All Blacks vs Springbokke @ Wellington

[Brumby Runner]

Almost, just not good enough. Some good signs with Pollard.
Good close game.
Certainly better than watching some naff NFL Blue.

Thought Pollard had a very strong game. Contributed to the more attacking style by the Bokke tonight. Long may it continue.

 

[PaarlBok]

JLP

Think you learn something about Handre Pollard from this test. Think he nailed the Bok 10 jersey, not that I expect anything less from him.

Is there a better rugby player then Duanne Vermeulen?

Congrats to the All Blacks supporters, was one hell of a test.

 

[teach]

Great how the referee was almost unnoticed during the game, and unremarked on here, apart from a couple of dodgy calls. I would love to see him officiate again in the future.

Ben Smith - friggin' legend. Waiting for him to relive his High school days and play halfback. He would be lethal there too. His name should be on the team list in permanent marker now, if it is not already.

On my bucket list is a tour of SA following the ABs. Games like this make me even more keen.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Ben Smith - friggin' legend. Waiting for him to relive his High school days and play halfback. He would be lethal there too. His name should be on the team list in permanent marker now, if it is not already.

gee he is a good footballer - sometimes I wonder if he seems better because he looks so unlikely

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Looks like Ma'a may have broken his arm:

www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/10496722/Injury-to-Ma-a-Nonu-sours-All-Blacks-test-win

May be too soon for Crotty to come back & Fekitoa doesn't yet look the goods at 12 so who's next? Give Saili another crack?

 

[Baldric]

Great game and Boks did way better than I expected.
For me the good points were,
Duane - he is a beast
The scrum - performed well and had the upper hand
Pollard - great game. Not shy to take on the physical side and a calm performer.
The big step up in physicality from the previous weeks.

The negatives
Kicking away 3rd phase ball
Still too many up-and unders going nowhere
The ability to stay calm and finish a game.

Congrats to the AB's and to the officials.

 

[Oldschool]

You can see why Ben Smith's nic name is ghost, he just finds gaps where there are none. Just sublime.
Here's a thought, if Crotty is not ready why not continue with Smith, it would be a complete change up in tactics from our 2nd five having to be be a crash and bash player. Smith survived, in fact thrived, in 40 mins of Bokke brutality in that position. Worth looking at against the Argies at least.

 

[qwerty51]

IRB player of the year will be interesting. So far it's a 3-way between Retallick, Hooper and Vermeulen.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

You can see why Ben Smith's nic name is ghost, he just finds gaps where there are none. Just sublime.
Here's a thought, if Crotty is not ready why not continue with Smith, it would be a complete change up in tactics from our 2nd five having to be be a crash and bash player. Smith survived, in fact thrived, in 40 mins of Bokke brutality in that position. Worth looking at against the Argies at least.

"............both Foster and Hansen said only in the most extreme circumstances would they ever consider starting Smith [at 12]"

Smith covering 11-15 does give us the option of running with a 6-2 bench. Risky but maybe worth doing if we're expecting a forward-dominated, high-attrition shit fight.

 

[FrankLind]

IRB player of the year will be interesting. So far it's a 3-way between Retallick, Hooper and Vermeulen.

And Ben Smith

 

[Dctarget]

Is this speculation about IRB player of the year? Or are there some numbers we're following..

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Nonu out for the season, has had a plate put into his arm. Also DC may yet play in Bled 3, expected to start for C'bury v Harbour on Sep 23:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...onu-out-for-season-Carter-back-for-Canterbury

AB player ratings here:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/10497614/All-Blacks-v-Springboks-Player-ratings

 

[Dan54]

Well , I'll take that kind of test anytime. That was what I call true test rugby, a couple of teams that appeared to be prepared to give everything to try and win. Even a few handbags with no overreacting by the ref, all very good. I do tend to think it show that world rankings of these 2 at 1& 2 is fairly spot on. Think maybe just a reminder to self of why I say to me Bok/AB tests are still the ultimate.
To Bok supporters I know you will be feeling a bit of pain, but by gee you have found a good un in young Pollard, and I don't think you should find any disappointment in manner in which your team played, they gave it everything, which is all we usually ask of teams we support.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Well , I'll take that kind of test anytime. That was what I call true test rugby, a couple of teams that appeared to be prepared to give everything to try and win. Even a few handbags with no overreacting by the ref, all very good. I do tend to think it show that world rankings of these 2 at 1& 2 is fairly spot on. Think maybe just a reminder to self of why I say to me Bok/AB tests are still the ultimate.
To Bok supporters I know you will be feeling a bit of pain, but by gee you have found a good un in young Pollard, and I don't think you should find any disappointment in manner in which your team played, they gave it everything, which is all we usually ask of teams we support.

More importantly, how was your 60th?

 

[Gnostic]

The Bok really have to look at their attacking structure. The idea of kicking away so much clean ball is just mad when you have Dagg and Smith x 3 running back at you.

They showed in a couple of counter attacks that they could do it and the ABs were vulnerable as they expected the kick (hence so many kicks were just fielded with no real pressure).

I think the Bok lost this game simply by not treasuring the possession and using it effectively.

Pollard will be a wonderful asset if Meyer decides to play a more attacking game.

 

[Tomikin]

The Bok really have to look at their attacking structure. The idea of kicking away so much clean ball is just mad when you have Dagg and Smith x 3 running back at you.

They showed in a couple of counter attacks that they could do it and the ABs were vulnerable as they expected the kick (hence so many kicks were just fielded with no real pressure).

I think the Bok lost this game simply by not treasuring the possession and using it effectively.

Pollard will be a wonderful asset if Meyer decides to play a more attacking game.

I agree but we need to realise that you need to be so fit to run the ball from everywhere.. It's not just hold the ball we win.. It's always about balance and Nz are the only ones with it right

 

[qwerty51]

That's twice now the Boks scored a really good try within 10 mins and then nada for the rest of the game. Imagine if they'd attack like that for the rest of the game?

 

[Blue]

I'm just having a quiet moment here. Yes, it would appear I was not so wrong about Pienaar last week after all.

Hougaard is a very food provincial player suited to running with the ball. It's difficult for me to see his value in an international squad. I guess his versatility and ecperience helps.

He showed no experience or leadership. At the end we needed a scrummie who was going to make the calls and direct the play. If we had someone who was calling those last plays we would have had a better chance of scoring.

I hope Meyer sees it. We cannot start with Hougaard. Has to be Reinach now surely? He is the other scrummie in the system right?

 

[Blue]

Good game. I don't know why people are sulking. Everyone were wondering how we'd keep pace with the ABs (particularly local folk). We lost by 4 and we could have won that game. Bismarck had a shocker and Le Roux made one save but other than that he was terrible as well.

Unfortunately we seem to now think that keeping pace with the ABs is somehow an achievement.

I read the SA press and it's some grand achievement that "were were in it".

That's pretty depressing.

 

[Blue]

I'm just having a quiet moment here. Yes, it would appear I was not so wrong about Pienaar last week after all.

Hougaard is a very food provincial player suited to running with the ball. It's difficult for me to see his value in an international squad. I guess his versatility and ecperience helps.

Seen the replay of that last attack. Why the fuck did Hougaard pass that last ball to the guy on the side line?