues savour epic win over Crusaders as clutch last-gasp tackle seals result
This is the same organisation that recently gave Ian Foster a glowing review of his 2021 year of work though – so it may be about time to adjust our view of the NZR administration.
They have stumbled at nearly every turn in recent years (coaching selection, SANZAAR/Super Rugby structuring, private equity negotiations). The personnel at the top are not to standard – so let’s not expect too much of their ‘social media’ team either! 😂
'We didn't get it right': NZR apologise for All Blacks' 'tone deaf' IWD post featuring Reece and Smith
Sure, our ever-qualified coach (61-17!) picks an 85kg inside back to run crash-balls off our flyhalf all game, forgets he is a natural secondary playmaker/kicker – and you blame him when it doesn’t work?! 👍
Blues confirm plans for RTS ahead of his first Super Rugby season
Not if the coaches are still hell-bent on looking for another in the Nonu-mould!
Foster & co. appear unable to see the #12 role beyond that of a primary crash-baller – and totally threw away any consideration for David Havili’s skillet when they selected him. I fear RTS may also be a ‘square peg’ that is forced down the ’round hole’ – if he does earn selection.
Prove me wrong Fozzie. Prove me wrong! 😂
Blues confirm plans for RTS ahead of his first Super Rugby season
I sure hope NZR at least got a return tour booked (a-la Ireland), for the drawcard-value they are providing here!
I don’t want to hear our admins turn around LATER, and harp on about ‘global seasons’ or ‘revenue-sharing’ – such incompetent negotiating is no one else’s fault…
England, All Blacks meet in Autumn series
I love the propping strategy of the Boks, in particular. There are more than a few voices that suggest guys like Kitshoff/Marx are ‘better’ and should start – due to their more destructive scrummaging & play-style.
But it appears as though Nyakane, Mbonambi & Malherbe are perfectly suited to their ‘passive’ starting role – which is to absorb & blunt any oppositions starting front-row. They may not be as dominant – but they practice against probably the best front-row each day, so there isn’t any fear.
Then in the second half, say when Moody & Laulala retreat after what appeared to be a satisfying opening spell – the trap springs! And in almost comedic fashion, coach-after-coach keeps sending their second-stringers out against Kitshoff, Marx & Koch in the second half – and wonder why their scrum starts to deteriorate?!
All Blacks 2022: Musical chairs
The Boks definitely appear to have a clarity in their direct plan, JN, and will take confidence from their results, that they are generally always within a score of winning. They also have a lot of growth potential too, as some new/returning guys could add to the solid core.
I guess one needs to consider that, for myself, the ‘uncertainty’ intended with this strategy, is that within the opposition, when presented with multiple moving pieces, showing ‘looks’ that each have their own potential string of options. As mentioned below, developing shared experience, to develop combinations are absolutely crucial to this lineup working.
But the goal is to create and (in time) expand multiple in-game strategies, to suit different situations as they arise. It’s asking a potentially unique group of players, to really consider their skills/attributes (and deficiencies) they each bring, and where it can best be maximised (or minimised) as a whole.
All Blacks 2022: Musical chairs
Laulala, Clarke, S.Barrett… just to name a few this year.
'They were bloody good last time': Blues braced for new Brumbies battle, make three changes