New Zealand Rugby Team Watch

[Dismal Pillock]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Hope Larry Curly and Moe arent reading the comments sections here.

Stuff can only keep the fucking comments portals open for 24 hours as the vicious slather of backlashing vitriol could corrode the mainframe if left unattended any longer. The collective seethe makes my reasoned and proportionately critical comments of, say, for instance, oh I don't know, Beauden f****** Barrett look like UN-level diplomacy.

 

[KiwiM]

I know it not popular opinion, but I think you watch, with BB at 10, he good at swing attack and moving from to other side of breakdown, and it looks somewhat a plan when we can break a couple of times down one way, we are actually looking to swing back quite well. I genuinely believe they need to tidy up detail, same as kick height etc from 9, with new laws being played, we need good chasers and getting in air, but with numbers so we can tap kicks back?

I think part of the issue is the balance in the squad/team. BB is a poor punter/high ball kicker, Roigard is excellent off of his left but poor off of his right boot, Jordan at fullback doesn't really kick. They don't really use their wingers to kick often. Throw in the fact that BB doesn't take on the line these days and our attack suffers greatly. We've been waiting two years for them to 'tidy up some detail' and it's just not happening. There's a similar lack of balance in the loose forwards. Ardie at 7 is not working but Razor won't move him. Lakai is having to get through a lot of work and Sititi is an excellent ball runner but offers little elsewhere. It really feels like the ABs are spinning their wheels under this coaching staff - perhaps a new assistant can really breathe some life into the squad but there doesn't seem to be a Joe Schmidt type floating around.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

perhaps a new assistant can really breathe some life into the squad but there doesn't seem to be a Joe Schmidt type floating around.

If the stuff about D.Paps is true, coupled with assistants crying off (ffs probably the best job they will ever have in their lives? jet-setting globetrotting with six MONTHS off a year on full pay) then what quality of assistants could Razor attract? He doesn't want to work with anyone except his useless mates and clearly qualified people don't want to work with him.

ffs, strategy wise, someone like Tony Brown is lapping Razor and his mates. While doing backstroke. In an aqualung.

 

[Dan54]

Must admit, I more than a bit surprised that Papali'i isn't in AB squad at least, genuinely think he would fit in at least on bench pretty well, if not a starter. And I struggling to hear any rumours going around who he's upset, as usually when someone misses out there is a whisper.

 

[Dan54]

I think part of the issue is the balance in the squad/team. BB is a poor punter/high ball kicker, Roigard is excellent off of his left but poor off of his right boot, Jordan at fullback doesn't really kick. They don't really use their wingers to kick often. Throw in the fact that BB doesn't take on the line these days and our attack suffers greatly. We've been waiting two years for them to 'tidy up some detail' and it's just not happening. There's a similar lack of balance in the loose forwards. Ardie at 7 is not working but Razor won't move him. Lakai is having to get through a lot of work and Sititi is an excellent ball runner but offers little elsewhere. It really feels like the ABs are spinning their wheels under this coaching staff - perhaps a new assistant can really breathe some life into the squad but there doesn't seem to be a Joe Schmidt type floating around.

I wasn't arguing so much for BB as much as suggesting that we can't see a style the ABs are playing. I just saying I can see what I think they are trying to play, just not sure they got the right players to do it. or at least they failing to get details of plan right, or if it coorect plan to beat teams they playing against.

 

[KiwiM]

Mate, have you seen the reaction over fact we have lost 3 tests this year (so far)? There are calls for coaches head etc.

3 losses that are combined for the largest combined losing margin in a season in All Black history

The Post

www.thepost.co.nz

All Blacks’ worst years by combined losing margin​

2025: 53 (3 losses)
2022: 44 (4)
2023: 43 (3)
1999: 37 (3)
2019: 33 (2)
1949: 31 (6)
2009: 29 (4)
1998: 28 (5)
1986: 27 (3)
2021: 26 (3)
1970: 25 (3)
1928: 22 (2)
1994: 21 (3)
1980: 20 (2)

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Saw that @KiwiM but was more interested in another stat, namely that there's only ever been 16 years where AB have lost three or more Tests. That five of those 16 are now consecutive is a bigger concern than the combined margin for mine, most of that being down to the flogging by SA.

 

[Linerunner2023]

It’s been a very odd year
Some moments they look unbeatable but they look really fragile at time when other teams take them on
There seems to be a lack of cohesion with the side at time looking like they don’t know each other

tbh also many players who were considered the next thing who havnt quite kicked on and potentially even regressed a little
Lomax, Jacobson, papaali, Blackadder, alb and teupau, Reece, Telea all started well but fell off in last season or two
Tight 5 look solid - but different between Vai and S Barrett best and worst games
Savea, Lakai and sititi could work!
b Barrett isn’t a 10 at test level I’d go Richie at 10 and Barrett at 15 where he can use his running instincts
Jordan on the wing
Backline looks out of sorts most of the year
As guys have mentioned a couple of big losses and the wins many have not looked comfortable

 

[KiwiM]

Saw that @KiwiM but was more interested in another stat, namely that there's only ever been 16 years where AB have lost three or more Tests. That five of those 16 are now consecutive is a bigger concern than the combined margin for mine, most of that being down to the flogging by SA.

Losing by 14 points to England is a flogging also. That's two floggings in one season.

 

[Linerunner2023]

I think part of the issue is the balance in the squad/team. BB is a poor punter/high ball kicker, Roigard is excellent off of his left but poor off of his right boot, Jordan at fullback doesn't really kick. They don't really use their wingers to kick often. Throw in the fact that BB doesn't take on the line these days and our attack suffers greatly. We've been waiting two years for them to 'tidy up some detail' and it's just not happening. There's a similar lack of balance in the loose forwards. Ardie at 7 is not working but Razor won't move him. Lakai is having to get through a lot of work and Sititi is an excellent ball runner but offers little elsewhere. It really feels like the ABs are spinning their wheels under this coaching staff - perhaps a new assistant can really breathe some life into the squad but there doesn't seem to be a Joe Schmidt type floating around.

It seems razor has blitzed super rugby having an all black super rugby squad following a game plan and being superior to all other teams
Come into test rugby he doesn’t think in games like rassie does changing game plans per each game and have a plan B so when a team throws the all blacks off quickly they have no idea how to hold them out and then counter punch back